University
of California Riverside Athletics Director Stan Morrison will
answer selected questions from our online readers throughout
the school year. To submit a question to "Ask Stan Morrison",
click here.
Question:
"Stan
-
I am
totally jealous of my friend who goes to Fresno State and
gets not only a D1-A football team, but he works at the new
Save Mart Center that seats 16,500 for their Men's Basketball
team. Plus they get to hold top tier events such as Britney
Spears, John Mayer, WWE Wrestling and others. What is so good
about Fresno? They are a Cal-State in a boring city (too far
away from anything fun). Riverside is part of the prestigious
University of California system which hosts two PAC-10 teams
(Cal and UCLA); and is in a convenient location which is only
34 miles from Disneyland, and also close to LA and Big Bear
Mountain Resort. Can we get Charter Communications to sponsor
our new basketball stadium (at Chicago and Martin Luther King,
proposed site)?
We should
follow the Save Mart center design to hold 16,500 seats which
would be ample enough to support big events in the Inland
Empire region, along with indoor graduation ceremonies, and
Big Dance regional games!
SMC only
cost around 74 million, which is about the price of a major
research or academic building which I think UCR could fund
(especially since it recently sold land receiving $40 million).
We need this kind of stadium to bring in more top recruits
and prestige to UC Riverside.
Submitted
by Keith Kell
Stan's
Reply :
"Thanks
for your inspired email on the big stadium. Your description
of what happens with a huge arena at Fresno State is exactly
what my vision would be for us here at UCR. The opportunity
for our teams to play, for the Ringling Brothers/Barnum and
Bailey Circus, World Wrestling Federation, NCAA Regionals
for Men's and Women's Basketball, NCAA Finals for Men's and
Women's Volleyball, NCAA Gymnastics Finals, The X Games, Concerts
with every type of music, Ice Capades/Disney on Ice, The Mercedes-Benz
Indoor Tennis Circuit, Indoor Track and Field Championships,
Automobile Shows, and indoor graduation would be a boon to
the Inland Empire and certainly UCR. Further, the appropriate
management team could bring in leagues with Indoor Arena Football,
Indoor Soccer and Hockey to help fill the arena 250+ nights
each year. Frankly, this is, in my opinion, the one missing
venue in the Inland
Empire that would make Riverside a true All-American City.
Jobs would be
created by the hundreds. Inland Empire money would be spent
here instead of at the Pond or Staples Center. And, best of
all, UCR students would stay here on weekends instead of going
home and spending their money outside our immediate area.
That would be a huge step forward in making UCR a seven-day
a week University
.I
do not believe Charter Communications is ready for that very
high level of sponsorship. I know the campus is not in a position
to fund this kind of project. I wish we could. The state budget
crisis has worn down our budgets considerably. I know you
understand. Thanks a million for the enthusiasm of your email.
I do look forward to seeing you at our events over the remainder
of the year. All the best and thanks again.
"Braveheart is Alive!" - Stan Morrison
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