Roos Field Renovation

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Logic would dictate that if we can't find a way to add 5,000 seats to the Eastside with a few premium boxes, we certainly couldn't afford to scrap the stadium for an altogether new one. At this point, I'd settle for a higher-rise version of our Northside bleachers on the Eastside. Obviously not ideal, but if we can afford it now and worry about bigger projects later, it makes sense. I doubt adding 5,000 highrise aluminum bleachers would cost much more than the parking lot complex that's presently being added behind the stadium. I have no idea why that would have been prioritized over even the most minor and cosmetic expansion to stadium seating. The stadium seats would at least generate revenue, whereas a parking lot isn't going to help much.

 

[scottywashere11]

It's just about time to break out the torches and pitchforks. issed:

 

[Obzerver]

Where's those minutes from the Board of Trustee's meeting?

 

[EdubU10]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

I'd love to be dead wrong about this... I'd be happy to eat a steaming plate of crow. Unfortunately, the failure to launch and the newfound lack of desire to even talk about it publicly leads to me the conclusion we're moving nowhere fast. Again, I'd love to be wrong... But I doubt I am.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

I'd love to be dead wrong about this... I'd be happy to eat a steaming plate of crow. Unfortunately, the failure to launch and the newfound lack of desire to even talk about it publicly leads to me the conclusion we're moving nowhere fast. Again, I'd love to be wrong... But I doubt I am.

You're probably right on the money.


hno:

 

[kalm]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

I'd love to be dead wrong about this... I'd be happy to eat a steaming plate of crow. Unfortunately, the failure to launch and the newfound lack of desire to even talk about it publicly leads to me the conclusion we're moving nowhere fast. Again, I'd love to be wrong... But I doubt I am.

You're probably right on the money.


hno:

I hope he's right. There's nothing wrong with the current location. In fact, it's a great location from a scenic view standpoint and proximity to facilities. And if we're worried about going nowhere fast, what's more likely to get done faster...continued improvements to Roos or building an entire new stadium with all the infrastructure, parking, roads, etc?

If they get off their butts, a decent grand stand could be put up on the east side in a week. It would at least show a little progress and make it so we're not turning folks away at sell outs.

 

[clawman1]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

I'd love to be dead wrong about this... I'd be happy to eat a steaming plate of crow. Unfortunately, the failure to launch and the newfound lack of desire to even talk about it publicly leads to me the conclusion we're moving nowhere fast. Again, I'd love to be wrong... But I doubt I am.

You're wrong

 

[houseofire]

Did Clawman just crop dust LDopa?

 

[EWURanger]

Anyone have any update on the farmland deal?

I have a strong suspicion that the idea of moving to an altogether new stadium is a diversionary tactic to keep the focus off the lack of ambition from our university administration. I don't think people want to answer questions about how our peer institutions are able to move on a relatively straightforward facilities project while we seem incapable of doing the same.

Logic would dictate that if we can't find a way to add 5,000 seats to the Eastside with a few premium boxes, we certainly couldn't afford to scrap the stadium for an altogether new one. At this point, I'd settle for a higher-rise version of our Northside bleachers on the Eastside. Obviously not ideal, but if we can afford it now and worry about bigger projects later, it makes sense. I doubt adding 5,000 highrise aluminum bleachers would cost much more than the parking lot complex that's presently being added behind the stadium. I have no idea why that would have been prioritized over even the most minor and cosmetic expansion to stadium seating. The stadium seats would at least generate revenue, whereas a parking lot isn't going to help much.

The more I think about it, I think I'd rather build something in a more open area. I don't really feel like the site of the current stadium is that sustainable when you consider future growth of the University. There's not really any room to grow east or south in terms of academic buildings...the only open area is to the west and north. The other consideration is that the current stadium isn't really designed for modular additions, so anything we build on the current site is basically going to look lop-sided and disproportionate. Even if it starts off as a 10-12k seater, I'm much more in favor of building something that's concrete, and proportionate on both sides, that could be built onto later on.

 

[clawman1]

Did Clawman just crop dust LDopa?

certainly not my intention, (whatever crop dust means).

 

[LDopaPDX]

Did Clawman just crop dust LDopa?

certainly not my intention, (whatever crop dust means).

Yeah, I was wondering that myself. "Crop dust?" I don't get it, but I kind of like it nonetheless. Props to the board rookie for throwing down something new!

I hope you're right and I'm wrong... Man, I really, really do. This "project" has just been going on forever and going absolutely nowhere. The most recent comments from the AD made it sound like the entire press release regarding the Gateway Project was "just rumors" (his words, not mine).

 

[Guitarguy]

The crash of the state economy a few years ago really altered the universities ability to throw money at the project. If you recall, EWU lost about 54% of it's state funding during that time. A small portion has returned, but it's nowhere near the 54% that was lost. There has also been a change in WA that non-essential campus buildings that do not directly relate to learning are not funded by tax dollars. This why the rec center and PUB are student funded vs. state funded.

So...that leaves the Athletic Department on it's own as it looks for private funding. The same economy that crashed the state funding has also hurt the private sector. While Spokane is a bit more immune to the ups and downs of the economy, when it does finally hit the area, it takes a lot longer to dig out. Just look at how slow the housing market has been to rebound. That means the people with the money to make this happen are being cautious with said money. There simply aren't a lot of people lining up at the door with buckets of cash to build a new stadium.

The point of all this is this. It's not that the campus leadership doesn't have a vision, as I believe they do. It's that the vision doesn't have adequate funding right now to become a reality. You can develop the greatest football stadium in the world on paper. However, if the private investors are not interested in taking a gamble on things, it won't happen. And before you point at the other schools in the conference who have upgraded, remember that every other school in the conference is in a different state that has different revenue funding rules and private donors to draw from.

 

[Obzerver]

Guitarguy strums a nice tune...wonder why any of the admin's can't strum a similar tune? A simple explanation(if Guitarguy is correct) or an apology of sorts, like..."hey were sorry but we shot for the moon and hit our foot instead..we screwed up". Admitting something and a little apology makes people forgive fast and move foward instead of making everyone who cares feel like this;

 

[Guitarguy]

Ouch...that poor guitar...lol..

I'm not a fly on the wall, just making observations based on what was reported in the news. Public funding in WA is no longer what it once was and schools are having to find creative ways to fund non education based facilities and services.

Another factor in the GWP not getting off the ground has to be the business model that called for business tenants in the main floor. This business model was already tried with the Brewster dorm and has failed miserably. The university finally put their own deli in on side and are opening a student art gallery in the other just to not have the spaces sit empty. If the area businesses didn't want to move in one block from the main street, what makes you think they will move all the way up the hill? I'm guessing the BOT poked holes in that business model and told them they couldn't use that as a revenue stream unless they got long term leases signed. Again, I'm just guessing but it seems logical. That would really leave a lot of red in the ledger and call for even more donations.

Something will eventually get done, it's just a matter of the right vision meeting the right funding.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Ouch...that poor guitar...lol..

I'm not a fly on the wall, just making observations based on what was reported in the news. Public funding in WA is no longer what it once was and schools are having to find creative ways to fund non education based facilities and services.

Another factor in the GWP not getting off the ground has to be the business model that called for business tenants in the main floor. This business model was already tried with the Brewster dorm and has failed miserably. The university finally put their own deli in on side and are opening a student art gallery in the other just to not have the spaces sit empty. If the area businesses didn't want to move in one block from the main street, what makes you think they will move all the way up the hill? I'm guessing the BOT poked holes in that business model and told them they couldn't use that as a revenue stream unless they got long term leases signed. Again, I'm just guessing but it seems logical. That would really leave a lot of red in the ledger and call for even more donations.

Something will eventually get done, it's just a matter of the right vision meeting the right funding.

What you've said is 100% right... however, it is important to note that UW and WSU have both pushed through major stadium renovations in the last five years that dwarf our's comparatively.

I'd also note again that we just added a very nice new parking lot behind the stadium complete with a new road that feeds it. While I doubt this cost a lot in the scheme of things, it likely cost as much as new aluminum bleachers for the Eastside.

My hope isn't something as grandiose as the Gateway Project. I'd just like to see 5,000 aluminum bleachers replace the low-rise nonsense that never should have been put on the Eastside to begin with. We can always build something much nicer when and if the money comes. But right now our stadium is a cancer and we're not even taking the most simple steps to rectify it.

 

[clawman1]

For everyone knocking the additional parking and I assume the lights etc., do you know if the funds came through the athletic dept., the University, or maybe even the foundation?

 

[kalm]

Kudos to the Observer, Dopa, Guitarguy, and Clawman on the last 4 posts. I kept wanting to reply but you've all done a nice job with the back and forth and observations.

My sense of things is even with economic factors and different funding source explanations, shit could still get done. It's a matter of priorities and that starts right at the top with the administration and BOT.

:nod:

And FWIW, my low friends in high places tell me the new stadium location is not a serious consideration at this point.

 

[LDopaPDX]

For everyone knocking the additional parking and I assume the lights etc., do you know if the funds came through the athletic dept., the University, or maybe even the foundation?

The real question is: "why does it matter?" If the money is coming from somewhere, then the money exists. I don't think it makes any sense to play the bureaucrats game of "which budget is taking the hit." If the money is coming from the university, than it is just a matter of re-allocating it. I couldn't possibly imagine the foundation would be kicking in money for a university facilities project.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

To All,
Received yesterday the above, at 09:15am, will be at Roos Field. The scrimmage will be at 9:45am, on Saturday. Check the Eagle Athletics, 5 names have been added to positions in Athletic Department, replacing other personnel. Good Morning. Vic Wallace