Reed Arena Facelift?

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Renn_dls
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10:01a, 2/5/26
AG
As a bus driver, I drive by Reed Arena a lot. I love Reed, but something about it doesn't seem right. And recently, I think I finally found the issue. All our athletic buildings and stadiums use this red brick design, which definitely stands out from the rest of the campus. Started with Olsen Field's renovation in 2012, and then the same design ideas were given to Kyle Field when the renovations happened in 2015, and then Davis Diamond when it was built in 2017. Looking at Reed Arena kinda feels like it's been left out and is the sore thumb of the bunch. I think Reed should get a facelift to align with our other facilities and look grand.



ChatGPT's idea of Reed Arena with the red brick design. This isn't the design I would want, but it's an idea, so we can see what it would look like.
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heavens11
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10:04a, 2/5/26
AG
Glass facing would make it look so much more attractive. Some landscaping wouldn't kill us either
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bobinator
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10:06a, 2/5/26
AG
Reed doesn't need a facelift, it needs to be torn out of the earth and rebuilt completely.

Supposedly the university and the city are starting to kick the tires on an event center/basketball arena that would be closer to century square but at the rate those things move even if it does happen we'll all be dead before it does.
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Ag13
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10:08a, 2/5/26
AG
I'm all for architectural uniformity (which has never been A&M's strong suit) - but Baylor won a national championship in men's basketball and multiple national championships in women's basketball playing in this:



The millions it would take for a facelift of Reed Arena would be much more effectively spent on acquiring the best talent possible.

Our history of basketball mediocrity has very little, if anything, to do with the outside appearance of Reed Arena.
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BQ_90
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In reply to bobinator • 10:09a, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
Reed doesn't need a facelift, it needs to be torn out of the earth and rebuilt completely.

Supposedly the university and the city are starting to kick the tires on an event center/basketball arena that would be closer to century square but at the rate those things move even if it does happen we'll all be dead before it does.

You talking about a project that requires the University, the Athletic Department, City of Bryan, and the City of CS, plus maybe the County, to all agree on and not try to screw each other in the process.

you have better shot of winning one of those billion dollar lottos and then donating that to the AD for a tear down and rebuild of Reed.
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Renn_dls
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In reply to bobinator • 10:09a, 2/5/26
AG
I think it should stay on campus. College athletic games should stay on campus, in my opinion. And I could get behind tearing it down and redoing it. It has seen better days, but given how deep it goes, it could be a bit of a task, and we would need a place for basketball and volleyball. So I think a facelift would be the best option, logistically speaking.
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bobinator
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In reply to Renn_dls • 10:14a, 2/5/26
AG
A facelift doesn't matter, who gives a **** what Reed looks like? It's the function of it that sucks.

And that area they're talking about is practically on campus. I don't even know where exactly they're thinking but that property might even technically be on campus and it would be a lot closer to where students live.

But again, we'll all be dead or our brains will be encoded into robots long before that ever happens anyway.
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BQ_90
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In reply to bobinator • 10:18a, 2/5/26
AG
Hensel park, i wouldn't call it campus, but it gets you close to restaurants like everyone wants. but i don't see how it's not a nightmare to get in and out of traffic wise, plus parking.

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Luke The Drifter
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10:19a, 2/5/26
AG
It was a huge struggle for the university to even get Reed Arena built. Back in the old days, there was some approval process needed at the State level for the university to get facilities built. If any school dollars were going to be used (as opposed to 100% donor funded), the State Legislature somehow got involved. A&M had zero political clout at the time - even less than we have now. Some legislators were mad about our move to the Big 12, some were big t.u., Baylor, or tech fans, and some just had some other axe to grind against A&M. Heck...there were even some leaders inside of A&M that were bent out of shape over the possibility of leaving G. Rollie White.

Reed Arena was built with the smallest possible budget - and we only got that far because we agreed to make it a multi-purpose facility and not just a sports venue. Tony Barone, bless his heart, worked tirelessly to do whatever he could to get a new facility. He lobbied, campaigned, and even donated funds himself to make Reed happen. Then we fired him (and rightfully so) before he could ever coach a game in the new building.

I'm not going to say that Reed has been cursed from the start...but Reed has been cursed from the start.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
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bobinator
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In reply to BQ_90 • 10:21a, 2/5/26
AG
We'll all be able to teleport by then, not a problem at all.
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BQ_90
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In reply to bobinator • 10:23a, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
We'll all be able to teleport by then, not a problem at all.

PTTS will still find a way to fine you for illegal teleportation

and somebody on here will complain that our teleportal isn't decorated enough
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Luke The Drifter
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In reply to bobinator • 10:23a, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
A facelift doesn't matter, who gives a **** what Reed looks like? It's the function of it that sucks.

And that area they're talking about is practically on campus. I don't even know where exactly they're thinking but that property might even technically be on campus and it would be a lot closer to where students live.

But again, we'll all be dead or our brains will be encoded into robots long before that ever happens anyway.


Agreed on the facelift. Yea...a few landscaping improvements might be nice, but that ultimately does not matter.

The work on Reed needs to be done on the inside. Granted, it is 1000 times better now than when it opened in 1998...but it's still just a big "blah" of an arena. We have to find a way to get the students closer to the action. I, of course, do not have the answer...but I do know the crowd effectiveness has limitations with the current set up.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
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bobinator
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In reply to Ag13 • 10:24a, 2/5/26
AG
I'd argue the Ferrel Center, only ten years older than Reed BTW, was a superior venue from a basketball-watching standpoint.

It was a POS, to be clear, but the basketball set up was better than Reed's.
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Luke The Drifter
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In reply to bobinator • 10:24a, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
I'd argue the Ferrel Center, only ten years older than Reed BTW, was a superior venue from a basketball-watching standpoint.

It was a POS, to be clear, but the basketball set up was better than Reed's.


If you could avoid the carbon monoxide poisoning, I agree.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
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bobinator
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In reply to Luke The Drifter • 10:28a, 2/5/26
AG
look if you can't get fans in the arena you have to figure out a home court advantage somehow
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OldShadeOfBlue
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In reply to Ag13 • 11:06a, 2/5/26
AG
Ag13 said:
I'm all for architectural uniformity (which has never been A&M's strong suit) - but Baylor won a national championship in men's basketball and multiple national championships in women's basketball playing in this:



The millions it would take for a facelift of Reed Arena would be much more effectively spent on acquiring the best talent possible.

Our history of basketball mediocrity has very little, if anything, to do with the outside appearance of Reed Arena.

Agreed. Buildings don't win championships. Figured Aggies would have learned that by now.
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Aston04
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11:08a, 2/5/26
AG
The lighting at reed sucks. Too dark. That it in itself would spruce up the place a bit.
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BQ_90
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In reply to Aston04 • 11:11a, 2/5/26
AG
Aston04 said:
The lighting at reed sucks. Too dark. That it in itself would spruce up the place a bit.

thats the tv broadcast, its fine inside Reed. They installed new LEDs 2 years ago
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Ag13
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In reply to OldShadeOfBlue • 11:41a, 2/5/26
AG
OldShadeOfBlue said:
Ag13 said:
I'm all for architectural uniformity (which has never been A&M's strong suit) - but Baylor won a national championship in men's basketball and multiple national championships in women's basketball playing in this:



The millions it would take for a facelift of Reed Arena would be much more effectively spent on acquiring the best talent possible.

Our history of basketball mediocrity has very little, if anything, to do with the outside appearance of Reed Arena.

Agreed. Buildings don't win championships. Figured Aggies would have learned that by now.

To be fair putting the slogan "Building Champions" as a slogan on a literal building right outside of Kyle Field for many years was a little confusing at the time.
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OldShadeOfBlue
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In reply to Aston04 • 11:46a, 2/5/26
AG
Aston04 said:
The lighting at reed sucks. Too dark. That it in itself would spruce up the place a bit.

It doesn't look any different at Moody Center
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bobinator
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In reply to OldShadeOfBlue • 11:49a, 2/5/26
AG
comparing Reed to the Moody Center is like comparing Sputnik 2 to the Starship Enterprise.

They're both technically space ships, but that's about all they have in common.
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phatty26
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In reply to bobinator • 11:57a, 2/5/26
bobinator said:
look if you can't get fans in the arena you have to figure out a home court advantage somehow

Lets see what Saturday night looks like and I suspect that this will be the norm moving forward as students and other late comers will be excited about showing up as it is fun to watch this instead of the crap we've seen for over ten years. Buzzes teams were brutal even though they won it was not fun and engaging to the fans. BK would have losses that were just wtf just happened. Turdge just griped about fans.
BCG had a foot out the door and flask in the pocket.

This feels different and Bucky isnt going anywhere his plan is to win a natty and I believe he will get it done here.

Bob can you pull up the old thread for the season predictions that you started in Oct/Nov.

I'd love to see it.
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The Collective
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12:00p, 2/5/26
AG
I think a lighter color of seat could help quite a bit, otherwise do very little until you are willing to start over.
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OldShadeOfBlue
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In reply to bobinator • 12:38p, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
comparing Reed to the Moody Center is like comparing Sputnik 2 to the Starship Enterprise.

They're both technically space ships, but that's about all they have in common.

We're just comparing the lighting on Sputnik and the Enterprise
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NyAggie
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12:42p, 2/5/26
AG
We rebuilt Kyle field: why cant we do the same with Reed?

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Lance Uppercut
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12:44p, 2/5/26
AG
Reed doesn't look nice on the outside (and the concessions are bad)...but I've never actually had a problem with it as a location to watch college basketball. Seating is more spacious than at many of the other places I've watched a game, access is pretty easy, and movement around the arena isn't overly cramped or difficult.
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BQ_90
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In reply to NyAggie • 1:01p, 2/5/26
AG
NyAggie said:
We rebuilt Kyle field: why cant we do the same with Reed?


money, plus we didn't touch the north end at all.

You can't raise enough from season tickets holders to do a tear down.

It would take a massive donor or corporate sponsorship along with University money
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Texas_Ag11
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1:01p, 2/5/26
AG
I'm still a fan of actually expanding Reed to the west into an even more rectangular structure, allowing for indoor tennis to be incorporated and provide the largest venue for graduation and assemblies. Take the existing Reed lots and convert them into parking garages on all three sides, put street level restaurants or offices to break up the look. Take the Koldus setup and bring it over to these garages. Extra parking helps with all the sports over there, provides a viewing gallery for several sports (softball and soccer) on the roof of the garages. Could even incorporate a new sports Hall of Fame into that setup.

Then either go over to the drill field near Albritton (second choice) or tear down Koldus (first choice) and build a new basketball/volleyball/gymnastics arena there. Build a full wrap of suites at street level which would be the second level of the arena and the first level all one concourse level, subterranean build. Make the whole thing a glass cube structure to let in natural light - can darken the windows during matches. Put the students on one side of the court (just like Kyle) and have it seat around 9k - basically all straight up. You get the suites and revenue, while building it on top of the court for a better viewing experience. It's right in the heart of campus, is a great building that doesn't block the view of Rudder (oh the horror!) and can be well used for football weekends - bars, concessions, AC zone, kids zone on the floor, even open the suites for suiteholders to have a place to congregate inside the AC. It's also attached to Aggie Park, so it fits that side of campus.

Makes too much sense to do it.
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bobinator
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In reply to Lance Uppercut • 1:03p, 2/5/26
AG
There's two things that I'd argue are the biggest issues with Reed, and they affect opposite ends of the fan spectrum.

1) The upper deck seats absolutely suck: Might as well be on the moon. I sit up there a lot when I bring my son to the game. If you're in the front few rows, the railings block the view of the court (which is why nicer arenas use glass/plastic panels.) You're also just way up in the air and pretty far removed from the atmosphere going on below you. The experience is basically the same as if you're watching it on TV. As a result, why would a casual fan drop a few bucks to come to the game if the experience isn't any better than at home? This is where even a crappy venue like the Ferrell Center is better, at least with a big single bowl you still feel like you're part of the game atmosphere.

2) No luxury areas: On the other end of the spectrum, we don't have any premium areas of Reed Arena. We're probably missing out on quite a bit of money here. Enough to warrant building a whole new arena? I doubt it, but it's something that we don't have that most of our peers do. Our basketball games don't make as much money as they probably could if we had this.
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BQ_90
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In reply to bobinator • 1:06p, 2/5/26
AG
the higher up you are on the second level all you see is the scoreboard anyway, so you're just watching the game on giant tv screen, so if thats the case just stay home.

i'd rather they get rid of hte giant video board and figure a way to put them in the corners like at kyle or other arenas
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The Collective
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1:20p, 2/5/26
AG
Quote:
Then either go over to the drill field near Albritton (second choice) or tear down Koldus (first choice) and build a new basketball/volleyball/gymnastics arena there.


Just stared at a satellite view of campus, and I really like this. My initial thought was, no way there is enough space there... but looks like you could fit in an arena only into the space with Koldus and its garage. That would be an amazing spot.

Damn - I'm now obsessed with this idea.
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BQ_90
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In reply to The Collective • 1:41p, 2/5/26
AG
but then you have no parking
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bobinator
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1:42p, 2/5/26
AG
I think we'll have a floating arena above campus that our autonomous flying cars can drop us off at before they consider building one in the center of campus (again.)
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BQ_90
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In reply to bobinator • 1:45p, 2/5/26
AG
bobinator said:
I think we'll have a floating arena above campus that our autonomous flying cars can drop us off at before they consider building one in the center of campus (again.)

That's the year TXDot will start the underpass on Bush under the RR tracks.
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bobinator
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In reply to BQ_90 • 1:49p, 2/5/26
AG
They'll probably build the nicest basketball facility in the country but put it at RELLIS.
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