Rutgers takes next step in potential Jersey Mike's Arena upgrades with release of survey
PISCATAWAY – Rutgers athletics on Wednesday took a major step in determining what upgrades will be made to Jersey Mike’s Arena and what issues ticket holders consider priorities.
The department sent an extensive survey out to a group that includes season-ticket holders and previous single-game ticket holders that gauges interest in everything from premium and club options, concessions and more.
AECOM, the architecture firm Rutgers partnered with as part of its Facilities Master Plan, put together the survey.
“The survey is a really important next step in the design process,” athletic director Pat Hobbs said in an interview with local reporters. “Before the architects can go forward and start to see how much of this premium do you want, how much of that premium do you want, the level of concessions and things like that, they need to get some feedback from our fanbase and what they want.”
Hobbs said Rutgers should have the results of the study back by the spring. The results would go to University president Jonathan Holloway and then the Board of Governors for approval for any upgrades and construction, which could include the addition of an exterior lobby and 360-degree concourses.
While right now it’s too early to determine when the entire project could be completed, Hobbs said 2025-26 would be a goal.
“Part of it will depend on supply-chain issues,” Hobbs said. “Right now it’s very hard to get some of these projects done. If there is a value in delaying a little bit and we’re going to get better pricing, that’s something we should be open to.”
One of the chief concerns many fans – and Rutgers coaches – have is not changing the atmosphere inside Jersey Mike’s Arena, which gives the Scarlet Knights men’s basketball team an elite homecourt advantage.
Hobbs stressed the atmosphere would not be altered. He also said more bathrooms will be added.
“We’re not going to change the atmosphere, we’re going to maintain the atmosphere,” Hobbs said. “But folks know we need better concourses, we need more concessions, we need some premiums. We’re not going to be able to put a ton of premium in there but we’re going to get a sense of what the appetite is for premium.”
A goal of the project is to avoid disrupting the winter sports seasons, allowing both basketball teams and the wrestling team to continue to compete in Jersey Mike’s Arena while the project is going on. Hobbs said the project could be phased.
“AECOM architects have done that before with other arenas,” Hobbs said. “They believe it’s doable.”
Hobbs also emphasized that the goal is to complete the highest revenue-generating parts of the project first.
“That’s a very important part of this survey that’s going out is what kind of revenue can we generate against the cost,” Hobbs said. “That will prove out how we do this and whether we can phase it. So try to do the things that are going to generate the most revenue first. That would be the concourse. That would be all the concessions, that would be some premium options, some club areas. All of that would be, in my view, the first phase of the project because that pays for whatever bonding we might have to do around the project.”
Hobbs didn't rule out the possibility of a new arena altogether, but that's not the goal as of right now.
"At some point you’ve got to look at what your costs are and what makes sense," Hobbs said. "You can achieve a lot with a new place but right now the plan is let’s see what we can do with Jersey Mike’s."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers takes next step in potential Jersey Mike's Arena upgrades
