PSU athletics master plan announced

[Tom]

A dedicated basketball practice facility is on the plan, just not in the near term.

Penn State Athletics Announces 20-Year Facilities Master Plan

[psuphiman80]

Seems to be a good compromise between a dedicated basketball arena and the current set up.

Will be interesting to see what the further BJC renos would entail.

Time to start outspending our competition in Philadelphia.

[BleedPSU]

If they really do plan on building a hoops practice facility and doing necessary lower bowl seating renos to the BJC, I'm actually pretty cool with that. I'd prefer a new arena, but I understand the reasons for not doing it with the facility already on campus.

[tjb]

Andrew Callahan (ACallahan_247)

I think by this he means that the BJC will be converted to a basketball facility.

[jyd]

But where will they hold the monster truck rallies?

[Tom]

.

I think by this he means that the BJC will be converted to a basketball facility.

I think he's referring to the proposed basketball practice facility.

[loudnate]

That was a really confusing tweet. I'm really not sure what he means.

[Tom]

That was a really confusing tweet. I'm really not sure what he means.

The PSU master plan has provisions for upgrading the BJC as well as building a separate basketball practice facility.

[PSUClassof2011]

and farmer's rallies.

[CAPPY]

Penn State details plans to upgrade Bryce Jordan Center

[UncleLar]

twitter.com

Andrew Callahan (ACallahan_247)

The BJC will be renovated to improve the atmosphere and environment for basketball games. The plan is for a stand-alone basketball facility.

3:49 PM - 13 Mar 2017

I think by this he means that the BJC will be converted to a basketball facility.

He's not really made things very clear with either his tweet or his article.

Here's the scoop from a basketball perspective.

First of all, and I don't think anyone has made this very clear, nothing major basketball wise is going to happen for a while, perhaps even a very good while.

Secondly, the standalone facility is a PRACTICE only facility and will be under control of the athletic department - meaning they don't get bumped out of it for Bon Jovi concerts. Games will still be played at the BJC.

The timeline for this is TBD. The twenty year master plan calls for implementation in five year mini-plans. The first five year mini-plan, which begins in the 2018-19 academic year, calls for construction of a new Center For Excellence. The Center For Excellence will house a bunch of stuff but will be the central hub of the athletic department - many, probably most, of the athletic department offices will be moved there (that includes the basketball team offices). Four other projects, none of which involve basketball will happen in this first five year plan. They include a new football practice facility (replacing Holuba), upgrades to Jeffrey Field, a new Natatorium, and a new Tennis facility.

What a lot of people are missing is that the remodeling of Beaver Stadium is not included in this first five year plan. That will have to wait until at least phase two. So now you have to ask yourself, are they going to remodel the BJC or build a standalone practice hoops facility at the same time as they remodel Beaver Stadium. If I were a betting man, I would say no. My guess is the basketball related changes aren't going to be happening for a good while.

That said, the movement of many of the athletic department offices (Sandy taking care of Sandy?) out of the BJC and into the Center For Excellence, will open up space in the BJC. What they do with that space is anyone's guess? Sandy has said that there will be ongoing minor projects at the BJC. How those minor projects affect hoops is unknown?

The net of it is - nothing is probably going to happen for a good long while.

[Tom]

The net of it is - nothing is probably going to happen for a good long while.

If you win powerball and want to get things started sooner, I bet they'd get started sooner:)

[UncleLar]

If you win powerball and want to get things started sooner, I bet they'd get started sooner:)

If I win Powerball, it might take me ten years to work my way down to upgrading the BJC too.

[jyd]

I don't know how the coaches feel, but I would find it fairly inconvenient to have my office in the new Center for Excellence and have to trek to the BJC for practice. If I were they, I'd want to see if I could get my office in the new practice facility, at least, when that's being built. Pat will have taken us to numerous NCAAs by the time that all happens.

[JohnT]

That said, the movement of many of the athletic department offices (Sandy taking care of Sandy?) out of the BJC and into the Center For Excellence, will open up space in the BJC. What they do with that space is anyone's guess?

Maybe just stop paying "rent" to Housing & Food Services (or whatever org controls the BJC) for the office spaces?

[timauman]

Am I the only one that finds the name 'Center for Excellence' to be pompously self centered at best?

[mjg]

Am I the only one that finds the name 'Center for Excellence' to be pompously self centered at best?

It beats "Center for Mediocrity". I think you are being too sensitive. That's just my take.

[Joz]

Heard from an extremely solid source yesterday that a basketball-only venue (12,000 seats oddly) was on the table and remains on the wishlist. The brass decided other facilities needed to take priority and were worried about a possible lack of return of building that facility at this point. It is a possibility for the future though (think 10 years or so).

[tjb]

Heard from an extremely solid source yesterday

This strikes me as a possible April Fool's joke now, although the 10 years out is a nice touch if it is.

[Joz]

Haha nope, all I can say is they are involved in the execution of the plan and have been around throughout the process.

Nothing is promised but I find it interesting that
1) it's a legitimate consideration
2) they are thinking 12,000