As we speak, Dwyer is being internally rebuilt down to the dirt for the first time since being built with the support of Mr. Dwyer.
Jim:
Could you please offer some further detail on the Dwyer Arena renovations since there is no public info the project. How extensive is the rehab ? Thanks.
I actually visited a week ago. The ripping up of the floor had started. The recently added graphics actually added a lot to the physical appearance. I wish this had been done years ago to the blank walls. The light show is also very good. Now if only something could be done to the cold metal seats. Note the heating ducts are across the ceiling. (Yes, hot air rises). In my opinion, the overall appearance is now actually quite nice.
Coach Lammers as always was very personable and hospitable.
I am not familiar with the size of the ice surface. NCAA regulations allow for variations of the 200x85 by stating it should be as close to that as possible. Was Dwyer that size already or was it wider? If wider than maybe an extra few feet would allow for revisions to the seating as well.
The mistake that was made when they built Dwyer was putting the concourse to reach the seats under the free span of the main arena roof. Had they simply built a 20 foot concourse between the auxiliary rink and the main rink everything could have slid everything over 20 feet and between that and the approximately 10 feet current from the boards and the wall they could have eventually added about 12 rows of seats without moving any walls accessed from a second floor concourse over the locker rooms building which was added after the original construction. I’d be surprised if the added concourse between the rinks would have costed more than a few hundred thousand dollars. The whole process was amateurish.
I am the ultimate realist but when are we going to knock that thing down and build a multipurpose facility for both sports. It is ridiculous we okay on a half assed hockey arena and a practice gym for basketball
The multipurpose concept should have been in the original plans and specs per Mike Herman.
I never realized the primary issue for not expanding Dwyer was due to the lack of space in the concourse area between the main rink and the auxiliary. Dwyer arena was originally announced as Phase 1 of a three phase plan to construct a 4,000 seat venue. I still have a copy the Eagle Magazine announcing the plan with an architectural drawing on the cover of a four sided arena. Obviously there were a number of reasons why the original plan was not executed due to lack of funding , dramatic increases in building costs etc. But if Mick is correct , expansion to include a four sided rink was not physically possible because of flawed building plans in the concourse area between the 2 rinks ? Jesus Christ , it’s worst than I thought. Was the original plan to gut the auxiliary rink entirely and construct a new side with seating ?
I have forgotten some of the details but the lack of sufficient concourse space for expansion must have meant the demo of the auxiliary rink .
A real shame that NU couldn't maximize the generous donation given by Mr. Dwyer . It seems everything was done half assed with absolutely no foresight . Another in a long list of missed opportunities .