Humboldt's New Gym Layout

I don't understand why they don't increase the seating numbers by 500 or more. According to this plan, capacity will be 1,440, pretty much identical to the East Gym. It makes total sense to increase seating in order to accomodate more people, especially if the university is planning to increase enrollment. In addition, assuming the men's basketball team returns to being the power it was w/ Hooks, Nichols, White, et al, there will be lots of people being turned away again. Why not add some bleacher seating along one of the baselines? I'm sure something could be done.

This proposed gym has 720 seats on either side of the gym, and ALL seats are benches w/ backs, which is an improvement from what we have in the East Gym currently. How about this...

Have one side of the gym and baseline seating all benches w/ backs, and the other side w/ stadium chairs in the center section for season ticket holders and benches on either side of that section. There should also be a designated student section.

For a complete rundown on all the proposed improvements in the Forbes Complex, check out the following link...

Physical Education Project

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Grand Canyon's coach Scott Mossman on Humboldt hosting the regional: “We’ve been treated like kings the whole time we’ve been here. Everywhere we went it was like a first-class operation. I wish the tournament was here every year. This is a college basketball atmosphere.”

"Its cute how they have Pack the Gym night. Up here, we just call that Saturday." - PosseBoy

The thing that makes the most sense is to eliminate the weight room upstairs and move it downstairs or to the new student rec center (fieldhouse), then use the area of the west gym and current weight room to build a new "arena" for the university. The west gym already has more square footage than the East Gym (30,000+ sq. ft. > 18,000+ sq. ft.), and combining the West Gym w/ the weight room would give the space to build a "state of the art" arena on campus that could hold upwards of 2,500 people. Not only would this draw more attendees from the community and students, but the NCAA would look favorably on it when HSU is in a position to host a regional in basketball or volleyball.

I recall Collen saying that the Bond money they would receive was restricted to remodeling existing facilities. They could not build a new facility. However, it sounded like they intended to remodel the West Gym (which has approximately double the square footage of the East Gym). I thought that a major remodel of the West Gym could produce a gym with seating capacity of 2,000 to 2,500.

The West Gym's second floor consists of a gym, weight room and lobby. If I were planning this thing, I'd level the entire second floor of the West Gym. Then I rebuild the second floor into bascially one 30,000+ square foot room for the new gym and a couple of areas for lobby space. The weight room would have to be relocated (Field House?). By extending the length of the West Gym, you would be able to have "end zone" seating. The width of the West Gym would also accomodate a lot more than 8 or nine rows of bleachers. You could probably get 11-12 rows of bleachers in. You'd also have to add a wood floor. If the bleachers were 12 rows, the bleacher seating capacity would be 2,040. If the team was drawing really well, you would be able to add temporary bleachers at the ends of the courts, which would bring the capacity up to about 2,500. That is what I thought they were planning on. I have no idea what the cost of redoing the upper floor of the West Gym would cost, but I know they have about $40 million available for remodeling. I would think that they could redo the West Gym for $5-10 million.

I also recall Ray Hamill writing a colum in the Times Standard about "Plans for a 2,500 seat basketball arena." Was he looking at this layout? If this layout is in the East Gym, there is no way the seating goes over 1,500. If it's in the existing West Gym, you might be able to get it close to 2,000.

I think this is a big mistake by whoever is planning the remodeling. Facilities can make a big difference in recruiting. San Bernardino's gym is great and I wish we had one like that. I recall Sonoma State's coach saying that San Bernardino's new gym completely changed their program. They are able to attact more talented players. Sure, they only draw 900 people to a place that can seat 5,000, but the facility definately makes an impact on the kids, and if they are close, they get to host the regional.

If HSU were to properly remodel the top of the West Gym into a 2,000 - 2,500 seat state-of-the -art gym, they would set up their mens and womens basketball programs for the next twenty years. The facility would help in recruiting and it would be able to host a regional should the need arise.

Here is my view on this. If the West Gym can be remodel, which it should. Then, you should get at least 500 more seats in that area. I don't know what is in the new Rec Center, but if they have room there, the weight room could be relocated to there. That could gain more seats.

That could be the best that can be done until some form of fundraising or a very generous donation comes through to get a new facility bulid. Personally, I don't think we need a 5,000 seat arena for basketball. I think Humboldt will be fine if they got around 3,000 to 3,500 seats.

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Go Jacks!!!

The new Forbes complex at Humboldt State University is scheduled to be completed in 2008. Submitted rendering

New Forbes Complex to be HSU's latest addition
by Ray Hamill, 11/20/2005

Kevin Costner is nowhere to be seen and the cornfields of Iowa are a long way from Humboldt County, but the Jacks are answering the calls to build their own field of dreams, or more accurately their own “court of dreams.”

Having recently secured a $43.8 million grant from the State of California, Humboldt State has unveiled plans for a new Forbes Complex, with construction scheduled to begin next summer.

“It really is an exciting time for Humboldt State, and particularly Humboldt State athletics,” Director of Athletics Dan Collen said. “Because we’ve been able to do some things that will really enhance the student athletes time here.”

The new Forbes Complex, which will be located where the tennis courts presently are, is scheduled to be completed in 2008 and will feature a 2,300-seat arena for basketball and volleyball, new offices, locker-rooms and an eight-lane swimming pool.

It is the latest in a string of recent new athletic facilities at the school, including a new softball field which opened two years ago, a new fitness center and refurbished field house completed during the summer, and a new Boating Instruction and Safety Center, which will field the men’s and women’s crew teams and is scheduled to open in late spring.

When complete, the new Forbes Complex should give the Jacks one of the finest sports facilities among D-II schools throughout the nation, and could help not just in recruiting but also in the school’s general enrollment.

“We feel that with the addition of the new Forbes Complex, along with the Redwood Bowl, the new field house, the new fitness center and the Boating Instruction and Safety Center that we will be on a par with the best D-II schools in the country,” Collen said.

Funding for the new facility came through the Cal State system, with the current HSU gymnasium cited as a priority to be replaced among the 13 Division-II schools in the state.

The Jacks received approval early in the summer and began the planning process immediately. Originally it was hoped the grant would also pay for a new surface for the soccer field, but Collen says rising construction costs forced the school to re-plan.

“Even though we have the opportunity to build a wonderful facility, we had to make some tough decisions along the way,” the AD said.

The new facility will also mean the tennis courts will be torn down, and even though the school does not field a tennis team, the courts are widely used by students and community members.

The car park situated behind the tennis courts will also be torn down, further highlighting the parking problems for big events at the school, although the Jacks will still offer a shuttle service at those times.

The new gymnasium will feature seating on one side, and bleachers on the other side and at each end, and will have a very open feel to it, with plenty of natural lighting.

Its construction will also answer the many calls from community members, boosters and former Jacks who have long believed the East Gym fell well short of expected D-II standards, especially for a men’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four two years ago.

At the same time, however, it remains to be seen whether or not the Jacks will lose the “in your face” atmosphere they enjoyed in the East Gym, where fans were literally within inches of the opposing players, and that was an obvious home-court advantage for HSU in recent years.

The new facility will also include a dance studio and health and fitness instructional space, and will take more than two years to complete.

When the new building is complete, the West Gym will be torn down and replaced with a small plaza leading up to the front of the new Forbes Complex and giving that end of the Redwood Bowl a very open feel to it.

All the recent additions to the facilities at Humboldt State come hot on the heels of a series of operational cutbacks that forced the Jacks to cancel some sports, while severely streamlining others.

Track and field has been hurt the most with the cutbacks, losing the sprint and field portions of the team two years ago. There is still no definitive plan to bring them back.

Under Collen, however, the Jacks have substantially improved the amount of corporate sponsorship they receive and in each of his four years as AD the sports department has seen an improvement in scholarship spending.

The department’s scholarship funding this school year is $389,000, and Collen is hopeful they can get it as high as the mid-400s for next year.

“Every sport has continued to see additional scholarship funding,” he said.

Next year, the Jacks will join the California Collegiate Athletic Association, made up entirely of California schools, which will give the school a heightened presence within the state where most of their recruits come from, a move that should benefit the overall enrollment.

“I think that’s going to be a huge advantage for us, because we’re now going to be playing where our student athletes are from,” Collen said of the impending conference switch. “And we also think that’s going to help football, even though they don’t have a football conference.”

The Jacks also will open new batting cages alongside the softball field next spring, completing a softball complex that is a result of huge community support.

In the picture above, I don't see the proposed seating along the baselines, seating that I think is very important. It would be GREAT to have a student section behind one basket to harass the opposition. That's assuming the students will become more involved than they have in the past.

In regards to baseline seating. I think that needs to be done. I would look forward to a student section in that area. How about baseline seating under both hoops, that would be cool.

I know that I sit courtside at the game and it feels like I'm the only one trying to fire up the place and make it hard on the opposing team. What I need next game is more vocal support. I can't do it all by myself otherwise my voice will go out by the end of the first game in a weekend.

HSU celebrates new P.E. building
Sara Watson Arthurs The Times-Standard

Shaun Walker/ The Times-Standard
Humboldt State University President Rollin Richmond smiles after signing a foundation pile of the new physical education building prior to it being driven in.

ARCATA -- A new athletics building at Humboldt State University got one step closer to taking shape Wednesday.

University officials gathered for a pile-signing ceremony for the new physical education building, which will replace the West Gym and natatorium (or swimming pool). Kiewit Construction of Omaha, Neb., is the contractor for the 90,315-square-foot building.

The total construction cost is $35.5 million and the total project cost -- including fees, contingency and equipment -- is $43.8 million. A state bond, passed by voters as Proposition 55 in 2004, will pay for the construction.

HSU President Rollin Richmond was the first to sign one of the building's foundation piles prior to it being driven and permanently incorporated into the building's foundation.

The new complex will include a larger gymnasium with seating capacity for 2,000, a larger swimming pool and natatorium area, improved classroom and laboratory spaces and new faculty offices. The existing West Gym seats 1,400.

Construction began this summer. The building should be open and ready for use by the winter of 2007-'08, HSU officials said.

Two, the progress in getting the major structural part together before this winter hits the area. I think getting the ground set is key in buliding a structure like this. Once they get the beams and the foundation set, I think this could be a smooth running project.

Phase II of the project will be the demolition of the West Gym and old natatorium, and installation of a plaza that will serve as a scenic entrance way to Redwood Bowl. All aspects of the project should be completed by early in 2009.

My own guess is that the gym won't be available for basketball until the 2008-09 season, and of course, construction timing could vary depending on the winter weather. The actual seating is indeed expected to be around 2,000, with some chairback and some bleacher seating. However, seating is NOT part of the state project, and the cost of it will have to be completely fund-raised. If that money (approx. $500,000 to $700,000) isn't available when the gym is finished, no seats will be installed and the Jacks will still be playing in the East Gym.

How many more people would be going to tonight's game if they could get tickets? Four of the last five games have been sellouts with people standing in line for HOURS waiting for tickets to go on sale. I know people personally that couldn't get them.

And with the entire team returning pretty much for next year, there's going to be a huge demand for tickets once again. In fact, as long as the team continues to win, and there's reason to think it won't, 2,500 seats might be just about right. Selling 2,000 seats for most games next season should be pretty easy to do. It's too bad that the new arena will likely not be finished.

Maybe there should be more of an effort on the part of the athletic department to sell more season tickets once the arena's built. I think many more people would buy them if the information was out there, either on the web or in the local papers. I bet over 1,000 season tickets could be sold in the new arena fairly easily.

A 2,500-seater could be used for other events as well...high school championships, the Niclai tourney, etc. And obviously the more tickets you sell the more revenue is generated, and the quicker those seats can be paid off.

I planned on taking my sixth grade basketball team to one of the two games this week, but apparently the tickets have all been sold already. That's disappointing. I know there's very little the athletic department can do when all the tickets are gone, but this is a prime example of why the new arena needs to have a significantly larger capacity.

In regards to capacity, I think 2,500 would be the right amount to start with. I think what you need to have in the facility is the possiblities to expand in maybe 20 to 25 years. I don't know if that will be factored in the structure but anything is possible.

Shoot look at the possiblities. I think Jacks Fan pointed out some things like Dick Nicial Finals, the High School Wrestling Championships at the league and possibly the section level, the Section playoffs like a big semifinal or a championship game. The Nor Cal Regional at the high school basketball level. Also, you could get some concerts into that facility too.