Flyingnail, not sure I get the pessimism. A lot has changed sine 97 apparantly not you though. Red field, national championship, Payton award winners, Buchanan award winners, and enhancements to Roos and Reese. It may not be fast enough for you but good change is happening. EWUticket office is right. EWU would not be investing and presenting if it weren't a real possibility. I hope it happens!
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Roos Field Renovation
- Thread starter NickEag
- Start date
Ewuticketoffice
Active member
To go before the EWU Board of Trustees is no simple task.
Whether to gain approval for a project or simply present an idea of a possible direction takes a lot of careful consideration.
No one goes to the BOT on a whim. Very careful planning. No one suggests even an “idea” without some possibility of it happening.
It also matters AFTER the fact, once the BOT gets excited about a project. Which, including the student BOT member, all of the board members were about the Gateway Project.
EWU can raise $20 million. It is not hard to conceive.
There is a $23.5 million ice arena sitting on campus now, opened in 2007, because the students wanted it.
The Gateway Project has the same potential.
Whether to gain approval for a project or simply present an idea of a possible direction takes a lot of careful consideration.
No one goes to the BOT on a whim. Very careful planning. No one suggests even an “idea” without some possibility of it happening.
It also matters AFTER the fact, once the BOT gets excited about a project. Which, including the student BOT member, all of the board members were about the Gateway Project.
EWU can raise $20 million. It is not hard to conceive.
There is a $23.5 million ice arena sitting on campus now, opened in 2007, because the students wanted it.
The Gateway Project has the same potential.
Screamin_Eagle174
Active member
Ewuticketoffice said:
The funding for the Rec Center was through student fees though, IIRC.
FrontFive4Life
Active member
Screamin_Eagle174 said:
Student fees which were voted on and approved by the students who would be affected by the fees. I remember, I voted for it. I'm with Mr. Tickets on this one though, there seems to be an internal buzz on this one in addition to our perpetual hope. Knowing the type of people we have in place in administration for this one, raising 20M is less of a daunting task than it seems. And if not, maybe the students could stomach an extra 20 bucks/quarter for a few years. That's one less case of beer per quarter in exchange for an awesome venue AND a university facelift in the eyes of the community. Anyway, /rant.
Screamin_Eagle174
Active member
FrontFive4Life said:
I voted for it as well. Just pointing out the difference in how the funds must be raised. I hope that there's an abundance of people able and willing to donate, but I'll keep my expectations tempered for now.
BLACKFALKIN1
Active member
I never understood why you'd build an ice arena without a real team and put the school's most talented sport on the backburner. Also, why cant the student fees ever pay for any upgrades for football? Fb always has to raise $ for upgrades. I dont get it.
BLACKFALKIN said:
I remember hearing at the time a lot of it had to do with the (then) Provost's input to building it. Either way, it's a nice facility and the University is better for having it. Just wish the football stadium had received as much attention during that same time frame.
BLACKFALKIN said:
Whether you realize it or not, the students already help fund the athletic program. Over 50% of the Student Activity Fee goes to the Athletic Department. Yes, it is what "pays" for students to get into games for free, but every student pays for it whether they ever see a game or not. As we know, many students never take the time to experience a game during their time as a student. While unfortunate, it does create a revenue stream for the Athletic Department.
Regarding the Rec Center, that was a student driven project. The students got the ball rolling and voted to tax themselves a user fee for the construction. The university later partnered with the students to cover the operation expenses. I suppose if the students decided to tax themselves for athletic improvements, it could happen but it's not likely.
The ice arena cost over $20m and you've got only a couple hundred kids on campus who skate. It was a railroad job from the start, as the cost of the project was pushed out to people who weren't voting on it (future students). It amazes me how this could be justified without an intercollegiate team using it, although the potential to start an intercollegiate team was one of the underlying reasons it was built.
Considering the Roos Field expansion features both retail space (badly needed on campus) and classroom space, as well as new seating, it seems like this is a great investment in the success of the university.
Considering the Roos Field expansion features both retail space (badly needed on campus) and classroom space, as well as new seating, it seems like this is a great investment in the success of the university.
I don't understand why you keep dogging on the rec center, because it was a great addition to the campus. Furthermore, I think that it shows how Eastern can make a big project happen. I understand that the funding source is different but it was a $20 million project that was not state funded.
ewunerd
Active member
There is an intercollegiate hockey team that uses the arena (as I understand they're pretty good) though its not NCAA sanctioned. But it's also a multi function place too with a workout center, track, climbing wall and a restaurant.
I noticed in one article that the President wanted to hear how the Gateway Project could benefit the university as a whole. I think that's key for making something like this work, and it sounds like they'll have a great pitch that can redevelop the area around Roos field in a way that can put the university first while also benefiting the football program.
I noticed in one article that the President wanted to hear how the Gateway Project could benefit the university as a whole. I think that's key for making something like this work, and it sounds like they'll have a great pitch that can redevelop the area around Roos field in a way that can put the university first while also benefiting the football program.
From what i gather even if there was an intercollegiate team they wouldn't be able to charge for tickets since the rec center is built and funded for the students, not the athletic teams. The club team ran into troubles when they were charging for tickets a few years ago. That being said, i think the rec center is amazing, and i think it's cool to have such a nice facility on campus, they have open skate too, so it's not just for the club hockey team.
