Practice Facility

[reef]

Heck yeah !!

[Rhody_NYCT]

Great news!

[Rhodymob05]

It'll be nice to showcase the construction updates throughout this year/next season. Sounds like players can get in the facility after next season.

[FmrRamFB1]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

[URI_05]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

You do know that the commitment to building the practice facility was one of the requirements for getting Miller, right?

[section(105)]

…..NCAA $$ raises all boats, no?….

[Rhody15]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Soccer, track, softball, etc do not bring money or move the needle for the university.

Football just had turf, light, and weight room upgrades.

URI is a basketball school, the sport brings money and eyeballs to Kingston, and needs to be funded as that.

[Da_Process_Survivor]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

And none of those sports make a dime for the University.

Basketball = revenue. Especially when you start racking up NCAA shares at 250k per year per game.

Fact is you don't get or keep a quality coach without basketball program projects like practice facilities and charter flights

[ramster]

Displayed May 4, 2022 at Season Tkt Event:

[ramster]

Two more pictures:

[ElmCityRhody]

nice !

TY for posting

[woodennickel1]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Guarantee you would not have got Miller without the practice facility plans. Have to have a practice facility today if you want to have a serious program.

[ramster]

I may be an outlier here but it would be nice to see upgrades to the other sports facilities as well. The soccer team doesn’t have a press box or restroom facilities, our D1 outdoor track team doesn’t have a track (practices at a high school) and I won’t mention the albatross at Meade Stadium.

A practice facility is the ultimate want vs need and is not a harbinger of success. Kentucky, with all of its resources got beat by a 15 seed who plays in a bubbled, 3k seat multi-purpose arena.

I’ll take a quality coach over facilities all day and it appears we have one in Miller.

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Guarantee you would not have got Miller without the practice facility plans. Have to have a practice facility today if you want to have a serious program.

These are two pictures from a display at the entrance to Tootell West from early last November, 2021 that I took. There were about 5 displayed back then for several weeks. I didn’t share them then since I didn’t think I should even though they were in the hallway.

Last November in Ft Myers Thorr shared that the design firm was selected (same as for Ryan Center) and work was underway. Same timeline shared then as in place now.

Thorr shared that our President had given the ok to move forward even though still a bit short of the $7.9 million total.

Point is the Practice Facility Project was approved and in motion last year.

Did the excitement help to draw Head Coaching candidates for the David Cox vacancy? Sure. Of course.

But it is not being done because Miller took the job. I’d agree it was likely a strong point in our favor. And credit to our President and Thorr and donors for having the vision and foresight last year to move this project last year during very trying Covid times.

[Rhody15]

Interesting they’re going with that Ram head in the last picture Ramster posted.

That’s isn’t an old logo or the newest logo.

I’ve seen that thrown around random twitter accounts, but never by the university.

Would be odd if they don’t use the newest Ram head they’ve been advertising on merchandise and the court next season.

[STC]

Absolutely love these renderings. It's great to see URI becoming a legitimate program in front of our eyes.

[ElmCityRhody]

Interesting they’re going with that Ram head in the last picture Ramster posted.

That’s isn’t an old logo or the newest logo.

I’ve seen that thrown around random twitter accounts, but never by the university.

Would be odd if they don’t use the newest Ram head they’ve been advertising on merchandise and the court next season.

good observation - i actually noticed that also before

would think that it would be the newest logo - but who knows

[Rhodymob05]

I think there was a note saying that the wall art is TBD. That was definitely a concept that never made it.

[ramster]

Interesting they’re going with that Ram head in the last picture Ramster posted.

That’s isn’t an old logo or the newest logo.

I’ve seen that thrown around random twitter accounts, but never by the university.

Would be odd if they don’t use the newest Ram head they’ve been advertising on merchandise and the court next season.

Remember I said these were from last November, this was early on and the new Ram Head had not been announced yet.
I’d go by the pictures from last night STH Event. I only shows from November to illustrate how the practice Facility was in motion. It was approved and being built regardless of when the HC Opening was going to occur.

[Rhody83]

Two things that I think were part of Archie’s negotiations:
1) get full funding - either President or donor stepped up with the final $700,000 as part of Archie’s agreement.
2) firm open date of June 2023. Throrr has thrown many dates out there before- just ask Dan and Cox.

[Blue Man]

Two things that I think were part of Archie’s negotiations:
1) get full funding - either President or donor stepped up with the final $700,000 as part of Archie’s agreement.
2) firm open date of June 2023. Throrr has thrown many dates out there before- just ask Dan and Cox.

I think it was the president stepping up before the Archie offer.

Remember Thorr talked a lot about going to Archie and saying "this is what we're doing, not this is what we want to do."

They learned their lessons from Dan leaving. Having a "plan" doesn't mean anything in this business. Just like when Darren Rizzi was recruiting kids with the "promise" that they'd be playing in a new horseshoe stadium their senior year.

URI stepped up so that someone like Archie would listen to an offer and want to join with what we ARE doing, not planning to do.

The practice facility was going to be done next year no matter who we got as a head coach.

[Rhody15]

Interesting they’re going with that Ram head in the last picture Ramster posted.

That’s isn’t an old logo or the newest logo.

I’ve seen that thrown around random twitter accounts, but never by the university.

Would be odd if they don’t use the newest Ram head they’ve been advertising on merchandise and the court next season.

Remember I said these were from last November, this was early on and the new Ram Head had not been announced yet.
I’d go by the pictures from last night STH Event. I only shows from November to illustrate how the practice Facility was in motion. It was approved and being built regardless of when the HC Opening was going to occur.

The picture last night showed the same Ram head as the picture you took from last November.

Most likely was just a concept logo, and the new Ram head will go in place of what is shown in the picture.

[steviep123]

Two things that I think were part of Archie’s negotiations:
1) get full funding - either President or donor stepped up with the final $700,000 as part of Archie’s agreement.
2) firm open date of June 2023. Throrr has thrown many dates out there before- just ask Dan and Cox.

I think it was the president stepping up before the Archie offer.

Remember Thorr talked a lot about going to Archie and saying "this is what we're doing, not this is what we want to do."

They learned their lessons from Dan leaving. Having a "plan" doesn't mean anything in this business. Just like when Darren Rizzi was recruiting kids with the "promise" that they'd be playing in a new horseshoe stadium their senior year.

URI stepped up so that someone like Archie would listen to an offer and want to join with what we ARE doing, not planning to do.

The practice facility was going to be done next year no matter who we got as a head coach.

Exactly this. Thorr exactly said this during the Miller press conference. (Paraphrasing to Parlange, "It can't be, 'we're planning to do this.' It has to be, "This is what we are doing.'"

[ramster]

Two things that I think were part of Archie’s negotiations:
1) get full funding - either President or donor stepped up with the final $700,000 as part of Archie’s agreement.
2) firm open date of June 2023. Throrr has thrown many dates out there before- just ask Dan and Cox.

I think it was the president stepping up before the Archie offer.

Remember Thorr talked a lot about going to Archie and saying "this is what we're doing, not this is what we want to do."

They learned their lessons from Dan leaving. Having a "plan" doesn't mean anything in this business. Just like when Darren Rizzi was recruiting kids with the "promise" that they'd be playing in a new horseshoe stadium their senior year.

URI stepped up so that someone like Archie would listen to an offer and want to join with what we ARE doing, not planning to do.

The practice facility was going to be done next year no matter who we got as a head coach.

Exactly this. Thorr exactly said this during the Miller press conference. (Paraphrasing to Parlange, "It can't be, 'we're planning to do this.' It has to be, "This is what we are doing.'"

We were $7.3 million way back at Halloween. Then we were only $300k short earlier this year.
The Practice Facility was approved, design well underway and plans for bidding the project out well before Archie came along.

Going back a year or so several here were complaining $8 million was too much to spend on the project.

Thorr and Parlange made sure to get this project in motion.

And consider 2 year contract extension and big raise for Tammi after just 2 years (got A10 COY), then another big extension after her 3rd year but Cox never got a raise and minimal contract extension.

Don’t think Thorr wasn’t well prepared and ready to pull the trigger before this 2021-22 season even started. You could read the tea leaves.

[Ramulous]

NIL $ is now more important than a practice facility. Just my opinion

[Rhody72]

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Athletic administrations are heads of a family and are incapable of restructuring in a significant way to address the infrastructure problems that URI athletic programs face. We are over extended and in need of major subtractions and additions. The Board needs to impose changes to achieve excellence within current budget constraints.

[ramster]

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Athletic administrations are heads of a family and are incapable of restructuring in a significant way to address the infrastructure problems that URI athletic programs face. We are over extended and in need of major subtractions and additions. The Board needs to impose changes to achieve excellence within current budget constraints.

What changes should the Board implement?

[NYGFan_Section208]

NIL $ is now more important than a practice facility. Just my opinion

Totally agree...a practice facility is attractive, but not like that cash money, homes.

[ramster]

NIL $ is now more important than a practice facility. Just my opinion

Totally agree...a practice facility is attractive, but not like that cash money, homes.

Cars, G-League, Portal

[Blue Man]

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Athletic administrations are heads of a family and are incapable of restructuring in a significant way to address the infrastructure problems that URI athletic programs face. We are over extended and in need of major subtractions and additions. The Board needs to impose changes to achieve excellence within current budget constraints.

As a manager of people, what changes should they make that aren’t already underway, oh wise troll?

[NYGFan_Section208]

Let’s fund our expectations for all sports.

Athletic administrations are heads of a family and are incapable of restructuring in a significant way to address the infrastructure problems that URI athletic programs face. We are over extended and in need of major subtractions and additions. The Board needs to impose changes to achieve excellence within current budget constraints.

As a manager of people, what changes should they make that aren’t already underway, oh wise troll?

He lost me when he said that administrations are like families, but sealed the deal when he said that the kb board could impose changes to impact the budget.

[sbrand]

I find it baffling that these practice facility pics were not shared on rhodymbb social media

[ramster]

I find it baffling that these practice facility pics were not shared on rhodymbb social media

I’ve been thinking that since I first saw the displays in early November. Why wouldn’t you want to promote what you are doing?
Why not get players, coaches, fans and prospective recruits excited?
We did promote the Football Lights and new Turf. People knew it was coming. But still not media coverage of this Practice Facility. It will be open in a year.
If this was for Football I think you would have already seen lots of info and promotion as Football would have taken charge.
Basketball doesn’t seem do this. Where is Marketing and Promotion?

[sbrand]

All these things will increase ticket sales, apparel, and perhaps open up licensing opportunities especially if they start retiring numbers and hanging jerseys.

[ElmCityRhody]

funny because jsut yesterday i went looking for an announcement - heck even of the court - they could have marketed it as new chapter - new court or some BS like that and amped it up

but no... nothing

thank goodness to the person who posted the pictures on here or else i would have had no idea

[Rhodymob05]

Maybe the wanted to wait until there was more of a guarantee that this was happening before promoting it?

[TruePoint]

It’s kind of a weird thing to “market” something to the public that is not for them and to which they will not really have any access. Like, the people here on this board understand what it is and why it is significant but to the general public it’s a bit odd to market something to them just to seemingly toot your own horn that you have it.

[Jdrums#3]

NIL $ is now more important than a practice facility. Just my opinion

You are probably correct, Ramulous.

Anyway…My cynical side has always seen these things as the price of admission (no pun intended to our national higher Ed system) to the arms race the P5’s - with the ballessness of the NCAA - are happy to unleash because they know they have the resources and clout to win.

[Jdrums#3]

I find it baffling that these practice facility pics were not shared on rhodymbb social media

I’ve been thinking that since I first saw the displays in early November. Why wouldn’t you want to promote what you are doing?
Why not get players, coaches, fans and prospective recruits excited?
We did promote the Football Lights and new Turf. People knew it was coming. But still not media coverage of this Practice Facility. It will be open in a year.
If this was for Football I think you would have already seen lots of info and promotion as Football would have taken charge.
Basketball doesn’t seem do this. Where is Marketing and Promotion?

The whole University is going stealth mode. Archie’s doing.
We will have a new parking garage and never see it coming.

Seriously though, I think Rhody bb can be so much smarter with marketing. There are very intelligent people in and around the program but, every so often, we see oversights and mis-steps. I am dumbfounded by it.

[RhodyKyle]

It’s kind of a weird thing to “market” something to the public that is not for them and to which they will not really have any access. Like, the people here on this board understand what it is and why it is significant but to the general public it’s a bit odd to market something to them just to seemingly toot your own horn that you have it.

Not only that, but marketing it will lead to those ill-informed people to raging about their tax dollars being wasted even though not a single cent of people's taxes went into it.

Why give ammo to those who won't argue in good faith?

[Jdrums#3]

It’s kind of a weird thing to “market” something to the public that is not for them and to which they will not really have any access. Like, the people here on this board understand what it is and why it is significant but to the general public it’s a bit odd to market something to them just to seemingly toot your own horn that you have it.

Not only that, but marketing it will lead to those ill-informed people to raging about their tax dollars being wasted even though not a single cent of people's taxes went into it.

Why give ammo to those who won't argue in good faith?

Good points above. I think when many say marketing it is meant generically - I do, anyway. Probably better for me to use strategic marketing, for lack of a better term (I wasn’t a marketing major). As in, market the items to the appropriate constituents.

[ramster]

It’s kind of a weird thing to “market” something to the public that is not for them and to which they will not really have any access. Like, the people here on this board understand what it is and why it is significant but to the general public it’s a bit odd to market something to them just to seemingly toot your own horn that you have it.

Not only that, but marketing it will lead to those ill-informed people to raging about their tax dollars being wasted even though not a single cent of people's taxes went into it.

Why give ammo to those who won't argue in good faith?

When PC, VCU, UCONN and others got their Practice Facilities approved there was plenty of publicity. In fact, when others built practice facilities the subject then on this board was why not URI?
Evan when it got approved at URI some posters here bitched it was too much money to spend being $8 million - even though all donated.
I’ve even had posters here challenge about the approval and they won’t believe it til the ground-breaking.

Promoting the Practice Facility will generate more interest in URI basketball in media, among fans and among recruits.

All the money is donated. Put that in the headline of the ProJo article if your worried about Tax Payers. I’m not.

Think Big - We Do!!!!
Brag about our Athletic Facilities!

Heck, look at the URI Football Site where they are showing a possible Stadium of the Future that’s not even planned or approved yet - more of a dream to show fans, recruits and their families. Football and WBB are great with social media and selling their programs. MBB has room to grow - especially since Hurley departed.

[Rhody83]

It is somewhat embarrassing that thePractice Facility concept to renovate existing space was committed to Dan 5-6 years ago.

Fyi, the Practice Facility is equally the Mens and Womens Practice Facility. The publicity, promotion & marketing falls completely on Thorr.
Nothing to do with the social media and selling of Mens BB program.

[Rhody72]

It is somewhat embarrassing that the Practice Facility concept to renovate existing space was committed to Dan 5-6 years ago.

Fyi, the Practice Facility is equally the Mens and Practice Facility. The publicity, promotion & marketing falls completely on Thorr.
Nothing to do with the social media and selling of Mens BB program.

Each team should have their own practice facility. Sharing practice facilities is small time.

[RhodyKyle]

It’s kind of a weird thing to “market” something to the public that is not for them and to which they will not really have any access. Like, the people here on this board understand what it is and why it is significant but to the general public it’s a bit odd to market something to them just to seemingly toot your own horn that you have it.

Not only that, but marketing it will lead to those ill-informed people to raging about their tax dollars being wasted even though not a single cent of people's taxes went into it.

Why give ammo to those who won't argue in good faith?

When PC, VCU, UCONN and others got their Practice Facilities approved there was plenty of publicity. In fact, when others built practice facilities the subject then on this board was why not URI?
Evan when it got approved at URI some posters here bitched it was too much money to spend being $8 million - even though all donated.
I’ve even had posters here challenge about the approval and they won’t believe it til the ground-breaking.

Promoting the Practice Facility will generate more interest in URI basketball in media, among fans and among recruits.

All the money is donated. Put that in the headline of the ProJo article if your worried about Tax Payers. I’m not.

Think Big - We Do!!!!
Brag about our Athletic Facilities!

Heck, look at the URI Football Site where they are showing a possible Stadium of the Future that’s not even planned or approved yet - more of a dream to show fans, recruits and their families. Football and WBB are great with social media and selling their programs. MBB has room to grow - especially since Hurley departed.

Man, did you not see the blow back when it was announced that they hired Archie?

[ramster]

Not only that, but marketing it will lead to those ill-informed people to raging about their tax dollars being wasted even though not a single cent of people's taxes went into it.

Why give ammo to those who won't argue in good faith?

When PC, VCU, UCONN and others got their Practice Facilities approved there was plenty of publicity. In fact, when others built practice facilities the subject then on this board was why not URI?
Evan when it got approved at URI some posters here bitched it was too much money to spend being $8 million - even though all donated.
I’ve even had posters here challenge about the approval and they won’t believe it til the ground-breaking.

Promoting the Practice Facility will generate more interest in URI basketball in media, among fans and among recruits.

All the money is donated. Put that in the headline of the ProJo article if your worried about Tax Payers. I’m not.

Think Big - We Do!!!!
Brag about our Athletic Facilities!

Heck, look at the URI Football Site where they are showing a possible Stadium of the Future that’s not even planned or approved yet - more of a dream to show fans, recruits and their families. Football and WBB are great with social media and selling their programs. MBB has room to grow - especially since Hurley departed.

Man, did you not see the blow back when it was announced that they hired Archie?

Don’t know what you mean. What does blow back mean in this case?

[RhodyKyle]

When PC, VCU, UCONN and others got their Practice Facilities approved there was plenty of publicity. In fact, when others built practice facilities the subject then on this board was why not URI?
Evan when it got approved at URI some posters here bitched it was too much money to spend being $8 million - even though all donated.
I’ve even had posters here challenge about the approval and they won’t believe it til the ground-breaking.

Promoting the Practice Facility will generate more interest in URI basketball in media, among fans and among recruits.

All the money is donated. Put that in the headline of the ProJo article if your worried about Tax Payers. I’m not.

Think Big - We Do!!!!
Brag about our Athletic Facilities!

Heck, look at the URI Football Site where they are showing a possible Stadium of the Future that’s not even planned or approved yet - more of a dream to show fans, recruits and their families. Football and WBB are great with social media and selling their programs. MBB has room to grow - especially since Hurley departed.

Man, did you not see the blow back when it was announced that they hired Archie?

Don’t know what you mean. What does blow back mean in this case?

I forgot which thread, but someone posted a screenshot or pic from the ProJo of some guy in Cranston complaining about his tax dollars being wasted on a coach (talking about Archie's contract). He was just one example. There are mass amounts of people who never read past the headline and get all outraged over things they have no understanding of.

[Rhodymob05]

Rhode Islanders are notorious for being pessimistic about any investment except filling potholes. Just noise. This facility is going to be awesome.

[Rhody72]

Rhode Islanders are notorious for being pessimistic about any investment except filling potholes. Just noise. This facility is going to be awesome.

We need an awesome practice facility for every program that doesn't have to be scheduled with other programs so that it is always accessible to student athletes. It is only achievable by right-sizing programs offered while staying Title IX compliant. This is how you get to excellence.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Rhode Islanders are notorious for being pessimistic about any investment except filling potholes. Just noise. This facility is going to be awesome.

ummm....check out 138 by west k park, or chunks of rt 2.... Looks like there's still some pessimism around potholery....

[SmartyBarrett]