ARENA TRANSFORMATION LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN

DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 1A UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN

Transformed exterior of new UD Arena. New expanded facility footprint kept much of the same feel as the original 1969 construction while tying in modern connections to the main campus. It’s a Beautiful New Day in the Neighborhood

Mr. Rogers would fit right into Dayton’s ability to pack the arena University of Dayton Arena, where it’s has so impressed the NCAA that it has all about the neighborhood. awarded UD the games of A surprising number of season March Madness for two decades ticket holders have sat in the same running. UD Arena has hosted more seats every year, surrounded by the NCAA Men’s March Madness games same people since the arena than any other venue. opened 50 years ago. When it came The $76-million transformation was time to transform the arena with new completed in three quick, tightly comfortable seats and wider aisles, coordinated off-seasons and the toughest — and most important included adding about 25 percent, or — problem became, “How do we 50,000 square feet, to the building by keep the neighborhoods together?” expanding the footprint. The If given the choice between a more transformed arena’s opening game comfortable seat or staying next to was November 9, with the Flyers their neighbor, fans opted for defeating Indiana State, 86-81. The staying put. 13,000-seat arena was sold out. Sure, it might have been simpler to Before touching a thing, the tear down and start over rather than University of Dayton reached out to its retrofit wiring and plumbing and fans and the wider community to find accessibility needs into a half-century out what everyone wanted to see in old structure, not to mention the renovation. upgrades like clubs and Wi-Fi. And air “You’re lucky if you get 20 percent conditioning. of people to respond,” said Scott But then, Dayton — the university, DeBolt, executive director of the the city and the community — would arena and senior associate athletics have lost the “soul of the bowl.” It’s director. “We got 70 percent. That’s

With the addition of a new, more spacious exterior concourse, the old interior concourse was LOUD and it’s tight. EVERYBODY in repurposed to house 244 new premium club seats. Dayton goes to UD games. SEE ARENA, PAGE 3A

2A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN

(From left) The new expanded footprint of UD Arena allowed for more spacious, wider concourses; existing premium spaces, such as the Connor Flight Deck, were upgraded with new graphics, features, and expanded square footage; the new Connor Lobby not only created a focal point entrance for the facility but also a home for the new team store and a modern, open air concept ticket office.

ARENA, FROM PAGE 2A the level of passion our fans have. And the overwhelming response was ‘Don’t mess with the soul of the bowl.’ That became our mantra.” But people also wanted wider, padded seats and cupholders. They wanted wider concourses along with restrooms and concessions spread throughout the building. The facility desperately needed Wi-Fi upgrades, new sports lighting and air conditioning and had to meet new codes for aisle widths and hand-rails. For a moment, all the upgrades meant the neighborhoods of the lower bowl were going to split apart, shuffling 6,500 fans to new positions.

“‘Don’t mess with the soul of the bowl.’ That became our mantra.”

SCOTT DEBOLT University of Dayton Arena l Executive Director and Senior Associate Athletics Director

“But we said, we can’t have that! These folks have sat next to each other for 50 years. People look forward to season so they can see the friends they’ve made over the years. We can’t break up the neighborhoods,” said DeBolt. Architect firms Perkins + Will and Hastings & Chivetta, along with the rest of the team, worked hard with the city of Dayton to keep the bowl intact, while fully modernizing the space and expanding the footprint. “In the end, we were able to keep the seat layout exactly the same and no one lost their neighbor,” said DeBolt. The University of Dayton and the wider area are dedicated to that sense of neighborliness, to community. The community’s spirit has helped it weather a year marked by deadly tornadoes and a tragic mass shooting. The private university — founded in

SEE ARENA, PAGE 4A

DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 3A UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN

The home opener for the 2019-20 season was not only the grand reopening of the transformed UD Arena, but also marked the 50th anniversary of the facility’s original construction.

ARENA, FROM PAGE 3A be an anchor for this city for NCAA “Every year, those games are sold tournaments and large-scale events. “Every year, those out. Players always remember playing 1850 and home to about 8,500 It’s bigger than the university. Think here,” said Spina. undergraduates — and the arena about this: fully half our fans are NOT games are sold The Dayton community rallies play a central role in the small city. alums. They are people who believe out. Players always around The Big Hoopla, a volunteer “Basketball is an iconic thing to do that Dayton basketball is vital to our remember playing here.” organization that welcomes the First in Dayton,” said DeBolt. “The fans and local ecosystem. And our goal is to Four teams by playing fight songs students are passionate. Once recruits continue building on that. We want when they pull up to their hotels. ERIC SPINA see one of our games, they say, why people to say that, from the moment University of Dayton l President Daytonians participate in the Four- go anywhere else?” they arrive to the moment they leave, Miler, a race on Selection Sunday. “Expect a first-class basketball from parking to their seats, that They raise money so that the Big experience. Our facility is a platform University of Dayton Arena is the best commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Hoopla can donate 3,000 tickets to for championship-caliber play,” said place to watch basketball.” Conference. “It proves that you can military members stationed at Wright- Neil Sullivan, vice president and “The transformation is a signal that be a small institution AND have a Patterson Air Force Base. director of athletics. “The consistency we really believe in our program,” said national program. UD continues the “I’ve experienced a lot of of our fans and supporters inspires Eric Spina, president of the university. A10’s reputation as a national community events in my life, but this players. The people and the “And that we believe in all basketball, conference.” level of community support is unique relationships are the differentiators. It’s not just the Flyers. We’re consistently in Dayton will host the A10 Women’s to Dayton,” said Terry Slaybaugh, what’s inside the building that matters the Top 25 for attendance.” Basketball Championship this season. volunteer director of The Big Hoopla. most — whether that’s people who “The University of Dayton is Players in the First Four — most “This is a community where people have run the shot clock for 30 years or unequivocally a national basketball from smaller schools — are blown been ushers for 30 years. We want to brand,” said Bernadette McGlade, away by the fan support. SEE ARENA, PAGE 5A

(Left) The transformation of UD Arena held true to the original design concept of UD Arena from 1969, a building built to host basketball games without a single bad seat in the house. (Right) The new exterior concourse more than doubled the space of the old interior concourse, which allowed for an improved crowd floor for fans to trek between the many concession stands, team store, and five unique premium spaces.

4A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION

ARENA, FROM PAGE 4A show up. They get it done.” The First Four games generate $4.6 million in direct spending for Dayton. “Beyond the revenues, the NCAA generates significant media attention for us, showcasing University of Dayton and our community,” said Jacquie Powell, president and CEO of the Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau. “UD Arena has long been host to significant events for our area, but with the addition of climate control, we’ll be able to expand our market even further.” “A lot of what the building needed isn’t visible to fans,” said Lindsey Peckinpaugh, Perkins + Will’s managing principal for the project. “Asbestos abatement, flooding issues. We switched to geothermal heating and LED lighting for cost reductions.” And the building was in critical need of better accessibility. The team added the building’s first elevator and added more ADA seating. The ADA seating was also spread throughout the arena to give those fans more options for vantage points, including access to the lounge space now built in the upper deck. The team pushed the building out 25 feet in every direction, creating 18-foot wide concourses, said Chris Chivetta of Hastings & Chivetta, and clad the new exterior in red brick and LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS glass to reflect the design of the rest of 169-year-old campus. “The exterior is so much more engaging and fan friendly,” Chivetta PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN said. “It’s important for everyone to (Clockwise, from top left) The new UD Arena boasts an interactive donor display on the southeast side, one of many new interactive features; get excited before they walk in the a specially designed student entrance for the “Red Scare” student section was built to showcase the group’s much publicized support of the door. It adds to the energy of the ; the newly added plush concourse level club seats also include their own premium club lounges, one for the east and one for the west side of the Arena; UD Arena has sold beer, wine, and spirits since its original construction in 1969. The construction added many new bar spaces as well as modern updates to existing features including an increase in number of taps and top of the line distribution for the SEE ARENA, PAGE 6A entire building.

DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 5A UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA l The Epicenter of College Basketball

1969 l Year arena was built Top 25 l Consistently ranked for NCAA attendance 50 l Years that season-ticket holders have been “neighbors” in the lower bowl $76.2 million l Total renovation cost 2001 l Year Dayton began hosting 3 l Off-seasons needed to renovate NCAA Men’s Basketball First Four games 13,407 l Seats after renovation 125 l Number of NCAA Men’s Basketball First Four games played at UD Arena 50,000 l Square footage added to the arena $4.6 million l Direct spending the 0 l Number of club seats before renovation First Four games bring to Dayton area 244 l Number of club seats after renovation

BY THE NUMBERS annually LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN (Left to right): Utilizing previously unused space between the concourse and floor level, new storage space, a media room, and a private courtside club for major contributors was created; view of the 100 loge seats feature in the Connor Flight Deck; the new UD Arena features eight full suites as shown here, which allows users to put personal design touches on their space as well as four terrace suites on the concourse level. ARENA, FROM PAGE 5A

event. We’ve created a much more Students have their identifiable athletic presence in the building.” own entrance now and The arena now boasts five clubs, build on the atmosphere including two concourse clubs that CONGRATULATIONS serve 122 club seats on each side. in four sections in the The Courtside Club for major donors is north end. attached to the media room so that Dayton Flyers on a fans can watch post-game press conferences. enhance arena operations, such as Transformational Project! The Upper 400, open to all fans, monitoring traffic flow throughout the has a sweeping view of campus and space. the Miami River. “Connectivity was very poor but we “We replaced the corner were able to bring technology into videoboards with a center-hung We appreciate our partnership with the the 21st century,” said Jason Praeter, board and used those spaces to president of entertainment and University of Dayton and acknowledge their create four specialty suites with communications for Bell. outstanding leadership, athletes, and fans! viewing platforms,” said Don Dethlefs, “We’re very proud to be part of a principal at Perkins + Will. “Those suites strong partnership to preserve such an sold really quickly. We were also able iconic space, while bringing it up to to turn a mid-level storage mezzanine modern standards and expectations.” into additional amenity space for the UD Arena is the first facility to use lower level and the press. We also the fourth-generation technology of added a lot of glass at the top of the Ephesus’ LED lighting system. building because it was so dark. The “Retrofitting an iconic building like hospitality lounge we have there now UD Arena is one reason we’ve created really lights up the area at night and a system that can adapt,” said Mike becomes more of a party space.” Quijano, director of business Students have their own entrance development and product marketing now and build on the atmosphere in for Ephesus. “Our system is flexible four sections in the north end. and technologically innovative so you Cincinnati Bell stepped in to bring get a great outcome no matter what C ONGRATULATIONS FROM the online community together. With the obstacles. We’re purpose-built to the company’s installation of Wi-Fi, UD bring the best to players, the media was able to develop a game-day and the audience. Our Lumadapt app for fans to customize everyone’s interactive experience and to SEE ARENA, PAGE 7A

6A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION

ARENA, FROM PAGE 6A technology allows UD to meet its current needs, adjusting colors and angles and light temperatures for every possible event, from sports to graduation. And UD can adapt the system to its needs change over time. UD’s system is connected to our SmartHub, which allows us to monitor the system remotely and add software changes as we develop them. It’s cost-effective, long lasting and maintenance free.” All the construction was squeezed into three off-seasons. Even in the off- seasons, the arena had to open for several major events, such as graduation. “Construction activity peaked in the summer of 2018 when construction crews put over $30 million of work in place in just six months,” said Cory Farmer, vice president of Danis Building Construction. “It was truly an amazing feat that everyone on the project team should be proud of. During / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS each basketball season, our team still managed to continue work, while accommodating over 150 events within the arena. Over the entire M c PHOTOS: SHAWN State-of-the-art lighting allows for the control room to instantaneously turn on or off the lights, as well as create different effects as seen here SEE ARENA, PAGE 8A during the 50th anniversary game.

A BIG THANK YOU TO UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOR HOSTING THE FIRST FOUR® !

• $85 million economic impact to the region • 19-year legacy of hosting NCAA® tournament games • Showcasing the teamwork, dedication, and excitement of the Dayton community • The Big Hoopla has donated almost 45,000 tickets to the Dayton region’s Airmen and women, their families, students, and veterans since 2012 THE ROAD STARTS HERE® Tickets available for the NCAA First Four, March 17-18, 2020

PURCHASE TICKETS AT: DAYTONHOOPLA.COM

DECEMBER 2-8, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 7A UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ARENA TRANSFORMATION

ARENA, FROM PAGE 7A

duration of the project, we never missed a required opening date, basketball game or major event.” “It’s been a long process for University of Dayton,” said Chivetta. “It’s been a great, collaborative process with them, working to decide the best ways to spend for maximum fan experience and to ready the space for the next 50 years. Dayton did it in a progressive manner, transforming the arena into an engaging modern facility within a practical budget.” Raising funds for the project meant a combination of philanthropy and season ticket holders willing to pay extra, said Neil Sullivan, UD vice president and director of athletics. “We view our supporters as authentic partners in our success,” Sullivan said. “This is not about how much we can generate, but about how much value we provide. Our goal is to optimize revenue so that we LAWS / ROOTED MEDIA HOUSE LAWS advance our sports programs efficiently and effectively. But we ensure that pursuit of revenue does

PHOTOS: SHAWN M c PHOTOS: SHAWN not infringe upon our relationship with (Clockwise, from top left): The new Cronin Family Spirit Shop is the first brick and mortar team store at UD Arena; the majority of the transforma- our fans and the community, or tion of UD Arena was funded by external resources; special care was taken to recognize the many noteworthy contributors; existing spaces, such compromise our values.” as the 20- to 35-person Boesch Lounge suites were enhanced as well during the transformation; interior view of the new concourse east club.

Congratulations University of Dayton Arena! We are proud of this regional gem! Go Flyers!

daytoncvb.com | 1-800-221-8235 | #discoverdayton | @daytoncvb

8A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 2-8, 2019