Notes from my first trip to the "new" WRA

[phatcat]

I'm more of a FB fan, and have lived away from Chicago until mid 2022. Finally got to WRA today. My comments.

• I expected it to be a mausoleum today. Nice crowd and pretty active.
• The little that I've watched (today and on TV), I'm alarmed at Leach's inability to bring the ball up and handle pressure. He can score some, but woof handling and distributing.
• Ty Berry, PLEASE be back. Brooks and Nick can't do it alone.
• Really nice venue. Excited to go back soon.
• Crappy weather or I'd have walked around outside to see stadium progress.
• Hunger looks like he regressed.
• Excited to see the two young guys get a couple of mins.
• Big Matty's swat brought me out of my seat.

Go Cats

 

[SmellyCat]

Big Matty's swat brought me out of my seat.
Go Cats

I’m not sure I’ve ever HEARD a blocked shot on tv that was quite so loud. It sounded like he was playing tetherball.

 

[zbag51]

I’m not sure I’ve ever HEARD a blocked shot on tv that was quite so loud. It sounded like he was playing tetherball.

That was awesome, and part of a pretty good series of plays.

 

[hdhntr1]

I'm more of a FB fan, and have lived away from Chicago until mid 2022. Finally got to WRA today. My comments.

• I expected it to be a mausoleum today. Nice crowd and pretty active.
• The little that I've watched (today and on TV), I'm alarmed at Leach's inability to bring the ball up and handle pressure. He can score some, but woof handling and distributing.
• Ty Berry, PLEASE be back. Brooks and Nick can't do it alone.
• Really nice venue. Excited to go back soon.
• Crappy weather or I'd have walked around outside to see stadium progress.
• Hunger looks like he regressed.
• Excited to see the two young guys get a couple of mins.
• Big Matty's swat brought me out of my seat.

Go Cats

Leach is not really a PG. Right now they don't have anything resembling a true PG. More by committee. Just enough ball handling to be successful

 

[CatChatAR]

Leach is not really a PG. Right now they don't have anything resembling a true PG. More by committee. Just enough ball handling to be successful

Barnhizer is the point forward and pretty good at it too.

 

[DaCat]

Leach is not really a PG. Right now they don't have anything resembling a true PG. More by committee. Just enough ball handling to be successful

Barnhizer is the point forward and pretty good at it too.

We will be tested severely in our next game at State Pen with their full court press.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy watching games at WRA. The concessions on the upper level could be a bit better, but the views are great and access is easy. And the bathrooms are stupendous.

 

[its_the_sauce]

But did you buy a beer?

 

[EagerFan]

Cats are doing better so far than the last season they didn't have an actual point guard.

 

[Catreporter]

We will be tested severely in our next game at State Pen with their full court press.

That press ate up Purdue a few weeks ago.

 

[SmellyCat]

That press ate up Purdue a few weeks ago.

And I heard they have a real good point guard.

 

[phatcat]

The concessions on the upper level could be a bit better,

Yeah there is very little there. We had a light lunch there then stopped for pupusas in Milwaukee on the way home

 

[hdhntr1]

But did you buy a beer?

Why do you think he was praising the bathrooms

 

[hdhntr1]

Yeah there is very little there. We had a light lunch there then stopped for pupusas in Milwaukee on the way home

They tend to have different things on the different levels. That said, this was a game against a team that would not really draw during Christmas vacation

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

They tend to have different things on the different levels. That said, this was a game against a team that would not really draw during Christmas vacation

It was a great crowd.

 

[clarificationcat]

It was a great crowd.

Agreed. Best non-conference crowd without students I can remember. The high school band did a great job of bringing energy.

 

[Max_Power]

I just

I'm more of a FB fan, and have lived away from Chicago until mid 2022. Finally got to WRA today. My comments.

• I expected it to be a mausoleum today. Nice crowd and pretty active.
• The little that I've watched (today and on TV), I'm alarmed at Leach's inability to bring the ball up and handle pressure. He can score some, but woof handling and distributing.
• Ty Berry, PLEASE be back. Brooks and Nick can't do it alone.
• Really nice venue. Excited to go back soon.
• Crappy weather or I'd have walked around outside to see stadium progress.
• Hunger looks like he regressed.
• Excited to see the two young guys get a couple of mins.
• Big Matty's swat brought me out of my seat.

Go Cats

I go to every game (I know - your happy for me) but my oldest son was with us and I kept telling him on the way over that I expected 3 thousand tops and a dead arena. I am really happy to have been so wrong.

Also, I love it was first visit to the new WR. At the last game, we were talking about the days before the '83 rehab when the place still had dirt floors. We've come a long way from having that to having one of the best places to watch hoops in the country.

 

[stpaulcat]

I just


I go to every game (I know - your happy for me) but my oldest son was with us and I kept telling him on the way over that I expected 3 thousand tops and a dead arena. I am really happy to have been so wrong.

Also, I love it was first visit to the new WR. At the last game, we were talking about the days before the '83 rehab when the place still had dirt floors. We've come a long way from having that to having one of the best places to watch hoops in the country.

Sounds as though it rivals the Palestra in Philly for crowd effect.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

I have still yet to meet someone who doesn’t like the new WRA. I’m confident the same will be said about the new RF. We know what we’re doing with CapEx projects.

 

[Medill '03]

I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy watching games at WRA. The concessions on the upper level could be a bit better, but the views are great and access is easy. And the bathrooms are stupendous.

Bodes well for next door.

 

[hdhntr1]

It was a great crowd.

It was a good crowd for a Christmas vacation out of area non conference game, Just suggesting that the lack of selections in different areas might have something to do with what they expected the crowd to be

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I go to about a dozen games a year. Most compliments of my buddy Uber and his ticket brokerage conglomerate for unused tickets. On Sunday, I was in Ubers own seat and after I returned home discovered I didn’t have my wallet. I cancelled my credit/debit cards and began the journey of tracing my steps.

There were about 4 potential numbers to call. As you can imagine, getting anyone to pick up the phone on a holiday week wasn’t easy. However, the old standby NU Police are 24 x 7 and they were great. Navigating me to the WR lost and found and eventually following up with them 2 days later ( after they opened) and calling me on NYE that they did in fact find the wallet.

WR opened for a Women’s game yesterday and they told me to get there before it ended. The student ticket taker knew I was going to be there and after asking me my name handed me my wallet in 30 seconds. Apparently, there was another sap who also lost his wallet. I have no idea who turned in the wallet to lost and found, fan, security, custodian, but it was returned and all $228 in it was still there. Very thankful for all the NU personnel involved. There are good people associated with this University.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I go to about a dozen games a year. Most compliments of my buddy Uber and his ticket brokerage conglomerate for unused tickets. On Sunday, I was in Ubers own seat and after I returned home discovered I didn’t have my wallet. I cancelled my credit/debit cards and began the journey of tracing my steps.

There were about 4 potential numbers to call. As you can imagine, getting anyone to pick up the phone on a holiday week wasn’t easy. However, the old standby NU Police are 24 x 7 and they were great. Navigating me to the WR lost and found and eventually following up with them 2 days later ( after they opened) and calling me on NYE that they did in fact find the wallet.

WR opened for a Women’s game yesterday and they told me to get there before it ended. The student ticket taker knew I was going to be there and after asking me my name handed me my wallet in 30 seconds. Apparently, there was another sap who also lost his wallet. I have no idea who turned in the wallet to lost and found, fan, security, custodian, but it was returned and all $228 in it was still there. Very thankful for all the NU personnel involved. There are good people associated with this University.

That would never happen at Purdue

 

[Jonny2TheP]

We will be tested severely in our next game at State Pen with their full court press.

Big time. They are a good defensive team all around, but Ace Baldwin is without a doubt the best on ball defender in the Big Ten. This is going to be a really tough game considering we don’t have a true PG that is a strong ball handler. If I were PSU, I’d at least do a soft press the entire game to test what is one of our biggest weaknesses. Going to take an A effort to win this one IMO. I just don’t love how we match up against them - especially in State College.

 

[NJCat]

I just don’t love how we match up against them - especially in State College.

Weird that PSU has a home court advantage, since it is the worst and lowest attended arena in the B1G. Thursday's game may benefit from students being on break and alums tired after the Fiesta Bowl.

 

[phatcat]

Uber and his ticket brokerage conglomerate for unused ticket

If this is not some exclusive club, I'd like to know how to participate

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

If this is not some exclusive club, I'd like to know how to participate

How good are you at buying gyro’s and Goose Island?

 

[RiseNorthwestern]

It was a good crowd for a Christmas vacation out of area non conference game, Just suggesting that the lack of selections in different areas might have something to do with what they expected the crowd to be

Agree, was in town and took my sister and her kids to the game. Thought the tickets would be cheap, but the prices actually started rising post Christmas. Going to the game, my sister said she saw about 3 other families she knew from Glenview there.

Maybe we are becoming the North Shore’s Big Ten team.

All in all impressed with the new WRA, though the concession line was pretty long and had to watch us build the lead while in line.

 

[TheC]

I go to about a dozen games a year. Most compliments of my buddy Uber and his ticket brokerage conglomerate for unused tickets. On Sunday, I was in Ubers own seat and after I returned home discovered I didn’t have my wallet. I cancelled my credit/debit cards and began the journey of tracing my steps.

There were about 4 potential numbers to call. As you can imagine, getting anyone to pick up the phone on a holiday week wasn’t easy. However, the old standby NU Police are 24 x 7 and they were great. Navigating me to the WR lost and found and eventually following up with them 2 days later ( after they opened) and calling me on NYE that they did in fact find the wallet.

WR opened for a Women’s game yesterday and they told me to get there before it ended. The student ticket taker knew I was going to be there and after asking me my name handed me my wallet in 30 seconds. Apparently, there was another sap who also lost his wallet. I have no idea who turned in the wallet to lost and found, fan, security, custodian, but it was returned and all $228 in it was still there. Very thankful for all the NU personnel involved. There are good people associated with this University.

A Christmas miracle!