1. Elbee isn't at games anymore, but its image is still plastered on campus busses and the website.
2. The shark lab funding is drying up.
3. A new president will be in place by what, Fall of 2025?
4. Elbee could be permanently removed by the new President, no need for some phantom process just eliminate this abomination and hope that move stirs up some alumni deeper pocket contributions
5. The Pyramid is on life support status. Might be able to infuse a few million more for short term repairs to make it viable for 3-4 years to give enough time for a new campus arena to be built.
6. Campus officials cannot afford to ignore the risk of major human injuries in some sort of structural event. If nothing else, if the Pyramid hosts anything we can probably feel confident it is structurally sound, albeit prone to water damage forever at this point.
7. Long Beach has a burgeoning aerospace industry particularly with space exploration and the next four years there will be some extra federal focus and funds on that industry. I hope we are exploring some naming rights for a new arena possibilities. LBSU has always been good providing graduated engineers into this industry. I hope the new President seizes this opportunity.
8. How about a consortium of local aerospace companies involved in space exploration (there are a lot by the way) and they get co-naming rights to the new
'Long Beach State Deep Space Arena', tie in the consortium funding to the schools of engineering, business, etc. to create student enthusiasm. Have a cermonial blast off of Elbee into deep space to kick off the project for a new arena.
9. New mascot unveiled,
"The Martian" looks like the image below but wears swim trunks and flip flops to tie in the whole 'Beach' theme. For further reparations with alumni donors, The Martian also wears a 49ers jersey.
10. The new arena has the look and feel of a futuristic space base. Have a contest for architects to submit designs with realistic budgets.
11. The arena court could be called the launchpad and have naming rights. The concessions could sell locally brewed 'space themed' beers and treats and be sponsored by Sonic Drive-In [all I could think of].
12. Kids would eat this stuff up, have all sorts of family friendly fun events surrounding this thematic direction.
13. Dream that it legit seats 7,500 or so and could host some bigger sporting and other events. Even some space based trade shows and things like that. But not so big that it feels like the void of space when we're playing CalTech in an exhibition on December 22.
14. Tear down the icon. Chop the blue galvanized steel into 1' x 1' chunks some for purchase as souvenirs but many for a fundraiser where someone gets their name etched into the galvanized and hung somewhere prominently in the Deep Space Arena. Assume 1,000 of these pieces at $1,000 per. A million bux. I'd buy 3. If you are an ancient alien fan, remember that Pyramids are associated with ufo's somehow charging up at these 'charging stations' throughout the universe. Tie ins baby!
15. The History Channel could sponsor the 'Hall of Explorers' wing of the building for a tidy donation. A joint hall of fame for LBSU athletics, famous alumni, and famous aerospace explorers.
16. Have an alumni room for anyone who donates at least $X per year to LBSU (athletics and other donations combined) called 'Area 49' where Men in Black [and gold] scan your top secret clearance badge for entry.
17. Lets get this ball rolling! GO BEACH, RIGHT INTO DEEP SPACE!!!