The new JQH Arena, affectionately nicknamed "the Q", is definitely on par with the best arenas around the country for college basketball.
The $67 million facility opened its doors this season and the reviews have been positive. I have to agree that there is really not a bad seat in the house. In comparison to Hammons Student Center, the seats are bigger and wider and come with cup holders.
As far as the concourse, the wide open spaces are very nice as well as the numerous restroom facilities. The suites are spacious and have all the things you need to watch a game in comfort. The selection of menu items at the concession stands are tremendous. Who would think you could get Starbucks at a Bears game?
Also on the concourse is the tremendous offerings of the BearWear Shop. If you remember the same store inside Hammons, only two people were allowed in the store at one time. This store looks like one you'd see at the mall.
At the center of the arena is an awesome video scoreboard with constant game action and all the stats you'll need. Public address announcer Rick Jester gets a little time off with the abundance of video advertisements going on at the breaks.
The only negative I saw on the night was the lack of noise in the building. Now I've been told it was very noisy on opening night and nearly 11,000 people in one place would do that. What I'm talking about was during the starting lineups when traditionally the crowd is rockin', not the play on the court of which there was nothing to cheer for during the game. Last night reminded me of an NBA game. A few people were clapping to the new lineup song (which I think was expertly put together by the MSU staff). However, that same loud vibe that we heard in Hammons wasn't there.
In Hammons, the band nearly blew you out of the arena. The starting lineup song with Michael Buffer would send a ringing through your ears and make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. When there was a horrible call, like the foul Chris Cooks' face made on the MTSU players knee that knocked Cooks senseless, and the crowd booed, it didn't have the same effect. I remember times in Hammons where my water bottle vibrated and I had to yell at my staff so they could hear me if that same thing happened.
So in fairness, the Q is new and 6,000 fans in an 11,000-seater probably isn't as loud as Hammons. I do wish that the designers would have left out the sound mufflers and let the roof rock a little more. Or maybe, just turn up the speakers and let the lineup music take over.
