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re: Any word on LSU's proposed new basketball arena?
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:03 am to jmarto1
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:03 am to jmarto1
That’s a big part of it, the location but again the building has plenty of potential and is fine for crowd size. Woody made a deal with a shady company whose CEO is in legal trouble to line pockets. You can put 40-50 mil in the PMAC and it would be very nice.
This post was edited on 1/27/26 at 10:05 am
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Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:06 am to PSS101
In the interview Verge did with Jacques that other day Jacques asked him about it. Verge definitely treaded lightly with the question but his answer was pretty much that he hasn't really had time to fully get caught up on where things are with it since his main focus when he took the AD job was getting kiffin. He also mentioned that the turnover that the Oak View Group has had as well(new CEO as the last one was federally indicted) kind of led to things stopping for a few months. But he finished by saying that now that some of the more pressing things have gotten taken care of that this will be moved back up the priority list. And I actually do believe that Verge is going to push getting this thing across the finish line pretty hard as it would be a huge feather in his cap
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:08 am to Jax Teller
Maybe u don’t visit that often. But there’s ppl there who in their everyday. They know the problems
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:09 am to Madking
quote:
Right, look at what Bama is about to spend, look at the money Houston spent on their arena. Bama was going to build a $183million dollar arena but settled on upgrades for just under $60mil. Woody sold people on the idea that we need a $400million dollar+ arena when in reality you can do a complete makeover for the PMAC for $50-70mil easily.
The (reported) premise for the new arena goes beyond LSU basketball. It's modeled after the Moody Center in Austin which while serving as the home court for Texas basketball also host non-university events (concerts and shows). The initial proposal was a private-public partnership with EBR with the new arena to essentially serve as an entertainment draw for BR beyond the River Center...which doesn't really get many big acts.
It also, in theory, would revitalize an area that could use a little bit of that as there would be an entertainment/business district developed around the arena. The LSU golf course is just a waste of prime real estate at this point and it would be great if a new arena/district could dovetail into taking a bulldozer to Tigerland and revitalizing what has become a slum.
Of course, you are dealing with EBR and the State of Louisiana, so there is no guarantee any of this gets executed well. But, if so, though the cost would be much more, it could potentially reap more benefit for the city as a whole than a cheaper renovation of a 60 year old, outdated, PMAC
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:09 am to Tiger2tiga
quote:
Maybe u don’t visit that often. But there’s ppl there who in their everyday. They know the problems
I go enough to know they play sports in there and I can watch the sports just fine.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:10 am to Madking
quote:
look at the money Houston spent on their arena
$60 million in 2018 (pre Covid and pre NIL/Revenue Share). With 1/3rd underwritten by one donor.
quote:
Bama was going to build a $183million dollar arena
Announced in 2022 and then construction costs continued to increase as well.
quote:
but settled on upgrades for just under $60mil
Practice Facility. No improvements to fan experience.
quote:
when in reality you can do a complete makeover for the PMAC for $50-70mil easily.
If $70 million was the PMAC renovation cost, I'd imagine we'd already completed it. This is also nearly double your 10% guarantee.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:13 am to Alt26
I think the people that complain about this project are looking at it from solely an LSU athletics perspective. The arena is a small part of a much larger development project that will include restaurants, hotels, academic and research facilities, shops, offices, and other things. This development isn't just meant to replace the PMAC, it is essentially meant to replace downtown BR as the entertainment center of Baton Rouge Thats why getting EBR on board was so important.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:17 am to CapitalTiger
I said 40-70 and the renovations for Bama are not strictly roster/player based. So you’re misrepresenting things to make your argument.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:19 am to fallguy_1978
quote:
They need to buy Tigerland while they are at it and turn it into a parking lot.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:22 am to Madking
quote:
I said 40-70
You said 10% of $400 million. Then $50-70m. Then $40-50m.
quote:
and the renovations for Bama are not strictly roster/player based
Did you look at the link? It is entirely a practice facility expansion.
quote:
So you’re misrepresenting things to make your argument.
Seems like you're the one doing that when I've provided actual, comparable renovation costs that were all in your proposed range - but completed before NIL and pre-Covid construction inflation costs.
This post was edited on 1/27/26 at 10:32 am
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:23 am to PSS101
We got a lot of construction cost estimators in this thread… wonder how many of them have put together proposals for arena renovations in the past
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:38 am to CapitalTiger
No you’re just conflating things I said.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:39 am to jmarto1
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:40 am to PSS101
Feels like it will be years before a decision is made, and then another couple years after that until they start building it. Get cozy in the PMAC.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 10:54 am to Jax Teller
quote:This is apparently a hot take in Baton Rouge, but I agree. Invest in a high quality renovation to address the things that are heavily complained about. Widen the sitting areas (I'm fine with paying a little more for tickets if the capacity is lower), improve the bathrooms, and fix the roof/ceiling. We can spend significantly less this way and satisfy most people.
I've never been in the PMAC and thought "OMG this sucks." It's fricking fine.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 11:02 am to iamandykeim
quote:
This is apparently a hot take in Baton Rouge, but I agree. Invest in a high quality renovation to address the things that are heavily complained about. Widen the sitting areas (I'm fine with paying a little more for tickets if the capacity is lower), improve the bathrooms, and fix the roof/ceiling.
The dilemma with this option is that LSU doesn't have the cash to do this. So if you proceed, it'll need to bonded out or come from donated funds. Bonding out a non-revenue generating renovation would be a terrible move so LSU would need to add more premium options.
quote:
We can spend significantly less this way and satisfy most people.
This is why LSU went the private developer route. LSU has land and a viable product. The developer has access to capital that LSU doesn't have currently.
This post was edited on 1/27/26 at 11:05 am
Posted on 1/27/26 at 11:12 am to Aforem7
quote:
I think the people that complain about this project are looking at it from solely an LSU athletics perspective.
Agree 100%
"Great facilities" is an antiquated weapon in the "arms race" of a former era of college sports. Simply bulding a new arena isn't going to make the men's program better. And it won't attract many fans after the intial curiosity wears off if the program stinks. Kanas, Duke, Purdue, etc all play in older stadiums. As long as the team is winning at a high level, fans will pack the stadium. If not, they won't. Auburn didn't become a great program because they built a new arena. They became a great program because they got the right HC. The fans followed the success...not the other way around. If LSU is consistently winning and is a final four contender most years the PMAC, in its current condition, will be packed.
So if you are going invest in a new arena, make it an investment beyond just basketball. BR is a decent sized (mid) market. Use the new arena and development to try to improve the city as a whole
Posted on 1/27/26 at 11:25 am to PSS101
Last I remember reading was that there is a holdup with the LSU Economic Development District/ added sales tax. The State?/LSU EDD is being contested with people against it saying it's illegal because it was never brought to the ballot; and that the loophole of implementing an EDD sales tax without a vote because there are no registered voters in the area is illegal.
Former councilman files lawsuit alleging two LSU economic development districts are unconstitutional
But no mention of the Southern University Economic Development District doing the same thing. Somebody's just mad that it's the LSU BOS in charge of the funds and not themselves.
Former councilman files lawsuit alleging two LSU economic development districts are unconstitutional
quote:
BATON ROUGE — Former Baton Rouge Councilman Darrell Glasper Sr. has filed a lawsuit alleging that two recently-created economic development districts broke the law when they raised taxes on local businesses without taxpayer approval.
But no mention of the Southern University Economic Development District doing the same thing. Somebody's just mad that it's the LSU BOS in charge of the funds and not themselves.
This post was edited on 1/27/26 at 11:33 am
Posted on 1/27/26 at 12:03 pm to CapitalTiger
quote:Okay, that makes sense. Didn't really think of it like that. Guess I was oversimplifying the issue lol
This is why LSU went the private developer route. LSU has land and a viable product. The developer has access to capital that LSU doesn't have currently.
Posted on 1/27/26 at 12:11 pm to fallguy_1978
quote:
They need to buy Tigerland while they are at it and turn it into a parking lot.
I wish I could upvote this to infinity.
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