Roos Field Renovation

[BLACKFALKIN1]

If Eastern throws up some cheap looking stands on the eastside and calls it an "EXPANSION", I WILL BE VERY UPSET.

Everything I read gave me the impression the new side would be quite a bit more than just a cheap seating section. Something more along the lines more luxury suites (aka new press box), two decks, with views of the action from concessions. And a whole football operations building and other shops. Bowling it out looked to be a part of a future expansion. I think the folks in charge have pretty big plans. During the WSU pregame show they talked a lot about WSU's recent upgrade and doing the same thing, just on a smaller scale. If all goes to plan will the "home" section still be on the old side or will they flip it for the expansion?

Yea I hear ya, I think some HC's prefer the shadier side for their team bc it could possible create an advantage. idk. The reason I like the "square bowl" is bc of Wa-griz stadium. That huge endzone and the 2nd deck (especially the non-videoboard endzone) are the highlights of their stadium. (Its freakin LOUD!) other than that theres two lack-luster "pressboxes" two sideline grandstands & a video board. WOW :roll:

 

[LDopaPDX]

The one thing I don't get about WA-Griz is that there seems to be such an emphasis on endzone seating. While I understand that philosophy in European stadia (soccer is a much more attractive sport from the endline than football), it doesn't seem to translate to American football stadiums where seating behind the endzone gives you very little depth perception.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

The one thing I don't get about WA-Griz is that there seems to be such an emphasis on endzone seating. While I understand that philosophy in European stadia (soccer is a much more attractive sport from the endline than football), it doesn't seem to translate to American football stadiums where seating behind the endzone gives you very little depth perception.

Whats the difference between an FBS stadium, and an FCS stadium?
Answer: three things.... 1.)Bigger Capacity 2.)no track 3.)Endzone seating.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

If Eastern throws up some cheap looking stands on the eastside and calls it an "EXPANSION", I WILL BE VERY UPSET.

Everything I read gave me the impression the new side would be quite a bit more than just a cheap seating section. Something more along the lines more luxury suites (aka new press box), two decks, with views of the action from concessions. And a whole football operations building and other shops. Bowling it out looked to be a part of a future expansion. I think the folks in charge have pretty big plans. During the WSU pregame show they talked a lot about WSU's recent upgrade and doing the same thing, just on a smaller scale. If all goes to plan will the "home" section still be on the old side or will they flip it for the expansion?

Exactly. Here are the notes I took from what Westfall said in the pregame:

-Looking to gain the "wow factor" with the Gateway Project.
-Talked about the WSU Pressbox... want to do something similar (but lesser scope) with EWU's Gateway Project
-Scoreboard... same size as WSU's, no state or tuition dollars
-Still working on moving the track, and enhance the soccer facility
-Goal of Gateway: remove track, move the field 27 ft. closer to existing stands, and build something similar to what WSU did (but on lesser scale).
-Talked about visiting App State, Virginia Tech, and U of Virginia as well to get ideas... "If you build it, they will come"
-University Advancement... need to continue moving forward, and never settle
-Talked about red turf... gave team something to defend and rally around

 

[ewunerd]

If Eastern throws up some cheap looking stands on the eastside and calls it an "EXPANSION", I WILL BE VERY UPSET.

Everything I read gave me the impression the new side would be quite a bit more than just a cheap seating section. Something more along the lines more luxury suites (aka new press box), two decks, with views of the action from concessions. And a whole football operations building and other shops. Bowling it out looked to be a part of a future expansion. I think the folks in charge have pretty big plans. During the WSU pregame show they talked a lot about WSU's recent upgrade and doing the same thing, just on a smaller scale. If all goes to plan will the "home" section still be on the old side or will they flip it for the expansion?

Exactly. Here are the notes I took from what Westfall said in the pregame:

-Looking to gain the "wow factor" with the Gateway Project.
-Talked about the WSU Pressbox... want to do something similar (but lesser scope) with EWU's Gateway Project
-Scoreboard... same size as WSU's, no state or tuition dollars
-Still working on moving the track, and enhance the soccer facility
-Goal of Gateway: remove track, move the field 27 ft. closer to existing stands, and build something similar to what WSU did (but on lesser scale).
-Talked about visiting App State, Virginia Tech, and U of Virginia as well to get ideas... "If you build it, they will come"
-University Advancement... need to continue moving forward, and never settle
-Talked about red turf... gave team something to defend and rally around

Sounds about right from my not so sober memory... I think we did get a higher res model for the screen though. :thumb: That thing is gonna be huge in our stadium. Biggest jumbotron in the Big Sky?

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

If Eastern throws up some cheap looking stands on the eastside and calls it an "EXPANSION", I WILL BE VERY UPSET.

Everything I read gave me the impression the new side would be quite a bit more than just a cheap seating section. Something more along the lines more luxury suites (aka new press box), two decks, with views of the action from concessions. And a whole football operations building and other shops. Bowling it out looked to be a part of a future expansion. I think the folks in charge have pretty big plans. During the WSU pregame show they talked a lot about WSU's recent upgrade and doing the same thing, just on a smaller scale. If all goes to plan will the "home" section still be on the old side or will they flip it for the expansion?

Exactly. Here are the notes I took from what Westfall said in the pregame:

-Looking to gain the "wow factor" with the Gateway Project.
-Talked about the WSU Pressbox... want to do something similar (but lesser scope) with EWU's Gateway Project
-Scoreboard... same size as WSU's, no state or tuition dollars
-Still working on moving the track, and enhance the soccer facility
-Goal of Gateway: remove track, move the field 27 ft. closer to existing stands, and build something similar to what WSU did (but on lesser scale).
-Talked about visiting App State, Virginia Tech, and U of Virginia as well to get ideas... "If you build it, they will come"
-University Advancement... need to continue moving forward, and never settle
-Talked about red turf... gave team something to defend and rally around

Sounds about right from my not so sober memory... I think we did get a higher res model for the screen though. :thumb: That thing is gonna be huge in our stadium. Biggest jumbotron in the Big Sky?

"The video screen GrizVision, was installed in 2002 in the south end zone; at 26×36' (8×11 m), it is one of the largest screens in an FCS football stadium."


Display One: WSU MARTIN STADIUM

Series: PS-X Series
Model: PS-23 (now DVX Series)
Description:
Lines & Columns: 320 x 688
Spacing (Line/Pixel): 23 mm
Approx. Dimensions: 24' x 52' (7.32 m x 15.85 m)

 

[marceagfan5]

I heard there was a meeting about the field yesterday and I heard it went well. I don't have too much information, does anyone know anything about this? I believe it was about the gateway project.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I don'tthink there is a plan to increase the media area on the other side of the field. As is, our press box is a pretty awesome thing... much better than most other FCS venues and many FBS as well. The new building is supposed to be a dual facade structure with offices, classrooms, and retail space on one side (facing the street) and two-tiers of about 8,000 seats in the stadium. I think the plan showed a row of suites, but that's it... in other words, no add'l press facilities.

The most important thing is the addition of quality seats, something horribly lacking at the field today and one that every Eastern and Montana fan will be reminded of in two weeks.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Why is it that all renovations to Woodward/Roos have come in the last 8 years? Nobody ever thought to renovate the stadium b4 that? Especially since UM, BSU, & UNR had such nice facilities.

 

[ewueagle2010]

It was probably a matter of poor fan support, poor attendence, lack of money, and less successful teams.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Keep in mind Eastern was still playing at Albi in Spokane until, roughly, 8 years ago. We aren't that far removed from a huge university fight between whether Cheney or Spokane would be the center for the base of operations, a fight which the Cheney contingent won but only after close to two decades of warring.

EWU approved a beautiful new expansion to Woodward in 1998, I believe that added several thousand new seats in addition to new classroom and childcare facilities on the East side. The best part of this was that as a joint use facility, it could have been paid for with state funds. However, in an inconceivable error by Eastern Admin, they canceled the project in lieu of other university projects (during a huge economic boom, no less).

Next came the expansion project of the early 2000s which included the new pressbox and was to include to East side seats, but fell apart after a naming dispute. I'm not sure anyone knows all the details on this one, as the then-AD bolted during the process and left his successors holding the bag.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Keep in mind Eastern was still playing at Albi in Spokane until, roughly, 8 years ago. We aren't that far removed from a huge university fight between whether Cheney or Spokane would be the center for the base of operations, a fight which the Cheney contingent won but only after close to two decades of warring.

EWU approved a beautiful new expansion to Woodward in 1998, I believe that added several thousand new seats in addition to new classroom and childcare facilities on the East side. The best part of this was that as a joint use facility, it could have been paid for with state funds. However, in an inconceivable error by Eastern Admin, they canceled the project in lieu of other university projects (during a huge economic boom, no less).

Next came the expansion project of the early 2000s which included the new pressbox and was to include to East side seats, but fell apart after a naming dispute. I'm not sure anyone knows all the details on this one, as the then-AD bolted during the process and left his successors holding the bag.

WOW. VERY INTERESTING STUFF. Back when I was playing, there was a "concept" drawing in the locker room. This was the one with 4 phases starting with the pressbox and ending with landscaping. This included a new, smallish east-side structure, and slightly different looking north endzone seating. This also included additional west-side seating on both sides of the pressbox. At the end of the day I guess half got done and the rest was scrapped.

Joe Albi Stadium is also a very interesting topic bc it is a nice venue, except for the old astroturf, but its just too far imo. You would think EWU would try to replicate that facility but just on EWU's campus. But to toss up a 5k grandstand and some temp eastside bleachers is a real slap in the face to a great fb program.. Im glad to see the new renovations and I hope the GW project gets approved AND BUILT.

 

[LDopaPDX]

You may not be carrying the same doctorate in Cheney history that I've earned, but Woodward was built in the 60s as a 6,000 seat venue when the old wooden structures behind what is now Reid Lab School became too small to support the team. The team played there as an NAIA outfit and later a D-II program until the University announced they'd move to D-I and play at the then I-AA level. At that point, the university deemed Woodward too small and the only logical place to play was Albi Stadium in Spokane, which at the time seated something like 34,000. The field eventually was raised at Albi and a new walkway was constructed lowering capacity to the roughly 20,000 the venue seats now.

Around the early 90s, EWU decided to bring one game per year back to campus as sort of a novelty to serve for the Homecoming weekend. The Homecoming games were consistently selling out and after a couple years, more Eagle games began to move back to campus. By 1994, all Eagle games except those against rivals Idaho, Montana, Montana State, or playoff games would be in Cheney. That was when there first appeared a need to expand Woodward.

Interestingly, ALL of Eastern's most attended home games have still been at Albi. I believe the record is something around 17,500 back in the early 2000s. There were quite a few games in that 12,500 - 15,000 range. It really wasn't until the install of the new turf that talk of potentially going back to Albi has subsided. I actually was in favor of going back to Albi until Eastern put down the new turf and made a commitment to expand Woodward / Roos within a few years.

The fact is Eastern has totally outgrown Roos in every way. They say it seats 8,600 in the "normal" layout and expands to about 12,000 or so. But really, it's 6,000 seats on the West Side and 1,400 in the endzone that really comrise the whole stadium. The low risers on the East Side are uselss, provide no view of the game, and generally suck to sit in. Really, Eastern should have added 5-8,000 legit seats to the East side close to a decade ago, but the funds weren't there and the spectre of playing again at Albi didn't make it a fiscal necessity.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

You may not be carrying the same doctorate in Cheney history that I've earned, but Woodward was built in the 60s as a 6,000 seat venue when the old wooden structures behind what is now Reid Lab School became too small to support the team. The team played there as an NAIA outfit and later a D-II program until the University announced they'd move to D-I and play at the then I-AA level. At that point, the university deemed Woodward too small and the only logical place to play was Albi Stadium in Spokane, which at the time seated something like 34,000. The field eventually was raised at Albi and a new walkway was constructed lowering capacity to the roughly 20,000 the venue seats now.

Around the early 90s, EWU decided to bring one game per year back to campus as sort of a novelty to serve for the Homecoming weekend. The Homecoming games were consistently selling out and after a couple years, more Eagle games began to move back to campus. By 1994, all Eagle games except those against rivals Idaho, Montana, Montana State, or playoff games would be in Cheney. That was when there first appeared a need to expand Woodward.

Interestingly, ALL of Eastern's most attended home games have still been at Albi. I believe the record is something around 17,500 back in the early 2000s. There were quite a few games in that 12,500 - 15,000 range. It really wasn't until the install of the new turf that talk of potentially going back to Albi has subsided. I actually was in favor of going back to Albi until Eastern put down the new turf and made a commitment to expand Woodward / Roos within a few years.

The fact is Eastern has totally outgrown Roos in every way. They say it seats 8,600 in the "normal" layout and expands to about 12,000 or so. But really, it's 6,000 seats on the West Side and 1,400 in the endzone that really comrise the whole stadium. The low risers on the East Side are uselss, provide no view of the game, and generally suck to sit in. Really, Eastern should have added 5-8,000 legit seats to the East side close to a decade ago, but the funds weren't there and the spectre of playing again at Albi didn't make it a fiscal necessity.

Im not an expert on Cheney history... But the indecisiveness seems to be the culprit. Based on WaGriz (which is the best FCS venue IMO) the track really limits what can be done as far as expansion. And based on your statement about EWU's attendance records at Albi, why bring the games back to a 6-7k stadium? Especially considering UM's dominance the past 20+ years... why not commit to a "better than Albi" on campus stadium at the same time? Why wait (the GW project STILL hasnt been approved btw) untill the year 2015 to add an east-side grandstand? Even after the GW project is complete the capacity is still lower than Albi... If EWU had 15k+ in attendance back in the 90's, recent years' avg attendance shd be on par with Montana's. SURELY wa-griz stadium's phase-by-phase design/expansions, large videoboard & conference leading attendance has played a part in all that success.

Who the fxck is driving the bus? You mean to tell me NOBODY has been to Missoula and thought "how 'bout we build something similar to that so WE can be just as dominant"? And the best part about wgs is the phased upgrades continue when the current configuration continues to sellout.. leaving idiots like MSU & EWU scratching their heads wondering how there got to be such a gap in capacity, attendance & home field advantage... :twocents:

 

[clawman1]

I've heard it said numerous times that having games @ Albi did not give a home field advantage. It always felt like a neutral field. The decision makers at that time wanted to be on campus to attract more EWU students and liked the campus environment. Can't agrue with either of those points. Even though there may have been 17k attending a game there it did not feel as good as 8-10k in Woodward.

 

[Sylvergunsuperman]

Is there a thread where I can see mock ups of the Gateway project you all are talking about? I'm new to the forums and can't find it.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I've heard it said numerous times that having games @ Albi did not give a home field advantage. It always felt like a neutral field. The decision makers at that time wanted to be on campus to attract more EWU students and liked the campus environment. Can't agrue with either of those points. Even though there may have been 17k attending a game there it did not feel as good as 8-10k in Woodward.

Not to mention the 17k games were pretty much all against the Griz, so a large portion of that attendance was from them, just like our largest attendance games in Cheney are because of the Griz. 16k and eventually 20k+ are reasonable numbers for us to reach toward on a regular basis, outside of the game against the Griz every two years.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Is there a thread where I can see mock ups of the Gateway project you all are talking about? I'm new to the forums and can't find it.

 

[Sylvergunsuperman]

Is there a thread where I can see mock ups of the Gateway project you all are talking about? I'm new to the forums and can't find it.

I guess I have seen that before, just didn't know it was known as the Gateway. Thanks SE That would be awesome. Piece by piece I guess.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

I've heard it said numerous times that having games @ Albi did not give a home field advantage. It always felt like a neutral field. The decision makers at that time wanted to be on campus to attract more EWU students and liked the campus environment. Can't agrue with either of those points. Even though there may have been 17k attending a game there it did not feel as good as 8-10k in Woodward.

Not to mention the 17k games were pretty much all against the Griz, so a large portion of that attendance was from them, just like our largest attendance games in Cheney are because of the Griz. 16k and eventually 20k+ are reasonable numbers for us to reach toward on a regular basis, outside of the game against the Griz every two years.

Agreed. But how is it OK to play in a 6k size stadium to a 5k size crowd in a conference where the title is won YEAR IN & YEAR OUT by a team that plays in a sold out 20k+ seat stadium for 20+years?