I love the Physical Activities Center. It’s a great, quaint and clean facility. Unfortunately there’s a greater, quainter and cleaner facility smack dab in the middle of downtown Evansville that’s just screaming for an eagle to ball on it’s court. Already love the idea? Here’s five reasons to defend yourself when naysayers run their mouth against USI play in the Ford Center.

1. We’re awesome.

We were 24-6 last season, 24-3 before that, and if you count vacated seasons 27-7. The games are always action packed and the showmanship of USI is something to behold. If you haven’t been to a game, you’re really depriving yourself.

2. UE gets to play there.

Yeah they’re division 1…they also suck. They were 16-16 last season, 9-21 before that, and if you go back to our dark time in athletics they did manage a 17-14 season. For all I care, they can leave that play back at Roberts Stadium where it belongs. We may be in a lower division, but at least we put on a good show.

3. Seats

It makes sense that USI should play games in a stadium that’s large enough to seat it’s student population. The PAC can hold 2,278 seated as compared to the Ford Center’s 11,000. USI’s enrollment for the beginning of this semester came in at 10,820. Granted not every student is going to come out every game, but what about the numerous alumni who work in the Evansville area? Which seems like the better option?

4. Location

At times it feels as though USI is the bastard child of Evansville Indiana. Being on the outskirts of town, while great for our continued expansion, is no bueno for our role in the community. As great as our team may be, there are citizens who will downright refuse to put up with the hassle of trying to get on and off our campus on game night, and I don’t blame them. The Ford Center on the other hand is a prime locale that is surprisingly easy entered and exited despite it’s location. It’s also about 15-60 minutes closer if you consider no longer having to battle rush hour traffic.

5. DRANK!

Okay so you can’t drink on campus, who’s going to stop you at the Ford Center? Not that I’m encouraging you to get smashed or anything, but it’s just nice to know the city of Evansville allows you the choice to “drink responsibly.” Even if you don’t want to pay arena prices for brew, you’re just down the street from all the downtown romps you’d hit up anyway so what’s not to like?

Evansville and USI would equally benefit from this collaboration. More money would be poured into downtown and USI wouldn’t have to worry about money spent on extra staffing on campus sporting events. What of the Physical Activities Center you say? The PAC can still live on as the badass workout/ping-pong/volleyball/intramural/practice court it always has been. It just might be a little lonely on game nights that’s all.