Long Range plans for Hilton

swarthmoreCY

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
16,374
736
83
Here nor there
I love Hilton, but to take it to the next level:

1. Updated video board (check out MU's), and advertising boards.
2. Extend the court to cover up the concrete floors
3. Add some more (crappy) student seats in the corners.
4. Suites in part of the inner concourse.
5. Lights that facilitate introductions
6. Extend and widen outer concourse, with new entrance/atrium
 
  • Like
Reactions: Havs

TOFB4ISU

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2010
1,025
436
63
The QC
If anything is done it will be for the rich; suites, expanded Johnny's, parking ramp . . .reducing overall capacity.
 

Rhoadhoused

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2010
11,211
245
63
34
Ames, IA
If anything is done it will be for the rich; suites, expanded Johnny's, parking ramp . . .reducing overall capacity.

I'd be shocked if a parking ramp or reduced capacity ever happened. Neither make any sense. There is no need to reduce capacity to add suites. There is plenty of height for the suites.

If anything they could install new seats throughout Hilton and add more.
 

Dryburn

Well-Known Member
Apr 3, 2006
10,033
517
113
Somewhere in the U.S.
There is a problem with just widening the inner concourse, or taking it out and adding in suites.

Around the inner concourse, you will see some black doors (at least they used to be black). Some of those lead to mechanical areas that are located above the ceiling of the outer concourse and can only be accessed through these doors. The mechanical areas contain light fixtures, air-handling equipment, electrical, and plumbing and there is an inner catwalk that goes completely around the concourse.

There was a plan once to add suites, but because of the re-design that would be necessary with everything, the cost was just prohibitive.

The mercury vapor lights were a big thing when they were first installed because it allowed TV crews to broadcast in color without having to add additional lighting. Hilton was one of the first arenas to have lighting that good. The problem with the mercury vapor lights is once you turn them off....it can take up to 15 minutes to warm up again and come to full brightness, and you can't turn them off and then right back on again. I would imagine there is something available today that could replace these lights and probably provide the necessary brightness for color television.
 

RedlineSi

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 20, 2006
4,508
7,106
113
Twin Cities
I'm shocked nobody has mentioned, but there are already plans out there for Hilton. When they were talking about building the practice facility before they got the land, they were going to do it at Hilton. They were also going to include the upgrades to Hilton. You can find the photos online. They were going to expand all the concourses and make theoutside concourse, inside. They were going to fill in the structure with glass.
 

Pseudonym

Active Member
Apr 7, 2009
346
29
28
San Francisco, California
In 2000 they tried to expand Hilton to 16000 seats to compete against WFA. Ames voters shot it down.

Max Urick wanted to add suites to Hilton and Cyclone Stadium in the late 80's, but faculty shut that down because they thought its over commercialized collegiate athletics.
 

kingcy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 16, 2006
22,806
3,698
113
Menlo, Iowa
I would think it would be a major deal to add suites to Hilton. Even in the concourse it would be huge deal. There is also the whole fire code issue with doing anything that limits the speed you can get out of the building.
 

HFCS

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
75,928
66,410
113
LA LA Land
The ceiling is the obvious project here. Unless it was redone since I last caught a game there.

The building itself, noise/layout, and the video screens are already awesome. The practice facility is new and clearly an asset from player and recruit interviews.

It may sound crazy but having JTS look like a big time football stadium (and it will now) may actually help with our fall basketball recruit visits.
 

Swanson10

Well-Known Member
Jun 12, 2008
1,891
76
48
Only thing that needs to be done is to add in a video board similar to the beast of amazballs that was added to Pepsi Center in Denver last year. Think JerryWorld but arena sized.
 

drednot57

Well-Known Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,036
180
63
67
Nevada, IA
There is a problem with just widening the inner concourse, or taking it out and adding in suites.

Around the inner concourse, you will see some black doors (at least they used to be black). Some of those lead to mechanical areas that are located above the ceiling of the outer concourse and can only be accessed through these doors. The mechanical areas contain light fixtures, air-handling equipment, electrical, and plumbing and there is an inner catwalk that goes completely around the concourse.

There was a plan once to add suites, but because of the re-design that would be necessary with everything, the cost was just prohibitive.

The mercury vapor lights were a big thing when they were first installed because it allowed TV crews to broadcast in color without having to add additional lighting. Hilton was one of the first arenas to have lighting that good. The problem with the mercury vapor lights is once you turn them off....it can take up to 15 minutes to warm up again and come to full brightness, and you can't turn them off and then right back on again. I would imagine there is something available today that could replace these lights and probably provide the necessary brightness for color television.

Are there LED lights that bright now?
 

drednot57

Well-Known Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,036
180
63
67
Nevada, IA
I don't know about NewEgg, but Tigerdirect does have storefronts around the country. Having one in Ames would be cool.