Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to University of Arizona athletics for their impact on the region’s sense of community, identity, and entertainment value

1	Access to various outdoor activities (hiking, biking, etc.) and spectator participation in various levels of athletics from public schools through the university programs
3	Accessibility to mtns & the Wildcats
4	All the football games and basketball games
5	Alumni, love the sports teams
6	Am an alumni and enjoy supporting the University and it's athletic programs.
7	Arizona wildcats
8	As a former athlete and UA graduate I am proud of our athletic programs and coaches. I expect the UA to continue to be an outstanding institution in Arizona and the Pac 10.
9	As a student-athlete, the program is one of the best athletic departments in the country. The support from the Tucson community and the ties between McKale and Tucsonans are incredible.
10	As an UA alumni and 'Wildcat for Life', I personally believe the UA is one of the key elements in making Tucson really stand out.
11	Basketball is my favorite sport. I grew up in Indiana where basketball was the only sport that mattered. I've been a Wildcat fan for almost 30 years.
12	Being a 'very large small town', Tucson suffers from being spread out with no real 'downtown' or social scene other than the immediate area around the college. More areas with activities that are ideal for people in the 18-28 age group other than bars would help with this. Improving the transportation would also help with this issue.
13	Better ua football team
14	Between Uof A sports, local theater and various outdoor opportunities there is much to do is this area for people of all ages.
15	Camaraderie of sporting events
16	Can expose my children to educational, sports, cultural opportunities
17	Central/UA and downtown Tucson are fairly accessible without resorting to car transportation. That's important for healthy people, planet, and community.
18	Downtown needs a sports team, high density housing, larger UofA presence
19	Easy access to the outdoors Lot of activities, sports, et Few big city problems - drugs, alcohol, etc. Access to University of Arizona
20	Enjoy the games and want to see the program improve, with reach out to all youth and highschool football players in the state and make them uof a fans that is where I believe fan base can grow, Have one non conference game with free tickets so that the experience can be enjoyed by a fan base that is already interested in football.
21	Football, basketball, softball, baseball, swimming, ice hockey....
22	Get people out of their homes to mix together people of all ages and cultures. Work on changing negative attitudes that have been around for generations that pit one side of town against another. Some folks are afraid to go to the South or West sides of town even though they have never even been in those neighborhoods. Opening the culture avenues will to entice citizens to care about all of Tucson not just their home turf. Open the minds of the citizens to invest in their city and neighbors. Make a concerted effort to encourage all Tucsonans to embrace the UofA and Pima. Create a plan to help citizens to embarce culture, arts and sports to help them join with all other Tucsononas in enjoying the company and contribution of everyone in Tucson. A comprehensive cultural impact plan can be desinged and implemented even with limited resources.
23	Getting to see top notch athletics and top notch entertainment through UA Presents.
24	Growing up I always wanted to go there, I received my first degree from there, and UofA sports has always been an attraction.
25	Having a significant university in our community brings so much to our lives. Educational opprtunities, sports, culture, diversity of ideas, expertise, variety.
26	Having access to an academic health center and great physicians; artistic, athletic and cultural events on campus; the intellectual vitality that radiates from a great university and the discoveries that its faculty bring to the community.
27	Having the university in the city provides me and my family educational opportunities, cultural activities, and sports activities that would not be available without it.
28	How involved/supportive people are of UofA (ex: sports fans)
29	I am (and my family is) a physically active person and love sports. Our climate supports that and our tie to UA Athletics is stong in many sports (basketball, football, softball, swimming and diving, golf, etc.)
30	I am a huge fan of education at all levels, and bleed red/blue for UA athletics.
31	I am an alumnus of the University of Arizona and have been an Arizona Wildcat fan my entire life.
32	I am not in favor of foisting things on people who don't want them, and so if Tucsonans aren't worried about their public schools, public transportation, and local university budgets, then I guess it's their money and they have the right to keep it. But do they really not care? When I think about the kind of community I would most want to live in, it is one where investments have been made in education and social conveniences -- not because political entrepreneurs have externalized costs onto the general public, or because a small, left-leaning segment of the population has taken over the government purse strings, but rather because that's the sort of place we all want to call home.
33	I enjoy U of A sports games. As the teams have gotten better, so has the attendance and hype around their games.
34	I enjoy being able to go to arts, sporting events and other university sponsored or hosted activities.
35	I enjoy following and reading about local sporting events.
36	I feel that it employs a lot of people. It brings a sense of community and pride to Tucson and it is so important that locals have access to an insitution in order to get a quality education. It also brings tourism and out of towners to help boost the economy. All the sporting and theatre events the U of A provides is also so important and brings life to Tucson.
37	I find Tucson to be very diverse with an abundance of cultural assets. I believe the UA is possibly the most important asset of the whole region. I think the UA should and could toot it's own horn more and reach out to all citizens to participate in and with the UA. Beyond just sports. I like to old west and hispanic influence that has shaped this entire region. I think Tucson has the ability in the coming decades to mold itself into a more desirable and rich community. I'd like to see Tucson brand an image of itself as a outdoor, healthy, intellectual, culturally rich, environmentally sensitive region of America. I'd like to see Tucson build and expand on it's current reputation as a top tier cycling and endurance training center. Build on the wellness reputation that we have become and to pursue Juaquin Ruiz's vision of Tucson becoming a center for geo tourism. I'd like to see Tucson become the desired community within the sun belt for outdoor oriented, healthy lifestyle oriented people to want to live. We are not SoCal or Phoenix. We are different and we attract different people.
38	I have a small marketing company and UMC is one of my large clients. Being involved with them for the past 5 years has opened my eyes to all the incredible docs and research that we have in our own backyard. I know that some folks think of UA as a small school in a small town with a great basketball program...we are so much more and are growing in every direction so rapidly.
39	I like the fact the University of Arizona provides quality entertainment. My family are season ticket holders for football and always enjoy coming up to watch the games. Also, the U of A is here to stay, not like professional teams that always have the option of leaving.
40	I love attending and watching the U of A sports and other school related activities
41	I love being a part of a community that has a central organization to rally around. Whether it is about sports, academics, arts, or research, the UofA provides Tucson residents an organization to follow and believe in.
42	I love my job at the U of A. The U of A enhances the community with education, cultural and sporting events.
43	I love that the school is always a center of activity in the middle of Tucson. It offers great theater, music and sporting events.
44	I love the annual/weekly Events in the Tucson community including the All Souls Procession, The Tucson Rodeo, Tuesday Night Bike Rides, $3 Movie nights at Gallagher Theater at the U of A, Pops Under the Stars, and others. I feel very proud that these events are in my community and I often have visitors come from out of town specifically to attend these events. They are a great opportunity to connect with the community and the city offers great transportation (shuttles/buses etc) to these events.
45	I never want to see what I saw regarding ASU celebrating on OUR home field again. They had their own private corner for their fans, team, and band. This fueled their performance and became sickening to the loyal UA alumni/fan base at the end of the game.
46	I take adult classes at U of A, Pima CC, attend the opera and ATC, attend sports events (U of A., Accenture matches) - all easily accessible within 30 minutes drive and affordable.
47	I went to UA as an undergrad, and now I work here. I think the University brings a lot to the region, in terms of sporting events, cultural events, and art.
48	I work with a population that relies heavily on public transportation. This includes people with disabilities, elderly, no other means of transportation (not having cars), physical disease and illness which makes it impossible to walk a mile or blocks to the nearest bus station, especially in summer. I live near Greasewood and Star Pass and the nearest bus station is 1.8 miles away. My husband works at the UofA and walks that distance every morning so he can take the bus, rain or shine.
49	I would have visiting team sit someone else at the football games. Why is it that when our fans go to away games, that we are separted from each other and we sit in the nosebleed sections or in the midst of the home team. When visiting fans come to AZ stadium, they get to all sit together in section 17, right in front of where their team comes out. This creates a home team advantage at an opposing school feeling for them. It is especially 'fueling' for them if they bring their band like ASU did. It really urked me that they had their own little corner to celebrate after the game. This would NEVER happen and did not happen when we went to ASU last year. We were assigned seats way up high around other UA fans, but we were too high for the team to feel our influence. Our team came through the tunnel on the opposite end of the field from where our band was stuck (in the corner). Even though we pulled out the win, we did not have a section to celebrate with the band/team at the end of the game. I would really like Athletics to look into scattering visiting fans so they are not sitting right over the entrance of their team and to place any visiting band away from the team entrance and fans.
50	I'm a Phoenix native who attended U of A in the mid-90s so I enjoy coming back a few times a year for sporting events.
51	I'm a UA graduate and I enjoy supporting my school, running into old classmates and attending sporting events.
52	I'm a huge U of A sports fan, and feel it's the strongest civic bond Tucson has, of any kind. Where else to you see such a blend of ages, ethnicities, religions, political persuasions, socioeconomic statuses, etc. in one venue? Beyond sports, the U of A campus is a central gem in this city, with beautiful green open spaces, consistent red brick buildings, and a climate that values learning and research.
53	I'm a third generation alumus. The UA is in my blood and its athletic teams are a passion of mine. I'm proud to be a part of an institution so rich in tradition and which excels in so many fields. It's the greatest asset of our community.
54	Intellectual discourse, good sports teams.
55	It is a disgrace to the U of A to have only two bathrooms in this facility, one for men and one for women. We went to see Mannhiem Steamroller last year and the line to the womens bathroom extended out the facility into the street!!!!
56	It is comfortable living here. There is a strong educational component because of the University and the University adds a strong sports and cultural component as well. People care about their own quality of life and the quality of life of others who live here. The segments blend well: anglos & hispanics, young and old, long-time residents & newcomers.
57	It is one of the great places that seems to bring the whole community together. It seems that this one place touches all in Tucson. You may have a relative that attends or graduated from the U of A. Or you are a fan of its athletic events.
58	It is the key to our cultural richness. It provides cultural, educational and medical enhancements. It brings interesting, educated, productive, caring people to our community. The campus itself is a wonderful urban park of sorts. It provides us with common things (like sports) to rally around as a community.
59	It's where I went to college. I love going to their sporting events, football and basketball in particular, to root for the Wildcats.
60	Keeps the community young and active, provides many touchpoints with Tucson residents, offers great sporting and cultural events
61	Living in a university town provides such breadth of experience, from athletics to fine arts to sciences. The university has brought me friends that include book lovers, gourmets, astronomers, solar power researchers, rare plant specialists, and anthropologists.
62	Love game days (UA sports), unifies people in the community
63	Major sporting activities
64	Masters swim team and field hockey club for recreation, UA medical library for professional resource.
65	My family and I have embraced the Wildcats as the home team. We have not missed attending a home basketball or football game and have even travelled to road games to root them on.
66	My family has now been in Tucson for five generations. My childeren are groing up in a community that charishes it's rich Hispanic history. The University of Arizona has played an important part in my family's history. The Tellez family consists of alumni, but most importantly, 'die-hard' supporters of Wildcat sports.
67	My wife and I are alums - I think college towns are more lively/interesting usually... UA sports and cultural events are a fairly big part of our lives
68	My wife and I both have degrees from there, as did both of my parents. One of my sons is currently a student at the U of A. Also enjoy the basketball and softball teams.
69	Not much to do/ Far distances to civilization (public transport) Bar/college town
70	Opportunity to take advantage of classes; attend lectures; attend student theatre, musical and dance events, athletic activities. We have many friends who are associated with the U of A.
71	Our interaction with the UofA athletics only enforces this feeling of a small town. Being of an older generation (I am 57) and involved with collegiate sports, keeps me 'in the loop'.
72	Reconnecting with 'Old Wildcats and friends from my college days.
73	Resources: The University, medical centers, cultural activities, athletic events
74	The U of A athletics
75	The U of A is a top-notch university -- the best in the state. It is the one thing that does tie our diverse community together, with education, sciences of the future, jobs, sports and philanthropy.
76	The U of A is our land grant college and has a responsibility to interact with the community. The is so much that we can share, cultural and intellectual events, but they seem very remote, except in sports. They might also find more support from the public as they battle with the legislature if more people were able to attend events there.
77	The U of A provides enrichment, opportunity to learn, and athletics.
78	The UA gives us the opportunity to be a college town with sports events, museums, the Festival of Books, etc. The more times I can get my kids on campus, the more comfortable they are with it, themore they will see the U. as a place they must go.
79	The University of Arizona creates an atmosphere of education and excitement - museums, lectures, sports, performing arts, music, cultural activities, all extending to the larger community. It's all there and we are invited to participate! I love the University.
80	The University of Arizona is our crown jewel fueling knowledge based discoveries and high tech job growth, sporting events, fine arts and so much more. We have arts, culture (from southwestern/hispanic/tribal to symphony/Arizona Theatre/UA presents/museums), restaurants, sports (outdoor and spectator), mountains and deserts, plants and wildlife, gem shows and rodeo.
81	The University offers so much to the community from continuing education, to preforming arts and athletics; many of which are comparable to professional offerings in other cities
82	The UofA is a 'centerpiece' of knowledge, learning & activities in the community. UofA sports & cultural events provide excitement & entertainment for many.
83	The Wildcats
84	The educational opportunities and the cultural and intellectual richness that the UA brings to Tucson; UA sports; the tradition and beauty of the campus and the activity center (esp Main Gate) around it.
85	The people who live here are friendly and enjoyable. There is lots of culture. I love the university and it's many offerings for sports, art, history and theater.
86	The u of A is important for the community in many ways, including its educational opportunities, its economic benefits, and its extra curricular offerings, including sports and cultural activities.
87	The university and downtown area offers many good events - cultural and sports. At times feels like a college town.
88	The uofa football program.
89	The variety of cultural, entertainment, enrichment and sports activities offered at the U of A compensates for the lack of other arts and sports offerings in the area
90	The world class programs including the students, professors - their research and work - plus the programs offered to the general public at Centennial Hall, School of Music, Poetry Center and the bookstore as well as the athletics.
91	There are no major activities besides U of A. The spring training games are now all up in Phoenix. There are no professional sports teams. A majority of all the major concerts are held in Phoenix. The night life for late 20's needs to improve.. Not everyone is in college.
92	There is a small community feel to our large city. I enjoy the cultural activities (gem show, ATC theater) and U of A sports (football, basketball and women's volleyball).
93	There is a university that offers a lot of cultural and learning opportunities. There are affordable (usually, compared to bigger cities) concerts, art events and sporting events. Medical facilities, recreation, good food.
94	Tucson and Pima County need a functional transportation plan. We need to look at alternatives to automobile travel within the city. Improved bike lanes, pedestrian access, satellite parking in the U of A and downtown areas. Use some of the vacant land away from the U of A and downtown for parking and provide better public transportation to those areas.
95	Tucson and UofA football
96	Tucson has an incredible wealth of world-class outdoor recreation sites and other potential sites. If Tucson promoted itself as an outdoor recreation paradise for mt and road bikers, rock climbers, golfers, skateboarders and others it could become a destination city. Drop the baseball dreams. Tucson is happy supporting the U of A athletics.
97	Tucson has the gem and mineral show and other events. Great place to live and of course, UofA football and other sports
98	Tucson offers a wide and varied range of things to do--artistic-cultural-sports-the resources of the University et al.
99	U of A basketball ( go WILDCATS)
100	U of A football
101	U of AZ football, basketball(mens), semipro baseball
102	UA basketball
103	UA has become or continues to be an elitist school that does little to support average students unless they are athletes.
104	UA is the driver of our local economy. It is the source of so many 'quality of life' elements (e.g. collegiate athletics, night life, special events) and is a constant fountain of innovation and creativity in our region.
105	UA sporting events
106	UA sports
107	UA sports & food
108	UA wildcats are part of our identity
109	University of Arizona football tailgating
110	University of Arizona sports
111	University of Arizona sports. As a UofA graduate, I am very proud of my wildcats.
112	University of Arizona sports/culture
113	University of Arizona's events (sports, music & ballet)
114	University town- sports, economic development, and workforce development
115	Uof a football
116	UofA sports
117	UofA ties the community together (the Obama visit, sports, it's the "center of Tucson"
118	We are born and bread Wildcats. Enough said!
119	We have been involved in Arizona athletics for over almost 7 years now. After being involved with Coach Candrea, I find Coach Stoops to be a very unprofessional, rude and embarrassing example to not only his players and staff but to the community as a whole.
120	We have lived in university towns for the past 40 years and enjoy the atmosphere created by sports and arts offerings.
121	We lost spring training baseball, there's not much in the way of sports and other entertainment, except UofA. Well planned City events can also be a source of pride - large scale street events, traveling road shows, Pro exhibition games, concerts in the park, etc.
122	We need to attract a Triple A franchise to Tucson and to bring more people to downtown Tucson. A baseball stadium with either downtown or mountain views will bring around 10,000 people to downtown Tucson. Additionally, a 15,000 seat arena with luxury boxes would attract concerts, a minor league basketball or hockey team, NCAA men's basketball tournaments, and possibly 1 or 2 UofA basketball games.
123	Weather & the Wildcats
124	Well, it started with Coach O. I am a crazy UofA basketball fan. I love all UofA sports but enjoy the bball the best.
125	Whether it be the thousands of students and millions of dollars or the excellent public media or quality sporting events, Pima county and the University of Arizona are reliant upon each other. The University needs to become the vital center of a welcoming diverse community called Pima County.
126	Whether it is athletic events, or open lectures, the University gives Tucson a Univeristy town vibe.
127	Why is the University Band not in more of the parades? Why doesn't the university have a greater presence in our public libraries? Why isn't there a UA Sun Tran sponsored bus. Why do we not see more Red and Blue around the city during big games. I thin the city could host a lot of tailgating type events downtown and have buses transport people to the game from there. Charging for parking at Congress and I-10 and encouraging people to tailgate there would be great.
128	Without the U of A, we wouldn't have many of the arts that I was praising above. The U brings us great sports events, and tremendous international prestige because of our science (Kitt Peak, Biosphere II, etc), community lectures. It also, because of all the wonderful young people, helps keep our community youthful and innovative.
129	You can't beat a research one university for pumping grads, research dollars, professional development opportunities, and sports into the local economy. I'm thrilled UA is heading downtown - I'm hopeful they will make the most of this opportunity.