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NCAA snubs Pit for shinier gyms
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After 40 years without more than touch-up jobs, The Pit is starting to sting the University of New Mexico.
University Arena, resting on its weathered charm for too long, might have to wait years for the men's NCAA Tournament to revisit Albuquerque unless the school promptly acts on its expensive renovation plans for the basketball landmark.
The NCAA made it clear to UNM after The Pit hosted a 2005 men's regional, its ninth in 37 years - they're not coming back without modernization, Associate Athletics Director Greg Remington said.
The same school that hosted the famous 1983 Final Four - starring North Carolina State's Jim Valvano sprinting up and down The Pit floor - must regroup after losing on bids to host from 2007 to 2010.
"The Pit is very tired," Senior Associate Athletics Director Tim Cass said.
The women's NCAA, however, is visiting The Pit in 2008 and 2009, but men's games are a much larger draw because of TV deals and sold-out games.
Men's regional slots from 2011 and beyond are still open, but who knows if UNM will finish what a source is calling a $40 million renovation.
In recent months, Athletics Director Paul Krebs has refused to put a price tag on the job. The Tribune left two phone messages for Krebs.
Since its construction in 1966 for $1.4 million, The Pit has seen only one major renovation - a mezzanine layered over the main concourse in 1976.
Cass said the chance to host future NCAA Tournaments is an incentive to expedite the process.
"Is that the motivating factor to renovating The Pit? No," Cass said. "But modernizing can put us back in the loop. We've heard about the comments that were made about The Pit not being up to par. Expectations for an arena now versus what they were 40 years ago are much different. It needs to be changed."
What doesn't change, however, is the impact - and financial boost - college basketball's biggest event can provide a city like Albuquerque.
UNM made $350,000 in the 2005 regional off parking, concessions and a percentage of ticket sales. Then there's the city's tourism, the thousands of fans who stayed in Albuquerque's hotels to watch Washington, Louisville, West Virginia and Texas Tech fight for a Final Four bid.
A women's regional rakes in about $50,000-$75,000, Remington said, with men's games almost a guaranteed sellout at three times the ticket price.
The Pit will host its fifth women's regional in 2008.
Some longtime Lobos fans are accustomed to watching men's March Madness glory in The Pit more often than presidential elections.
From 1992-2005, Albuquerque welcomed five men's NCAA Tournaments.
"I always felt comfortable we would get one every three or four years," said Remington, who has worked at UNM for 24 years. "In the West region, we were one of three cities - with Tucson and Salt Lake City - that was sort of in a rotation. But the tournament has gone to places with a larger amount of amenities."
Schools like Maryland, Creighton and North Carolina State sport glossy new arenas worth more than $100 million. N.C. State's RBC Center has a 500-seat restaurant, a 7,500-square-foot hospitality room and 61 luxury suites.
Part of the renovation package should include an expanded concourse with modern concessions and decor - sizzle, not just the steak.
First, Krebs will have to follow through on what he has forecast as a three-year renovation project.
UNM hasn't established a start date or cost for the job. Remington said the school is in the process of talking with construction firms for planning purposes.
"There's so much that goes into the planning stage, it's a big monster when talking about renovating a 40-year-old building," Cass said. "Is it close in terms of construction starting? No. I consider close within the next eight weeks. We hope that after that it will happen."
Breaking any serious ground to rival other venues for a men's regional will almost certainly require some instant replays projected from The Pit's roof.
"If we are to host in 2011, I'm almost positive we'll need an overhead video board," Remington said.
