Albuquerque Arena (Las Cruces, Rio Rancho: luxury, move, build)

[finmqa1]

No Rob, you are exactly right. Every single city of comparable size, and many that are smaller have built world class arenas. I don't think the PIT renovations will do anything to bring the NCAA tournament back to ABQ. The PIT is out dated beyond belief, and the bench seating stinks!!!! If the city were smart they'd build a 19,000+ seat arena which would go along way to bringing the NCAA Men's Regional back to ABQ. It would also allow us to land concerts that usually skip ABQ and Rio Rancho because of the small size of our venues. Boise, Omaha, Des Moines, Tucson, Tulsa, Wichita, Stockton, Las Vegas, and many more realized the importance of arenas and wasted no time from the planning stages to development. I guess ABQ and El Paso want to continue lacking their counterparts nationwide. Quite sad considering there is a decent facility within a 300 or 400 mile radius of ABQ!

[finmqa1]

I wouldn't doubt the 30 story "Residence at Packard Place" just yet. Blue Dot Corp waste no time when going from concept to design to construction. I would think this might actually happen and relatively soon.

[abqsunport]

Okay, lets not insult the PIT. It was the 23rd best venue of the twentieth century. I think Albuquerque just needs a new mayor who is focused on handling the traffic problems, allow more business and developments to be built, and to build an arena. Thank God Marty is on his way to losing the senate seat to Heather or Pearce, and then he will be out of New Mexico politics for at least a couple of years.

[Chaparral]

I like The Pit as much as any other long-time UNM athletics fan. It was state-of-the art 40 years ago, but its best years are well behind it. I don't think it was a stretch when finmqa1 stated that the facility is quite outdated, particularly now that we're well into the 21st century. One of the nice things I can say about The Pit is that its better than Tingley Coliseum. But that's not saying much.

I'd love to see UNM and the city/county (as well as local voters) come together and build a first class facility that could serve the Lobos as well as provide an arena for other local events & conventions. Unfortunately, I don't anticipate UNM giving up their current sweet deal at The Pit any time soon.

Chap

[desert sun]

I love the Pit, its very exciting to watch a game in, but I do believe that Albq. needs a new arena, and it should be built in downtown just like every other city, Albq needs to take notes from cities our size and even smaller ones,I just wish Albq was more progressive.

[observe]

Here's some new info on Albuquerque's downtown Arena.

Garfield Traub Development

[abqsunport]

Originally Posted by observe

Here's some new info on Albuquerque's downtown Arena.

Garfield Traub Development

Wow, 12,000 seats is just plain embarrassing. I hope they leave the ability to expand.

[desert sun]

if the lobos ever want to relocate to the new downtown arena then alot of people wont be getting tickets because the lobos average more than 12,000 a game with alot of the games in the 14,000 to 18,000 mark and 12,000 seats for a metro area 0f 800,000 is embarassing, even Des Moines,Iowa pop.200,000 has a bigger arena.

[6/3]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

Wow, 12,000 seats is just plain embarrassing. I hope they leave the ability to expand.

I agree totally ABQSunport.....While any arena is better than nothing 12.000 for a metro this size is disappointing. We wouldn't even get NCAA basketball tournament games. I look at Oklahoma City and Tulsa as these metros are simular to us and yet they have larger arenas even someone (desert sun) mentioned Des Moinse has a large Arena as infact the new owner of the Seattle Supersonics wants to move his team to OKC and and play at the Ford Arena.

[bigduly]

12,000 seats is really embarrassing! They should look at something like 18000-22000. The Pit holds about 18000. I would love to see a professional sport come to New Mexico. Also if the arena was big enough maybe more entertainment will also be making stops in ABQ. I always hate to go to Phoenix for a concert, I would rather drive to ABQ than Phoenix.