New Stadium Updates

[E-Wu Tang Clan]

I disagree, that photo clearly shows no additional seating with a press box/club seats built on top. If they spent ~$6 million on that it’s essentially gonna be there for good!

EXACTLY! Its like those dudes who spend thousands on their 93 Honda Civic.

The 2019 plans added stands but didn't expand the amount of seats that much cause they added seat back chairs to make it look fuller with the same amount of people. It's what we still need to do.

 

[HeavyIsTheCrown]

Maybe someone should speak up before they mismanage this $6 million

 

[Kuttaak]

I disagree, that photo clearly shows no additional seating with a press box/club seats built on top. If they spent ~$6 million on that it’s essentially gonna be there for good! The track will still be there & and there’s no additional seating, which means the issue wasn’t resolved.

Everybody is so scared of that if we build a matching grandstand on the east side we’ll look stupid because “it’ll look empty”, screw that we need a nicer stadium. FYI very few teams have spectacular attendance.

2023 FBS Attendance Trends | D1 ticker

A look at FBS attendance for the 2023 season compared to year-over-year and five-year-over-year averages. | Data through Week 13.

www.d1ticker.com

I personally would prefer moving the grandstands instead of adding club seats to the existing structure but I also don't know specifically the financial pressure the AD is under. We all know they need to raise more revenue, costs are increasing, all colleges are facing an enrollment cliff because of demographic shifts. If adding club seating is part of the solution for more revenue for the athletic department, I can live with that. We have tried to raise money to remove the track for over a decade and don't appear to be in position to do that anytime soon. At this point we might have to accept that we don't have the resources to complete that project.

 

[LDopaPDX]

In my opinion, getting legitimate stands on the Eastside is absolutely the most important part of the equation. Everything else is secondary to that. Club seats would be lovely, as would eliminating the track. But those are wants, while the Eastside stand is a need. The first money should be spent on that.

 

[E-Wu Tang Clan]

So start a petition? Everyone email the AD? Honestly I care more about firing Best atm. I hear a lot of NFL players aren't donating because they hate Best and want him gone so it would help with the stadium too.

 

[Seattle Eagle]

Supposedly, fundraising has improved with the new AD. I don't know what that means, but considering how bad it has historically been, at least it's improving by some measure. It's ridiculous what the university was 10 years ago versus what it is today. If you ever wanted a case study on bad management, review everything that happened at the end of the Arevalo tenure.

Agreed. Poor leadership since Dr. A left.

I think the new President is marginally better than the last, but not sure she totally gets it when it comes to athletics.

At least she seems to be outwardly supportive from what I have observed.

 

[SochorField]

Did these stadium improvements ever happen? Or will they for next season?

 

[Zornes65]

Sochorfield,
Eastern is still raising money before the remodel begins. Private funding has to meet a certain amount and then University will fund the rest. As mentioned in this thread, most of additional seats are premier to help maximize revenue. Also, some necessary upgrades, as well.
A question for you. Do you think UCD football will move up to the MWC in a couple years?

 

[HeavyIsTheCrown]

In my opinion, getting legitimate stands on the Eastside is absolutely the most important part of the equation. Everything else is secondary to that. Club seats would be lovely, as would eliminating the track. But those are wants, while the Eastside stand is a need. The first money should be spent on that.

I agree. An Eastside grandstand is our first priority, preferably 5,000 - 6,000 seats imo. That would make the stadium look alot better and it would generate almost 2x the revenue of the existing stadium. The additional revenue could fund future renovations.

 

[KJEagle]

Don't care about the club seats or removing the track. The "we don't fill the current stadium" argument is a non-starter argument because part of the reason it's not full is because it sucks. Put a permanent structure up there that looks like a legitimate football stadium and worry about the rest at some other point. I'll bet $6 million would cover that.

 

[Pounder]

Was just thinking of a comparison that may- or may not apply.

Lancaster Municipal Stadium in California is the subject. 4,500-seat ballpark before Major League Baseball purged the Lancaster Jethawks along with 41 other minor league teams. So a couple rich folk wanted a soccer team and got Lancaster to buy into paying for a modest renovation to the tune of $17 million.

AV Alta page for Lancaster Municipal Stadium

What they got: the stands at the baselines (past the bases) straightened out so the old box seats are really close to the corner. A 1,000 capacity set of bleachers for the east sideline, plastic seats stapled on to most, if not all, of those bleachers. A 500-capacity bleacher (all metal) with no seats and a roof that acts as the supporters section, where supporters traditionally stand the whole game.

The end result doesn’t look like much- given the old baseball setup, it’s definitely awkward.

Obviously I didn’t give much consideration to ONE Spokane because it’s a new build for $38 million, and I won’t even get into the new soccer stadium in Rhode Island for $132 million and 10,500 seats. I just question what $13 million gets you in return.

 

[E-Wu Tang Clan]

Was just thinking of a comparison that may- or may not apply.

Lancaster Municipal Stadium in California is the subject. 4,500-seat ballpark before Major League Baseball purged the Lancaster Jethawks along with 41 other minor league teams. So a couple rich folk wanted a soccer team and got Lancaster to buy into paying for a modest renovation to the tune of $17 million.

AV Alta page for Lancaster Municipal Stadium

What they got: the stands at the baselines (past the bases) straightened out so the old box seats are really close to the corner. A 1,000 capacity set of bleachers for the east sideline, plastic seats stapled on to most, if not all, of those bleachers. A 500-capacity bleacher (all metal) with no seats and a roof that acts as the supporters section, where supporters traditionally stand the whole game.

The end result doesn’t look like much- given the old baseball setup, it’s definitely awkward.

Obviously I didn’t give much consideration to ONE Spokane because it’s a new build for $38 million, and I won’t even get into the new soccer stadium in Rhode Island for $132 million and 10,500 seats. I just question what $13 million gets you in return.

The 13 million gets shovels in the ground. The total cost is still 25 million. The 12 million I think will be paid off over time by people buying premium seating and donations and other revenue.

UW and I think WSU mostly funded their stadiums with bonds that will be paid back by TV revenue. Eastern unfortunately doesn't have TV revenue.

Also, I think Spokane ONE stadium land had a bunch of buildings and pavement on it. I think the land itself was pretty rocky. It would probably cost several million just to develop the land. Roos Field is already pretty much developed land with water and sewage and whatnot.