Changes in Chiles

The official release from UP:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2011/11/17/MBB_1117114205.aspx

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland installed a four-sided video board days before last year’s home opener. Now the school will offer fans even more amenities as the 2011-12 regular season home schedule tips off on Sunday at 7 p.m. versus Washington State at the Chiles Center.

Portland has renovated its upper level concourse and added 12 flat-screen plasma televisions, wired with both cable television as well as the in-arena video feed. New gathering areas will be provided with standing and sit-down tables, where fans can enjoy the new HD screens while enjoying a meal and socializing.

The upper level north mezzanine will house four Bon Appétit food stations, while the upper level south mezzanine will house the Pilot Club (for UP donors) and feature a Zenner’s Sausage stand. To help with flow of traffic issues, the Chiles Center will also open a second public entrance on the Southeast side of the building.

Portland (2-1) opened the regular season last weekend by winning two of its three games at the World Vision Classic in Seattle. The Pilots are coming off of back-to-back 20-win seasons and have posted a 38-6 record at the Chiles Center over the last three years.

Fans can receive a 2-for-1 ticket voucher at Sunday’s 7 p.m. home opener versus Washington State by donating any professional sports apparel at the door, with donations benefiting the Salvation Army.

Tickets for all Pilots games can be purchased in advance through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Pilot Box Office either in person or by calling (503) 943-7525. Professional basketball season ticket holders are also being offered 50% off Pilot season tickets for orders placed before Dec. 2.

Below is detailed information on the latest Chiles Center Improvements:

- Multiple Public Entrances: In addition to the Chiles Center main entrance (Southwest, Entry A) and student entrance (Northwest), a secondary public entrance (Southeast, Entry B) will now be active for better and more efficient traffic flows, particularly for fans picking up Will Call tickets.

- New Dining Options: The upper level north mezzanine will now feature a ‘Concessions Row’ with multiple dining options. Specific food choices will vary, but a much wider array of options will be available, including desserts.

- Concourse Televisions: The upper mezzanine now includes 12 brand new flat-screen televisions wired with both cable television as well as the in-arena video feed. Fans won’t miss a play while getting food and drinks!

- Pilot Club: The Pilot Club will again be located on the upper level south mezzanine, but will now be open and available for pre-game gatherings starting 90 minutes before tip-off in addition to halftime. Complementary snacks and soft drinks will be served. Bistro-style tables and four flat-screen 50-inch televisions that have both cable television and in-arena video feeds will provide a fun and entertaining atmosphere for Pilot Club members to enjoy. For more information about joining Pilot Club, click here.

That's great! I can't wait to see what everything looks like. PSU has apparently been making changes too. Rumor has it they got the old PGE park video board in their basketball gym now.

blacksheep, I note your new avatar. I like it, I think you look good having lost a bit of weight.

Still not as ripped as you though

blacksheep wrote:The official release from UP:

- Pilot Club: The Pilot Club will again be located on the upper level south mezzanine, but will now be open and available for pre-game gatherings starting 90 minutes before tip-off in addition to halftime. Complementary snacks and soft drinks will be served. Bistro-style tables and four flat-screen 50-inch televisions that have both cable television and in-arena video feeds will provide a fun and entertaining atmosphere for Pilot Club members to enjoy. For more information about joining Pilot Club, click here.

Thoughts on the Pilot Club? It looked very cramped with long lines from the outside. Hopefully next time I can get someone to give me my membership card so I can get in.

BTW, were there other events on campus last night? Due to another committment, I arrived just before tip-off, and had to park on the bluff. I was surprised to see empty seats in Chiles; given the parking I thought it would be full.

I don't have my card yet either. I just mentioned DoubleDipper at the door to the HOF room and they let me in. Seriously though, if we're going to ask people to send it an extra $300 on top of tickets, there better be some value for that. I'm sorry, but some peanuts and M&M's just don't cut it.

To those who are considering upgrading their membership, the HOF room had a nice spread of appetizers and a full bar at halftime. I didn't make it over for the pregame because I was crashing the alumni event, but heard it was nice as well.

blacksheep wrote:To those who are considering upgrading their membership, the HOF room had a nice spread of appetizers and a full bar at halftime.

Thanks, I've been wondering what exactly goes on down there.

ShipstadPilot11 wrote:

blacksheep wrote:To those who are considering upgrading their membership, the HOF room had a nice spread of appetizers and a full bar at halftime.

Thanks, I've been wondering what exactly goes on down there.

To be at the Gold Level, pay $1000 (or $500 for those of you who graduated in the last 10 years). Beginning 90 minutes before tipoff you get a private entrance (no, you don’t get to go through the turn styles with the common folk) into the Chiles Center that takes you to the HOF Room for varieties of food and an open bar serving wine, beer, and hard stuff too. At halftime you take the normal HOF door entry for more of the same or similar. You also get to park in your own lot across from the Chile Center entrance (something UP7587 could have used for the WSU game).

For $600 (half that for “young” alums) you get complimentary meal cards that basically allow you to eat everything and anything on the North Mezzanine at no additional cost. (I will give the Bon Appetite folks the preseason to work the kinks out before commenting on that new portion of our Chiles Center experience). But having sampled the food and DRINK at both venues on opening night, I would upgrade to the Gold Level.

Downside: it appeared the folks from the Development Office outnumbered the "paying public" at the WSU game. But, to be fair, it was the first game!

I have heard 2-3 folks indicate they wont re-up for the Pilot club next year. Not that you expect to get $300 worth of value, it is a donation, but what is the point of having a segregated area to eat free goldfish? The food at upstairs was marginal. Were the concessions open on the north end down below? the lines were insanely long on the south end. Im not sure why no hot dogs downstairs and no popcorn upstairs either...this is still a college basketball game.

If the WCC is cracking down on the beer, how come it was still allowed at soccer games? or is this a new development?

That video is enough to drive me to drink!

up7587 wrote:That video is enough to drive me to drink!

I may have to give it up, as I understood none of what I saw. It's supposed to be Star Wars!

Woodless! wrote:

Quit teasing us and give us the official news