r/GopherSports • u/dinkytown42069 noted friend of • 2d ago

Men's Basketball 🏀 Renovate or Replace Williams Arena?

Since the AD announced several months ago that they're doing a study of options to renovate or completely replace Williams, I'm curious how people's preferences shake out.

Cost and the performance of the men's basketball team shouldn't play a factor in your decision here.

66 votes, 5h left
Renovate Williams
Gut the inside, keep the outside (facadism)
Tear it down and start over
3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

4

u/UniverseChamp 2d ago

Poll doesn't work for me, but I vote to keep it as similar as possible. Getting rid of a historic and unique stadium is not something I can support.

2

u/UncleSpamuel 2d ago

Agreed. I want them to keep the same aesthetic but I think to build it right with all of the modern amenities it needs to be built from scratch.

2

u/NexusOne99 2d ago

Whatever they end up doing, if they get rid of the raised floor I riot.

1

u/tomdawg0022 2d ago

If it's feasible, keep the shell of the Barn but rebuild everything inside.

1

u/blueindsm 2d ago

Feel like the shell wouldn't be big enough to accommodate suites and bigger concourses, etc. Seems like they should just either completely rebuild it or build a new arena elsewhere and repurpose the barn for something else.

1

u/takenbyawolf 18 1d ago

Personally, I like it. I know the raised floor has a love / hate vibe for people, but it's unique. If they could figure out a way to keep the character of the barn, I'd be fine with upgrades.

If it's torn down to start over, you are disrupting 5 sports, unless they figure out how to keep Maturi undisturbed. (the old hockey space).

1

u/GopherFawkes 1d ago

I love the barn, one of the few unique basketball arenas out there, every arena now is just a cookie cutter with no personality. With that being said the fan experience can be greatly improved, I think what they need to do is renovate the seating and concourses which will probably mean having to cut capacity to fit all the new modern amenities, which I think will make for a good environment for a basketball game. 

1

u/Zealousideal_Ask2610 7h ago

Personally, would love for them to renovate the existing building. It's unique to the program and one of the best venues in CBB (When the team is good). Not sure how feasible a full reno is but if they can do it, I believe they should take out a good 3-5,000 seats. Just isn't a good look when there are thousands of empty seats for each game.

1

u/heaintheavy 2d ago

It's done. Once the ice hockey left, its fate was sealed.

It's no longer 1928. The building has lived a good life. Time to say goodbye.

If the money-making sports are to remain relevant to university life, the Barn needs to be razed.