Events Center Section

Central Michigan Life

events center Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

EVENTS CALENDAR w Tours of the Events Center begin at 2 p.m. w Introductory program at 4 p.m. w Ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. w First men’s home basketball game of the 2010-11 season against Temple tips off at 7 p.m. jeff smith/staff photographer

The new Events Center opens today after 14 months of construction, which started with a groundbreaking in September 2009. The $22.5 million project will include McGuirk Arena and Kulhavi Court.

‘Build it and they will come’ New Events Center fills venue void

Facility will help coaches in recruiting

By Carisa Seltz Senior Reporter

By Aaron McMann Sports Editor

Chance Finister thinks the new Events Center is a beautiful new addition to CMU’s campus.

“Hopefully in the future, the newer buildings will have great architecture like that one,” the Detroit freshman said. “I think it’s a great look for CMU.” Athletics Director Dave Heeke said a central facet of the Events Center’s design strategy from the start was to build a signaturetype building that was eyecatching.

“One of our themes all along through the design process was how to capture people from the streets to the seats, so you can see that energy and know something is going on and you want to be a part of it,” he said.

The CMU Board of Trustees approved the $21.5 million Events Center project in December 2007 to be completed in time for the first men’s basketball game against Temple. An additional $750,000 was allocated during the December 2010 board meeting for additional amenities.

As part of the package deal that transformed Rose Arena into the new McGuirk Arena, Heeke said about 50,000 square feet of additional space was added to the old complex, including the atrium grand entrance, a practice gymnasium and a multi-purpose wrestling facility.

Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, said the Events Center will fill the regional void for a major venue that can provide opportunities to the community.

“We know there are some limitations,” he said, “but we see the sky as the limit as it relates to possibilities of what we can do.”

Men’s basketball head coach Ernie Zeigler responded with a laugh when asked to compare the new Events Center with the former Rose Arena.

From a recruiting standpoint, there is no comparison.

“The Rose Center was something our counterparts used against us,” Zeigler said.

Zeigler and fellow coaches that share the arena have been forced to shade potential recruits of the old, antiquated facilities that often make or a break a recruited athlete’s decision whether or not to attend a school.

Now the tables have turned with the addition of the $22.5 million facility, set to house basketball teams, wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics.

“It was something we constantly used (in recruiting),” Zeigler said. “When recruits compare and contrast our situation to another situation, unfortunately in this culture right now, it’s the who has and who doesn’t.”

Sara winkler/staff photographer

A 156- by 15-foot graphics mural adorns a wall inside the Events Center illustrating all aspects of life at CMU.

“It will be a major upgrade and something that reflects the excellence that we stand for at CMU, and whether that’s a sporting event, a concert or that final experience of graduating — it will be a memorable time inside the building.”

Dave Heeke, Athletics director

‘Bells and whistles’ Shingles said the Events Center will be the venue for CMU’s five intercollegiate

Basketball talent Zeigler brought in a recruiting class this season that ranked as one of the best in program history and first in the Mid-American Conference.

Among the highlights of the current batch of freshmen are guards Trey Zeigler and Derek Jackson, both of whom are already having an immediate impact on the team.

In addition to staying home and playing for his dad, Trey said the new Events Center made his decision to come to CMU that much easier.

“The new Events Center played a huge part in everyone’s decision to come here,” he said. “Rose was getting kind of old, so to see that they made a commitment to a new building played a huge part.”

Head women’s basketball coach Sue Guevara also landed one of her best recruiting classes for next season since coming to CMU in 2007.

Six-foot guard Crystal

sara winkler/staff photographer

Glass panels on the outside of the entrance allowcrowds to view the Events Center.

A CeNTER | 6B

A basketball | 15B

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS w SAC upgrades to start, 3B w Businesses expect Event Center traffic, 14B Photos w A first look at the Events Center, 8-9B

SPORTS w Athletes excited to start in new building, 4B w After 37 years, wrestling team says goodbye to Rose, 6B w Volleyball returns to old location, 14B

2B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 3B

Student intern works on Events Center construction Involvement with ‘campus history’ a highlight

By Ryan Taljonick Senior Reporter

Andy Richter is building his future by constructing CMU. The Troy senior’s internship with Clark Construction Company has allowed him the opportunity to utilize his knowledge of construction management and assist in the building of CMU’s new Events Center.

His favorite thing — being a student working on the project.

“It makes it twice as great,” Richter said. “Not only do I know people that will use it and like it, but people will be using that facility forever.

I actually get to be involved with campus history.”

When he obtained his internship last summer, he said he had no idea he would be helping with construction at CMU. The program can get pretty overwhelming, he said, and it is difficult to juggle 12-hour work days with a full class schedule.

“It’s still very overwhelm-

ing,” Rchter said. “I know there are some things out there that I don’t know enough about.”

Robert Lalonde, senior project manager of Clark Construction Company and Richter’s supervisor, said Richter is learning a lot and picking up on the process quickly.

Richter performed very well as an intern, Lalonde said.

“He performed much higher than we expect an intern to perform,” Lalonde said. “We pretty much took him on as a part of our project, not just for an internship. We’d like to expose him to how a project closes out.”

Responsibilities Richter’s day-to-day work involves gathering paperwork, preparing and submitting approval forms and logging RFIs ­— requests for information — which transfer questions from the construction site to architects.

As a construction management major, Richter said he hopes to one day be a project manager.

He would be responsible for overseeing the building process and ensuring construction goes smoothly. He said this requires constant

communication between the sometimes hundreds of contractors working on a project.

“The hardest part is kind of figuring out how everything works, how we communicate with everyone out there,” he said. “At times it can be incredibly difficult, sometimes there’s a lot of personality clash.”

Richter said he has to learn about all the various types of work involved in the construction process and must become as knowledgeable as plumbers, electricians and other types of contractors.

“You have to be an encyclopedia of everything on site,” he said. “That’s why people skills are so important. Dealing with all the experts out there, you have to be an expert in everything.”

Lalonde agreed.

“You’re taking a 10-inch stack of drawings and trying to get 100 different people to work together, to be on the same page.” he said.

Now, Richter has his own office in the company’s field office.

“It’s pretty cool — it’s a little exciting, it feels like you’re moving up in the world,” he said. “I love it.”

Jeff smith/staff photographer

Troy senior Andy Richter stands outside the nearly completed CMU events center Sunday night. Richter, an intern for Clark Construction and a construction management major, began his internship working on the building in May. “I feel privileged to have been a part of the construction,” he said.

“Not only do I know people that will use it and like it, but people will be using that facility forever.

I actually get to be involved with campus history.”

Andy Richter, Troy senior

studentlife@cm-life.com

Student Activity Center will receive upgrades by March Fitness room expansion begins in December

By Ariel Black Staff Reporter

The Student Activity Center will be seeing some changes along with the addition of the new Events Center.

Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said the

existing wrestling room will become an expansion of the fitness room, with work beginning in December and ending in March.

The construction of the fitness center cannot begin until the wrestling facility in the new Events Center is completed.

“They did not want to build a brand new fitness center in the Events Center because it would be isolated from the rest of the SAC’s amenities,” said Stan Shingles, assistant

vice president of University Recreation.

The fitness center is the most highly-used facility, with 87 percent of the people coming to the SAC using it, Shingles said. Because of capacity issues in the past, the decision to expand was made.

The square footage of the area will be nearly doubled.

Shingles said the change is significant.

“I think it will attract more students and encourage

them to check it out,” said Byron Center junior Lacey Lott. “It will alleviate the load of people with a bigger space and more machines.”

While construction is still taking place, students like Lott are running into some difficulties. The parking right now is difficult to navigate and Lott has been having to go a different way, she said.

There was an intentional effort to move the wrestling facility to capture that space

geographically, so CMU did a land swap, Shingles said.

“We’re also renovating the existing space, putting in new flooring and new lighting,” Shingles said. “We’re doing a significant overhaul to that facility. It’s not going to look anything like it does currently.”

In regard to the Events Center and the SAC, construction has been planned for more than three years, said Athletics Director Dave Heeke.

The changes will bring new and exciting opportunities for students who come to CMU and want the full college experience, he said.

“This building will create more space in the SAC and bring in tremendous events that will be exciting,” Heeke said. “We’ll also have the opportunity for exciting nights in athletics. Those all play a part in the greater experience of our students.” university@cm-life.com

4B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

M o r e t h a n s p o r t i n g m at c h e s

Center to be occupied by annual events Students ready to support teams, attend gatherings

By Kurt Nagl Staff Reporter

file photo by Jake May

Trey Zeigler turned down offers from Arizona State, Michigan, Michigan State and UCLA to join a program that has had four winning seasons in the past 31 years. “I’m not going to try to be the savior – I think we’ve got a lot of great pieces — a lot of great guys coming back and a lot of great recruits coming in,” Trey said. “I’m just going to step in and try to do my part.”

Athletes eager for new facility Trey Zeigler: ‘It should be crazy’

By Justin Hicks Staff Reporter

“I’m really excited.”

Three words that sum up the thoughts of the majority of Central Michigan athletes who will be competing in the new Events Center on campus this winter.

“In this day and age, it’s all about the wow, the pop, the glitter,” said women’s basketball coach Sue Guevara. “I think the kids are looking for new, they’re looking for exciting, they’re looking for different.”

The Events Center, with the new McGuirk Arena inside, is scheduled to open today for the men’s basketball home opener against Temple.

“It should be crazy,” said freshman Trey Zeigler. “With the new building and playing against a ranked team, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The women’s basketball team will host Ole Miss in its home opener on Dec. 18.

The wrestling and gymnastics teams will each compete

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in their home arena for the first time in January. The wrestling team’s home debut will be against interstate rival Michigan on Jan. 16, while the gymnastics team hosts Northern Illinois on Jan. 30.

The experienced players who played in the old Rose Center are excited to move into their new home and build new memories.

“It’s the start of something new,” said senior Kaihla Szunko. “As we are getting better seasons and we win some championships, we deserve it, and we need that arena to back us up.”

Senior Will McClure spoke highly of the new arena. Entering his fourth year at CMU, he said he’s glad to finish out his collegiate career by being a part of the first team to play in the new arena.

“I’m glad I get to play in it my senior year,” he said. “It looks amazing inside, and it’s got a real stadium feeling with student sections on both sides (of the court).”

Making the step from high school to the collegiate stage is undoubtedly a transition, and the 2010-11 freshman class gets

to experience it on an even bigger level.

“Compared to high school, it’s a big stage and you’re just not used to it as a freshman,” said freshman Taylor Johnson.

“I’ve seen Rose with a lot of people in it and it was fun. I’m excited to see how many people the arena is going to bring to watch us.”

With a new venue comes an expanded fan section, which excites both the athletes and fans. The old arena held 5,200 people, a number that has increased to 5,300 people this year. On each side of the court is a 500-seat student section.

“Last year our fans were wild and we’re looking for super fans and for some wild fans to make that place shake this year,” said redshirt freshman Craig Kelliher.

Szunko said she hopes the team’s early success, in addition to the new venue, will increase the school’s fan support.

“We’re already putting up big scoring and people are excited,” Szunko said. “I think the center will help bring in fans.” sports@cm-life.com

Basketball won’t be all that’s happening in the newly-renovated, state of the art Events Center.

The facility will be used for academic purposes as well entertainment and sports.

Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, said the complex was never meant to be used only for sports, but a variety of activities.

“The Events Center will be an engine for cultural, academic, athletic and entertainment experiences,” he said. “The intent is for it to be more than just a new basketball court.”

The annual Student Re-

search and Creative Endeavors Expedition and teacher’s fair will likely take place in the Events Center, Shingles said. The extra room will augment CMU events and offer a refreshing environment for the students.

The annual Native American Powwow will also be hosted in the Events Center this year as well as other international fairs. The stadium and practice facility will be an ideal place to host guest speakers, Shingles said.

Essexville sophomore Amanda Lingle is ready for the Events Center to open and thinks many students will attend activities to check it out.

“I am very excited to cheer on my Chips and see all the cool things that come with it,” she said.

Excitement and anticipation over its opening should draw many students to the complex, said Shingles, who

expects a larger turnout for events this year because of the Events Center.

Livonia freshman Ryan Gabrish said the new complex will be refreshing to students.

“I think it provides a better setting for games and events because it’s bigger, better, newer and nicer,” he said.

Parchment freshman Brandon Shirley is excited for the center for more than just sporting events.

“It will open up a lot more room for everybody,” he said.

The arena will also make the graduation commencement more enjoyable, with air conditioning and more space, Shingles said “It’s important because commencement in the Events Center will be the last experience graduates will have as students at CMU,” he said. university@cm-life.com

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 5B

Mural to depict faces of CMU community

By Seth Newman Staff Reporter

sara winkler/staff photographer

Two murals were installed in the new Events Center. This mural was placed in front of a fire-proof wall connected to the pool facility for safety. The mural, officials said, is a representation of all facets of life at CMU.

Athletics, Central Box Office now merged

By Carisa Seltz Senior Reporter

The services of the Athletics ticket office and Central Box Office have been fused into a onestop ticket operation in the new Events Center.

“We’re going to have one ticket office, (called) Ticket Central,” said Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation. “You’ll be able to purchase any ticket for any event on campus at a one-stop shop type of format, so we’re really excited about that.”

Besides the convenience factor, Shingles said the best thing about Ticket Central is the new parking to accommodate customers.

There were only two designated parking spaces in front of the Bovee University Center for people who wanted to buy tickets at Central Box Office, but people often didn’t follow that rule and parked there anyway, Shingles said.

Now, there are meter-free spaces located right outside

the new atrium entrance to the Events Center for people to park their cars when buying campus tickets.

“This is going to be a lot better,” Shingles said.

Ticket Central offers students better accessibility to buy their tickets than Central Box Office, Shingles said, because it’s closer to them than the Bovee UC. “If (students) are purchasing a ticket for a concert or a play or something like that, within a block and a half of their residence hall, they’ll be able to walk in and pick up a ticket,” he said.

“So again, that’s a nice amenity that we are adding.”

Athletics Director Dave Heeke said the managers and staff of the old ticket centers were just transferred to the new location.

“They’ll be housed in the (Events Center) in that front atrium that you see from (Broomfield Road),” he said.

Ruth Wentworth, coordinator of Central Box Office, which closed Nov. 22, said it is too early to tell if the move will benefit customers or not because Ticket

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Central just opened. She said selling tickets at the south side of campus may be too far away for north campus residents to find purchasing tickets convenient.

“Really, I don’t think it’s going to bother us at all,” she said.

“The people that it might hurt are maybe our patrons who are accustomed to coming to (Central Box Office) and students.”

Allison Krupp, a sales representative for Ticket Central who started work at Central Box Office in 2009, said the new location is too small to house all the people that now work there from the two previous departments.

The Grand Haven freshman said it bothers her that there are no holes in the services windows at Ticket Central and there is only a small slit to pass tickets through for customers.

“It just seems kind of small, but I’m still really excited about it because it looks so cool,” she said. university@cm-life.com

CMU is making sure the Events Center will be a welldecorated home for CMU’s athletics and entertainment.

A 156- by 15-foot graphics mural of all the aspects of Central Michigan community will adorn a wall inside the facility.

Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, said the mural will illustrate all aspects of the CMU experience.

“This mural illustrates the total university community,” Shingles said. “There are images of graduation, events, research, athletics, and student life.”

Shingles said the mural was done in a distinct style “This is a graphics mural, it is neither painted nor

“I like the idea of trying to work more art into the area. In my opinion, Mount Pleasant could benefit from more open displays of color and creativity.”

Chelsea Golec, Claire freshman drawn,” he said.

CMU’s communications staff produced the mural’s design and Daktronics, a company that specializes in scoreboards, displays, video and sound, helped produce the work itself.

Chelsea freshman Claire Golec said she likes the idea of a graphic mural on CMU’s campus.

“I like the idea of trying to work more art into the area,” Golec said. “In my opinion, Mount Pleasant

could benefit from more open displays of color and creativity.”

The Events Center will be open for students and the community to take tours from 2 to 4 p.m.

The first 100 students to tour the Events Center on today will be rewarded with tickets to the first basketball home game of the year against Temple later that night. university@cm-life.com

6B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

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Wrestling says goodbye to Rose after 37 years

By Justin Hicks Staff Reporter

A map of the Rose Center is an unnecessary tool on a quest to find the practice room used by the Central Michigan wrestling team.

A functioning nose and a decent sense of smell and will lead you right to the training room.

After 37 years of use, the team is getting a new training room.

The new CMU Events Center features a new $300,000 practice facility for the team, which head coach Tom Borrelli and the rest of the team are grateful for.

“The new wrestling room will have better ventilation, natural lighting and a lot of things that will make it a better training environment,” Borrelli said.

The room the team is used to practicing in has been in use since 1973. It was once divided into two rooms, the practice room and a classroom, but had a wall taken down to give the team more space.

“You can feel the heat in here and you can feel the humidity,” Borrelli said.

“It’s not the best training environment.”

The new facility will be bigger than the previous room, fitting three full mats instead of the two and a half mats the current room holds. There will also be

center | continued from 1A

athletic teams and major university events, including graduation, concerts, conventions, speakers and academic affairs.

The Events Center features many design perks Rose Arena lacked, Shingles said. The new facility boasts an impressive

“The nicest thing about the location is that we’re 50 feet away from the arena that we’re going to compete in.”

space set a side for cardio equipment.

“Once in a while there are injuries with people falling into each other and we’d like to get rid of that,” Borelli said. “(The new room) will give us more space.”

The practice room’s location in comparison to where the matches will be held, inside McGuirk Arena, is one of Borrelli’s favorite part of the new training room. An enclosed hallway will connect the training room and competition floor.

“The nicest thing about the location is that we’re 50 feet away from the arena that we’re going to compete in,” he said. “Our guys can actually warm up in the wrestling room and then run out into the gym and compete. Not too many places have that.”

The team hosts its first home match at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 16 against in-state rival Michigan.

CMU has won the last three meetings with the Wolverines.

“The fact that we get to warm up (in the practice room) and then walk out onto the mats, you can’t ask for anything better than that,” said redshirt freshman Craig Kelliher. “Last year we warmed up in a hallway, and you can only do so much on a cement floor.” sports@cm-life.com

Tom Borrelli, head coach

file photo by jake may

CMU wrestlers gather to chant at the end of practice at the end of the 2009-10 season. The team practiced in the Rose facility for 37 years. “You can feel the heat in here and you can feel the humidity,” said head coach Tom Borrelli. “It’s not the best training environment.”

front entrance, concession stands and restrooms, Ticket Central, the Maroon and Gold novelty store, concourse areas, new entryways into McGuirk Arena and a VIP club room that holds 150 to 200 people.

There will be new sound and lighting systems with all the high-tech “bells and whistles” and climate control, he said.

“I think the amenities jump out at you,” Shingles said.

“The opportunity to really serve people and provide an experience for people has just been totally enhanced.”

Heeke said the old facility was built in 1973 as a physical education and sports venue. It served its purpose, he said, but the CMU community outgrew it.

McGuirk Arena transpired from a complete renovation of Rose Arena, he said. The box-shape seating setup was

converted to a 5,300-seat bowl shape design that features both bleacher and 1,500 chairbacked seats. There also are retractable seating sections for more practice space and will allow for an easier setup for events.

Heeke said a new, 12- by 30foot scoreboard and video system will be installed at the west end of the arena after Jan. 1. It will be located directly across from the new student section

on the east side of the arena.

Shingles said nothing was lost in terms of intimacy of the former facility as a great venue for watching sports and events.

“Students ... (and) fans are as close to the floor as they were in the former facility,” he said.

“We didn’t build some monster facility that puts people away from the action,” he said.

Now that the construction is complete, Heeke said the

Events Center will be a “shining light” for the whole community.

“It will be a major upgrade and something that reflects the excellence that we stand for at CMU, and whether that’s a sporting event, a concert or that final experience of graduating — it will be a memorable time inside the building,” he said. university@cm-life.com

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 7B

From Vision to Reality Enjoy Your New

Central Michigan University Events Center!

www.clarkcc.com

Construction Manager for the CMU Events Center Expansion & Renovation project

8C || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 9C

From the streets

to the seats After 14 months of construction, the former Rose Center has been transformed into a state of the art facility for CMU athletics Photos by Central Michigan Life Photo Staff Andrew Kuhn, Jeff Smith, Joe Tobianski and Sara Winkler

cm-life.com Check out the video of CMU men’s basketball players expectations for the first home game against Temple.

ABOVE: Stan Shingles, assistant vice president for University Recreation, Events and Conferences, holds a construction hat as he leads a tour through the Events Center on Nov. 24.

RIGHT: Seats line the sideline of McGuirk Arena’s basketball court, which is expected to house a capacity of 5,300. Tickets are already sold out for the first game at 7 p.m. today against Temple.

A construction worker finishes siding on the basketball court in the new McGuirk Arena, which will house 5,300 in attendance for any home basketball game. “It will be a major upgrade and something that reflects the excellence that we stand for at CMU,” said Athletics Director Dave Heeke, “and whether that’s a sporting event, a concert or that final experience of graduating — it will be a memorable time inside the building.” As part of the package deal that transformed Rose Center, Heeke said about 50,000 square feet of additional space was added to the old complex, including the atrium grand entrance, a practice gymnasium and a multi-purpose wrestling facility.

The Events Center began construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 28, 2009. The project was completed in 14 months.

A pair of construction workers post up photos onto a mural on an outer hallway wall on Nov. 18. The mural exhibits all facets of life at CMU. The CMU Board of Trustees approved the $22.5 million total cost for renovations to the Events Center project in December 2007, and was to be completed in time for the first home men’s basketball game against Temple in 2010. As part of the package deal that transformed Rose Center, Athletics Director Dave Heeke said about 50,000 square feet of additional space was added.

ABOVE: Sparks fly into the air as Brownstown carpenter Dan Styles shaves metal off of the side of a bar as he helps construct pieces of a wall for the concourse on Sept. 23.

BELOW (left to right): A construction worker uses a torch to weld. The new student section for the Rose Rowdies. The men’s and women’s basketball practice room. Ticket windows where purchases of tickets for games and events will be sold.

A construction worker stands silhouetted against the glass wall that faces Broomfield Road on Sept. 23 as he works to complete the renovations to the Events Center. “We know there are limitations,” said Stan Shingles, assistant vice president for University Recreation, Events and Conferences, “but we see the sky as the limit as it relates to possibilities of what we can do.”

10B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

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From the drawing board to the scoreboard.

Central Michigan University Events Center

SmithGroup would like to congratulate CMU on the opening of the new Events Center. The renovation and expansion has transformed Rose Arena into a new, first-class complex serving the academic, athletic, and community needs of the University and citizens of central and northern Michigan. The project is a testament to the University’s proud past and sets the pace for the bold future ahead.

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec, 1, 2010 || 11B

‘a n e w l o o k a n d m o r e e x c i t e m e n t ’

‘Rowdies’ prepare for upcoming season at new arena Group looks to boost lackluster student attendance

By Kristopher Lodes Staff Reporter

file photo by patrick siller

Rose Rowdies turn their backs to the courtside as an opposing team player attempts free throws during a 2007 game.

The Sports Management Association has teamed up with the Rowdies student section to try and create a new look and more excitement this season.

The groups are calling for a “Gold Out” for today’s men’s basketball game against Temple at the new McGuirk Arena.

With the new facility and buzz around many of the athletic teams this season, both are looking to help boost lackluster student attendance. They are coming up with some new ideas and trying to improve the look of the student’s involvement with the teams.

“It gives SMA a good chance to do something and managing the Rowdies is a good way to get some relevant experience for the members,” said Dan Secord, Sports Management Association leader and Hastings senior. “Second of all it helps the Rowdies because in past years the Rowdies haven’t had a good core of people, so we’re trying to bring a fresh new look.”

Clawson junior Lee Herteg, leader of the Rowdies, is calling for a football-like atmosphere at

all basketball games.

“We’re trying to get people up and keep them standing with new chants and new excitement,” Herteg said. “We want to make sure the students aren’t bored.”

In previous years, the Rowdies’ attendance was often been small, proving to be a non-factor to opposing teams that other schools typically enjoy. Before, the group was just word-of-mouth and comprised of students who attended basketball games. Now, with SMA involved, they are looking to become more organized and hope to have more of an effect on games.

“We’re bringing in some props, like a Brazilian flag because one of the basketball players (junior forward Andre Coimbra) is from Brazil,” Secord said. “The fact that SMA is involved will help because we’re fans, but we’re also business people and we know how to get people interested.”

Secord said a “Rowdy Report” will be handed out before the game so fans are familiar with everything that is going on, including a list of all the new chants.

“I think our job isn’t going to be very hard because people are already excited about the Events Center,” he said. “Our main goal is to not only get those people but to show them a good time.” sports@cm-life.com

Facility creates edge for men’s, woman’s basketball teams Women’s basketball head coach Sue Guevara said things can get a little crazy.

“We’ve got people walking and running around and guys over here practicing and it’s chaos, but what it does is it forces us to focus on what we are doing and just tune everything else out,” Guevara said. “If you think about it, it’s (what it’s) going to be like at an opposing arena and we can just hone in on what we are doing.”

Not having its own practice facility has not seemed to hurt

By John Evans Senior Reporter

For the past month and a half, the CMU men’s and women’s basketball teams have practiced at the Student Activity Center.

With multiple other activities going on at the SAC, distractions can be a problem. With the new Events Center opening, both teams will be getting a new facilities and the coaches and players are happy to be moving in.

the women’s team, as it has started the season with a 4-2 overall record and the Winthrop Classic tournament championship already under its belt.

Even though the courts at the SAC are not regulation size, the players have not seemed to mind too much.

“This is nice, but there is nothing like going back to your own gym,” said senior forward Kaihla Szunko. “It is going to be great to feel the nets, feel the rims, and just be in that atmosphere where we will play our

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games and where our fans will be. This is shorter than a normal court so just to get the feel of a real court I am excited.”

The Events Center is set to open today when the men’s team plays the nationallyranked Temple Owls in what will be the first game played in McGuirk Arena.

With high expectations for both the men’s and women’s team, the new arena also adds incentive and even some motivation to get in there and play.

“I think for us, it shows to

our guys that basketball is important. There’s a commitment to basketball and excellence throughout our athletics department,” said head coach Ernie Zeigler. “This is the defining jewel of our athletic department and I think our guys are excited to be the first to step on the floor.”

The reaction from coaches and players has been similar, excited but also anxious.

When the teams get to practice in the new facility it will take some getting used to, but

after a while should provide an advantage for the Chippewas.

Wrestling head coach Tom Borrelli said the concerts, graduation, and other community events will be great as well.

“The new Events Center is going to be fantastic. We’re excited in the athletic department, but for the whole university,” Borrelli said. “Those things are going to be nice for the campus and the community.” sports@cm-life.com

12B || Wednesday, Dec, 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

[EVENTS CENTER]

GROUND BREAKING | Construction began in 2009

cm-life.com/category/news/events-center-news

Center offers opportunities for Program Board events Tickets for Ke$ha go on sale Friday for students, Dec. 9 for public

By Michael L. Hoffman Staff Reporter

File photo by Victoria Zegler/staff photographer

From left to right: CMU Director of Athletics, Dave Heeke, Rick McGuirk, Julie McGuirk, CMU Interim President, Kathleen Wilbur, Patrick Dean and Sandy Dean break ground for the entrance to the CMU Events Center in September 2009. The McGuirk family donated $2.5 million for the new CMU Events Center.

Ke$ha is the first show Program Board will bring to the new Events Center, but the addition of the building will mean some changes for the group.

Steve Lewis, Program Board president, said the new Events Center gives the Program Board opportunities to do more things than they might have in the past and also gives new venues to familiar events like movie nights and comedy shows.

“There are a lot of other areas to use for things like movies nights and comedians,” the Allegan junior said. “Along with all the other things we do, whether they be smaller or bigger events.”

He said the new Events Center gives the Program Board the chance to attract other bigname acts like Ke$ha and are currently looking into bringing other mainstream musicians to campus.

“That’s one of our goals, (to bring in more musicians), we are currently looking for other concerts for even this year,” Lewis said. “But nothing is set in stone.”

Ke$ha Lewis said Ke$ha will be the first concert at the new Events Center on Feb. 25 and he expects her to draw quite the crowd.

“We are hoping she sells the place out,” he said.

He said Program Board does not know who the opening acts are yet because Ke$ha has yet to announce the full lineup for the “Get Sleazy” tour.

Lewis said tickets will go on sale Friday for students and will be priced at three different levels: $20 for lower tier seats, $16

courtesy photo

for middle-level seats and $13 for higher-level seats.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Dec. 9, he said, and are priced at $25, $20 and $16 depending on seat location.

He said the decision to bring Ke$ha to campus was not solely that of the Program Board, but that it received input from other organizations on campus.

“It wasn’t just our decision,” Lewis said. “We talked with different Greek organizations, (Minority Student Services), and athletics and all the students associated with them.”

Program Board wasn’t originally planning on bringing Ke$ha to campus, but her schedule made it an easy decision, he said.

“She kind of fell into our laps, actually,” he said. “It worked out completely perfect for us, she is playing in Chicago the

day before and in Detroit the day after, so it worked out great.”

New York graduate student Colin Walker said he isn’t sure if he is going to go to the show or not.

Walker said he thinks it is “really cool that CMU could bring a main-stage act like that to campus.”

“If a lot of my friends decide they want to go maybe I will,” Walker said. “But that is the only way I go to concerts typically, because it’s better amongst friends.”

Marcus Freeman said he does not plan to “Get Sleazy” with Ke$ha, especially because of how fast tickets will sell out.

“Tickets will sell out before I even think about it,” the Rochester sophomore said. “The same thing happened with Demetri Martin.” studentlife@cm-life.com

Athletic Communications gets new offices, equipment

By Aaron McMann Sports Editor

What a difference a year makes — or, in this case, two years.

With everyone talking about the first game at McGuirk Arena and the opening of the new CMU Events Center, a lot has been happening behind the scenes.

Members of the CMU Athletic Communications office began moving into their new offices last week.

“We’re thrilled and really excited to get into our own space,” said Jason Kaufman, director of Sports Information.

In addition to Kaufman, who already has his own office, Assistant Sports Information Directors Scott Rex and Mike Boseak will also get their place to work. The two currently share a cramped room in Rose Center with Director of Electronic Media Services Chris Rodela and student assistants on a daily basis.

“It’s been a very unique setup,” Rex said. “Being over here, we knew it was a temporary fix and I think we’ve done the best we can with it. We’re going to get spoiled pretty quickly with our

new setup down there.”

The department has gone through a ride the past few years. Originally located with University Communications in West Hall, it was moved closer to the athletics department on July 1, 2009.

Improved video The biggest aspect of the move is the increased video equipment to be installed in McGuirk Arena. In September, the CMU Board of Trustees approved a 30-feet-by, 10-foot video scoreboard. Because of its late addition, it will not be up and running until January.

“It’s going to be as good as anywhere else,” Rodella said.

“We’re going to have a full production going to four camera angles. We’ll have a state-of-theart replay system that’s being used around other colleges and pro facilities.”

While Rodella said the department will not be hiring anyone new, they will start using broadcast students to help facilitate the game day environment.

A group of 10 will be needed for production of a game, while another group sits back and works on live video and editing.

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 13B

[EVENTS CENTER]

“What they were doing in the past was taking a videotape and digitizing it, capturing it and editing it. It was about a two-day process,” Kaufman said. “Now they’re going to be sitting back in that production room, capture it live and distribute it to the media. We can have a halftime highlight package distributed to news channels before deadline.”

That was something not possible until now. Rodella said he recounts two years ago when he and former videographer Mike Germond would work on video out of their apartment. Now the athletics website, cmuchippewas.com, touts itself as one of the largest collections of video.

“A year forward, we’re here.

Now we’re moving into the Events Center,” he said. “It shows that there’s a commitment to the video aspect of what we do.”

Among other notable highlights of the CMU Events Center include a new 12,000-foot basketball and wrestling facility and 10,000 square-foot atrium lobby, with a fulltime box office for events at the arena and around campus. sports@cm-life.com

GYMNASTICS | Team to compete in McGuirk Arena

File photo by sean proctor

CMU freshman All-Arounder Emily LaFontaine twists in the air while she performs her floor routine during the Chippewa’s 194.250-193.925 loss to rival Kent State on Feb. 13 in Rose Arena. Lafontaine scored an 9.700 on the floor routine and a 9.72 on the uneven bars. The team will compete for another Mid-American Conference title following the championship last year.

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The Events Center will not only be used by CMU sports fans — there are plans to open the center to conferences and events, such as weddings.

The athletic, conference and event scheduling will be taken over by Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, events and conferences. Athletics will

have to submit all schedules to Shingles, who will manage and coordinate practices and competitions, said Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe.

“I expect that this events center will be very busy there is a lot of interest,” he said. “That’s why it was built local and campus and community.”

Events and facility management employees working at the center will be part of a team supporting university recreation to collaborate with groups and effectively run the facility, van der Merwe said. It has always been managed like this; it effectively manages a

lot of moving parts through communication and collaboration.

Another location for similar events, Centennial Hall, 306 W. Michigan St., is not expecting a decrease in business from the Events Center.

“I think it’s great, I love the university and I think the more we offer people the better,” said owner Jean Prout.

She will be attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and then the basketball game afterward.

“I’m not worried it’s just another chance we take,” Prout said. studentlife@cm-life.com

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14B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

[EVENTS CENTER]

cm-life.com/category/news/events-center-news

Volleyball looks forward to return at ‘new’ location

By Nick Conklin Staff Reporter

The 2009 season was one of altered routines and new environments for the CMU volleyball team and head coach Erik Olson.

For a coach that had made his home-away-from-home in Rose Arena for the past seven years, Olson was forced to move his team to Finch Fieldhouse this year while renovations were being made to the CMU Events Center.

The team spent its preseason in a dark room in the Student Activity Center, something Olson and his players struggled to adapt to.

“All spring long we practiced in a dark SAC room in a small sports room,” Olson said. “The film quality was terrible because it was so dark in there.”

Then the team was displaced

Senior defensive specialist Lisa Johnson celebrates with her teammates during CMU’s MidAmerican Conference first round match Nov. 16 at Finch Fieldhouse.

The team spent the entire season at Finch and will play at the Events Center.

File photo by paige calamari

to Finch, where they haven’t competed since Rose Arena was built in 1973.

For the team, the everyday routine they had established changed. The changes were something the team had no control over and were forced to work around.

“It was uncontrollable,” Olson said. “It didn’t mess with our heads, but the fact is it was different.”

The change in venue, however, did cause some problems in regards to the team’s practice style.

Because of only having one complete court to practice on, they had to shorten specific position work, which caused problems once the season began.

“We could only pass and play defense on the other court,” Olson said. “You start to not have quite as good of a middle connection with your setter and middles.”

Another issue was the ability for players to access the coaching staff. Because the staff maintained their regular offices in Rose and practices were held in Finch, it was difficult for many of them to get individual time with coaches.

Watching film was also complicated by the move because much of the film time took place in a low quality film room.

“It is just little things like that, players didn’t watch as much film this year because of the inconvenience,” Olson said.

However, Olson said that his two visits to the new facility were interesting and he is excited to see what the final product of the new arena will be.

“I think this new facility is going to be gorgeous and we’re really excited to get back into a routine there,” Olson said. sports@cm-life.com

Local businesses expect more traffic as Events Center opens Owners hope basketball games draw crowd

By Melissa Beauchamp Staff Reporter

Many businesses surrounding Mission Street hope the opening of the renovated Events Center will increase game-day traffic.

Some businesses envision the Events Center as a source of business because students, parents, visitors and fans will celebrate a big win after the game, or enjoy food before the game.

John Hunter expects to see an increase in business at Wayside Central and O’Kelly’s

Sports Bar and Grill, 2000 S. Mission St. “We are really excited for the new events center. We think it will bring a lot of opportunities for area businesses besides sporting events, but also concerts and conventions,” said Hunter, a coowner of the business. “We had a chance to tour it and we are impressed with the way it looks. We cannot wait when it is up and running.”

Bryson Church, general manager at Jimmy John’s, 1901 S. Mission St., has already been pleased with the increase of business because of the new Events Center.

They have been delivering to Clark Construction Company while they are working on the Events Center.

“We facilitate a delivery

service for teams and provide food for players before and after the games,” he said.

“Game days always draw a good amount of people in the store or are a peak for deliveries. The better the team is, the bigger the crowd.”

Menna’s Joint, 1418 S. Mission St., hopes the new Events Center will bring more students from the basketball games, said Manager Gus Brush.

“We are walking distance from campus and we are open very late, so students in the past have come to Menna’s after games,” he said. “The new facility should bring in a crowd and any crowd is good.

We get wild ones in here. We love to get involved with students.”

Many surrounding busi-

c o mm e n c e m e n t

Class first to graduate in new facility 2,480 expected to walk in three ceremonies

By Michael L. Hoffman Staff Reporter

Dec. 11 marks the day thousands of CMU students have labored toward for years ­— graduation.

It also marks the first time graduates will walk across the stage in the new Events Center.

Commencement Coordinator Sharon L. Russel said in an e-mailed statement there are an expected 2,480 graduates receiving degrees this December.

“Commencement is the first of many academic events to be held throughout the year in the new Events Center,” she said.

“And creating a more fitting setting for commencement was one of the driving forces for the renovation.”

Russel said there will be three separate commencement cer-

emonies for the graduates, all being held in the new Events Center — one at 9:30 a.m., one at 1 p.m. and one at 5 p.m.

She said August graduates are also invited to participate in the ceremony. Each ceremony will have its own speaker. The 9:30 a.m. commencement will feature Nancy Schlichting, president and chief executive officer of the Henry Ford Health System.

Brett Holey, a 1982 CMU graduate and director and senior broadcast producer of NBC Nightly News, will speak at the 1 p.m. ceremony and Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Division, will speak at the 5 p.m. commencement. He is also a 1985 CMU alumnus.

Grosse Pointe Farms graduate student Alex Grabski said he is intrigued by the new Events Center, though he has yet to see it.

He said his degree is more important than the actual ceremony, though he is attending.

“I’m there for my parents,” Grabski said. “The ceremony

isn’t as significant as the graduation itself and completing the program.”

Niles senior Kate Burchett said she is very excited for commencements to be held in the Events Center.

“I think it’s cool, we’re going to be the first class to do it,” Burchett said.

Burchett said she is glad it is inside because it will make it easier for people like her grandparents to enjoy her graduation without having to sit outdoors for a long period of time.

Russel said the facility will be excellent for families and friends watching their loved ones graduate.

“The new Events Center will provide a more comfortable atmosphere for the graduates’ families and friends,” she said.

“We believe that commencement is the most important day of a student’s college experience and we look forward to celebrating with the first CMU class to graduate in this beautiful facility.” university@cm-life.com

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nesses have one thing in common — the belief there is much more of an excitement for the CMU football games compared to the basketball games, evident when students are not celebrating before or after basketball games at their businesses.

The new Events Center could possibly be the hype the businesses need to draw in students.

“There is not much of a crowd here after basketball games compared to football games,” said Dan Mackinnon, manager of SIX Lounge, 1901 S. Mission St. “Not very many people attend the basketball games, which does not make Six Lounge any busier than a normal night.”

Brian Stokes, owner of Lil’ Chef, 1720 S. Mission St., also

“Game days always draw a good amount of people in the store or are a peak for deliveries.

The better the team is, the bigger the crowd.”

Bryson Church, Jimmy John’s general manager

notices the turnout is far less during basketball games than football games.

“We are very popular during football season, but not so much during basketball season,” he said. “Although when CMU teams do well, it does tend to pick-up business.”

Ryan Reedy, owner of The

Grotto, 304 W. Broomfield St., said they would plan for students and fans to come after football games.

“We don’t particularly get busy before or after basketball games, but the Events Center should make some sort of an impact,” he said. metro@cm-life.com

cm-life.com/category/news/events-center-news

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || 15B

[EVENTS CENTER]

basketball | continued from 1B

“Kids are looking for something new, exciting and different.

When you look at it, it’s very impressive – and recruits are seeing that.”

Sue Guevara, Women’s basketball head coach

Bradford (Inkster High School), ranked 37th in the country by espn.com, signed her letter of intent a few weeks ago to join the Chippewas for the 2011 season after verbally committing last fall. Joining her are fellow Inkster teammates Jas’Mine Bracey and Leah Scott, both of whom have earned accolades by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.

“In this day and age, it’s all about the pop,” Guevara said.

“Kids are looking for something new, exciting and different. When you look at it, it’s very impressive – and recruits are seeing that.” file photo by Sean proctoR

Senior forward Laura Baker goes up for a rebound last season against Western Michigan at Rose Arena.

Support needed for new arena The day has finally come.

Last September, athletics director Dave Heeke stood side-byside with several CMU faculty, administrators and community members as ground was broken on a new facility that would house basketball, wrestling, gymnastics and community events.

Now, 14 months later, the $22.5 million CMU Events Center is a reality.

The men’s basketball team opens up against nationallyranked Temple tonight in what is the main event in a myriad of events scheduled to commemorate the opening.

A whole new era begins with the first tip at 7 p.m., but it really began last year.

Aaron McMann | Sports Editor Immediately, the announcement of a new Events Center and arena helped with recruiting.

Men’s basketball head coach Ernie Zeigler landed a recruiting class that ranked first in the MidAmerican Conference – before his landmark signing. Then, of course, came Zeigler’s son, Trey, who turned down Michigan, Michigan State and UCLA to stay home. Zeigler called the new facility a sticking point that helped sway his decision to remain in Mount Pleasant.

Sue Guevara was able to get a verbal commitment from Inkster High School standout Crystal Bradford, a Top 40 recruit according to ESPN, who recently signed her letter of intent to play here next season. Guevara’s 2011 recruiting class was ranked the highest of any Michigan school, according to ESPN. Both of these recruiting coups are no accident. Guevara said it best a few weeks ago: “Kids are looking for something new, exciting and different.”

Good players want to play in top notch facilities. Other MAC schools, such as Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois, were ahead of the curve and built new arenas seven to eight years ago.

That has since paid off, giving them an edge in recruiting.

At the same time, fans and alumni will also appreciate the new facilities and authentic feel, something the former Rose Are-

na was lacking.

Visitors will be welcomed with a spacious and open atrium, containing an actual ticket office, similar to EMU’s Convocation Center.

Once inside, a giant mural with various photos decorates the main concourse leading into McGuirk Arena. Having been inside, I can say with confidence that the atmosphere at games will be much different from years past.

The seating appears closer to the court and the arena, when full, could be a tough place to play for opposing teams.

Now, the ball is in your court to fill it. CMU showed a commitment to building a new facility for its athletic programs and the community, now the fans must show a commitment to show up for games and events. sports@cm-life.com

Wrestling Coming off his ninth consecutive MAC championships title, you’d think wrestling head coach Tom Borrelli wouldn’t need a whole lot of help with recruiting. After all, the team has used the same wrestling room since 1973, when Rose Center first opened.

But in his 20th season at CMU, Borrelli said the new facility will help even the playing field against perennial NCAA championship contenders Iowa, Cornell and Nebraska.

“It helps a lot,” Borrelli said. “Three of the four guys we signed were in the top 60 recruits in the country by InterMat Magazine.”

Redshirt freshman Craig Keliher – a part of Borrelli’s 2009 recruiting class – said the response from recruits, many of which stayed at his house during visits, was overwhelmingly positive.

“Every time they came

back, they said ‘that’s awesome,’” Keliher said. “You go around to a lot of big schools and everything looks really nice, but you got to their wrestling room and it looks terrible.”

Other MAC schools building While CMU completes its renovation to the Events Center, other MAC schools are also getting in on the action.

The University of Toledo completed a $30 million renovation of Savage Arena in November 2008.

“Savage Hall was clearly in need of a renovation,” said UT Director of Athletics Mike O’Brien. “It was built in 1976, so the decision was based on first and foremost the needs to better the environment for our student-athletes.”

Since joining in Toledo in 2002, O’Brien has been instrumental in five major construction projects on campus. He said new buildings have a positive effect on recruiting.

“Today’s prospects compare and contrast those institutions we’re recruiting against,” O’Brien said. “Prospects want to see facilities they are spending hours and hours in once they attend an institution.”

In addition, Bowling Green State University will open its Stroh Center in time for the 2011-12 season.

Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois each opened their convocation centers in 1998 and 2002, respectively. sports@cm-life.com

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n o i t a l u t a r g n o C 16B || Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

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CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. CMU provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in university activities, programs and services. Individuals with disabilities requiring an accommodation should call (888)347-3872.