Roos Field Renovation

[DFW EAGLE]

It’s time we as alumni stand up and do something. What’s it going to take? We all sit on here and type what we want to see happen, but let’s rise up and do something about it. We’re obviously the only people that care about getting something started.

We have the Alumni Association, but what, if anything does that Association do? Their main site says this, “With more than 100,000 Eastern alumni there's always a reason to celebrate. Have a look around. Check out an event. Connect with old friends. Make new ones.” Great, they focus on connections, but can we add something to our alumni association? Perhaps electing a board that actually has a voice in university endeavors? If this is already in place, then excuse my ignorance. We need alumni to have an opportunity to meet with the President on a scheduled basis (monthly/quarterly) to hear what’s going on and provide feedback. From what I’m reading on here, every time someone reaches out to her, they’re ignored. We need a voice, not just in athletics, but where the University is headed in general. That alumni board can also work on legitimate fundraising, heck you can even have different sub-groups within the board focus on specific areas; athletics, student life, alumni relations, etc. Alumni of larger universities literally dictate coaching hires as we’ve seen in recent months, yet we have no voice what-so-ever at EWU.

If creating a more comprehensive alumni board isn’t an option, then what do WE do as a group? Who has ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle, etc. area that can help get this started? Idaho just received $10M from a credit union. Really?!? We need to get something going, and I’m not talking about an amateur GoFundMe account. We need a substantial plan, put together by the alumni, to get the ball rolling and hold our president accountable. We’re about to lose Chaves, if not to UND, then to someone, as he’s obviously looking. With him eventually gone, and Mary hiring the next AD, we will see nothing done if we don’t start it.

I live in TX, but would be more than happy to be part of something if it means we start to see some action, and at the very least start to push for answers from our University leaders. We can’t continue to be passive in this.

 

[ewueagle2010]

It’s time we as alumni stand up and do something. What’s it going to take? We all sit on here and type what we want to see happen, but let’s rise up and do something about it. We’re obviously the only people that care about getting something started.

We have the Alumni Association, but what, if anything does that Association do? Their main site says this, “With more than 100,000 Eastern alumni there's always a reason to celebrate. Have a look around. Check out an event. Connect with old friends. Make new ones.” Great, they focus on connections, but can we add something to our alumni association? Perhaps electing a board that actually has a voice in university endeavors? If this is already in place, then excuse my ignorance. We need alumni to have an opportunity to meet with the President on a scheduled basis (monthly/quarterly) to hear what’s going on and provide feedback. From what I’m reading on here, every time someone reaches out to her, they’re ignored. We need a voice, not just in athletics, but where the University is headed in general. That alumni board can also work on legitimate fundraising, heck you can even have different sub-groups within the board focus on specific areas; athletics, student life, alumni relations, etc. Alumni of larger universities literally dictate coaching hires as we’ve seen in recent months, yet we have no voice what-so-ever at EWU.

If creating a more comprehensive alumni board isn’t an option, then what do WE do as a group? Who has ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle, etc. area that can help get this started? Idaho just received $10M from a credit union. Really?!? We need to get something going, and I’m not talking about an amateur GoFundMe account. We need a substantial plan, put together by the alumni, to get the ball rolling and hold our president accountable. We’re about to lose Chaves, if not to UND, then to someone, as he’s obviously looking. With him eventually gone, and Mary hiring the next AD, we will see nothing done if we don’t start it.

I live in TX, but would be more than happy to be part of something if it means we start to see some action, and at the very least start to push for answers from our University leaders. We can’t continue to be passive in this.

I fully agree. This thread is damn near a decade old and many on here, including myself at times, talk big with little action. It's time to move, or this will ultimately die. She will win, our athletics will lose and we're all left standing around wondering what the hell happened.

 

[ajneedhams]

I am just passing on the info in the other thread from ewuEagle2010. Everybody write an email. Keep punching it out daily.

"Here are some emails for everyone to take down. Start sending emails to the President and CC the others to show they're not alone in fighting for answers for our athletes and the state of our athletic programs.

[email protected]
[email protected] (VP for University Advancement)
[email protected] (Interim Director of Alumni Advancement)


[email protected] (Eagle Athletic Fund)
[email protected] (Deputy Athletic Director)"

 

[ajneedhams]

My husband and I are both alumni from 1991 and our son is trying to decide between EWU and WSU for fall 2018. Naturally he feels the pull to WSU with sports and all and it is very popular with his friends. However, EWU is a special place. I know that. My husband knows that. My son could feel it at the home game we took him too. I'm just very tired of always taking a back seat to athletic renovation. They needed to ride the wave when they should have, but didn't. Let's have a voice! Go Eags!

 

[Seattle Eagle]

I am just passing on the info in the other thread from ewuEagle2010. Everybody write an email. Keep punching it out daily.

"Here are some emails for everyone to take down. Start sending emails to the President and CC the others to show they're not alone in fighting for answers for our athletes and the state of our athletic programs.

[email protected]
[email protected] (VP for University Advancement)
[email protected] (Interim Director of Alumni Advancement)


[email protected] (Eagle Athletic Fund)
[email protected] (Deputy Athletic Director)"

Cullian needs to go. I am convinced nothing will happen with her asleep at the wheel.

 

[EdubU10]

I am just passing on the info in the other thread from ewuEagle2010. Everybody write an email. Keep punching it out daily.

"Here are some emails for everyone to take down. Start sending emails to the President and CC the others to show they're not alone in fighting for answers for our athletes and the state of our athletic programs.

[email protected]
[email protected] (VP for University Advancement)
[email protected] (Interim Director of Alumni Advancement)


[email protected] (Eagle Athletic Fund)
[email protected] (Deputy Athletic Director)"

Cullian needs to go. I am convinced nothing will happen with her asleep at the wheel.

This times a million. She sucks.

 

[Obzerver]

I heard there was a presentation made this week to board at EWU. Any truth to that rumor?

I just came across this link doing a google search. This looks like a BIG project, much more than just a stadium addition, but re-doing the entire gateway to the University.....the "Gateway Project".

I really hope that the powers that be will see the benefits of this project not only to athletics, but to academics and the University as a whole. But from the sound of the article, it does sound like at least the President is very supportive. I think a lot of us have been waiting for something like this for a loooooong time. But I think this has to be a step in the right direction.

http://sites.ewu.edu/easterneronline/2012/03/23/project-gateway-presented-to-the-board-of-trustees-feasibility-study-next/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The EWU Foundation, a fundraising alumni organization, presented The Gateway Project to the EWU Board of Directors March 23 at the Board Committee of the Whole.The aim of the project is to create community within the EWU campus by constructing a “city within a city” and increase visibility, retention and scholarships. Conceptually, after the initial building is paid off, the university would be possession of a sustainable revenue generator. According to Mike Westfall, vice president of EWU University Advancement, Project Gateway is still in the visioning process: The presentation was to inform the board of trustees and the next step is a feasibility study. The Gateway project would redefine the heart of the campus at the Roos Gateway and would initially unite athletics and academics by creating a multipurpose building along the Washington Street side of Roos Field. Washington Street would be rerouted around the backside of the stadium during game days only, and a new eagle plaza would be created just before the Roos Arch. The new flow of traffic would increase pedestrian safety. The first phase building would introduce 5,000 more seats in lower seating rather than bleachers to the Washington side of Roos Field and 3,000 more seats to upper, covered seating. The inside of the building would house concessions with a view of the game, leasable commercial space, suites and a donor club with tiered seating and a patio, many bathrooms on one concourse alone, the Academic Success Center, a training room, football operations, the University Bookstore, locker rooms for home and visitors and a dedicated space for the band near the field. One of the presenters said that a dedicated spot for track would be located elsewhere on campus. Further phases included additional seating in the north end zone, which would connect the proposed building with the existing stands to the east (far side from Washington Street) and a dedicated student area on the south. The whole stadium could eventually seat 20,000.

The project would be funded by donations only and if approved, would be attempted to be completed in 30 months, September of 2014.

BUILD IT! BUILD IT! :clap: :notworthy:

I just came.

Hey, where has Screamin been?

 

[EWU98]

So just read the article in the Spokesman about Idaho and their expansion project....Does the state of Washington have some type of a bylaw or RCW that states we can't sell naming rights to our venues?
Cause 10 mill could go a long way.
"The school is raising money to build a new $45 million arena and this week announced a $10 million naming-rights agreement from the Idaho Central Credit Union."

 

[DFW EAGLE]

So just read the article in the Spokesman about Idaho and their expansion project....Does the state of Washington have some type of a bylaw or RCW that states we can't sell naming rights to our venues?
Cause 10 mill could go a long way.
"The school is raising money to build a new $45 million arena and this week announced a $10 million naming-rights agreement from the Idaho Central Credit Union."

There shouldn't be. UW has a corporate name attached to their basketball arena.

Regarding the old Hec-Ed:
"At the re-opening in November 2000, the title "Bank of America Arena" was added, following a payment of $9.1 million by Bank of America for the 10-year naming rights. The sponsorship of the arena expired after ten years in 2010 and was without an immediate successor. After several unsponsored months, the university announced its approval of Seattle-based Alaska Airlines as the new sponsor of Hec Ed on January 20, 2011."

 

[EWU98]

Well then what is the hold up. I know we had a NEXTLINK sponsor from back in the day for our hall of fame. I am sure someone would love to attach their name to the gateway project.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

“We’re obviously the only people that care about getting something started.”

“ If creating a more comprehensive alumni board isn’t an option, then what do WE do as a group?
Who has ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle, etc. area that can help get this started? ”

“ We need to get something going, and I’m not talking about an amateur GoFundMe account. We need a substantial plan, put together by the alumni, to get the ball rolling and hold our president accountable.”

I agree with you, however, we’ve been *waiting* on those things to materialize for years now. When Eastern Washington won the National Championship in 2010, especially over a CAA team AND with the Vice President in attendance, I thought FOR SURE Eastern does a stadium expansion/renovation now! Those high school bleachers are gone! It never materialized.

In my humble opinion, It’s starting to look as if the *only* option we have is “an amateur GoFundMe account.” It’s been 9 years since I’ve joined CS.com and I believe that crowd funding is the way to atleast upgrade the Eastside stands. The entire stadium being re-done and the Gateway Projects can be done when EWU has secured “ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle areas.” Right now I think EWU needs a legitimate Division 1 FCS stadium, & a somewhat inexpensive upgrade to the Eastside stands gets us there.

 

[EWURanger]

“We’re obviously the only people that care about getting something started.”

“ If creating a more comprehensive alumni board isn’t an option, then what do WE do as a group?
Who has ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle, etc. area that can help get this started? ”

“ We need to get something going, and I’m not talking about an amateur GoFundMe account. We need a substantial plan, put together by the alumni, to get the ball rolling and hold our president accountable.”

I agree with you, however, we’ve been *waiting* on those things to materialize for years now. When Eastern Washington won the National Championship in 2010, especially over a CAA team AND with the Vice President in attendance, I thought FOR SURE Eastern does a stadium expansion/renovation now! Those high school bleachers are gone! It never materialized.

In my humble opinion, It’s starting to look as if the *only* option we have is “an amateur GoFundMe account.” It’s been 9 years since I’ve joined CS.com and I believe that crowd funding is the way to atleast upgrade the Eastside stands. The entire stadium being re-done and the Gateway Projects can be done when EWU has secured “ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle areas.” Right now I think EWU needs a legitimate Division 1 FCS stadium, & a somewhat inexpensive upgrade to the Eastside stands gets us there.

Totally agree. I'm convinced it's going to take a considerable grass-roots effort to get anything done. This President and BoT are completely tone-deaf when it comes to Athletics.

 

[DFW EAGLE]

“We’re obviously the only people that care about getting something started.”

“ If creating a more comprehensive alumni board isn’t an option, then what do WE do as a group?
Who has ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle, etc. area that can help get this started? ”

“ We need to get something going, and I’m not talking about an amateur GoFundMe account. We need a substantial plan, put together by the alumni, to get the ball rolling and hold our president accountable.”

I agree with you, however, we’ve been *waiting* on those things to materialize for years now. When Eastern Washington won the National Championship in 2010, especially over a CAA team AND with the Vice President in attendance, I thought FOR SURE Eastern does a stadium expansion/renovation now! Those high school bleachers are gone! It never materialized.

In my humble opinion, It’s starting to look as if the *only* option we have is “an amateur GoFundMe account.” It’s been 9 years since I’ve joined CS.com and I believe that crowd funding is the way to atleast upgrade the Eastside stands. The entire stadium being re-done and the Gateway Projects can be done when EWU has secured “ties to large businesses in the Cheney/Spokane/Seattle areas.” Right now I think EWU needs a legitimate Division 1 FCS stadium, & a somewhat inexpensive upgrade to the Eastside stands gets us there.

Totally agree. I'm convinced it's going to take a considerable grass-roots effort to get anything done. This President and BoT are completely tone-deaf when it comes to Athletics.

It would be a *considerable* grass roots effort. What's the estimation on cost for bleachers that wouldn't look cheap/still look like a high school stadium? It's one thing to increase the capacity and make it look better on game day with more people in the stadium, but from an aesthetics standpoint, do we want a big pile of aluminum bleachers set up? We don't need the Gateway Project, but it would be great to have *something* in place that adds to the appeal of the stadium.

Looking at Kennesaw State's recently built stadium, it is in no way a large place. The end zone areas are nice though and could be what we're looking for on the east side. It cost $16.1m for them to construct the entire stadium, so for one section, what $3-5 million if we wanted to do something similar (run plumbing, etc.)? It's not impossible with a grass roots effort, but that's a lot of money to raise on our own. If you want aluminum bleachers set up, then the cost goes way down, but again, does that really make it a Div 1 stadium, or just put lipstick on a pig?

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

DFW Eagle,
We have quite a number of personnel that cares bout the Renovation. Like myself, I have been waiting so damn long, I have just given up hope. I remembered the present Suites I helped donated to get that built.
I remembered when Scott Barnes AD, and Kent Stanley cornered me we talked about it while it was being built, It took me about 5 years to get my donation completed. I am now 83 soon to be 84 in Sept, should hope to see something started by then. I am in as another helper, if we can get the Administration off their DUFFS. Happy New Year. Vic E. Wallace

 

[allweatherfan2]

Count me in with my pledge for any project that includes new eastside stands that at least somewhat fit in with the current west side and will add at least 5000 seats to the existing capacity.

 

[clawman1]

I personally like Mark Fews approach when they built the McCarthey center, fewer seats and create big demand. The Gateway had a lot more than seating, it included athletic offices, training rooms, lockers, shower. Do you remember incident when a drunk Eastern fan got into a scuffle with a visiting player near the exit of the stadium to the locker rooms. That crossover is problem both in the past and future.
Just the objective of a few more seats is VERY short sighted.

 

[ajneedhams]

Vic you are quite a fixture around EWU. Seen you chatting with the players many times. You are like a local legend. Perhaps they would listen to you. :king:

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

I have tried many times, it seems as if they don't care. I will continue to support the Eagles. It seems as if every year we graduate students, I feel like I am losing sons and daughters. I get very close to the Students. After I retired from the Air Force in Feb 1974, I started with University Police in Oct 74, retired on Aug 31st, 1995. Lost my beautiful Spouse in Aug 99. became a backer of EWU so I could get out of the house. Stop by and introduce yourself when you see me again, Vic

 

[air045]

What about a full-page ad in a Sunday SR paper demanding a detailed plan of EWU bleacher improvements? Post it every Sunday until a detailed plan is announced. If it is done right it may force a response. Also, start a Website asking for folks to signup to pledge. etc. Everyone can donate to ad and website costs, which should be minimum. It would put the administration on blast and hopefully start a dialogue. That's a start to a great grass route effort.

 

[scottywashere11]

What about a full-page ad in a Sunday SR paper demanding a detailed plan of EWU bleacher improvements? Post it every Sunday until a detailed plan is announced. If it is done right it may force a response. Also, start a Website asking for folks to signup to pledge. etc. Everyone can donate to ad and website costs, which should be minimum. It would put the administration on blast and hopefully start a dialogue. That's a start to a great grass route effort.

I like this... That's the type of thinking we need. I would donate to such an advertisement.