MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[gohope]

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.

Any reason on why and who? (And no this has nothing to do with the Abott and Costello "Who's on First?" commentary!)

[almcguirejr]

I hope the Calvin athletic department makes a concerted effort to host Division 3 National Championships (swimming also) in their new facilities.  The new arena with a capacity of 5,000 and a better seating arangement than the Salem Civic Center would be a great place for the finals. I think putting the men's finals in GR and the women's finals in Holland on the same weekend would be appealing to the NCAA.  DeVos and Van Noord arenas have to be 2 of the premeir facilities in D3 and being able to hold championships in a central part of the country would also be a benefit.

[HopeConvert]

I hope the Calvin athletic department makes a concerted effort to host Division 3 National Championships (swimming also) in their new facilities.  The new arena with a capacity of 5,000 and a better seating arangement than the Salem Civic Center would be a great place for the finals. I think putting the men's finals in GR and the women's finals in Holland on the same weekend would be appealing to the NCAA.  DeVos and Van Noord arenas have to be 2 of the premeir facilities in D3 and being able to hold championships in a central part of the country would also be a benefit.

From the pictures it sure seems like it will be nicer than the Salem Civic Center. The latter was strangely cavernous without being all that big. Then too, Salem is not accessible to any major airport - a serious drawback, I think. Add to that the fact you have substandard hotels, limited restaurant selections, and a long trip from the West Coast, and I would think that at some point the NCAA will have to consider Calvin.

Salem, however, is in a beautiful setting and my wife and I did manage to get some golf in before Saturday's games. So they got that going for them, which is nice.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I hope the Calvin athletic department makes a concerted effort to host Division 3 National Championships (swimming also) in their new facilities.  The new arena with a capacity of 5,000 and a better seating arangement than the Salem Civic Center would be a great place for the finals. I think putting the men's finals in GR and the women's finals in Holland on the same weekend would be appealing to the NCAA.  DeVos and Van Noord arenas have to be 2 of the premeir facilities in D3 and being able to hold championships in a central part of the country would also be a benefit.

From the pictures it sure seems like it will be nicer than the Salem Civic Center. The latter was strangely cavernous without being all that big. Then too, Salem is not accessible to any major airport - a serious drawback, I think. Add to that the fact you have substandard hotels, limited restaurant selections, and a long trip from the West Coast, and I would think that at some point the NCAA will have to consider Calvin.

Salem, however, is in a beautiful setting and my wife and I did manage to get some golf in before Saturday's games. So they got that going for them, which is nice.

You don't think Western Michigan has beautiful golf in mid-March?

[sac]

........depends on your version of beautifull.

[northb]

I hope the Calvin athletic department makes a concerted effort to host Division 3 National Championships (swimming also) in their new facilities.  The new arena with a capacity of 5,000 and a better seating arangement than the Salem Civic Center would be a great place for the finals. I think putting the men's finals in GR and the women's finals in Holland on the same weekend would be appealing to the NCAA.  DeVos and Van Noord arenas have to be 2 of the premeir facilities in D3 and being able to hold championships in a central part of the country would also be a benefit.

From the pictures it sure seems like it will be nicer than the Salem Civic Center. The latter was strangely cavernous without being all that big. Then too, Salem is not accessible to any major airport - a serious drawback, I think. Add to that the fact you have substandard hotels, limited restaurant selections, and a long trip from the West Coast, and I would think that at some point the NCAA will have to consider Calvin.

Salem, however, is in a beautiful setting and my wife and I did manage to get some golf in before Saturday's games. So they got that going for them, which is nice.

And speed traps.     Not so nice.

[calvinite]

I hope the Calvin athletic department makes a concerted effort to host Division 3 National Championships (swimming also) ....

Calvin has made strong pitches for the basketball finals in the past (including using the VanAndel downtown), will do so in the future, and certainly hopes the new facilities will help. My understanding (very limited) of this situation, however, is that the whole process is very competitive AND very political.

[ScotsFan]

........depends on your version of beautifull.

HA! 

That looks like a great day for some golf!

[oldknight]

WZZM-TV has a link you can watch showing and describing the new Van Noord Arena. Caleb Veldhouse provides some comments in the video.

http://www.wzzm13.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=103481&catid=128

[Flea]

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.

Because Van Noord is a multi-use building I'm guessing you have to put the 'closed' bleachers somewhere.  When the upper gyms are in use for classes, intramurals or practice the bleachers sit on the walkway.  This allows the gym to be enclosed on four sides while in use.

[realist]

LTK:  The last time I heard the MIAA made a pitch for the D3 men's finals they used the Delta Plex, not the Van Andel.  I am sure the folks in Salem would make a very strong pitch to keep the games there.  A big factor may be the football finals, and they offered a package last time.  You are right about the politics, and we must also remember this is the NCAA.  The use of logic, and common sense mean nothing.
As someone else already pointed out the designers for the Van Noord looked at the problem areas in the old fieldhouse, and made sure not to duplicate those.  A major factor in the design is the newer buildings must meet the handicapped requirements.  The old building didn't, and that alone insures much freer movement.  Now if Calvin can just exceed Hope's home court record that is frosting for my cake.

[sac]

......  Now if Calvin can just exceed Hope's home court record that is frosting for my cake.

Through this week's games:
Hope men:  55-3
Hope women : 47-1
Total:  102-4  .962


Good Luck !

[realist]

Scotsfan:  RE: your question on luxury boxes.
If memory serves correctly the college did reserve some of that seating in an enclosed area for use by the Development staff, along with the President and Alumni association.  There is also a media center area.  I don' t know if I would classify those as luxury boxes, but I am sure it is going to cost you something if you want to sit there.   There is an elevator from the lower to upper level as well.  I know there are big replay screens, but haven't heard offical word yet on video for the games, but it was in the "master plan".

[realist]

......  Now if Calvin can just exceed Hope's home court record that is frosting for my cake.

Through this week's games:
Hope men:  55-3
Hope women : 47-1
Total:  102-4  .962


Good Luck !

Thanks for the good wishes.  If one is going to dream, why not "dream big".

[sac]

......  Now if Calvin can just exceed Hope's home court record that is frosting for my cake.

Through this week's games:
Hope men:  55-3
Hope women : 47-1
Total:  102-4  .962

Good Luck !

Thanks for the good wishes.  If one is going to dream, why not "dream big".

3 of those 4 losses belong to Calvin by the way, the 4th happened this year to Aquinas for the men.