JQH Arena plans get facelift

That was the word at a Sept. 12 news conference at Missouri State University.

Due to the increasing cost of construction materials, the budget for the new on-campus basketball facility has increased from $60 million to $67 million, despite the fact that seating capacity has shrunk to 11,000 from 12,000. The design, however, allows for up to 1,500 seats to be added in the future.

“We worked very hard to get the cost as low as possible,” MSU President Michael Nietzel said. “We reduced our wish list and went through a rigorous process to get the cost down to a level we could afford.”

The revised design, created by Kansas City-based Ellerbe Becket and Springfield’s Pellham Phillips Architects, includes 9,637 chair-back seats and 1,363 bleacher-back seats for students. The student section will be adjacent to the visitors’ section, creating an intimidating atmosphere.

Officials anticipate a December groundbreaking, with the arena ready for the 2008–09 basketball season.

Plans also include 12,000 square feet of shell space, allowing for the possible addition of new home locker rooms, coaches’ offices and storage.

John Q. Hammons, who was on hand for the announcement, has agreed to chip in another $5 million. Hammons committed $25 million to the project when it was first announced in February.

“Every time we met, Mr. Hammons told me, ‘If you need more help to build the kind of arena that we want and Springfield and the university deserves, let me know,’” Nietzel said. “That point did come, and Mr. Hammons committed the additional $5 million to make this dream a reality.”

The remaining $37 million of the budget for the project will come from a combination of bonds, private gifts and facility revenues.

Selling private suites is key, and nearly all of the 22 suites have been sold, university officials said. Prices range from $32,500 to $37,500 per year, depending on the length of the lease.

Hammons, who was involved throughout the process of revising the design and the budget, said it was important not to skimp on the quality of the facility because of the university’s new name and impact.

“When we first announced (the new arena), I advised everyone that if we were going to be Missouri State, we had to act like it,” Hammons said. “All across the United States, state schools rank high. We’ve got a lot of growing to do, but this is a good first step forward to make it happen.”

The arena plan, which has triple the number of lower bowl seats and student seats than in the Hammons Student Center, also includes 55 “Jack Nicholson” courtside seats, 22 private suites and 116 mid-level loge seats.

Men Behind the Plan

Lead Designer James Poulson and Project Manager Stephen Duethman, both of Ellerbe Becket, have worked on some notable arena projects in recent years, including:

• Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

• FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.

• Qwest Field, Seattle

• Savvis Center, St. Louis

• Taylor/Brookfield Building & Devine Pavilion, University of Missouri-Columbia

• The Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.

• John Paul Jones Arena, University of Virginia