Glasgow Rocks new arena?

[Deleted]

What are Rocks fans opinions on this? I understand the need to get your own arena but it certainly looks like a big downgrade from where they play at the moment, and from what I’ve seen on Twitter some people don’t think it’s very good to travel to either?

Apologies if it’s being discussed elsewhere I couldn’t find anything

[dandayr]

seriously thought i'd been in a deep sleep and woke up on April 1st when I saw this.

the space they call the 'arena' - it is a double court, just. when playing on one of the courts, the space is marginally more than the playing space. First time there, my bench when sitting down had their feet on the court. The score table was overlapping the sideline. Next time there was on the other court. More space for benches and table - but on opposite sideline no space between the line and the barrier separating the two sides. As said, width is barely two courts.

So fit in a BBL court down the centre, you will have less than 1 courts width to put seating in - so less than 50% of the space for seating they have in the small hall at emirates. Throw in a much lower roof, be shocked if you could configure it to even 40% of their current venue capacity without some extremely serious building work.

Very surprised at this announcement.

[almachizzit]

I just don’t get this one. Unless there is going to be major renovations and extensions to the building I don’t see why it would go ahead.

[D44]

Feb 12, 2022 4:29:36 GMT almachizzit said:

I just don’t get this one. Unless there is going to be major renovations and extensions to the building I don’t see why it would go ahead.

Perhaps the thinking is its far easy to update/extend an existing building than build a new one from scratch.

[spacejammer]

Well this has certainly come out of nowhere, are the Rocks having financial issues?
Definate downgrade moving from the Emirates like.

Having finally listened to the guest BBL speaker on the BBL shows it seemed like the Rocks were the only team with both a comfortable size arena with the room ready for expansion.

Although asides from the annual Trophy Final only Rocks fans would be able to tell us how often the big stage arena gets used?

[stepback3]

Its already been said that the current build will be massively upgraded and developed. I hope this means extentions as rocks want shop, gym and other spaces still to be accessible. Glasgow city council are looking to offload alot of facilities they see as not profitable so no doubt the rocks have already got a shell of a building for not very much.

Not sure this can be seen negatively at all? Its not like they are moving their for tomorrows game.

[dandayr]

Feb 12, 2022 22:47:44 GMT stepback3 said:

Its already been said that the current build will be massively upgraded and developed. I hope this means extensions as rocks want shop, gym and other spaces still to be accessible. Glasgow city council are looking to offload a lot of facilities they see as not profitable so no doubt the rocks have already got a shell of a building for not very much.

Not sure this can be seen negatively at all? Its not like they are moving their for tomorrows game.

Have you ever been in the building?
Go back and read the Rocks release again - the target is to move in early in the 2022/23 season. Early to me is before the new year, not pre season Sept but before Jan.
So in that time you could replace the floor, get some baskets, fit out changing rooms for teams and referees, increase toilets for spectators, improve the gym equipment and maybe a couple of other odds and ends - but you cant do any meaningful extensions before early in the 2022/23 season. Forget to mention scoring equipment - no wall mounted scoreboard at the moment - so need to add that to the list, but that can be done ok for early in the season - its just a decent cost (£10k plus) on top of all the other costs and with a limited capacity it is just so interesting to see this announcement.

Yes they would have sellouts in their own venue - but is a 500 or maybe at a stretch a 750 sell out what the ambition is now?

Oh - never mentioned lighting. Just to make it acceptable for BBL games the lighting would need to be upgraded, never mind raising it to broadcast standard and good luck with parking (space) the outside broadcast units there and all the power upgrades to support that.

Even if never been in the building - have a look on google street view and admire the slopes of the roof. IMHO to extend the current sports hall area you dont just slap a frame work at the side at the height of the games hall, you would need to redo the existing roof at same time. Not a cheap or quick option.

[spacejammer]

Just seen this in BBC Sport News page saying that without this arena the team would not exist or have to relocate to elsewhere in Scotland.

It could and most likely is just the BBC trying to scream their usual doom and gloom propaganda but it looks like they are definately looking for a new home.



www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/60355692

Although if they go I wonder how much use the Emirates will get after the Rocks leave.

[stepback3]

The emirates will be well used. Alot of events are held at it and it seems the netball team are still planning on playing at it.

[dandayr]

listened to an excellent webcast by a rocks fan with the clubs GM - he mentioned they are not the sole bidder for the venue but he did not name the other party, I will come back to that. Did say they reckon could start with about 1000 seats as the place is currently and would look to expand to a 3000 seating space with the 3rd court and retractable seating layout. In talking about seats, did say thy are a big expense as works out about £300 a seat and their are options to consider like buy or hire.

Most interesting was said the bid document is now out in the public - and when you look on the Glasgow Council page to see the bids on various facilities, you then learn who the other bidder is. It is an Easterhouse community sports hub in partnership with BasketballScotland!

Here is the Rocks bid document - some parts, well make your own mind up, but thought they should have stuck to the postivs of why they would be best person for the facility.

www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=56100&p=0

This is the other bid:

www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=56099&p=0

[almachizzit]

Be good to see where the extra money would be coming from to get the arena ready.

I took from the Ricks press release it was pretty much a done deal they had the place but I take it that it’s far from that.