Iowa takes first step toward major Carver-Hawkeye Arena renovations with feasibility study

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa is one step closer to possible major renovations of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa has embarked on a feasibility study for renovating the 40-year-old arena, interim athletics director Beth Goetz said at the university’s monthly Presidential Committee on Athletics meeting.

“Obviously we love Carver,” Goetz said. “We love the environment there. It’s been just a great friend and home to us for about 40 years, and we need it to continue to be so for a few more decades to come.”

Possible upgrades include fan amenities, premium seating and bringing the student section “a little bit closer to the floor to create that great fan environment.”

“On a basketball court, when you’ve got them a little bit closer to the action, it’s more meaningful to the students,” Goetz said. “We are trying to really engage directly with some student groups. We’ve got a couple classes ... we’ve asked to actually help us understand what would be most important to you as students coming to a game.”

Moving students closer to the court comes with its challenges, though.

“Depending on how you’re seated, moving people around is more complicated than it sounds,” Goetz said after the meeting. “We want to honor and serve all of our longtime fans and season ticket holders. At the same time, you’re inviting your student body in.”

Iowa plans to seek feedback from fans on what to improve at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“Is this what people envision?” Goetz told The Gazette. “Is this going to serve you in the way that we think it will for the long term?”

The feasibility study is “step one” in the renovation process.

“When we talk about a feasibility study, it’s having architects sit down and say, ‘Hey, what’s possible?’”

The timing of the renovation “all depends on the philanthropic support that we can generate,” Goetz said.

Iowa has sometimes issued bonds to pay for facility upgrades, but Goetz is “approaching it as an entirely philanthropic project at this point.”

“We certainly want to see from a feasibility standpoint what philanthropic support we might be able to get,” Goetz said.

As the renovation planning process continues, Carver Cone connoisseurs do not need to worry.

“I know somebody’s going to make sure we get another ice cream machine,” Goetz said to laughter from the rest of the committee.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com