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Facilities Arms Race

S

Sac Rat 3.0

Active member
Today's Bozeman Daily Chronicle (free article) has an article on the facilities arms race within the Big Sky Conference and it's impact on recruiting.
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/sports/bobcats/football/facilities-playing-part-within-dynamic-of-the-big-sky/article_c4a2647b-d25a-5dd3-a20a-ca01240ac503.html
 
Thank you! Though I never left, but lurked through another rough patch of dismal seasons. Old Hornet fans never die, but only fade away from this board to come rushing back at the faintest sign of hope. I can count only two other eras in my 25 years where there was this kind of optimistic buzz; the Volek era with Ray and Charles and the Sperbek reign. They have been far and in between, so I want to enjoy this run.
 
It'd sure be nice if SAC ST could get facility upgrades for their football stadium.....

I hate that damn track being located around the field and not having permanent restrooms.
 
I gotta respectfully disagree, BHF. We HAVE to have that track. It attracts big time events like the Olympic Trials. We've actually pulled that in the past when it COULD have gone to Oregon. We don't have the space for a separate on-campus facility for track, so it HAS to be in the football stadium. Of course, as a track guy (I coach pole vault at Lodi High), I just MIGHT be a bit biased on that score....
 
Super Hornet said:
I gotta respectfully disagree, BHF. We HAVE to have that track. It attracts big time events like the Olympic Trials. We've actually pulled that in the past when it COULD have gone to Oregon. We don't have the space for a separate on-campus facility for track, so it HAS to be in the football stadium. Of course, as a track guy (I coach pole vault at Lodi High), I just MIGHT be a bit biased on that score....
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I agree with SH on this one but would like us to spend some $$$ on the stadium putting in more permanent seating, large restroom facilities and super nice press boxes, box seating, Hornet club dining.
 
BuckeyeHornetFan said:
It'd sure be nice if SAC ST could get facility upgrades for their football stadium.....

I hate that d@mn track being located around the field and not having permanent restrooms.
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+1 On wishing the track would be designed out. It's great having one of the better track facilities; but I personally don't care enough about it to diminish the value a better football experience brings to fans and the community.
 
I wouldn't hold my breath on the event center. After five years, I'm beginning to think the event center is a longshot at best. As much as I share Robert Nelsen and Mark Orr's desire to build one, I wish them all the luck in the world in making it a reality. The problem I see is that not enough people in Sacramento care about Sac State to help in any of their efforts. No one is making their voices heard. No one is holding bake sales or selling lemonade. The passion for anything related to Sac State just doesn't exist in Sacramento (whether it's the students, alumni, donors, the heavy hitters/movers and shakers). This event center plan is dying in my opinion and I don't know what it will take to get people passionate about it. We don't have a fan coalition similar to Crown Downtown to make people aware of Sac State's need for an on-campus arena. My best suggestion is for anyone going to basketball games this coming season is to bring signs and wear T-shirts with messages supporting the event center. Include some "EVENT CENTER" chants whenever possible. Believe me, I want the event center built because I'm tired of watching basketball games at a gym that seats fewer people than my alma mater's gym (Acker Gym at Chico State seats about 2,000 people and they're never going to be a Division I program). It's going to take a lot of foot-stomping, arm-twisting, hot seats, and putting pressure on people to keep the event center discussion alive. That about sums up what I think about this matter. So the ball is in Sacramento's court. What are they going to do?
 
josephpoint said:
Love the track. Just not in the football stadium.
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Exactly. The track is great. I have nothing against track and field and realize those National events bring in some much needed revenue. But it shouldn’t be part of the football stadium or field. That is so very high schoolish.

I also realize that space is limited, but they could find a way to to separate the two. There’s a track located Northwest of the current stadium. Figure out how to repurpose that. Or come up with something else. Be creative.

For football to reach the next level and consistently attract more fans, not only does the product on the field have to be good but the stadium experience has to drastically improve. The track limits the experience, as does the current restroom situation.

It also doesn’t help with recruiting.
 
Been talking about this issue for 25+ years. Probably wont change in my lifetime, ugh.

Flip the home side of the football stadium to the East and use the shared building as a base for the new Event Center. You could also build dorms in the building similar to what LSU did back in the day to get around no state money for athletic facilities. Build a dorm into the stadium.

https://www.si.com/college-football/2014/10/24/stadium-spotlight-lsu-tiger-stadium

The track trials that Sac hosts are neat, but they provide no real revenue to Sac State except exposure. Move the competition track to the practice track, move and reconfigure the temporary stadium bleachers to erect a 5,000 seat track stadium and rebuild the home side of the football stadium with a permanent structure. Also use some of the temp bleachers being removed to build a soccer stadium and add to baseball and softball seating.

Is Sac really that cheap that there are not donors willing to assist? They seem to find billionaires every six months to build them or relocate professional teams, why cant they get anyone to help the school in athletics?
 
EventCenterNow said:
I wouldn't hold my breath on the event center. After five years, I'm beginning to think the event center is a longshot at best. As much as I share Robert Nelsen and Mark Orr's desire to build one, I wish them all the luck in the world in making it a reality. The problem I see is that not enough people in Sacramento care about Sac State to help in any of their efforts. No one is making their voices heard. No one is holding bake sales or selling lemonade. The passion for anything related to Sac State just doesn't exist in Sacramento (whether it's the students, alumni, donors, the heavy hitters/movers and shakers). This event center plan is dying in my opinion and I don't know what it will take to get people passionate about it. We don't have a fan coalition similar to Crown Downtown to make people aware of Sac State's need for an on-campus arena. My best suggestion is for anyone going to basketball games this coming season is to bring signs and wear T-shirts with messages supporting the event center. Include some "EVENT CENTER" chants whenever possible. Believe me, I want the event center built because I'm tired of watching basketball games at a gym that seats fewer people than my alma mater's gym (Acker Gym at Chico State seats about 2,000 people and they're never going to be a Division I program). It's going to take a lot of foot-stomping, arm-twisting, hot seats, and putting pressure on people to keep the event center discussion alive. That about sums up what I think about this matter. So the ball is in Sacramento's court. What are they going to do?
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Until they get more than 550 to a game consistently, why build a bigger facility? It is a complete embarrassment and black eye, but the school seems ok with it. Until the next time they are the national laughingstock of the conference because we have to host a playoff game at Cordoba HS or Sierra JC.
 
Green Cookie Monster said:
Until they get more than 550 to a game consistently, why build a bigger facility? It is a complete embarrassment and black eye, but the school seems ok with it.
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You have a point, but, at the same time it’s kind of a chicken or the egg situation. It’s hard to draw fans when the facility and experience is poor. And in the event they have a good season, as they did several years back, they aren’t in position to capitalize.

Who knows, if they had the facility already, that standout season and ability to host the tourney might have provided the spark needed to keep it going for the basketball program.

With regard to the school being ok with it, I think that’s partially true. I don’t believe Nelsen and Orr are ok with it. But the student body might be since they won’t agree to additional fees.

But I truly believe for basketball or football to take the next step, they have to build it first so that the fringe fans will come.

We had a great time at the game last night, but my wife’s big gripe was the restroom situation. That type of experience keeps a faction of fans away. They need to fix it in order maximize the excitement over the football program.
 
Let's be real, a new FB stadium isn't ever going to happen. If we stay at the FCS level, Hornet Stadium is fine as is with the exception of needing permanent/improved bathroom and concession facilities. I've heard talk about a new press box but I'd be surprised if anything ever comes to fruition.

If a new stadium is ever built then yes please move the track elsewhere. We have a great T&F program but its not something that fills the stands outside of an NCAA/Olympic trial event.

The event center is something that needs to get done though. IMO whether or not it happens is all dependent on whether or not Nelsen is going to forcibly enact the student fee to pay for it whenever it comes up for a student vote again. Nelsen hasn't included it in any of the recent campus construction updates or at the last campus address so that can't be a good thing.
 
Just a little bump in the student fees can make the Event Center happen. The campus fees at most CSU schools are higher than at Sac State .
 
Could not the new Sacramento Republic stadium be used?

The Summit League's newest member St Thomas played fb at Allianz Field Saturday. On Sunday, it hosted a Minnesota United vs LA Galaxy playoff game.
 
Siouxfan said:
Could not the new Sacramento Republic stadium be used?

The Summit League's newest member St Thomas played fb at Allianz Field Saturday. On Sunday, it hosted a Minnesota United vs LA Galaxy playoff game.
Click to expand...

I've thought about this possibility quite a bit over the past few months. Now that the new stadium is finally going to become reality in the next couple years, I suppose it might appear, on the surface, to be a potential possibility.

However, the MLS regular season runs from March through October. The MLS Cup playoffs run from October through near mid-November. And it appears to me that a large percentage of the games are played on Saturday's. So that would create a conflict for home dates.

If the ownership of the new stadium and Republic FC were open to it, I'm sure scheduling to could be worked out to allow the Hornets to play anywhere from 5-8 home games there (including playoff games).

But would they really be open to another team using the field? If so, would it also be affordable for the Hornets to take advantage of it???

Major downside would be not having games on-campus making it easier for students to attend. However, I just checked google maps and the shortest route from campus to the area of the Railyards where the stadium will be located is 4.6 miles (heading down H street).

With the allure of all the entertainment that's going to be built up around that area, along with what's already available on J and K near Golden 1 Center, its entirely possible that a lot of student wouldn't mind or find it too much of a hassle to navigate less than 5 miles. But who knows.
 
A separate track stadium is probably not going to happen so long as the school won't even fund a new arena for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and club hockey.

And, yes, THAT should have been done a long time ago, too....
 
BuckeyeHornetFan said:
Siouxfan said:
Could not the new Sacramento Republic stadium be used?

The Summit League's newest member St Thomas played fb at Allianz Field Saturday. On Sunday, it hosted a Minnesota United vs LA Galaxy playoff game.
Click to expand...

I've thought about this possibility quite a bit over the past few months. Now that the new stadium is finally going to become reality in the next couple years, I suppose it might appear, on the surface, to be a potential possibility.

However, the MLS regular season runs from March through October. The MLS Cup playoffs run from October through near mid-November. And it appears to me that a large percentage of the games are played on Saturday's. So that would create a conflict for home dates.

If the ownership of the new stadium and Republic FC were open to it, I'm sure scheduling to could be worked out to allow the Hornets to play anywhere from 5-8 home games there (including playoff games).

But would they really be open to another team using the field? If so, would it also be affordable for the Hornets to take advantage of it???

Major downside would be not having games on-campus making it easier for students to attend. However, I just checked google maps and the shortest route from campus to the area of the Railyards where the stadium will be located is 4.6 miles (heading down H street).

With the allure of all the entertainment that's going to be built up around that area, along with what's already available on J and K near Golden 1 Center, its entirely possible that a lot of student wouldn't mind or find it too much of a hassle to navigate less than 5 miles. But who knows.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea, but there's A LOT of scheduling/facility conflict. Portland State just got booted from their contract with Portland's MLS stadium and now playing far away from their campus with literally zero fans. We should feel pretty blessed to have an on campus stadium (especially for an urban university), it's just the matter of upgrading it at this point
 
I have to add my 2 cents into this one. We need to do something about the placement of the cameras that televise the game. It looks TERRIBLE, when you have 15,000 fans in attendance- but people watching back home only see a few hundred fans of the OTHER TEAM in the "Visiting Bleachers". This game proves that our fans can show out to a game, but no matter who we're playing- except maybe davis- it'll always look bad on TV. I'm no expert on how this would be done, and maybe we should be focusing on more important issues like the bathrooms, food trucks, lines etc, but this is something that has bothered me for years. Show us Hornet pride on TV- not nearly empty bleachers....
 
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