Todd Henrichs: Hall of Fame no slam dunk at Kentucky
Kentucky officials, no doubt, considered it a slam dunk when the decision was made to construct a museum of basketball, a shrine to one of the sport’s most storied programs.
Yet, earlier this month, the doors to the facility were slammed shut. After consultants had projected that 110,000 would visit in a given year, in reality, only about 18,000 a year went through the turnstiles.
That’s in comparison to the 24,000 Kentucky fans who fill Rupp Arena for Wildcats’ home games.
That news must give some pause to officials at Nebraska, who have listed a Husker Hall of Fame as one of the top priorities for several years.
To work, such a facility would need significant outside financial support, dynamic displays and ample parking to draw crowds and a long-term plan to attract folks back for a second or third visit.
As officials of the Kentucky museum said, “I think what they forgot is that the same 24,000 people have all the basketball tickets.”
Practice, practice
Speaking of basketball, Iowa State announced plans last week for a new $8 million practice facility that, instead of going up next to the Cyclones’ arena, will be built as part of a 10-acre retail and commercial development on Ames’ west end.
That’s yet another twist on the arms race that is practice space for men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Nebraska, meanwhile, is in a bit of a holding pattern until voters decide the fate of a proposed downtown Lincoln arena.
Not a banner year
NU finished 31st in the final Directors’ Cup all-sports standings for 2007-08. That’s behind last year’s 27th-place finish, but one spot better than NU’s all-time worst finish of 32nd in 2003-04.
Stanford won for the 14th straight year, and Texas led all Big 12 schools by finishing fifth.
Nebraska has cracked the top 20 only twice since 2000-01.
Heading for home
* Saturday’s Grover Cleveland Alexander Days parade in St. Paul had former major leaguers Bob Cerv and Russ Snyder as grand marshals. The town’s Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball will be open today from 1 to 3 p.m.
* Organizers of the USA Track & Field National Championships at Burke Stadium in Omaha are still looking for volunteers. The event runs July 22-27. Call (402) 331-3090 or write to jovolunteers@cox.net for information.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
Yet, earlier this month, the doors to the facility were slammed shut. After consultants had projected that 110,000 would visit in a given year, in reality, only about 18,000 a year went through the turnstiles.
That’s in comparison to the 24,000 Kentucky fans who fill Rupp Arena for Wildcats’ home games.
That news must give some pause to officials at Nebraska, who have listed a Husker Hall of Fame as one of the top priorities for several years.
To work, such a facility would need significant outside financial support, dynamic displays and ample parking to draw crowds and a long-term plan to attract folks back for a second or third visit.
As officials of the Kentucky museum said, “I think what they forgot is that the same 24,000 people have all the basketball tickets.”
Practice, practice
Speaking of basketball, Iowa State announced plans last week for a new $8 million practice facility that, instead of going up next to the Cyclones’ arena, will be built as part of a 10-acre retail and commercial development on Ames’ west end.
That’s yet another twist on the arms race that is practice space for men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Nebraska, meanwhile, is in a bit of a holding pattern until voters decide the fate of a proposed downtown Lincoln arena.
Not a banner year
NU finished 31st in the final Directors’ Cup all-sports standings for 2007-08. That’s behind last year’s 27th-place finish, but one spot better than NU’s all-time worst finish of 32nd in 2003-04.
Stanford won for the 14th straight year, and Texas led all Big 12 schools by finishing fifth.
Nebraska has cracked the top 20 only twice since 2000-01.
Heading for home
* Saturday’s Grover Cleveland Alexander Days parade in St. Paul had former major leaguers Bob Cerv and Russ Snyder as grand marshals. The town’s Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball will be open today from 1 to 3 p.m.
* Organizers of the USA Track & Field National Championships at Burke Stadium in Omaha are still looking for volunteers. The event runs July 22-27. Call (402) 331-3090 or write to jovolunteers@cox.net for information.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
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