Looks good. I wonder why they don't make it a complete lower bowl with seating.

stew wrote:

Harper has been AD  for a year and a half and youd think by now Duquesne would have plans ready to do something to improve mens basketball. I am just disgusted with Duquesne,the women lose today,the plans
 to renovate Palumbo  are bogus. Firing Ferry without plans to upgrade facilities is another futile move to
change the depressing garbage basketball program .No decent coach is coming to Duquesne without a
strong committment for improved facilities to compete .Palumbo sucks. Our facilities are the worst.
 Carnegie Mellon doesnt rely on athletics to attract students or bolster alumni giving. Dropping out of the
A10  and going non scholarship.Athletics at Duquesne loses millions of dollars a year.The money  from athletics could be used  to  make Duquesne a better academic school. Hiring a new coach???More
losing??????Losing basketball is draining funds.Go Division3 and stop this futile attempt by Duquesne
to regain basketball glory.Nobody really cares ,not the fans ,not the students,supportive alumni have
died off.Duquesne mens basketball is a embarrassment.

 

Pitt fan? This article was accompanied by a vague quote by the ad and the vmdo architectural firm link shows a proposal that is definitely in line with the content in the article. Just saying....

Tejas_Duke wrote:

So, we're going to take out about 1000 seats, that don't get sold anyway, but still, and replace them with private boxes, that won't get sold, thus reducing the seating capacity of our, already too small gym, to about 3500. Yeah this is a great plan!

Don't want to get into an arguement here, but have you ever sat in those seats they are replacing (red seats) since seats were installed?

They are horrible.  You can't see about 1/3 of the court because of how low and set back they are. When they replaced the bleachers it ruined all the sight lines on that side.  I always sat in the bleachers on that side and never had a problem seeing at all

No one sits there anyway.   And it would not be 1,000 seats at all.  Maybe 500 in that red sections and you would be adding some back with the boxes.

Last edited by duqkurt (3/05/2017 10:05 pm)

"Whatfrat" ...Nice post - Two separate "pots" in terms of getting a new coach and raising money for a renovation, BUT your point is well taken and if the thinking is there, then it can happen.  We should know in a few days.  I am going to the games on Saturday - A10 at PPG place.  If they are going to get rid of Ferry, the time to do it is by Sunday so that the word is out among the other teams and assistants that are in town - along with other coaches/scouts from other programs.

If you are going to get rid of Ferry and wait until after the A-10 games this weekend, then you probably aren't going to do it or you are putting yourself at an "announcement" disadvantage.  This may sound in conflict, but after the announcement that should happen sooner than later, you then Take your Time to get someone very good - and you try to keep the leaks to a minimum on who they are talking to.  Sadly, I would not be surprised if Harper drank the Kool-Aid and doesn't bring in a good coach - without a 10 year plan.  Something someone said on another post was extremely insightful.  Why not pull the plug - according to Ferry, we have another 5 years anyhow - why not do it with a really good coach.  Ferry's comment may actually backfire!!!!!!

My take is that Duquesne wants to make the official announcement and get some publicity in the mass madia rather than some two-bit blog.  It really is tough to keep anything under wraps today with all of the amateur reporters willing to post anything just to get the jump on legitimate media outlets.  Hopefully the digital images of the renovation can be kept private until the official announcement is made. 
If you recall Harper referred to a big announcement regarding the direction of the basketball program a few months ago.  I think the timetable was 8 months from that time.  We may just have to be patient a bit longer.

I'm wondering if info is being deliberately leaked to create a buzz prior to a formal announcement. In any case, I'm curious about the reference to the convention center. I realize there is a lot of empty usable space, but has there ever been an arena type configuration there with seating, scoreboards, locker rooms, etc.?

Phildog wrote:

While we talk about Palumbo upgrades, and they will come, I spent Sunday watching FGCU throttle Noth Florida to qualify for the 2nd straight NCAA, and 3rd in the 5 years they have been eligible to be in as a new D-1 program.
This Dunk City is loaded with powerful forwards and great 1's and 2's that can hit the trey, drive to the hole and power slam, when needed.
Coach Joe Dooley, a former Kanas top Assistant has won with tough as nails defense and country leading inside scoring. He took a $100,000 pay cut to come to this 20 year old University where sell out crowds of 4,600 plus of screaming Eagle Fans show up every night.

But what else is there to do in Ft. Myers Area except World Class Beaches in Naples, Bonita Springs and Sanible Islands on the Gulf of Mexico. And about 250,000 of Snowbirds coming south for the Paradise weather each year.

He recruits the top Fl kids that don't want the Gators or Seminole expierence of riding the bench and throw in top program transfers( who are actually good) and a JC or two and he has won 26 games with a 9 point loss to Baylor and a homer win up at Mich. State by one point that robbed FGCU earlier this season.

Good coaching, kids that play smart basketball and know how to win.

Hey maybe that formula could win at Duquesne, revamped home court or not?

And this coach makes under 200 grand a year.....

His predecessor, Andy Enfield, is doing pretty good out at USC. Maybe he'll feel that he can make the same jump and land at a good P5 school. I'd love to have him though.

Dukes2012 wrote:

When do you think we will hear, one way or another, about ferry's fate?

My guess (and this is a total guess) would be Tuesday March 14th.  I don't think they would do this during the A-10 tourney.  If there is nothing but crickets by Thursday 3/16, I'm guessing that Ferry stays another year. 
 

Andy Enfield singed a 1,000,000 a year 5 year deal, ( from $150,000) , I think Dooley could do very well after this year.

Dukes2012 wrote:

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

When do you think we will hear, one way or another, about ferry's fate?

My guess (and this is a total guess) would be Tuesday March 14th.  I don't think they would do this during the A-10 tourney.  If there is nothing but crickets by Thursday 3/16, I'm guessing that Ferry stays another year. 
 

That was my guess, too. I would think that if a change is going to be made that they would want to get a head start on approaching candidates.

A head start of "formally" approaching candidates.  I'm sure that Mr. Harper has had back channel approaches to potential candidates to gauge interest in the Dukes' job.  Before you make a move, you better have 3 or 4 targeted candidates who have expressed a very strong interest in the job on your list.

What we see is a needs assessment done by VMDO.  Go to their website for more info.
They have done work for GMU and VCU.
The illustrations are only illustrations. We have to wait and see what actually happens.
I agree money is a big issue but RMU is doing 50 million on their project so it could be the Palumbo
upgrade will happen.  
 

Econ69 wrote:

What we see is a needs assessment done by VMDO.  Go to their website for more info.
They have done work for GMU and VCU.
The illustrations are only illustrations. We have to wait and see what actually happens.
I agree money is a big issue but RMU is doing 50 million on their project so it could be the Palumbo
upgrade will happen.  
 

Robert Morris Won't Be Able to Fill It's New Arena.  "If you build it, and they still won't come!" http://www.rmusentrymedia.com/opinioneditorial/opinion-if-you-build-it-they-still-wont-come/
 

godukes1970 wrote:

Robert Morris Won't Be Able to Fill It's New Arena.  "If you build it, and they still won't come!" http://www.rmusentrymedia.com/opinioneditorial/opinion-if-you-build-it-they-still-wont-come/
 

The above article is from 2015.