PIT fixes for next year

[jdmgsr]

Get rid of the security team and leave everything else as is. Im happy we have what we have. It's one of the best arenas in the country. Be happy. Who gives a **** about speakers. The crowd going nuts is enough for me.

[The Los Man]

Get rid of the security team and leave everything else as is. Im happy we have what we have. It's one of the best arenas in the country. Be happy. Who gives a **** about speakers. The crowd going nuts is enough for me.

I do, when it sounds like Charlie Browns teacher. I can only imagine the laughs/confusion that it will get from out of towners coming for the NCAA tourney, sure we have an awesome arena but there is a lot left to be desired for the overall atmosphere IMO. UNM basketball is the best show in town and it should deliver as such.

[jdmgsr]

I do, when it sounds like Charlie Browns teacher. I can only imagine the laughs/confusion that it will get from out of towners coming for the NCAA tourney, sure we have an awesome arena but there is a lot left to be desired for the overall atmosphere IMO. UNM basketball is the best show in town and it should deliver as such.

In my opinion, it does.

[hefman]

I haven't been in the refurbished pit so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but I went to a Bob Dylan Concert in Pan American Center in LC many years ago, and the sound system was so bad I couldn't make out the words of songs that I had memorized. Now that was a bad sound system.

Touring acts almost NEVER play through a venue's PA system. They always either bring their own sound or hire an outside contractor to provide sound reinforcement. Arena PA systems are rarely meant to provide sound for concerts and pretty much never do (except for a few very rare cases, where they are just used to supplement the main system). What you heard was lousy acoustics, which is how a building or room reflects or absorbs certain audio frequencies. A good sound engineer or system can only make a room with lousy acoustics sound so good and there are variables. The people in front of the stage may have though it was the best sound ever, even if it was Bob Dylan... ;)

As for the PA/Sound system in The Pit, I agree it is not up to snuff. It is barely passable as a PA system and certainly not adequate for pumping music through. My guess is that it was not a huge part of the renovation or may have been reduced to save money. Or, they could have relied too much on the building contractors to provide the sound system advice -- a mistake MANY businesses make, in my opinion.

I know there are a couple of logistical problems to having a high end system in there. First of all, we know that the roof is not able to handle the weight of a jumbotron, so there's no way it would be able to handle the weight of a flown cluster of far-field speakers and would probably not be able to handle them spread out either -- those things are very heavy. Also, there is no mid-level concourse where some larger PA drivers could be located. There is also limited room around the playing floor to install any sort of large drivers. This leaves the option to install PA horns on towers near the floor -- a very old-school method and one that would obstruct sight lines.

If I'm not mistaken, the only PA speakers in there now (beside the ones installed on the concourse) are under the mezzanine/boxes. I'm sure they have to comply with newer decibel level requirements for those people located near those speakers, which severely limits their ability to project sound to the rest of the arena. Also, those speakers are not ideal for projecting bass frequencies. Not a good design.

I'm no expert (well, actually, I am), but one way the system could be drastically improved, given the limitations of the building, would be to install an array of near-field speakers, located within the seating area -- probably installed in the floor. An installation like this would allow them to get good clarity, while using much smaller speakers to get the bass response they want. This could be supplemented by a cluster of horn drivers in middle of the ceiling (horns are much lighter than full-range drivers) to project voice frequencies around the arena (and to the floor).

This would not be cheap, but would keep them from having to install a new roof. A system like this would also require a fairly substantial amount of maintenance. A good professional sound company could figure out a way to do this, but, again, not cheaply.

[torrez_s]

One thing I have is a hearing problem so no-matter what speakers they use I can't hear. But to my amazement I was in the bathroom and I could hear everything perfect. Please don't tell me to stay there.

[crisco]

Those speakers are awful, and the ones on the underside of the mezzanine are rarely on loud enough to hear anything! What an embarrassment the NCAA games will be. Combine that with the subpar air problems, the dimwit volunteers who can't swipe a credit card on a broken POS, and it will be typical second-rate crap experience...

[FarsideLobo]

JP wrote: "I haven't been in the refurbished pit so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but I went to a Bob Dylan Concert in Pan American Center in LC many years ago, and the sound system was so bad I couldn't make out the words of songs that I had memorized. Now that was a bad sound system."



That's not the sound system. That's Bob Dylan.

[jdmgsr]

Those speakers are awful, and the ones on the underside of the mezzanine are rarely on loud enough to hear anything! What an embarrassment the NCAA games will be. Combine that with the subpar air problems, the dimwit volunteers who can't swipe a credit card on a broken POS, and it will be typical second-rate crap experience...

Glad to know your so enthusiastic about our arena.

[torrez_s]

We go to the pit to watch the game I could care less what they are saying but then again I can't hear very good either.

[TheLoboMan]

Glad to know your so enthusiastic about our arena.

The NCAA tourney will be here next week. We are supposed to showcase this great arena. Unfortunately I will be embarrassed if the PA system is still the same as it was this season, I will be embarrassed if the smoke alarm goes off as it has in the past and I will be embarrassed if the concessions flow like they do now.

I go to a lot of arenas around the country for basketball games. Our PA is the worst and our concession stands don't cut it with the credit card mess and delays.

[zoom]

all you need is a program if you care who the other players are...that, the lobos,the crowd,the band...enough...

[snowlobo]

Attended the Boise State game on senior day, had not been to the pit since renovation. Thought it was beautiful! Was too busy staring in awe to notice the bugs.

I did notice the zombies sitting in those cushy chairs near the floor, wow does that layout remove the energy. Not nearly as rowdy as it used to be, wasn't all that the student section before?

Did spend a couple hundred on fresh Lobo gear!

[Burro lobo]

Get the Standing Room Only part done and use the extra cash to re-do the sound, change the eating services to make them fast and efficient, get the parking worked out. No reason not to have that extra SRO attendance available and the revenue working out some of the problems that are lingering. Shame on UNM investing all that money to show case the Pit and then cutting corners on the finished product!
Why not work these problems out before we show them to the whole country! Let's act like we've been there before, do not accept looking like we don't even know there is a problem!

[Lobo4444]

Add SRO's.
Fix Sound System.
Put a temperature control on the air flow from outside, set it for 72 degrees for both teams and leave it alone.
Add a few more HC spaces.
Add seating capacity by reducing seat size (one more seat per row would be sufficient.

[airlobo]

Reducing seat size to add another seat to the row? Seriously? That might work for the student section where they're standing the whole game, but otherwise, you can barely fit everyone's fat butts in the seats as it is, and if anyone on the row has more than 44" hips, the whole row is fighting to keep their allocated seat space.

I agree that they need to allow the SRO back into The Pit and get the sound system fixed and work on the concessions variety.

All of this being said about the peripheral issues, though, there is no better place in the country to watch a basketball game. There isn't a bad seat in the house and even in the top rows, you're still on top of the action.

[Burro lobo]

Don't get me wrong I love the Pit and the Lobos, just have a problem with not taking care of the flaws for two years now! I can't even guess how many people wonder what was said over the sound system and don't say anything, is no one in charge of the funny farm?

[FONZ]

This is probably not relevant because it will change for next year's season, but I might as well voice my opinion again because it might help the cause.

Please get a better introduction video.

It's terrible because it has too many different sound clips... No flow at all. I think everyone can agree that the accompanying song to the video can make or break it. I seriously would laugh every time it switched (almost every ten seconds) to a new or completely different sound clip.

This is debatable, but I think the video should focus in on New Mexico basketball history... Not showing video clips of players throwing the ball around. Also, I did not like the close up shots of the players' faces... Even if people like that kind of thing, the shots were pathetic. I just laughed whenever I saw the players scowling at me. lol

I think that the individual players should not be the focus of the intro video because we are showcasing New Mexico Basketball. I'm sure Alford would agree that not one player is greater than this program. Also, the players get their deserved attention when the mc announces the starting lineups and they get the attention of the fans for 40 minutes of basketball.

I thought the intro video this season was pathetic... I hope they do much better next year.

[NMFANINOKC]

I am not saying copy every ot her place in the country but the people in charge of game atmosphere, video boards, sound system etc should do one thing.. GO TO OTHER arenas and simply get ideas. I went to a Thunder game tonight, and yea I know UNM is not an NBA team but they did SO many small things throughout the game that were very cool and created such an amazing atmosphere that would also work at the college level. It is called "thinking outside the box" and thinking big time instead of sticking with the same things we have done for 20 years.

[LoboCubs23]

Reducing seat size to add another seat to the row? Seriously? That might work for the student section where they're standing the whole game, but otherwise, you can barely fit everyone's fat butts in the seats as it is, and if anyone on the row has more than 44" hips, the whole row is fighting to keep their allocated seat space.

I agree that they need to allow the SRO back into The Pit and get the sound system fixed and work on the concessions variety.

All of this being said about the peripheral issues, though, there is no better place in the country to watch a basketball game. There isn't a bad seat in the house and even in the top rows, you're still on top of the action.

I completely disagree with your assessment of the seats. THey are set way too far apart. You can easily fit one or two extra seats on a row... not a problem. At least one. That would be another 4-500 people.

[thedanimal]

This is probably not relevant because it will change for next year's season, but I might as well voice my opinion again because it might help the cause.

Please get a better introduction video.

It's terrible because it has too many different sound clips... No flow at all. I think everyone can agree that the accompanying song to the video can make or break it. I seriously would laugh every time it switched (almost every ten seconds) to a new or completely different sound clip.

This is debatable, but I think the video should focus in on New Mexico basketball history... Not showing video clips of players throwing the ball around. Also, I did not like the close up shots of the players' faces... Even if people like that kind of thing, the shots were pathetic. I just laughed whenever I saw the players scowling at me. lol

I think that the individual players should not be the focus of the intro video because we are showcasing New Mexico Basketball. I'm sure Alford would agree that not one player is greater than this program. Also, the players get their deserved attention when the mc announces the starting lineups and they get the attention of the fans for 40 minutes of basketball.

I thought the intro video this season was pathetic... I hope they do much better next year.

x2

[NMFANINOKC]

This is probably not relevant because it will change for next year's season, but I might as well voice my opinion again because it might help the cause.

Please get a better introduction video.

It's terrible because it has too many different sound clips... No flow at all. I think everyone can agree that the accompanying song to the video can make or break it. I seriously would laugh every time it switched (almost every ten seconds) to a new or completely different sound clip.

This is debatable, but I think the video should focus in on New Mexico basketball history... Not showing video clips of players throwing the ball around. Also, I did not like the close up shots of the players' faces... Even if people like that kind of thing, the shots were pathetic. I just laughed whenever I saw the players scowling at me. lol

I think that the individual players should not be the focus of the intro video because we are showcasing New Mexico Basketball. I'm sure Alford would agree that not one player is greater than this program. Also, the players get their deserved attention when the mc announces the starting lineups and they get the attention of the fans for 40 minutes of basketball.

I thought the intro video this season was pathetic... I hope they do much better next year.

Could not agree more. FONZ, I was AF last year to see Kansas play. You Tube their intro. I know we do not have that type of history at UNM but they really focus on the tradition there and not just the players that year. Pretty cool.. I agree with everything you are saying.

[TheLoboMan]

I agree with everyone. Make this a first class event. We have a storied arena and have made some major upgrades we should have an event management upgrade.

[ThreePointShot]

I thought the intro video this season was pathetic... I hope they do much better next year.

I agree that this year's intro video was very poor at best. It's been a pet peeve of mine all year. On the other hand, last year's was terrific. They should use that one as a reference point when designing next year's intro video.

The video should get the crowd pumped for the game. The music in the current one lurches from one section to another with abrupt changes that simply do not flow. And some of the music choices were questionable for a video of this sort. Instead of wanting to cheer and get excited during the video I found myself almost wanting to yawn instead. Hopefully next year's edition is much better.

[ThreePointShot]

I completely disagree with your assessment of the seats. THey are set way too far apart. You can easily fit one or two extra seats on a row... not a problem. At least one. That would be another 4-500 people.

Our bench seat row is too tight as it is when everyone is in attendance. I'm slender, and so is my wife, but we get squished when the row is full. With expanding waistlines becoming more common these days, tightening up the seating is not a good solution.

We need to bring back standing room only, however.

[UNMfan]

The video is too long.

[NMFANINOKC]

Honestly here is my 1 question, what does the department that is in charge of this do from year to year? I mean I am not saying they have to visit websites to see what fans want or anything however, do they do research each year and consider what they could change from a year to year basis? Or, do they simply say, "This is what we have done each year and this is what we will do next year." Place is known nationwide and with the upgrades I agree with LoboMan when he said htis place has had a facelift, now it is time for us to step up a notch with our in game atmosphere..

[Darkside]

Our bench seat row is too tight as it is when everyone is in attendance. I'm slender, and so is my wife, but we get squished when the row is full. With expanding waistlines becoming more common these days, tightening up the seating is not a good solution.

We need to bring back standing room only, however.

I agree; they need to reduce row numbers, not increase.

[ThreePointShot]

I agree; they need to reduce row numbers, not increase.

I believe our row already shrunk (tightening the seating) due to the requirement to widen the aisles between sections once they added the railings between the sections with the Pit renovation.

[Darkside]

I believe our row already shrunk (tightening the seating) due to the requirement to widen the aisles between sections once they added the railings between the sections with the Pit renovation.

That's why renovation was a band aid. If SA continues to win, the upside with only 15,411 seats available is limited. I really hope that a new 18-19k arena w/all chairbacks is on the drawing board.

[LoboCubs23]

I agree; they need to reduce row numbers, not increase.

Why I can sit in my seat put my hands on the bench on both sides of me and still have elbow room, and Im 6'2 235 (maybe 240). The guy next to me has the largest chair back I have ever ever seen too and there is still room for all that. They could easily squeeze 1 more seat into each row comfortably.