|
|
Post by 73withharoldlee on Mar 6, 2013 15:10:42 GMT -6
Most women are committed to their choice and have the ability to get things done. Amanda seems to be this type of leader. She is honest and won't answer questions obviously until she has more information. Of course the men's basketball program is a cash cow. Is this a leading question by the media? Is Jeter the highest paid staffer at UWM? We all know he is. Can anyone do anything about it at this time? I believe this was the right person for the job. Things will get done but it doesn't happen overnight. If Jeter doesn't turn the program around he will be fired and it will start all over again.
|
|
|
|
Post by PantherU on Mar 6, 2013 17:25:46 GMT -6
Most women are committed to their choice and have the ability to get things done. Amanda seems to be this type of leader. She is honest and won't answer questions obviously until she has more information. Of course the men's basketball program is a cash cow. Is this a leading question by the media? Is Jeter the highest paid staffer at UWM? We all know he is. Can anyone do anything about it at this time? I believe this was the right person for the job. Things will get done but it doesn't happen overnight. If Jeter doesn't turn the program around he will be fired and it will start all over again. I don't understand the first sentence. Aren't you generalizing a bit there? I think she'll be fine, but she needs support from donors and fans and employees who need to get over the fact that Lovell didn't hire Paul. I wanted Paul like everyone else - obviously - but I'll be damned if I'm going to let it get me down to the point where I cut and run. I'm inviting all donors, fans and alumni to join me in a venture to take ownership of this program. Unity will breed power. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2013 17:36:32 GMT -6
This is not helping. Let the new AD get settled, create a plan, and then determine how she wants to move forward. I'm sure she has very specific projects that will require a friends group. Let her create that program to have it fit the needs of the department.
|
|
|
|
Post by PantherU on Mar 6, 2013 17:55:20 GMT -6
This is not helping. Let the new AD get settled, create a plan, and then determine how she wants to move forward. If the way she wants to move forward is indeed to "move forward," then this group shares her aims. If her plan falls in line with the shortsighted one on the desk right now, then she's going to have opposition that she'll need to convince. Is it not helpful? I suppose, but she'd have to win over the same people regardless of whether they're united or divided. I choose united. All these people - Mike Lovell, Andy Geiger, Michael Laliberte, Amanda Braun, Rob Jeter - are stewards of our program. If things go south, they move on to the next job. If things go well, they move on to the next job. On the other side of the coin, if this place goes down the tubes, most of us don't have another alma mater to move to. We have a lot larger personal stake - financial and spiritual - than any of them. So why is it that we sit and wait for others to tell us how things are going to be? What projects to go after, what moves to make? It's obviously worked so well for us in the past, to let George, Rick and Andy make decisions and hope people fall in line. Then they take their damage and move on. And we're left with the results. I have confidence that Amanda Braun will be a competent athletic director. She's obviously far more experienced than Koonce, and she appears to be less of an empty-suited one-trick pony like Costello. If she is, she'll recognize the major benefits of having something like this put together and she'll help foster its growth. This isn't something an intelligent AD is threatened by; it's something an intelligent AD takes a major interest in and pushes it forward. My e-mail is jimmy@pantheru.com. I respond to PM's. I've got a phone number if you want to ask in a PM. I'm not the only one who is working on this, but to say we are fledgling would be an understatement. We need like-minded Panthers who care where this program is going and are willing to put in the work to make sure it heads in the right direction. Interested? Contact me. |
|
|
|
Post by 73withharoldlee on Mar 6, 2013 20:39:33 GMT -6
I think the hire of Braun is heading the program in the right direction. The program includes more than men's basketball. Ultimately, men's basketball will strengthen the program but it will build only if we support Braun and Panther Athletics. Let's fill the K-Center and create enthusiasm for winning The Horizon league year after year. Could we become the Gonzaga of the Midwest? It is not impossible. The program has great strength and will grow. I care about this program. I sat at Baker Field House in the 60's and 70's. The program needs much improvement. I am as tired as anyone of mediocrity. UWM is a major urban university, let's rally around Amanda Braun and create something special.
|
|
|
|
Post by PantherU on Mar 6, 2013 22:35:49 GMT -6
I think the hire of Braun is heading the program in the right direction. The program includes more than men's basketball. Ultimately, men's basketball will strengthen the program but it will build only if we support Braun and Panther Athletics. Let's fill the K-Center and create enthusiasm for winning The Horizon league year after year. Could we become the Gonzaga of the Midwest? It is not impossible. The program has great strength and will grow. I care about this program. I sat at Baker Field House in the 60's and 70's. The program needs much improvement. I am as tired as anyone of mediocrity. UWM is a major urban university, let's rally around Amanda Braun and create something special. I led the charge for the on-campus arena. Trust me. We are much, much better off in the Cell. Becoming the Gonzaga of the Midwest is impossible, or close to it, with the plan Geiger has convinced Lovell is a good idea. |
|
|
|
Post by PantherU on Mar 6, 2013 23:35:12 GMT -6
This list comes from Weas Development's website (die hards should get why I'm using their site). It's a list of the services the company offers. Let's take each point and see how it'd do in a Klotsche reno: - Site Feasibility. On-campus? Yes. Far from most fans. College basketball is apparently supposed to be played "on-campus," yet the definition for campus at this school stretches when you talk about academics. Public Health, Innovation Park, Freshwater Sciences - all schools "off-campus," yet our basketball team can't be out there? Let's not mention that the basketball arena is the #1 building at any legitimate non-football non-Ivy university, and the KC is tucked in between several buildings. Not much curb appeal. - Financial Analysis. So, the plan is to do a Loyola-style renovation? Then you're going to get a Loyola-style program. What I mean is, you're going to get the best Horizon League team. I think we should be shooting higher. I think we can take that Klotsche reno money and spend it better. - Architectural Design. No matter what, you're going to have to drop the floor because it's too short from floor to rafters. There are a lot of things we can do, but... - Construction Management. Renovating the Klotsche Center effectively shuts the KC down for a year. This was all well and good at Loyola (we'd be doing ours at a bigger scale...5-6k seats and with suites, so more time)...but the Klotsche Center is not the Gentile Center. It was built for the general student population. I know what you're saying, "But Jimmy the students have the Pavilion LOL!" Sure, but where is all the equipment, the locker rooms, the racquetball courts, rooms for exercise? Under the KC Arena floor. - Marketing and Leasing. Hey, how about you guys come 20 blocks off the freeway to come watch our basketball team play in what is essentially a Horizon League gym? Hope you enjoy games against lesser opponents, because Wisconsin and Marquette will never play in there! - Property Management. What, you don't want to put your event in our facility? Why not? Oh, there already are 10 venues in this size range in Milwaukee? Well...we're on a college campus! ...so is the Al McGuire Center? Hmmm... - Asset Management. Let's see about our assets...a project that is obsolete before construction is finished? Check. A facility costing tens of millions of dollars that won't advance the program? Check. At a size that we may regret if we somehow become the "Gonzaga of the Midwest?" Check. Seriously, the Gonzaga of the Midwest comment cracked me up. No sooner did Gonzaga finish building their new arena in 2004 did they wish they built it at 2,000 seats more with more suites. We are better off with my plan: throw our chips into the practice facility - the gold standard across the NCAA is just $33 million at Kentucky (that's after inflation). The gold standard for a basketball arena is $227 million. Which number can we come close to first? Build the best basketball practice facility in the country at $35 million, rent out space to the Bucks to save some money on it (or have them contribute to the construction in lieu of a lease). Update the vacant Alumni House and move the basketball team and 20 or so students into the building. Between those two moves (and really just the first one would suffice), it wouldn't even matter that we wouldn't own the Cell - the level of the team would be so high that the program would make enough money to cover the lease easily. The lease as well as...naming rights to the building. U.S. Cellular renewed with the WCD for 7 years and $2 million, and that deal expires in summer of 2014. Buy the naming rights as part of the lease, spend $220,000 changing the seats from red and blue to black, put the Milwaukee logo up on the building and call it the "Milwaukee Arena." Hm, that name sounds familiar. It also emphasizes the Milwaukee brand. Like I've said. I'm done pushing football and ice hockey and everything nuts. I'm channeling my crazy. This plan is creative, it costs roughly the same as the basketball plan they have, and it elevates the program to levels never seen. Ric Cobb would have a difficult time failing with those facilities. I wrote something a couple weeks ago for the site that probably didn't get much attention: Vaulting Milwaukee Basketball to New Heights. That's what our plan is. We're putting it together, but we need help. Get in touch with me, it's time we put work into this. |
|
|
|
Post by panther9193 on Mar 7, 2013 7:06:46 GMT -6
This list comes from Weas Development's website (die hards should get why I'm using their site). It's a list of the services the company offers. Let's take each point and see how it'd do in a Klotsche reno: - Site Feasibility. On-campus? Yes. Far from most fans. College basketball is apparently supposed to be played "on-campus," yet the definition for campus at this school stretches when you talk about academics. Public Health, Innovation Park, Freshwater Sciences - all schools "off-campus," yet our basketball team can't be out there? Let's not mention that the basketball arena is the #1 building at any legitimate non-football non-Ivy university, and the KC is tucked in between several buildings. Not much curb appeal. - Financial Analysis. So, the plan is to do a Loyola-style renovation? Then you're going to get a Loyola-style program. What I mean is, you're going to get the best Horizon League team. I think we should be shooting higher. I think we can take that Klotsche reno money and spend it better. - Architectural Design. No matter what, you're going to have to drop the floor because it's too short from floor to rafters. There are a lot of things we can do, but... - Construction Management. Renovating the Klotsche Center effectively shuts the KC down for a year. This was all well and good at Loyola (we'd be doing ours at a bigger scale...5-6k seats and with suites, so more time)...but the Klotsche Center is not the Gentile Center. It was built for the general student population. I know what you're saying, "But Jimmy the students have the Pavilion LOL!" Sure, but where is all the equipment, the locker rooms, the racquetball courts, rooms for exercise? Under the KC Arena floor. - Marketing and Leasing. Hey, how about you guys come 20 blocks off the freeway to come watch our basketball team play in what is essentially a Horizon League gym? Hope you enjoy games against lesser opponents, because Wisconsin and Marquette will never play in there! - Property Management. What, you don't want to put your event in our facility? Why not? Oh, there already are 10 venues in this size range in Milwaukee? Well...we're on a college campus! ...so is the Al McGuire Center? Hmmm... - Asset Management. Let's see about our assets...a project that is obsolete before construction is finished? Check. A facility costing tens of millions of dollars that won't advance the program? Check. At a size that we may regret if we somehow become the "Gonzaga of the Midwest?" Check. Seriously, the Gonzaga of the Midwest comment cracked me up. No sooner did Gonzaga finish building their new arena in 2004 did they wish they built it at 2,000 seats more with more suites. We are better off with my plan: throw our chips into the practice facility - the gold standard across the NCAA is just $33 million at Kentucky (that's after inflation). The gold standard for a basketball arena is $227 million. Which number can we come close to first? Build the best basketball practice facility in the country at $35 million, rent out space to the Bucks to save some money on it (or have them contribute to the construction in lieu of a lease). Update the vacant Alumni House and move the basketball team and 20 or so students into the building. Between those two moves (and really just the first one would suffice), it wouldn't even matter that we wouldn't own the Cell - the level of the team would be so high that the program would make enough money to cover the lease easily. The lease as well as...naming rights to the building. U.S. Cellular renewed with the WCD for 7 years and $2 million, and that deal expires in summer of 2014. Buy the naming rights as part of the lease, spend $220,000 changing the seats from red and blue to black, put the Milwaukee logo up on the building and call it the "Milwaukee Arena." Hm, that name sounds familiar. It also emphasizes the Milwaukee brand. Like I've said. I'm done pushing football and ice hockey and everything nuts. I'm channeling my crazy. This plan is creative, it costs roughly the same as the basketball plan they have, and it elevates the program to levels never seen. Ric Cobb would have a difficult time failing with those facilities. I wrote something a couple weeks ago for the site that probably didn't get much attention: Vaulting Milwaukee Basketball to New Heights. That's what our plan is. We're putting it together, but we need help. Get in touch with me, it's time we put work into this. +1 I like the aggressive thinking! We may not be able to accomplish everything, but certainly more is likely to get done if sights are set high. If the university "aims for the middle", the result will be the mediocre at best. |
|
|
|
Post by freshmilwaukee on Mar 7, 2013 8:20:14 GMT -6
3 years ago Dave Gilbert from the foundation brought Koonce and I two proposals. One was from Kahler Slater which was a new on campus facility 5,000 seats to start with infrastructure in place to go up to 7,000 or 8,000 seats. The challenge is where to put this facility with our landlocked campus. There are a few sites that could accomodate it. This was put at $35m cost, barebones and just the necessities.
The next plan was a $10m roof that went over Klotsche to then increase the number of bleacher seats and still utilize the rest of the space for indoor track and baseball and everything else. We were strongly opposed to this, as PantherU said this would be outdated by the time it was done and you still have no supporting amenities. Along with the shared use space continues on some of our major problems.
I've always been behind an on campus arena as long as supporting services and entertainment were able to be provided. I don't know if we are capable as an athletic department of executing such a large scale project that would come with an on campus arena. If we can't get butts in the seats at the Cell or KC I think we have other fundamental issues. We also can't seem to win basketball games so that hurts our chances.
Going forward we need to look at creative revenue opportunities and partnerships. Whether we re-address the partnership with the cell...(for the sake of everyone...don't negotiate a deal for about a $4 to $1 split on tickets...reasons for our financial crisis) or look for opportunities to work with the Bucks on a practice facility. We need something unique with true entrepreneurial spirit to turn this program around.
|
|
dutchpthr
Junior
ain't much if it ain't dutch
|
Post by dutchpthr on Mar 7, 2013 11:38:12 GMT -6
I find all this very interesting, of course I like most on here would love for these things to hop off the page here and make their way into actuality, everything sounds like it would be wonderful for UWM it would do a lot for our program, and that is what we should be looking do I agree there.
Here is the one small thing that I think is left out though, this is great on paper, great in the eyes of Black and gold land, but you are talking about adding partners, or teaming up with organizations and such, well to me the one thing i would say if i was anyone of these other groups is "where is the benefit to me? what do I get out of this deal that is setup amazingly for you?".
I not saying that these things are not possible but the one issue here that i think is forgot is these would all be business relationships and in business if you are not showing the other side a benefit or what they can perceive as a benefit they will maybe listen to what you have to say but will dismiss it as fast as they can without being shown a benefit.
This is a great plan for UWM but let me ask you this, how does this go from being a plan that benefits one group from not only a financial standpoint but a visible and recognition stand point but if there is to be a partnership with the Bucks there would have to be a reason why the Bucks would pick us over the other school in town, and honestly i doubt the Bucks would go for it because "it will help the local university" the Bucks don't care about us they want either a check that helps them function or they want a way to put people in the seats, how does a partnership with us on a practice facility accomplish that? You want to get back and essentially buyout the Cell for what we paid them in rent previously, you think after the way we left there they will do that for us? I'm sorry but if you make someone look bad in the business world as we did do to them when we basically grabbed our ball and home (for lack of better description) I have a hard time believing they are going to welcome us back with open arms, when they can possibly end up with more money from a naming rights contract with a business. We burnt a bridge to a degree with the WCD and those are hard to repair when dealing with not only the business side but the political side since the funding for the Cell is not just done via a private enterprise.
Again not trying to pee on your parade but these are all things that I think you kind of left out of your plan for UWM. This plan is a UWM specific one but because you are looking to connect with other entities the plan has to be one that would provide a benefit (nice way of saying money/revenue) to all the other non-UWM parties that you named.
Just trying to be a bit of the reality side here is all, if this was to happen that would be great for UWM but i think that there is a lot more variables then you are considering with a plan of this magnitude. Now I'm not saying that the plan for just redoing the KC is better or that an on campus arena is the only way to go I'm just saying you are assuming the help of a lot of different groups with really providing what the benefit to them is, and as great as it can be they will all tell you local goodwill will not pay the bills.
|
|
|
|
Post by freshmilwaukee on Mar 7, 2013 12:36:54 GMT -6
Dutch, you're 100% accurate. Pulling the plug on WCD did nothing to help us. Partnering means exactly that, working together to find benefit for both parties involved. We have not done a very good job being stewards in our community since Bruce left from what I see and hear. We had a good partnership in place with MLB and the Brewers Community foundation similar to what UIC will be doing with the Granderson Stadium. From what I was told when Koonce left in April and I was gone in July the other partners in that equation were dragging their feet and our athletic staff at the time walked away. To build a practice facility like PantherU has outlined would be the benefit for the Bucks. The Cousins Center is outdated and 6.3 miles from the Bradley Center. It is 4 miles to the Klotsche Center and a possible practice venue. These are all ideas, yes. At the same time a lot of these ideas have been put out there and have been around for several years and we have had little progress towards any of them. Whether it is the people that are in place within the department, the university, the lack of alumni support, the finances. Whatever it may be, it correlates to a poor situation for our athletic department and the student athletes. There are opportunities, but it takes people willing to work hard and create support. None of these are turnkey ready to go solutions. They all have to be nourished and matured. We can't just run around town asking for millions of dollars in support and expect to get it. We need to reach out and develop friendships and lines of communication. Network within the community with community leaders, organizations, the school systems, anything and everything that can go a long way. Aside from community service I don't believe that we have been very active in generating community support, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Fortune 500's in Wisconsin: money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/states/WI.htmlHas anyone gone down to the Greater Milwaukee Committee and worked with them??? GK and I were down there on a regular basis working with their leadership and sub-committees trying to find ways to generate support for the program. These are the movers and shakers in Milwaukee, the people leading the Fortune 500's and the community leaders. All in one place, once a month finding ways to make the city of Milwaukee a better place for all of us. GMC 2012-2013 Annual Report gmconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/GMC_AnnualReport-Final-Portable.pdfOh they've helped push forward a few stadiums as well...US Cellular Arena, County Stadium, Miller Park... gmconline.org/about/overviewThere are people in high places willing to help, they just need to be approached and sold the idea. If you put the idea on paper, not just BS about it on the message board, there are opportunities to generate support. Two sites built for universities to get projects done at Tulane and Washington: www.tulanestadium.comwww.huskystadium.comWe have great opportunities, but people need to be willing to work hard to execute them. I would love to comeback and work to make all of our alums happy and delighted with the program. There is a lot of red tape to cut through and hoops to jump around. But it's possible with hard work and effort from all of us. No matter how little or how big the support, it's going to take a concerted effort to make any of this happen. |
|
|
|
Post by uwmfansince1997 on Mar 7, 2013 13:56:17 GMT -6
I'm happy to finally have an AD.
|
|
dutchpthr
Junior
ain't much if it ain't dutch
|
Post by dutchpthr on Mar 7, 2013 14:12:03 GMT -6
I'm happy to finally have an AD. +1 |
|
|
|
Post by 73withharoldlee on Mar 7, 2013 16:15:28 GMT -6
Does anyone think partnering with a professional sports franchise is risky business in a small market town, competing for the same sports dollar? Before anything can happen men's basketball needs to generate some income and keep expenses under control. We are a state institution relying on taxes, tuition, and endowments to stay open. We are not a for profit university. We use different budgeting methods. Athletics are a small part of the entire picture. Can UWM become the Gonzaga of the Midwest? One can dream just like everyone else seems to be doing. If I win the lottery, I will donate 25M and name the arena Harold Lee or Dexter Reich. I'm always dreaming and will remain optimistic about UWM's future. How can one not recognize that facilities for track, baseball, and practice are sorely lacking. One step at a time.
|
|
|
|
Post by JG Panthers on Mar 7, 2013 16:26:32 GMT -6
Thoroughly enjoy your insight freshmilwaukee. Keep it coming!
|
|
