UA football stadium
I have several questions for you all:
Do you follow University of Akron football?
Does the Rubber Bowl keep you from attending games?
Does the idea of a stadium downtown make you anticipate going to more games?
Is winning football the key?
June 25th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Yes I follow UA football.
I love games at the Rubber Bowl, and have for decades.
I will attend NO MORE games at a downtown stadium than I would at the Rubber Bowl.
Yes, winning is absolutely the ONLY thing that motivates me to go to a game I'm on-the-fence about. If it's a meaningless college game, I'm sitting at home with a better form of entertainment.
If the school's own students won't support the team, why should the community be any more excited about it?
This stadium project could wind up being one of the biggest wastes of money in UA history…or just the opposite. Anyone willing to make a bet?
June 25th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
In high school and in college I played at the Rubber bowl. Since that time I’ve been a spectator of many events at the Rubber Bowl. There was a period of time in the late 90's where I didn't attend many events, but in 2004 I started going to events at the Rubber Bowl again.
It turns my stomach to see the condition of the Rubber Bowl. It is one of the most unique facilities in college football. Unique for the history and the way it was built, as well as the location.
Even though I have a soft spot in my heart for the Rubber Bowl, I also know first hand the difficulties in getting transportation to games. There are thousands of students whom never attend a game in their college career, due to the relative distance of campus and the stadium. I acknowledge that there has been shuttles offered and public transportation, but until you deal with the headaches associated with these forms of transportation, it is hard to understand.
Compared this situation to a big ten school where the stadium is on campus, you will notice a different attitude on game day. At Akron University, during football season, you would never know when the team was playing at home verse Ohio State or Ohio University. Student and alumni gatherings bring a feeling of electricity and excitement to campus.
Although, I hate to see the Rubber Bowl go, the new stadium will continue to revitalize the area around campus. Akron University is the one bright light in the City of Akron. The people of Akron should embrace this, as too assist in improving the social and economical development in that area.
Yes, I will attend more game at a new stadium.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:14 am
I also liked going to games at the Rubber Bowl, and am sorry to see the run down condition that now exists there. The parking was more adequate at the Rubber Bowl than it will be for a stadium on campus, but the students will have easier access to a stadium on campus. The real question is will an on-campus stadium make that much difference in student attendance at games. The JAR is on campus and there are more adults than students at basketball games. Still all in all I feel that an on-campus stadium is good for the University, even if the parking will be more difficult.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Rubber bowl is old and nobody goes to UA games. An on-campus stadium will boost the Akron economy and the university. UA will be better, and it will be easier to recruit. I can't wait until the new stadium opens!
June 26th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Great point by Ed. The JAR is right on campus, and the team has won 20+ games for several seasons. Yet the "Ak-Rowdies" struggle to even fill one small student bleacher section. UA is, for the most part, a commuter school…so kids are not on campus for either BB games or the impending football games. There is simply severe apathy among UA students and the Akron community as a whole. The crowds are primarily UA alums.
Maybe football will be the turning point. But Slate's argument that kids (or adults) can't make the 5-mile trek to the Rubber Bowl for a game is ludicrous. Students make it to Cleveland for concerts, anywhere for a drink or party or mall-shopping. If they WANT to go to the game, it's no problem. And UA has removed the excuses with easy transportation.