Hawkeye fans aren’t the only ones looking forward to to $47 million renovation for Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Concert lovers are, too.

SCOPE Productions hopes to bring back such big names as John Mayer, U2, and Guns ’N’ Roses, talents that once filled the 15,500-seat arena but have recently disappeared from the venue.

There were 15 concerts in the 1990s, but the complex has only hosted three concerts in the past five years.

Theodore Lockhart, the SCOPE general manager, is concerned about the decrease in the number of concert bookings at Carver.

“Over time, the pressures and commitments of sporting events have increased, phasing out SCOPE’s ability to bring arena shows and cooling the national agents’ relationships with the University of Iowa,” he wrote in an e-mail.

But, the planned renovation could bring back the famous bands and screaming fans.

Jane Meyer, the senior associate athletics director, attributes the decrease in the number of concerts to the number of sports teams that need the facility for both practices and competition.

When first built, Carver mainly housed the men’s basketball team. Today, though, the facility accommodates more than four programs.

It’s not that the university doesn’t want Carver to house concerts, she said.

But scheduling practices and game times for both basketball teams and the volleyball program as well as tournaments for the wrestling and gymnastics programs doesn’t leave much availability.

The renovation project would focus on renovating office space and adding a new practice facility. This could increase the arena’s availability to host non-sports events.

“[The] practice facility will provide another place for teams to go,” Meyer said. “It may open up additional concert options.”

But SCOPE and some student organizations want more than just the space. They want the music scene to take some scheduling precedence.

UI Student Government Sen. Michael Appel said he and student organization director Larry Hau are working to prioritize musical performances at Carver as well.

“We are unable to get such talent as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Matthews Band because we do not have a venue for them to come perform,” Appel said. “Athletics should be able to work with the students and the university.”