Facilities and Arena discussion

[EXpatriot13]

Definitely showing "hey we are trying!" to the A10.

I hate the current arena. Total high school gym. Only good things were that the parking was 5 feet from the door and the bathroom wasn't far from the seats and practically in the arena.

Maybe they'll upgrade the popcorn @gmubrian

When you exit the bathroom you’re basically a part of the inbounds play below the hoop, their current place is such a dump lol.

 

[tblack33]

View attachment 1891

LaSalle just announced a major renovation to their arena, screenshot attached from the announcement. Opening Fall 2024.

Some more pics here: https://goexplorers.com/feature/ArenaRenovation

I didn’t feel like watching the rest of the announcement so don’t have details on cost/funding, capacity, amenities, etc. but I’m sure they’ll put out an official release if they haven’t already.

I've been to Gola a few times now over the last few years, and can confidently say they have the worst facilities in the league and it's not even close. I've literally been to high schools that were better laid out than where they play. I don't know if the space is even salvageable to how this is rendered with how that building is laid out, and the fact that the basketball gym sits right on top of their Olympic swimming pool.

 

[Verdad]

I've been to Gola a few times now over the last few years, and can confidently say they have the worst facilities in the league and it's not even close. I've literally been to high schools that were better laid out than where they play. I don't know if the space is even salvageable to how this is rendered with how that building is laid out, and the fact that the basketball gym sits right on top of their Olympic swimming pool.

I’m honestly very happy they are doing a reno for their sake and mine - I enjoy making that trip.

In all seriousness, the middle school gym my son’s elementary school plays their annual rivalry game in is nicer than Golan. Their “arena” is embarrassingly bad.

 

[Pablo]

https://washingtonfreedom.com/la28-recommends-cricket-for-olympic-inclusion/

"123 years after cricket’s last appearance at the Olympics, it has once again been recommended for inclusion by the organisers of Los Angeles 2028.

Whilst it is not the final decision, it is a significant moment for the sport which last featured in the Olympics all the way back in 1900 and is a landmark moment for cricket’s continued growth in the United States.

'Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics is another major moment for the game in the US,' said Washington Freedom owner Sanjay Govil.

'This is yet another impetus as we grow the sport, serving the millions here who already love cricket, and showing the everyone else everything that it has to offer.

'I’m in no doubt the establishment of Major League Cricket, and this year’s first campaign, helped lead LA28 to this decision, and it’s credit to everyone who has played their part.

'This time next year we will be able to look back on a second MLC season, as well as the US and Caribbean hosting a T20 Men’s World Cup. The excitement is growing.

'We must press forward to develop the infrastructure to match this excitement, and that’s why we’re pressing on with developing our own stadium, in partnership with George Mason University.'”

 

[EXpatriot13]

Too many rumblings and public comments about the practice facility and this hybrid baseball/cricket stadium. School is going to have to release some more formal details/renderings soon…right? Right?

 

[MasonSAE4]

Too many rumblings and public comments about the practice facility and this hybrid baseball/cricket stadium. School is going to have to release some more formal details/renderings soon…right? Right?

We have a pretty passive fanbase and the only journalists who cover the school work for the Fourth Estate lol. There will be no pressure to release anything until they're ready. I suspect you'll see a release from the cricket team showing some renders relatively soon. The practice facility will be whenever they decide they need fundraising dollars.

That being said, a lot of these renders are kicking around on architecture firm's websites. *If* the timetable for the cricket stadium is accurate, renders exist somewhere.

 

[GMUgemini]

We have a pretty passive fanbase and the only journalists who cover the school work for the Fourth Estate lol. There will be no pressure to release anything until they're ready. I suspect you'll see a release from the cricket team showing some renders relatively soon. The practice facility will be whenever they decide they need fundraising dollars.

That being said, a lot of these renders are kicking around on architecture firm's websites. *If* the timetable for the cricket stadium is accurate, renders exist somewhere.

Has to be true for the practice facility. It’s supposed to open fall of ‘24. Means shovels in the dirt soon and also means it’s probably funded already.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Has to be true for the practice facility. It’s supposed to open fall of ‘24. Means shovels in the dirt soon and also means it’s probably funded already.

I mean, if it's a year away the renders exist but it seems unlikely we'll see them if the university didn't feel the need to use them to juice fundraising. Maybe during Giving Day if they want a few more bucks for bells and whistles inside the facility.

 

[EXpatriot13]

I mean, if it's a year away the renders exist but it seems unlikely we'll see them if the university didn't feel the need to use them to juice fundraising. Maybe during Giving Day if they want a few more bucks for bells and whistles inside the facility.

Yea I didn’t necessarily mean from a pressure standpoint, but more the fact that both of these projects are trending towards breaking ground in the near future.

They aren’t going to hide renderings and details once these projects are actually finalized/approved. It’s just a matter of when at this point.

 

[gmubrian]

Definitely showing "hey we are trying!" to the A10.

I hate the current arena. Total high school gym. Only good things were that the parking was 5 feet from the door and the bathroom wasn't far from the seats and practically in the arena.

Maybe they'll upgrade the popcorn @gmubrian

I hope LaSalle doesn't mess with the popcorn. That is the best popcorn I have had at any arena and it was also the best priced.

 

[Pablo]

I hope LaSalle doesn't mess with the popcorn. That is the best popcorn I have had at any arena and it was also the best priced.

Tom Gola Arena – La Salle Explorers

La Salle University is a Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

www.stadiumjourney.com

Food & Beverage 2​

There is a single concession stand that sits on the mezzanine level. It can get very crowded here and is pretty poorly designed. The design is so bad that the condiment table actually is placed in front of trophies and awards, including the National Championship memorabilia.

The good thing is that prices are very good, most items are $3 or less. But eat ahead of time.

 

[gmubrian]

Tom Gola Arena – La Salle Explorers

La Salle University is a Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

www.stadiumjourney.com

Food & Beverage 2​

There is a single concession stand that sits on the mezzanine level. It can get very crowded here and is pretty poorly designed. The design is so bad that the condiment table actually is placed in front of trophies and awards, including the National Championship memorabilia.

The good thing is that prices are very good, most items are $3 or less. But eat ahead of time.

Too funny, since there are like 10 people in that arena.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Found some info on the proposed cricket stadium/baseball facility on the Department of Environmental Quality's website. Looks like it is proposed at the intersection of Campus Drive and Braddock Road. Interestingly, this is the conclusion of the DEQ report:

"Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2023 and be complete in April 2024. The
temporary cricket field and temporary ancillary facilities would be in place for approximately two
months. During that time, six or more teams from two to four countries are expected to travel to
the US to play in cricket matches. Throughout the duration of the cricket matches, the project area
would likely receive an economic boost from increased use of local lodging and restaurants.
Shopping venues and tourist attractions would likely see more visitors as well.

Following the World-Cup Warm-Up matches & Major League Cricket matches, the rented
bleachers and player pavilions would be dismantled and removed from the site by the rental
agency. The turfgrass would remain and be converted to a baseball diamond."

 

[gmubrian]

Found some info on the proposed cricket stadium/baseball facility on the Department of Environmental Quality's website. Looks like it is proposed at the intersection of Campus Drive and Braddock Road. Interestingly, this is the conclusion of the DEQ report:

"Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2023 and be complete in April 2024. The
temporary cricket field and temporary ancillary facilities would be in place for approximately two
months. During that time, six or more teams from two to four countries are expected to travel to
the US to play in cricket matches. Throughout the duration of the cricket matches, the project area
would likely receive an economic boost from increased use of local lodging and restaurants.
Shopping venues and tourist attractions would likely see more visitors as well.

Following the World-Cup Warm-Up matches & Major League Cricket matches, the rented
bleachers and player pavilions would be dismantled and removed from the site by the rental
agency. The turfgrass would remain and be converted to a baseball diamond."

View attachment 1933

This is interesting...I was just talking to one of the people heavily involved with this project at our last game and he was saying that since this was temporary, we were going to do something for minimal cost. Your information backs up the temporary aspect. But, that picture implies we are ripping up roads and parking lot to build it. That doesn't sound like minimal cost to me. Maybe I had a different understanding of what minimal means in the scope of a project like this.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

This is interesting...I was just talking to one of the people heavily involved with this project at our last game and he was saying that since this was temporary, we were going to do something for minimal cost. Your information backs up the temporary aspect. But, that picture implies we are ripping up roads and parking lot to build it. That doesn't sound like minimal cost to me. Maybe I had a different understanding of what minimal means in the scope of a project like this.

For land development, renting temporary bleachers and putting down turf sounds like minimal cost to me. My understanding is that it's pouring foundations and putting up walls that really gets the costs to skyrocket.

This almost reads like the temporary structural setup at golf holes for golf tournaments. I quickly googled "temporary golf hole seating" and this is what came up. I assume that given they are temporary bleachers, they don't have to do formal structural or civil engineering for them, also saving lots of costs.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Wait...are we not building a permanent one now?

 

[gmubrian]

For land development, renting temporary bleachers and putting down turf sounds like minimal cost to me. My understanding is that it's pouring foundations and putting up walls that really gets the costs to skyrocket.

This almost reads like the temporary structural setup at golf holes for golf tournaments. I quickly googled "temporary golf hole seating" and this is what came up. I assume that given they are temporary bleachers, they don't have to do formal structural or civil engineering for them, also saving lots of costs.

I get that about the temporary bleachers. I was referring to the fact that (based on that picture in your first post) they are going to do a lot of grading, including ripping up an existing parking lot and road. Now, if this is a precursor to a new baseball field for our team, maybe that makes more sense. The information in your first post mentions turning it into a baseball field.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

I get that about the temporary bleachers. I was referring to the fact that (based on that picture in your first post) they are going to do a lot of grading, including ripping up an existing parking lot and road. Now, if this is a precursor to a new baseball field for our team, maybe that makes more sense. The information in your first post mentions turning it into a baseball field.

Probably won't need much in the way of grading, as the parking lots and existing athletic fields are already flat. This is an environmental impact report (specifically, an "Environmental Impact Review"), so high-level engineering detail is not included. And yes, it appears that once the cricket teams leave, the plan is to put the baseball diamond here. Here are some additional excerpts from the report:

"Description of the Proposed Action
A private entity (Washington Freedom) proposes the construction of a temporary cricket field and
temporary ancillary facilities for cricket matches. The Proposed Action would include installation
of turf for the field and short and manicured turfgrass for the pitch. Field markings would be
painted prior to each match. Rented bleachers (to provide 3,000 seats) and two temporary two-story
buildings to house VIP seating (referred to as player pavilions) would be installed onsite. An
existing stormwater management pond adjacent to Rapidan River Road would be closed and
stormwater would be routed to proposed pond in the northeastern portion of the project site. Space
would be dedicated in one of the existing parking lots for food vendor set up. Portable restroom
facilities would be brought to the site if needed. Demolition of approximately 380 spots from an
existing parking lot and along Rapidan River Road would be required to in to install the field,
bleachers, and VIP seating areas. A new stormwater pond would be installed in a wooded area to
the northeast of the cricket field. Features of the Proposed Action are shown on Figure 5."

"Development of Project Alternatives
As an alternative to the Proposed Action, GMU considered construction of the cricket field at the
track field next to the Field House on the West Campus, but the grading was not adequate. Cricket
pitch and field requirements did not allow for use of any other sites on the GMU campus.
Washington Freedom also searched throughout Fairfax County for alternative locations for
implementing the Proposed Action, but was unable to find another site with sufficient parking and
existing infrastructure to support the proposed cricket field and ancillary facilities."

"Topography
Because the site has been graded for previous construction and is relatively flat, minimal grading
would be required and there would only be negligible changes to existing topography. Although
excavation would be required for the stormwater pond, GMU would maintain existing elevations
across the site to the extent practicable."

And as an FYI - these are all public records on DEQ's website.

 

[EXpatriot13]

These updates are quite interesting. Wasn't expecting this location or a temporary facility.

I'm intrigued by what the Phase 2 or "permanent" facility will look like and what that timeline is. I hope we don't end up in a situation where we're using this "temporary" facility for both cricket and GMU baseball long-term because of various funding, logistical, etc. challenges. If that ends up being the case then just leave the baseball team where they are. Hopefully we see more baked out details soon.

 

[Pablo]

These updates are quite interesting. Wasn't expecting this location or a temporary facility.

I'm intrigued by what the Phase 2 or "permanent" facility will look like and what that timeline is. I hope we don't end up in a situation where we're using this "temporary" facility for both cricket and GMU baseball long-term because of various funding, logistical, etc. challenges. If that ends up being the case then just leave the baseball team where they are. Hopefully we see more baked out details soon.

Screen #13 of this link appears to show the coordination between the construction of the temporary cricket field and approval for the George Mason Cricket Stadium - https://relations.gmu.edu/wp-conten...-Baseball-Ballpark-Presentation-4.20.23-1.pdf

Playing cricket matches on the temporary field should allow Fairfax County to assess potential traffic impacts.