February 11, 2012
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (Capacity: 6,327)
Kent, OH
Kent State Golden Flashes vs Ball State Cardinals
Final Score: 76 – 55
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The weather really started to deteriorate when I got to Kent, Ohio as lake effect snows picked up in intensity. Luckily, I only had a half-hour drive from my hotel in Canton. By the time, I got to campus for an early 11 AM game, it was nasty outside with 30 MPH winds, 20-degree temperatures and varying intensities of snow. I trudged on, making it in time for my second visit to a MAC arena. The college-town of Kent is located in Northeast Ohio, just 12 miles away from Akron. Kent State University dominates the town as the enrollment is nearly the same as the city’s population. Unfortunately, the campus is the site of the very tragic shootings on May 4, 1970. They haven’t forgotten here, but the school has grown to become one of the largest in Ohio and is highly ranked as a public research university. After a long history of losing, the Men’s Basketball team has seen a remarkable turnaround in the last dozen seasons. Since 1999, the Golden Flashes have gone 306-125 with five MAC regular-season and tournament titles. Out of their five NCAA Tournament appearances, 2002 was the best as they made a run to the Elite Eight, led by Antonio Gates and Trevor Huffman. Games are played at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, much better known as the MAC Center. Having opened in 1950 and renovated in 1992, the arena isn’t perfect, but does feature blue and gold everywhere helping to give it some nice character.
Prestige Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Location
The downtown section of Kent features a nice section with restaurants and bars. Especially pleasant is the cobblestoned Franklin Ave, which runs along the Cuyahoga River and some old railroad tracks. Ray’s Place, Pufferbelly Restaurant and Cajun Dave’s are a few of the great places down here. Kent is a classic college town and it’s a good spot to visit before the game. About a mile away is campus and the MAC Center. The central location of the arena on campus makes it nearby the May 4 Memorial and the KSU Museum (a fashion museum).
Location Ranking: 6 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
Both Kent and Kent State is accessible from nearby I-76 as the area is only a few miles north on Route 43. Basketball parking is easily accessible from the main road (East Summit Street) as there are lots on both sides of the street. If that fills up, there is additional parking nearby on Campus Center Drive. Coming in was not a problem, but leaving was rather congested and it was quite surprising to not find any police around both directing traffic and pedestrians. Maybe because they had to attend other problems due to the weather?
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 7 out of 8
Exterior
Fans walk up a bunch of stairs to get to the front of the old, brick building. There is nothing that denotes the facility as an arena, the only giveaway is the blowup Golden Flash out front. The most notable feature is the beige, semi-circle section that protrudes out a little from the rest of the facility.
Exterior Ranking: 3.5 out of 10
Concourse and Food
The biggest change to the MAC Center took place during 1992 renovations when the swimming pool in front was removed for an opening three-story lobby. It’s a bright space that has a lot of character with the most noticeable feature being the reflective, glass-like elevator in the center. This whole area is full of Kent State logos along with Blue and Gold paint. Past the entrance is the only food stand in the building and it consists of nothing more but the usual items (except maybe the chili cheese dog). The rest of the concourse isn’t really a concourse. Instead, the sides of the building feature very narrow, carpeted hallways which lead you to more open space and then stairs to the interior.
Concourse Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Food Ranking: 3 out of 8
Interior
The Blue & Gold theme continues inside with the coloring of the seats, railings, walls, etc. The seating design is only OK, but made worse by obstructed views at the top. Four separate pullout bleachers are found on the floor level and there is a good deal of space open in the corners. One side has fold down seats. A level up on the sides are bleachers that run the length of the court. There is a bit of height to this upper section, however the higher view is offset by obstructions, first in the lower seats near the railing. Further back in the section, seats extend back to the wall and close to the ceiling, which poses a problem in that the trusses extending down from the ceiling are in the way of the scoreboard. Another oddity is TV cameras in the middle of the seating bowl at this level. A section of luxury seating is reserved for the Blue & Gold Loge, an enclosed area hanging well above one of the ends, providing a nice overhead view.
Interior Ranking: 6 out of 14
Scoreboard
The square center scoreboard has enough size to allow for not only the score/time info, but also player stats. The corners have a ribbon with the Kent State script and logo. A nice touch in two of the corners is a video screen. This provided clear game video as they were showing the ESPNU simulcast on it.
Scoreboard Ranking: 2.5 out of 4
Displays
There are many displays here reflecting the best of Kent State athletics. In the opening foyer, the Blue & Gold Room features most of the trophies the school has received. Meanwhile, in the windows of an office are images of each MAC all-sport trophies the school has won. There are also a couple displays in this area for golfer Ben Curtis and Golden Flashes in the NFL. A running count of the Wagon Wheel contest with Akron is on a wall near the concessions. On the hallway walls are yearly pictures of every athletic team that has participated at Kent State. Definitely a nice touch as more than a few would stop along the way to look. But wait…there’s more! Upstairs you’ll find plaques of all members in the Sports Hall of Fame. Banners fill the gym as well with the most noticeable ones coming at the ends where each sport is featured with the year of each NCAA appearance. MAC team logo banners are displayed below that. The rest of the rafters are devoted to basketball with honors for MAC titles and the team’s Elite 8 appearance. There are also retired numbers up here. Needless to say, I think Kent State has the displays department covered…well done.
Displays Ranking: 6 out of 6
Cost
Parking and programs were free, while the concessions were priced fine ($3 for a hot dog, $5 for a burger, $3 for a Pepsi). Tickets vary though as the upper level (about half the total seating) is just $12. The lower-level seats are quite expensive by MAC standards, costing $45 for the chairbacks and $30 for the bleachers. Non-conference games are $5 cheaper, while the Akron game is $5 more.
Cost Ranking: 6.5 out of 8
Fan Support
This was a nationally televised, late-season conference game and the place was well less than half full. I wanted to give the team a pass because of the weather and early start, but looking at past box scores through the year, announced attendance numbers were the same as this one. Only games against rival Akron bring a full house (the Cleveland State game was sold out too thanks to the proximity and the Vikings having former Kent State coach Gary Waters). The team still ranks in the top third of the MAC attendance rankings, however given that 27,000 students go here and the Golden Flashes have a winning tradition, the crowd was smaller than I would have expected.
Fan Support Ranking: 3.5 out of 8
Atmosphere
Similar to Fan Support, I was expecting a lot more from the crowd here and came out disappointed. For some reason, I thought the atmosphere was going to be better than what I saw. Maybe it was the weather, or the 11:00 AM start, but there just wasn’t much spark from the crowd or the students. They certainly paid attention to the game, knew the team and cheered after baskets, but that was about it. One plus though was the Flasher Brass pep band that was pretty good.
Atmosphere Ranking: 6 out of 14
Other Stuff
There are three entrances to the MAC Center, with the main one out front holding the general ticket office. Will call is on one side of the building, while student entry is on the other….A small team store is tucked into the main concourse…..After a win, the victory bell is rung on campus (along with the sound of a bell through the speakers in the arena)….Kent State Volleyball, Wrestling and Gymnastics are also held in the MAC Center.
Game
Kent State was in control throughout as they won their sixth straight with a 76-55 victory over Ball State. Justin Green led with some dominating post play, helping the Golden Flashes jump out to 38-24 halftime lead and never looking back. He finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Carlton Guyton had 8 assists.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
