Observations about The Ford Center

[I first titled this post a "review", then thought I should call it a "critique" but really it's nothing more than my observations about the Center.]
Some thoughts about the new Ford Center arena in downtown Evansville.  For those out of the area, Evansville has (had) a large multievent stadium (Roberts Stadium) built in the 50's.  It was showing its age, not paying its way, and the city was looking at alternatives.  Money was available to spend downtown so the decision was made to build a new arena there.  The site chosen was next to an existing hotel that was supposed to be the anchor hotel for the new arena, near the library, convention center/theater and civic center.
The Ford Center is a nice facility and it's a "shiny new" thing for Evansville to be proud of.
Now that the Ford Center is 1 year old and after having attended at least a dozen events there, I have some observations to share:

1. The entire arena is a compromise.  Why?   Because they had to shoe horn it into the limited space available.  They wanted floor space for hockey and basketball and still have seating for 10,000+ so they had to raise the pitch of the seating higher and make the rows narrower to cram them all in.  The result is that there is no space between your knees and the seat back in front of you and no where to stretch your legs.  No one can pass in front of you without you standing up.  It's noticeably and uncomfortably cramped (unlike Roberts where there was ample room).
2. The seats themselves are comfortable enough.  And they added drink holders which is pretty much a requirement these days.  But where did they put the drink holders?  On the seat backs between each seat in front.  Well, what's wrong with that?  First, there a fewer drink holders than there are seats.  If you have a full row, the person on the left or right end has no drink holder.  Second, the drink holder is low to the floor and hard to reach.  Third, it takes space away from the area available to pass in front of someone.  Fourth, if you leave your drink in the holder when someone passes, there's almost no way they won't bump the drink or brush the cup and/or straw with their clothing.  So the exercise you get when someone needs to pass by is - grab your drink, stand up, lean out of the way to let them pass, sit down, put drink back.  Was it that hard to order seats with the drink holders on the armrest?
3. Parking is less user friendly than at Roberts.  Yes there is parking downtown, it's just not as convenient.  But handicapped parking is a lot less convenient.  Mainly because it's limited and if it is full (like when there are simultaneous events at the Centre), you can't just go to the next row, you have to find and drive to another parking lot and now you're blocks away. And "Guess what?" - you're still handicapped and have to walk, roll, or hobble all the way back to the arena.  
4. No drop off lane on Main street in front of the entrance.  I think there is one car space available for load/unload.  If it's taken, you have to block traffic on Main if you want to drop off someone in inclement weather.  
5. There is only one set of entrance doors as opposed to Roberts which had doors at the 4 corners and lots of exit doors.  So if you have to park on the side opposite the entrance, it's even more of a walk.
6. Concessions.  They do sell liquor and beer at events and I'm sure that helps the bottom line.  I have no problem with that.
7. Concessions.  The condiment areas were apparently dreamed up by people who never buy hot dogs at arenas.  Why?  The table is no bigger than the dispensers so there is no place to set down your drinks and/or other food and put something on your sandwich.  There is a bit of room on the napkin holder table but that just makes it crowded.  Is it that hard to think about how something is actually used when you come up with these things?  How about a semi-circular table with the dispensers in the center with plenty of shelf space in front so sit a tray on?
8. I could go on, but I'm outta time...