Because I've never experienced a basketball game at the University of Minnesota's basketball arena, "The Barn," my opinion isn't completely formed on Tubby Smith's recent comments in the NYTimes that "he wanted a new facility to replace Williams Arena, the venerable field house known as the Barn and the Gophers’ home since 1928, but was willing to wait while the university completes football and baseball stadiums" and again today in the Pioneer Press,""It's something I'm sure that everybody wants to see at some point in time," Smith said. "We know that (if) we're going to do the things we have to do, that they're going to want a bigger and better place.""
I've been reading the raucous responses and Benjamin Polk from City Pages scolding Smith for even considering a move, and yet I still haven't formed an educated opinion. I see a lot of dedicated fans holding onto the past, and at the same time refusing to look around the country. Top notch athletics programs need new arenas to recruit the best athletes and attract the most fans.
Simply being a top notch institute of higher learning isn't enough anymore. U.C Berkeley built Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion in 1999 replacing the once beloved Harmon Gymnasium, showing it's possible to keep the intimacy and grow in capacity and technologically.
Tomorrow I'll contact the U's athletic department to get press passes to cover and upcoming game. With classes starting in only a two weeks from now, Gopher energy should be in high gear as Tubby Smith continues to impress everyone within shouting distance from The Barn. I look forward to seeing the turn around in U of M basketball firsthand. With the impending departure of Johan Santana from the Twins and the sad performance of the Timberwolves, Twin Cities fans can use something to root for.
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