Roos Field Renovation

[marceagfan5]

As insinuated earlier I hope the Gateway Project coincides with a serious human investment. Pay Beau AND his staff enough to stay around and see it come to fruition. Continued winning will have as much to do with attendance as a nice stadium. There are many half full nice stadiums around the country... :nod:

After seeing a few of other FCS stadiums on ESPN this year all Roos needs for now is to upgrade the East bleachers similar to the North end ! Would help get rid of the HS feel and shadow out the dorms ! Take the money and pay the coaches or they too will be gone ! GOEAGS!!! And get rid of the TRACK !!!

Totally agree with this...

Pay the coaches and find a way to put new stands on the east side, the Gateway project appears to be a stretch and would take time to build and cost a ton of money, which we don't have.

New east side bleachers could probably be put in within a year if the funding is there...

 

[clawman1]

There are two topics being discussed here, both interrelated, people and facilities. Without fair pay you will never retain the best people, and even if you pay at the top end of FCS without competitive facilities, they will be hard pressed to be as successful as their skill level allows and will move along sooner than later. The best coaches are winners and will seek out the location and environment that will allow that.
To just replace bleachers with nicer bleachers is a waste of money. If you take note of what has been done recently, expanded parking, concession stand, entry way, and new score board, it is all separate from Gateway an will not have to be rebuilt. Good use of available funds.
Lets not settle for "good enough" at this time and work hard to get the premier facilities the program and University deserves.

 

[JoinTheEAA]

Completely agree, keep the dream alive. Like our players and coaches let's strive for first place. The Gateway can put the entire school, not just athletics, in a place most people can't even imagine. Crucial Spokane steps up and realizes that this project is important to all our local citizens, not just EWU and our fan base.

 

[EWU98]

So true . . .what an impact on the University it would have. The President keeps on mentioning that enrollment is at a all time high, just think what happens when that get's built and that is the first thing students see . . . . .

 

[cravenmoore]

I'm in complete agreement with Clawman that the gateway needs to remain intact as the vision it is for the donors being talked to. If they don't like it then we can look at coming back to bleacher land, which at that point, will also raise the question of the value of football. Been there done that. One thing that stuck with me at the planning focus groups was the idea that as an individual idea, the gateway building itself won't grow. They said we can scale back if an emergency happens because you can 'always make stuff smaller' but you will never grow a building just because. That made a lot of sense to me because we are asking for money 'one time' based on what's shown to the donors and maybe more importantly, to the school leaders. Over time, the idea shown, is the idea owned! Ha...just made that up. Anyway, I can't stand the idea of my school putting up 'north endzone-like' bleachers thinking that will make it look more legit. All that will do is make it look less legit...sorry. Really less legit in fact. I don't buy at all that a north endzone concept on the east side offers any level of marketability. None. In fact, I'm not surprised as I type. To sign up and participate on this board means you care a little bit and to see that some of you like the idea of just throwing some stands in across the way makes a guy wonder how difficult the teachers out there must be to deal with. Flyingnail and Marceag...I'm on the complete opposite end of the spectrum as you so no offense, I disagree that we should do something little now just because. I'm assuming you are donors and season ticket holders as well so I give you 'freedom' but I'm with Clawman. EWU just built a dorm and an academic building. It's time for an athletics building and the basic data coming out of ewu next to the football success makes a case to not only build the gateway building, but plan the next few phases as well.

I do agree with everyone that keeping coach baldwin is a priority. That said, there is a tipping point and he will leave. That is unless you want to go Coach Few's route which went from $240K to $1.5 million. Given that the new coach at NDSU is looking at $250K or so, I don't see coach baldwin moving up past $200k at ewu which means he will leave. EWU (which does mean all of us too) will have the opportunity to pony up cash and our homes to some level above $500K (which I believe will be offered to our hero at another school) for five or seven years to keep him. I'm guessing we won't do that. That said, with the prospect of the gateway (and not some more larger aluminum bleachers), a recent national level of winning and we will attract interest from good coaching. One thing my wife tells people about where we live is that we have good food and drinks friday night, skiing or boating on saturday and then.....repeat again before work on Monday. We live in a great place so ewu is attractive. If you want to keep our coach for as long as possible, the way not to do it is tell him the gateway is too dam big so we are just going to rent some bigger ones on the east side to make it look better. Coach Baldwin has taken his program national level serious and I'm am fully in belief that the school leaders out there and the fans follow suit.

Fantasy notwithstanding, coach baldwin will move on and we should be thankful instead of afraid of that. I'm very confident in ewu as a school and football program to move forward as coach baldwin has opened many coaching prospects to ewu. I don't know why people are so afraid of possible change when every logical thinking works in our favor and even our recent history with our big receiver from last year. He is but an afterthought and still there is panic about the future. Maybe human nature but also maybe a place that struggles to believe. We all love Coach Baldwin but I don't see EWU's (nor their fans) willingness to pay and coach's professional ascent moving along harmonically.

The gateway is actually only a minimum in my opinion...perhaps not popular as a thought. More than trying to believe in it, as it takes some time, let the donor folks say "NO!" before grandiose ideas of 'north endzone-like' aluminum bleacher visions become our identity. If the teachers don't like the football team growing, let's not give them fuel. This Saturday presents a chance and that's it. From experience, I can attest that the gateway building is also only a chance. Not everyone has or experience's a chance to become a change agent. Coach Baldwin is already a big deal so please let's not sell ourselves short so we can feel good 'for now'.

Apologies for the late night light kodva rant but this is about post 4 or 5 for me on the boards so I'm still learning the way. Flyingnail and marceag I don't hate you so don't take it personally but I've had 31 years of either no action or mediocre action in Cheney and I don't have to lay low and keep quiet these days. I can't wait to see the issues with 25K fans in Cheney on a game day. Our problems today will look like chump change. Go Eags!!

 

[marceagfan5]

Amazing how far we have come, from one side of the spectrum to the other.

6 years ago, there was talk about Eastern dropping football, now we are talking about a $60+ million dollar stadium, crazy!

I would love to see the Gateway Project happen, I just don't know if we will see the donors step up, but I sure hope so. Regardless we need to fix the bleachers on the east side and we need to pay the coaches...

If we don't retain good coaches and the success stops, the gateway project will never happen. Need to keep winning, which will result in more support, which will hopefully result in the Gateway Project.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I didn't write the part about putting north endzone-like bleachers on the eastside, but I assume that was mentioned as a temporary fix for now until completion of the project. If that time period is more than 3 years, than it probably makes sense to include a temporary fix. Erector set-style bleachers are cheap, so the cash outlay for a "quick fix" to hold us over wouldn't be that great.

 

[EAGinAZ]

I would like to throw in my two cents. Either we are a big FCS program or we are a flash in the pan. I know we are building something special with this program, the coaching is great, the recruiting is outstanding and the play is breathtaking. What we are lacking is the facilities and the Gateway Project will change that. The Red Turf was a big turning point and we must continue to make progress on the facilities. The new parking lot, concession and scoreboard were for the fans and aren't going to impress the top tier recruits. The Gateway will have the same affect on recruiting as the Red Turf did. If we truly believe we are at the Top of the FCS then the Gateway is the only option and i know that's what our AD and President think. It is my belief that if we abandon it and put up North end-zone bleachers in the east-side its over. Baldwin will jump to the FBS, we will lose fan support, recruiting will take a dip and we will fall back to being the forth or fifth best team in the Big Sky. That cant and wont happen! The Gateway will happen! Have Faith Eagle Nation! Go EAGS!!!!

 

[flyingnail]

I would like to throw in my two cents. Either we are a big FCS program or we are a flash in the pan. I know we are building something special with this program, the coaching is great, the recruiting is outstanding and the play is breathtaking. What we are lacking is the facilities and the Gateway Project will change that. The Red Turf was a big turning point and we must continue to make progress on the facilities. The new parking lot, concession and scoreboard were for the fans and aren't going to impress the top tier recruits. The Gateway will have the same affect on recruiting as the Red Turf did. If we truly believe we are at the Top of the FCS then the Gateway is the only option and i know that's what our AD and President think. It is my belief that if we abandon it and put up North end-zone bleachers in the east-side its over. Baldwin will jump to the FBS, we will lose fan support, recruiting will take a dip and we will fall back to being the forth or fifth best team in the Big Sky. That cant and wont happen! The Gateway will happen! Have Faith Eagle Nation! Go EAGS!!!![]

Dude !!! Your reading to much into the Gateway Project. How could new Eastside Bleachers make EWU any less effective than we are right NOW ! Nonsense dude, we need something to show for the success's of the past 5 yrs and IMO it doesn't need to cost 60 million $, this is Cheney not Seattle and small steps forward are better than NOTHING !!! GOEAGS for And I'm all for the Gateway but lets be real !!! for now !

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

EWU giving Baldwin a raise? You guys are seriously out of touch. EWU wouldn't double his salary if ewu fb won 5 straight NCs. It's not about winning, it's about money. EWU won't give a dime to expand its own fb stadium or to keep its best ever fb coach. They care very little about athletics.

They spent all that money on an ice skating rink. What does that tell you? There's your gateway project right there. Based on what I've seen, I think Baldwin will stay until a bcs job opens up... similar to Wulff but just not wsu.

EWU'S last major renovation was 10 years ago and it still didn't include turf, which was badly needed, or a change to the east side which was needed even worse. Actually the plans did include a permanent structure on the east side and additional seating on the west side, and a press box that extended the length of the field, but somehow it never happened.... why? $$$$ Probably bc the only option was to scale it waaay back or don't build it.

I would love to see the current gateway design built. Who wouldnt!? But EWU is ewuathletics' worst enemy.

Here's a question to think about. Would you rather EWU install 5,000 similar north ez seats on the east side before the 2014 season and plan for future phases. Or get the gateway built in 2025?

 

[flyingnail]

EWU giving Baldwin a raise? You guys are seriously out of touch. EWU wouldn't double his salary if ewu fb won 5 straight NCs. It's not about winning, it's about money. EWU won't give a dime to expand its own fb stadium or to keep its best ever fb coach. They care very little about athletics.

They spent all that money on an ice skating rink. What does that tell you? There's your gateway project right there. Based on what I've seen, I think Baldwin will stay until a bcs job opens up... similar to Wulff but just not wsu.

EWU'S last major renovation was 10 years ago and it still didn't include turf, which was badly needed, or a change to the east side which was needed even worse. Actually the plans did include a permanent structure on the east side and additional seating on the west side, and a press box that extended the length of the field, but somehow it never happened.... why? $$$$ Probably bc the only option was to scale it waaay back or don't build it.

I would love to see the current gateway design built. Who wouldnt!? But EWU is ewuathletics' worst enemy.

Here's a question to think about. Would you rather EWU install 5,000 similar north ez seats on the east side before the 2014 season and plan for future phases. Or get the gateway built in 2025?

Exactly BF Exactly

 

[clawman1]

Dude !!! Your reading to much into the Gateway Project. How could new Eastside Bleachers make EWU any less effective than we are right NOW ! Nonsense dude, we need something to show for the success's of the past 5 yrs and IMO it doesn't need to cost 60 million $, this is Cheney not Seattle and small steps forward are better than NOTHING !!! GOEAGS for And I'm all for the Gateway but lets be real !!! for now !

According to Wikipedia:
Washington Grizzly Stadium-
"Broke ground September 1985
Opened October 18, 1986 (27 years ago)
Owner University of Montana
Operator University of Montana
Surface SprinTurf - (2001-present)
Natural grass - (1986-2000)
Construction cost $3.2 million[1]
($6.81 million in 2013 dollars[2])
Architect Fox, Ballas & Barrow[1]
Rossman, Schneider & Gadvery[1]
Capacity 25,217 - (2008-present)
23,183 - (2003-2007)
18,845 - (1995-2002)
12,500 - (1986-1994)"
IMO replacement cost would have to be at least 25x original cost to build.
If leadership at UofM would have settled for a revamp of Dornblazer where do you think they would be now.
Small steps forward ARE nothing!

 

[kalm]

Success on the field far outweighs a nice stadium and success on the field starts with the coaching staff.

Will Baldwin leave? Yes. Can we keep him around longer by paying him and his assistants more? :nod:

Opportunity jobs don't exactly grow on trees and neither do coaching staffs with the talent that we currently have. To not be the highest paid coaching staff in the BSC much less all of FCS is an embarrassment. One of the best paths for Beau to take professionally is to continue and dominate at this level and wait around until
A truly great job with the infrastructure, $'s, and competitive advantages comes knocking. Wulff didn't ruin the PAC 12 jump forever, especially if you're talking about a staff that has multiple NC appearances, FBS wins, and BSC championships on its resume.

The Gateway may or may not happen but has very little bearing on defining EWU football as a success. News flash... It already is. Don't get me wrong, I truly hope it happens, but we need to take every advantage of the successful situation we already have going and ride that wave as long as we can.

BTW, salaries, modest stadium improvements, and the Gateway can all be worked on simultaneously.

 

[kalm]

Dude !!! Your reading to much into the Gateway Project. How could new Eastside Bleachers make EWU any less effective than we are right NOW ! Nonsense dude, we need something to show for the success's of the past 5 yrs and IMO it doesn't need to cost 60 million $, this is Cheney not Seattle and small steps forward are better than NOTHING !!! GOEAGS for And I'm all for the Gateway but lets be real !!! for now !

According to Wikipedia:
Washington Grizzly Stadium-
"Broke ground September 1985
Opened October 18, 1986 (27 years ago)
Owner University of Montana
Operator University of Montana
Surface SprinTurf - (2001-present)
Natural grass - (1986-2000)
Construction cost $3.2 million[1]
($6.81 million in 2013 dollars[2])
Architect Fox, Ballas & Barrow[1]
Rossman, Schneider & Gadvery[1]
Capacity 25,217 - (2008-present)
23,183 - (2003-2007)
18,845 - (1995-2002)
12,500 - (1986-1994)"
IMO replacement cost would have to be at least 25x original cost to build.
If leadership at UofM would have settled for a revamp of Dornblazer where do you think they would be now.
Small steps forward ARE nothing!

And yet it's been a work in progress all along...

 

[clawman1]

Dude !!! Your reading to much into the Gateway Project. How could new Eastside Bleachers make EWU any less effective than we are right NOW ! Nonsense dude, we need something to show for the success's of the past 5 yrs and IMO it doesn't need to cost 60 million $, this is Cheney not Seattle and small steps forward are better than NOTHING !!! GOEAGS for And I'm all for the Gateway but lets be real !!! for now !

According to Wikipedia:
Washington Grizzly Stadium-
"Broke ground September 1985
Opened October 18, 1986 (27 years ago)
Owner University of Montana
Operator University of Montana
Surface SprinTurf - (2001-present)
Natural grass - (1986-2000)
Construction cost $3.2 million[1]
($6.81 million in 2013 dollars[2])
Architect Fox, Ballas & Barrow[1]
Rossman, Schneider & Gadvery[1]
Capacity 25,217 - (2008-present)
23,183 - (2003-2007)
18,845 - (1995-2002)
12,500 - (1986-1994)"
IMO replacement cost would have to be at least 25x original cost to build.
If leadership at UofM would have settled for a revamp of Dornblazer where do you think they would be now.
Small steps forward ARE nothing!

And yet it's been a work in progress all along...

True, at least they started with a good core to build on. If our current press box is the core and we just keep improving bleachers there will NEVER be a stadium anyone would be proud of. Can you visualize enclosing the north and south ends in the future? Without the Gateway that would not happen.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Success on the field far outweighs a nice stadium and success on the field starts with the coaching staff.

Will Baldwin leave? Yes. Can we keep him around longer by paying him and his assistants more? :nod:

Opportunity jobs don't exactly grow on trees and neither do coaching staffs with the talent that we currently have. To not be the highest paid coaching staff in the BSC much less all of FCS is an embarrassment. One of the best paths for Beau to take professionally is to continue and dominate at this level and wait around until
A truly great job with the infrastructure, $'s, and competitive advantages comes knocking. Wulff didn't ruin the PAC 12 jump forever, especially if you're talking about a staff that has multiple NC appearances, FBS wins, and BSC championships on its resume.

The Gateway may or may not happen but has very little bearing on defining EWU football as a success. News flash... It already is. Don't get me wrong, I truly hope it happens, but we need to take every advantage of the successful situation we already have going and ride that wave as long as we can.

BTW, salaries, modest stadium improvements, and the Gateway can all be worked on simultaneously.

what an EWU football fan thinks, and what the university thinks (and is going to do) are two separate things. Newsflash .. ewu has won almost everything it possibly can (including player awards) at the fcs level. And what has THE UNIVERSITY done to reward the program?
.
.
.

And forcing the fb program to beg for 60 million in donations to expand the stadium is what's truly embarrassing.

 

[kalm]

Success on the field far outweighs a nice stadium and success on the field starts with the coaching staff.

Will Baldwin leave? Yes. Can we keep him around longer by paying him and his assistants more? :nod:

Opportunity jobs don't exactly grow on trees and neither do coaching staffs with the talent that we currently have. To not be the highest paid coaching staff in the BSC much less all of FCS is an embarrassment. One of the best paths for Beau to take professionally is to continue and dominate at this level and wait around until
A truly great job with the infrastructure, $'s, and competitive advantages comes knocking. Wulff didn't ruin the PAC 12 jump forever, especially if you're talking about a staff that has multiple NC appearances, FBS wins, and BSC championships on its resume.

The Gateway may or may not happen but has very little bearing on defining EWU football as a success. News flash... It already is. Don't get me wrong, I truly hope it happens, but we need to take every advantage of the successful situation we already have going and ride that wave as long as we can.

BTW, salaries, modest stadium improvements, and the Gateway can all be worked on simultaneously.

what an EWU football fan thinks, and what the university thinks (and is going to do) are two separate things. Newsflash .. ewu has won almost everything it possibly can (including player awards) at the fcs level. And what has THE UNIVERSITY done to reward the program?
.
.
.

And forcing the fb program to beg for 60 million in donations to expand the stadium is what's truly embarrassing.

Believe it or not, there might be some in the "university" who are also fans. I'd have imagine presiding over a successful football program that brings tons of exposure to the school as well as large scale facilities upgrades would be helpful and a feather in the cap.

And I for one am hopeful we have more to win at this level.

 

[marceagfan5]

Success on the field far outweighs a nice stadium and success on the field starts with the coaching staff.

Will Baldwin leave? Yes. Can we keep him around longer by paying him and his assistants more? :nod:

Opportunity jobs don't exactly grow on trees and neither do coaching staffs with the talent that we currently have. To not be the highest paid coaching staff in the BSC much less all of FCS is an embarrassment. One of the best paths for Beau to take professionally is to continue and dominate at this level and wait around until
A truly great job with the infrastructure, $'s, and competitive advantages comes knocking. Wulff didn't ruin the PAC 12 jump forever, especially if you're talking about a staff that has multiple NC appearances, FBS wins, and BSC championships on its resume.

The Gateway may or may not happen but has very little bearing on defining EWU football as a success. News flash... It already is. Don't get me wrong, I truly hope it happens, but we need to take every advantage of the successful situation we already have going and ride that wave as long as we can.

BTW, salaries, modest stadium improvements, and the Gateway can all be worked on simultaneously.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[clawman1]

One of the best paths for Beau to take professionally is to continue and dominate at this level and wait around until

Kind of like Bohl did?

 

[Obzerver]

Bohl is old and has baggage...Baldwin quite the opposite.