Bear Down Wildcats

Where did we leave off?

Webcam: http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/McKal ... bb36778760









New floor:



Staining it:







Looks like they are expanding underground:



Floor was finished 3 weeks ago, seats were delivered a few days ago



Media tour:

http://azstarnet.com/sports/college/wil ... 7a6db.html



New players entrance:

I'd be interested in how the ex-yellow seat section turns out.

Webcam link.

http://www.fdc.arizona.edu/webcam/McKale.aspx

Looks like the seats under the basket in the student section are going to be bleachers for the first 9 rows. I guess this is for the McZoo Crazies.

Well, I guess I answered my own question; and the answer is they are NOT bleacher seats after-all. All of the other lower bowl platforms were built onsite, by hand, but the north end was prefabbed and rolled in and actually looks different, thus I thought it would be different seating. I don't know the difference, but either way it is seats for everyone.

PS - Below is the link for the UA Twitter Account that has four new pics. Look at the top of the "A" in red on the upper seats as they are being installed.

https://twitter.com/APlayersProgram/sta ... 64/photo/1

Making some progress inside McKale, and the red "A" in the student section looks good:

Primetime Lighting:

this season it's just a lot of minor cosmetic upgrades like the new lighting and seats (and i think some new toilets and coats of paint and stuff in the concessions and bathrooms), but it will look a lot better in there. the real overhaul work is over the next 2-3 offseasons, but at least superficially, mckale will already look a lot nicer this season.

Coop Cat wrote:Primetime Lighting:

I know some folks who hate this type of lighting, but I love it. I like that look, especially on TV, where the floor is brightly lit but the stands progressively get darker the further back you look. Feels like the old LA forum lighting scheme. Dig it. Makes arenas feel more cavernous and imposing IMO.

'New' McKale helps UA land 5-star guard


7 hours ago • By Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star




McKale Center renovations are still months away from completion, but the project already accomplished a major goal Sunday: It was something of a clincher in five-star guard Allonzo Trier’s decision to become an Arizona Wildcat.

Trier, a 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound shooting guard from Seattle and Oklahoma who has been known as a top 2015 player since middle school, chose the Wildcats over schools including Kansas, Connecticut, UCLA and Louisville.

Trier said he developed a strong relationship with UA coach Sean Miller while playing for the U17 USA Basketball team Miller helped coach in June, and has been heavily recruited since then by UA assistant coach Joe Pasternack.

But it was the chance to see the UA campus for the first time this weekend for an official visit that helped seal the deal for the touted guard.

Trier said he was impressed with UA’s facilities, especially with the $30 million renovation phase to McKale Center, which is scheduled to be largely completed in time for the Red-Blue Game on Oct. 18.

“They were telling me a lot about the facilities and things like that, but seeing the McKale Center renovations was special to me,” Trier said by telephone Sunday from the Tucson airport, after finishing his visit.

“It was the facilities and the relationship I had with coach Miller and the coaching staff. I thought that was the best place to get me to the next level.”

http://tucson.com/sports/basketball/col ... 0182e.html

Looks like an NBA arena with that lighting. I dig it. I can't wait to see the finished product in person.

Working on the floor! Is that a cover or is that the new floor?

I like the Lute Olson signature.

North Carolina Blue going down...

Wonder if Lute was consulted about changing the signature...I know he had it changed from Olson Court to add Bobbi in...

I know her name is still there under the sig...

Ya it says Lute & Bobbi Olson court under the sig. Used to just say Lute & Bobbi in cursive

Full size: http://nbccollegebasketballtalk.files.w ... 989g5q.jpg

From Byrne:

Something that is in the renewal information, but I wanted to make sure I address here is our plan for the exhibition game. The McKale renovation project is moving along, but unfortunately, an unforeseen issue arose as we worked through the renovation on the east side that caused a two-week delay. As a result, the arena won’t be fully completed until the first regular-season men’s basketball game. This will impact our capacity for the Nov. 9 exhibition game vs. Cal Poly Pomona. In the past, the exhibition game(s) have been included in the season ticket package. This year, we have decided to remove it and adjust the season ticket prices. Season ticket prices will be lower than what has been published online and in our Fan Guide.

Just a couple of quick notes on the McKale renovation. The floor logos and markings are being painted this week and the new lighting has been completed. The installation of the new seats is about 70 percent complete and should be finished on Aug. 18, while some of the new locker rooms should be ready by Sept. 1. We’re looking forward to our first event in McKale when volleyball opens its home schedule on Sept. 5 against Alabama St.

I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

Daryl Zero wrote:I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

look up about 5 posts

ASUHATER! wrote:

Daryl Zero wrote:I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

look up about 5 posts

Thanks. I don't know what Oregon's court looks like in person but I hate the dang thing seeing it on the TV. Way too busy.

Jefe wrote:From Byrne:

Something that is in the renewal information, but I wanted to make sure I address here is our plan for the exhibition game. The McKale renovation project is moving along, but unfortunately, an unforeseen issue arose as we worked through the renovation on the east side that caused a two-week delay. As a result, the arena won’t be fully completed until the first regular-season men’s basketball game. This will impact our capacity for the Nov. 9 exhibition game vs. Cal Poly Pomona. In the past, the exhibition game(s) have been included in the season ticket package. This year, we have decided to remove it and adjust the season ticket prices. Season ticket prices will be lower than what has been published online and in our Fan Guide.

Just a couple of quick notes on the McKale renovation. The floor logos and markings are being painted this week and the new lighting has been completed. The installation of the new seats is about 70 percent complete and should be finished on Aug. 18, while some of the new locker rooms should be ready by Sept. 1. We’re looking forward to our first event in McKale when volleyball opens its home schedule on Sept. 5 against Alabama St.

Like watching paint dry.

Does this mean that Cal Poly game is canceled?

Daryl Zero wrote:I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

You just can't see the forest for the trees.

gumby wrote:

Daryl Zero wrote:I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

You just can't see the forest for the trees.

Or the court for the trees.

gumby wrote:

Jefe wrote:From Byrne:

Something that is in the renewal information, but I wanted to make sure I address here is our plan for the exhibition game. The McKale renovation project is moving along, but unfortunately, an unforeseen issue arose as we worked through the renovation on the east side that caused a two-week delay. As a result, the arena won’t be fully completed until the first regular-season men’s basketball game. This will impact our capacity for the Nov. 9 exhibition game vs. Cal Poly Pomona. In the past, the exhibition game(s) have been included in the season ticket package. This year, we have decided to remove it and adjust the season ticket prices. Season ticket prices will be lower than what has been published online and in our Fan Guide.

Just a couple of quick notes on the McKale renovation. The floor logos and markings are being painted this week and the new lighting has been completed. The installation of the new seats is about 70 percent complete and should be finished on Aug. 18, while some of the new locker rooms should be ready by Sept. 1. We’re looking forward to our first event in McKale when volleyball opens its home schedule on Sept. 5 against Alabama St.

Like watching paint dry.

Does this mean that Cal Poly game is canceled?

Think it means tickets will be sold seperately from the other games. I was wondering why the price seemed lower than usually when I got the email this morning.

Ya sounds like they will only have like 10k seats for the exhibition game. Make you wonder if any season ticket holders wont get that game...

Heading out to that meet & greet with Byrne in 30 mins. Im gonna push the outdoor Red/Blue game again

Count me as one fo the very few who hate that lighting. I want to see the red clad fans filled to the rafters making noise. I hate the NBA dark look.

azcat49 wrote:Count me as one fo the very few who hate that lighting. I want to see the red clad fans filled to the rafters making noise. I hate the NBA dark look.

Me too. Leave Showtime for LA.

Love every game a red out for CATS @ home.

azcat49 wrote:Count me as one fo the very few who hate that lighting. I want to see the red clad fans filled to the rafters making noise. I hate the NBA dark look.

Same here, but then I'm old and thus my opinion matters not.

Daryl Zero wrote:I just hope we don't have something as gawdawful ugly as Oregon's court.

UCF's is actually the most distracting when you see a game. I watched them play UConn, and it sucked even worse than you'd think it would suck watching UCF playing UConn.

I am honestly glad we aren't getting in on this trend.

Where's the saguaro cactus gonna go?

Desertcats wrote:Where's the saguaro cactus gonna go?

In the dreams of the old fans who still like it

mckale is going to look reeallllyyyy good in about 2ish (maybe 3) years when all the projects are done. definitely going to be a top 10 facility in college basketball.

azcat49 wrote:Count me as one fo the very few who hate that lighting. I want to see the red clad fans filled to the rafters making noise. I hate the NBA dark look.

Won't that blackout a whiteout? If they add NBA Muzak, I'll mute the TV.

No chance of an outdoor bball game. Byrne said they pretty much had to destroy the old floor to remove it

This works for me. Much more understated than the Eugene forest.


Would work with saguaros and hills. Maybe toss in a coyote (relax, Jefe, not that kind).

I personally like the Washington court but I also liked the platinum uniforms So what do I know! Haha!

UAdevil wrote:

Coop Cat wrote:Primetime Lighting:

I know some folks who hate this type of lighting, but I love it. I like that look, especially on TV, where the floor is brightly lit but the stands progressively get darker the further back you look. Feels like the old LA forum lighting scheme. Dig it. Makes arenas feel more cavernous and imposing IMO.

If we stop being a shooter's gym I'm all for it.

Jefe wrote:I like the Lute Olson signature.

North Carolina Blue going down...

That's called primer my friend.

If God doesn't have a favorite basketball team, then why did he make primer Carolina blue?

2 coats of clear on it now. I'm liking the new wood grain and the thinner outline



All red in the uppers

Pretty excited to see a game in McKale this year. But really, when haven't I been?

I got to see the last game with the old scoreboard. Oh the memories...

I'm anxious to see the more major infrastructure changes that will be coming next off-season.

-The East and West upper level redo with permanent concrete seating and the concourses behind those sections.
-The interior concourse being filled in with seating and tunnels at each aisle to access the new concourse.
-The 'exterior' concourse and amenities.

What we'll have for this season probably is only 20% of the total project upgrades.

Exciting times.

The scoreboard really lights the place up so it wont be that dark but did they put LED lights marking the aisles now?

Longhorned wrote:If God doesn't have a favorite basketball team, then why did he make primer Carolina blue?

They just picked any light blue color primer the dark blue would cover. But I digress. Fire that paint boss.

Court looks sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

They re-numbered the rows starting at 17A:

Because of the McKale renovation and some of the changes it caused as it relates to seating, we decided to use the opportunity to renumber the rows. This has apparently caused some confusion during the renewal process, where some fans think they were being moved further up. The actual seat locations have remained the same, it is just the numbers on the rows that have changed.

For example, row 17A is now row 17 and row 18 is now row 19. This happens all the way to the upper concourse where row 29 is now row 30, row 29A is now row 31 and row 29B is now row 32. As a result, the upper level seats now start with row 33 and go up to row 43.