MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

This is the first picture I've seen of the new arena completed.
http://www.calvin.edu/campaign/news/2009-sfc-dedication.html

[northb]

This is a couple months old, but is a video of the progress on the VN center

http://vimeo.com/2225951

[almcguirejr]

WOOD TV has this on their website.  The video shows the entire complex.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/An_inside_look_at_new_Calvin_Fieldhouse

Edit: This video shows the arena and aquatic center but does not include the indoor tennis and track facility.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

This is the first picture I've seen of the new arena completed.
http://www.calvin.edu/campaign/news/2009-sfc-dedication.html

Is there a reason VanNoord doesn't have floor level seating for fans? Its like the game is being played in a bowl? Is there another event use that requires this set up? Or will removable seating be placed on the floor in the areas where it'd fit?

I just watched the Wood-TV video and it appears to include retractable bleachers that were added since the picture on the Calvin website. Is that right?

[northb]

WOOD TV has this on their website.  The video shows the entire complex.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/An_inside_look_at_new_Calvin_Fieldhouse

[northb]

This is the first picture I've seen of the new arena completed.
http://www.calvin.edu/campaign/news/2009-sfc-dedication.html

Is there a reason VanNoord doesn't have floor level seating for fans? Its like the game is being played in a bowl? Is there another event use that requires this set up? Or will removable seating be placed on the floor in the areas where it'd fit?

I just watched the Wood-TV video and it appears to include retractable bleachers that were added since the picture on the Calvin website. Is that right?

I believe that the "student" bleachers come out in that lower bowl.  The voice over tour guide in the video commented about how it was designed so that the upper bowl can remain in their seats when the students stand in the lower bowl.  Yes, it would be a real loss if they did not have fans right on the floor.

[almcguirejr]

This is the first picture I've seen of the new arena completed.
http://www.calvin.edu/campaign/news/2009-sfc-dedication.html

Is there a reason VanNoord doesn't have floor level seating for fans? Its like the game is being played in a bowl? Is there another event use that requires this set up? Or will removable seating be placed on the floor in the areas where it'd fit?

I just watched the Wood-TV video and it appears to include retractable bleachers that were added since the picture on the Calvin website. Is that right?

I believe that the "student" bleachers come out in that lower bowl.  The voice over tour guide in the video commented about how it was designed so that the upper bowl can remain in their seats when the students stand in the lower bowl.  Yes, it would be a real loss if they did not have fans right on the floor.

There will be seating in the lower bowl area. 

[KnightSlappy]

The last couple of posters are correct.  The seating in the lower bowl is the plastic molded no-back bleachers (similar to those at the DeVos Fieldhouse) that can fold back out of the way for more practice space.

I believe the upper bowl seating will contain permanent stadium seats and bleachers with backs.

[HopeConvert]

Very impressive. And I like the idea that you won't get stuck behind rows of standing students. This has been an annoyance in the past at Knollcrest.

[sac]

Here's a more recent photo, you can clearly (or not so clearly, they're the maroon things) see the bleachers on the lower level.



Another article......
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/01/calvin_college_opens_50_million_spoelhof_fieldhouse_complex.html


Looks very nice, but I'm puzzled why there's a walkway in front of the upper level seating, this was a problem at the old fieldhouse.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Here's a more recent photo, you can clearly (or not so clearly, they're the maroon things) see the bleachers on the lower level


Looks very nice, but I'm puzzled why there's a walkway in front of the upper level seating, this was a problem at the old fieldhouse.

I was thinking the same thing. Great idea to protect the view from standing students but if people are walking back and forth you won't see a thing in the first 2 or 3 rows on the upper level anyways.

The pool area seen in the WOOD TV video is great. Can't imagine you'll ever see anything like that at Hope with the Holland Aquatic Center being so close.

[oldknight]

Looks very nice, but I'm puzzled why there's a walkway in front of the upper level seating, this was a problem at the old fieldhouse.

Entry to the arena will be at concourse level which requires the walkway. This type of design has both advantages and disadvantages. The design could have been built like DeVos Fieldhouse (spectator entry from the top) but the advantage to a concourse entry is that getting to your seat requires a shorter walk up or down for most fans. I don't think Van Noord's design will be the problem that Knollcrest was for several reasons.

The main problem with the Knollcrest walkway was that it basically only extended from baseline to baseline thereby creating a huge bottleneck because traffic couldn't flow freely. Van Noord allows the spectator to circle the arena which creates much improved traffic flow. We shouldn't see nearly as many people walking against one another as was the case at Knollcrest because the primary exits, restrooms and concession stand required it. In addition, this concourse looks to be wider than Knollcrest's. Finally, from the picture, it appears that the first row of upper level seating is raised which helps some. I also understand that the lower bleachers will be dropped down enough that upper level spectators won't have their view hindered when the students decide to stand. I guess I can give you a better idea of how all this works after I attend next week.

I did get a kick out of this quote from the mlive article sac provided:

Wednesday the scoreboard already listed Calvin as the home team and archrival Hope College as the visitor.

"They needed to test it, and they just couldn't help themselves," said DeVries laughing.

I guess it shows you that Faulkner was right.

[hope1]

it looks really nice  with the video from wood tv8    nice pool and all of the stuff

[sac]

Washington and Lee 64 Kalamazoo 46

Kzoo will play the loser of Conn College and Skidmore, which is curiously the 2nd game of a tournament hosted by Wash. & Lee.


It occurred to me just now why Washington and Lee are the Generals.  This ladies and gentlemen is the depths that my intellect operates sometimes..........I hope this is the low point.

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Kalamazoo had to forfeit its game with Taylor - Fort Wayne earlier this season for using an ineligible player.  Kzoo drops to 3-6 with today's result.

[ScotsFan]

Wow!  What a complex!  I thought Kenyon's new athletic complex was impressive, but this thing looks to be even more so.  Of course, Kenyon doesn't boast a 5,000 seat basketball arena...    Were those luxury suites I saw in that Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex Tour video?

This is really making me wish that Wooster would get started on their new athletic complex like yesterday!!!