New Johnny’s starting next year.
- Thread starter ISUalways
- Start date
I'd guess at least half the people in there aren't Director level or are adult kids of Director level donors. 1 example, I have a buddy in his early 30's who has 4 tickets in his dads name. He goes to every game and almost always has 2 of the other 3 available for friends. I've taken several of the Johnny's passes and am only Cardinal.
And it's built as a theater, not an auditorium. Plus, no rooms for breakout sessions. @peatyscotch 's comment explains simply what I have most disliked about this whole plan and process. In addition to the loss of oft-used meeting spaces of various sizes, parking was plentiful and free for attendees.
I don’t have any idea what that building was used for previously, but before the renovations, was it something that brought in revenue?
I'm not quite sure I understand what events could be held in an auditorium but not a theater. Being separate from Scheman is not ideal, but it's a couple hundred foot walk between the two. It wouldn't surprise me if at some point they turned it into a covered walkway, as well, especially if conferences still have the need for an auditorium.
I think we've talked about this before. To me, I think the number of events/conferences that can't utilize an auditorium is larger than the number of events that absolutely need an auditorium (but find Fisher insufficient).
If the new hotel has some conference space does that help solve some of this problem of needing breakout space?
Yes, we have, and it's not my intent to rehash something that won't change. One side note for conferences (at least the ones I attend): they also need registration space, space for speakers/presenters to meet with media, space for breaks and meals, adequate restrooms/space, and all as close together as possible. Once people need to leave one building for another, the chance increases that they'll simply leave altogether.
In the past year, I've attended conferences that needed Stephens and Scheman for various purposes. That's OK as long as adequate time between those building sessions is provided, which necessarily decreases actual conference subject matter time. And, summer/warm/dry weather is so much better for needing to switch between buildings than days like today
My information is really dated, but when I was in school 30+ years ago during the school year Fisher was constantly in use with rehearsals of ISU Theater shows and mounting of those shows. There were a couple of classes each term held in Fisher as well. During the summer it would be available as part of a conference.
I am curious if they got rid of Benton because they are including a ballroom in the hotel plan. I don't know if that is the case, just curious because that would help with the issue.
During wbb Johnny's is pretty darn empty during the game it is full pregame and halftime.
Yeah, that's one thing I'm not sure of for Fisher. I know they have ISU Theater performance/series of performances there about once a month, but I wasn't sure what it's like in between. I really just meant to show that Benton Auditorium is not the only facility that meets those needs. Heck, Iowa State has a ton of lecture halls that are empty for several months of the year, with class and conference rooms of all sizes that can support smaller sessions. I know, for instance, that the Student Innovation Center hosts some smaller conferences.
I agree that it would seem that the plan is for the hotel to have larger open space for conferences (the BOR doc said 45,000 sq. feet of conference space at the hotel). It would be a good alternative to the Gateway, and Cytown could offer more food and drink options nearby than the Gateway does.
Isn't that the point of it though? Hang out while the game's not being played, get some food, do some networking, etc. Then go watch the game.
EDIT: I still haven't heard anything about what happens for WBB Johnny's folks.
Well that's how it should be IMO. I've never paid attention how busy it stays in the men's games I'm always in my seat.
I'm in my seat, too, but I can see the outside of Johnny's and people are there way more than wbb. Probably going early before halftime to get that food and then staying.
People post wanting to buy Johnny’s passes because they want to show their child the full Hilton experience. My thought is buy the kid food from concessions and sit in the arena and watch warmups, the band, people…… Much better experience than Johnny’s for a kid
Fisher is an option but not very practical. Most industry (extension) meetings put a premium on giving people plenty of opportunity to interact, before, during and after the event. Fisher has no lobby area to speak of, so no place for people to gather and chat, have a coffee, maybe a Danish. It could work for some event, but not really a replacement for Benton.
One year Benton wouldn’t accommodate everyone and non federal Extension staff were sent to Fisher to watch the program on a screen. Well it didn’t work out too well. It was kind of like watching ESPN+ without sound.
I love the Iowa State Center- worked there at one time. The facility was a dump- it was and is in disrepair, and the university simply could not and would not spring for those repairs and march forward as if nothing had changed. Scheman is not what it was; professional development is not what it used to be. The revenue does not support business as usual. Athletics was the last hope for the Iowa State Center before parts of it were turned into a parking lot by the university. Athletics is getting the blame for this when it is athletics that is saving the facility.
Right, but Scheman could still be available for those purposes if the event is designed well to utilize both spaces (i.e. having breakouts in Scheman with one large keynote in Fisher). Every venue has limitations, and events have to be designed around those limitations. Just because something has always been one way doesn't mean it always has to stay that way.
Never understood why ISU couldn’t/wouldn’t renovate Scheman on their own? Other universities do. Michigan State’s and Illinois’ conference facilities come to mind. Neither one had to ask the city to help pay for renovations, or have athletics assume ownership.
