Missouri State University, JQ Hammons to build new Arena

[kard]

$60 million, 12,500 seat arena to break ground in fall, be ready for '08-'09 season.  I love this old man moneybags!


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http://springfieldnewsleader.com/apps/p ... 1/60210005
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MSU, Hammons unveil arena plan

News-Leader staff

Springfield — Missouri State University officials announced this morning that a long-sought larger basketball arena will be built on campus.

Springfield businessman and philanthropist John Q. Hammons will provide $25 million toward the university’s $60 million price tag for JQH Arena, which will be constructed directly east of the existing Hammons Student Center.

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and will be completed for the opening of the 2008-09 basketball season, according to the university.

“Thanks to Mr. Hammons’ vision and generosity, this longtime dream will become a reality,â€

[KCMax]

They deserve it. They've been the best hoops program in the state the last few years and the future looks bright for them.

[Hull-Os]

Will it have pipes and a chiller for ice?

It should. Springfield could use another sheet of ice, even if is only temporary. They could attract some NHL exhibition games or a minor league team.

My guess is the University wouldn't want to share the facility with a minor league hockey team.

Good for moo state. I hated living in Springfield, partly because moo state hoops is the only game in town. They needed a better barn.

[kard]

Will it have pipes and a chiller for ice?

It should. Springfield could use another sheet of ice, even if is only temporary. They could attract some NHL exhibition games or a minor league team.

My guess is the University wouldn't want to share the facility with a minor league hockey team.

Good for moo state. I hated living in Springfield, partly because moo state hoops is the only game in town. They needed a better barn.

No word if they'll ice the place or not.

Although, you do know that MSU has a hockey team, right?  I've not been to the Jorday Valley Ice Park, so I don't know how much seating there is (not much, I think), but they do have a place to play.  But a large ice terrace would go over fine in Springfield.  I can see Sesame Street on Ice doing well there.

Ooo...they play MU tonight!
http://www.smsbearshockey.com/

I like the Jordan Valley Ice Park URL...
http://www.icepark.org/

[Hull-Os]

MSU's team is club hockey, which is a step higher than intramurals.  KU has a club team...

[kard]

I missed that you said minor league.  My bad.  That would be cool for Springfield, though.

[KCMax]

Good win for MSU today. Bracketology on ESPN has them in the Big Dance, and that was before their win today. They also have the MVC getting more teams (5) than the ACC, Big 12, or Pac 10 (4)!!!! 

[kard]

Woot!

[KCMax]

Missouri State was ROBBED!

How did Air Force get in, but not the Bears??????

Hope they win the NIT.

[kard]

I'm sure Air Force will get more viewers then some little school in Springfield, MO.  It's a setup!

Lady Bears got in!

[KansasCityCraka]

The Lady Bears also won the MVC Championship today.

[Mizzou05]

I'm sorry but 20,000 students does not seem like a little school to me

[WSPanic]

I was kind of curious about how CBS listed The Bears. They had them as "Mizz St." - Does Missouri State ever use the "Mizzou State" name. I just thought that was a little weird.

Not sure if they got screwed or not. I know the MVC is up this year, but I really don't think any teams in that conference are better than Texas A&M or Oklahoma. Or even that close.

RPI's are a little ridiculous. And SW MO St. was overrated by the computer polls.

[LenexatoKCMO]

I have heard speculation that Air Force may have benefited from the military sympathy vote.  There really aren't too many valid justifications for their selection. 

[Mizzou05]

We try to distance ourselves as much as we can from MU

[Highlander]

Missouri State was ROBBED!

How did Air Force get in, but not the Bears??????

Hope they win the NIT.

After seeing the success of the MVC in the tournament so far, I am inclined to agree with this sentiment.  The MVC was 6 teams deep this year (more than I can say for the Big XII)  and Missouri State had a pretty tough schedule in that light and had some good victories on the road against Northern Iowa (25th ranked) and Wisconsin Millwaukee and a home victory against Bradley.  Wichita State just finished beating Tennessee ( a team that absolutely demolished Texas earlier in the year) and had an impressive victory against Seton Hall. 

One of the things that work against mid-major programs is that they get forced into playing most of their non-conference games against the major conferences on the road.  As a result, their record doesn't look all that hot in head-to-head competition.  A quick check of the teams in the MVC showed that combined, they only played 3 home games against major conferences....all of which they won (Indiana, Iowa and Purdue).  The remainder of games against the majors were played on the road.  That is one of the reasons why there are so many surprises in the tournament; these guys are pretty competitive but they tend to get dismissed by the Dick Vitales of the b-ball world because they did not compete with the majors with the deck stacked against them. Get them on a neutral court and, as seen, they beat anybody on any given night.   

[kard]

Drawings!  Info!  Yum!

[quote] SPRINGFIELD – More than 11,000 seats, a grand entrance, 22 private suites, more than 100 loge seats, 55 “Jack Nicholson courtside seats,â€

[chrizow]

looks good!  kind of like a rectangular version of the Mizzou Arena, but perhaps better due to more glass.

[ShowME]

I like it.  The Missouri Valley Conference has a wide range of arena's.  You go from old school arena's like Southern Illinois and Wichita State(which was recently modernized).  To an NBA wannabe like the Qwest Center in Omaha.  To an indoor college football arena at Northern Iowa.  The JQH will definitely be a welcome addition.  I guess it will also be connected to the Hammons Student Center.  I'm definitely counting down the days till hoops season begins.  Expect MO State to be a mid-major powerhouse this year.

[StL_Dan]

They deserve it. They've been the best hoops program in the state the last few years...

What does that perception have to do with deserving a new arena?