Roos Field Renovation

[Rafter_Reese]

Blackfalkin- the Gateway Project is dead. There is discussion about expanding Roos Field and making substantial investments in athletic facilities. But the Gateway Project won't happen. Someone can correct me if they've heard differently.

Correct. It's dead. Not sure it had much life beyond some discussion and brochures. With the new PUB almost done, it wouldn't even be as needed on that grand of a scale anyway. Stick to an athletic facility for more than half the price and most people would be thrilled.

I’m hoping one day I’ll get to bring my family to an EWU home FB game and not be embarrassed by the current bleachers on the eastside.

GoEags!!

We all agree something needs to be done on the east side. I hope we don't settle for something that's just okay though. We can do something special over there. If we're going to do it....let's do it right the first time.

go eags!

Blackfalkin;
That is exactly the course we are on, nicer bleachers than are currently on the east side.

The Gateway Project is dead dude! Accept it. The Gateway Project never had a chance & that was with Beau Baldwin & Bill Chaves employed by EWU.

It’s time to move on, & if a feasible grandstand, with a max capacity of 5,000 seats (with no plumbing), isn’t what’s on the drawing board, this isn’t getting done!

Btw, how could one accept the existing north endzone structure, but not be in favor of an identical, larger structure on the eastside!? :tothehand:

Lastly, with 4,000 additional seats in Roos Field at an average ticket price of $22.50... That’s $90,000 in revenue PER HOME GAME! Game. Set. Match!

Just my opinion but I don't believe putting an extra 4,000 seats on the east side is going to inspire fair weather Eagle fans to make the drive out to Cheney or purchase season tickets. I mean....when I look across the field, I don't see the East side bleachers really ever filled up. I believe we need to give EWU alum something they can be proud of. It might look worse if we put 4,000 tin seats across the way and can't fill them up. Building something nice might get some of the uninvolved alum think twice about making the trip out on Saturdays. It doesn't need to be the Gateway Project....but it needs to look sweet.

go eags!

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Just my opinion but I don't believe putting an extra 4,000 seats is going to inspire fair weather fans to make the drive to Cheney.
I believe we need to give EWU alum something they can be proud of. It might look worse if we put 4,000 tin seats across the way and can't fill them up.
Building something nice might get some of the uninvolved alum to think twice about making the trip out on Saturdays. It doesn't need to be the Gateway Project....but it needs to look sweet.
go eags!

If Eastern offers a quality product on the field & has a beautiful stadium to enjoy the game, I believe attendance would be fine. Every game doesn’t need to sell out to justify a need for expansion.

The eastside expansion doesn’t have to be “tin seats” either, it could be comparable to these designs:

Single deck or double with no plumbing, and no press facilities. The construction cost we be roughly $1,000,000 . Would you all not be in favor of something like this?

 

[Rafter_Reese]

Just my opinion but I don't believe putting an extra 4,000 seats is going to inspire fair weather fans to make the drive to Cheney.
I believe we need to give EWU alum something they can be proud of. It might look worse if we put 4,000 tin seats across the way and can't fill them up.
Building something nice might get some of the uninvolved alum to think twice about making the trip out on Saturdays. It doesn't need to be the Gateway Project....but it needs to look sweet.
go eags!

If Eastern offers a quality product on the field & has a beautiful stadium to enjoy the game, I believe attendance would be fine. Every game doesn’t need to sell out to justify a need for expansion.

The eastside expansion doesn’t have to be “tin seats” either, it could be comparable to these designs:

Single deck or double with no plumbing, and no press facilities. The construction cost we be roughly $1,000,000 . Would you all not be in favor of something like this?

I am in favor of anything that will inspire our current and potential fan base.

go eags!

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

I have pictures of the fairgrounds bleachers but I don't know how to down load them on to here?
Help please.

 

[Obzerver]

right click on pic and click on copy image address...then on the reply box left click on the icon with the little box that looks like mts and sun in left hand corner...then when it shows up in reply box it will have two brackets...left click in the middle of brackets then right click paste...see if that works ron

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

https://content-na.drive.amazonaws.com/cdproxy/templink/Qo-R6P9aBQqx2oRxpWX6AF1nu5Nu3hNELcE3JBGHlMceJxFPc?viewBox=577%2C769

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

This is not new, it is at least 15 years old

 

[LDopaPDX]

This looks like it would be perfectly sufficient. Any idea how much it cost?

Edit... I see the total cost for the project was $8.7mm, but that was for a lot more than just the 5,000 seats. I wonder what amount was just the covered grandstand?

 

[MLEagle]

I think this a great example of something that could suit our needs. If all the seats are painted red with concessions and restrooms underneath, it would be great. Another upgrade that would be nice is concrete walkways to reduce the erector set feel. Seems like 5-6 million would go a long way.

Problem is the track facility, because if the track is moved then I don’t see how this is done for less than $12-15 million even on the cheap.

 

[Rafter_Reese]

I think this a great example of something that could suit our needs. If all the seats are painted red with concessions and restrooms underneath, it would be great. Another upgrade that would be nice is concrete walkways to reduce the erector set feel. Seems like 5-6 million would go a long way.

Problem is the track facility, because if the track is moved then I don’t see how this is done for less than $12-15 million even on the cheap.

I would support a look like that if, AND ONLY IF, the track was moved to another location and the stands were brought much closer to the field. It needs to be an intimate, rowdy, environment. When it looks and feels like a stadium devoted to football....then, I believe things will explode. From recruits, to season ticket holders.....there will be a long lasting impact.

go eags!

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

I think this a great example of something that could suit our needs. If all the seats are painted red with concessions and restrooms underneath, it would be great. Another upgrade that would be nice is concrete walkways to reduce the erector set feel. Seems like 5-6 million would go a long way.

Problem is the track facility, because if the track is moved then I don’t see how this is done for less than $12-15 million even on the cheap.

I would support a look like that if, AND ONLY IF, the track was moved to another location and the stands were brought much closer to the field. It needs to be an intimate, rowdy, environment. When it looks and feels like a stadium devoted to football....then, I believe things will explode. From recruits, to season ticket holders.....there will be a long lasting impact.

go eags!

You guys may be onto something. Since Eastern doesn’t have an eastside grandstand, it does make *sense to build the grandstand & remove the track in the same project. Maybe $15-$18 million is the right number. That’d put Eastern’s facility on par or close to UM & MSU’s. I could definitely see an “explosion” under those circumstances!

 

[Obzerver]

Speaking of removing the track..has there been any study on removing the track and putting a new facility in? Seems like a project like that in itself is a huge (and costly) endeavor. Depending on quality of project for a collegiate facility with seating/parking ect.....I don't see it happening as much as I'd love it!

 

[60s Savage]

$15 - $18 mil sounds great, we'd also need additional parking facilities, visitor press box, additional ticket gates, lights, speakers for another ? mil. This scope of improvements would be great and suffice for many more Eagle years. Relocating the track sounds good. Really, the players, coaches other staff and fans have earned an expanded Eagle Stadium for the future.

 

[HeavyIsTheCrown]

Looks like the new AD has finally mentioned specifics (kinda) when it comes to the expansion/renovation of Roos Field. Sounds like she's thinking more "modest" by the sounds of "new-look" & "unrealistic". But I'm cool with that. What do you guys think? Do you think this is the start of something great, or just more talk about nothing?

After the failure of the Gateway Project to improve the football stadium, a plan proposed in 2012, Hickey said the school is taking the early steps to work toward proposing a new-look Roos Field.
“We want a good, sound, set design before we make it public,” Hickey said.
When asked what improvements she wants to see with the current field, she said: “Fan amenities, adequate seating, restrooms and concessions, while also giving the student body a good experience.
"We want seats for revenue purposes. You want to add seats, but you don’t want to get unrealistic. The (football team) plays in there five times a year, hopefully we can get that up to six times a year.”

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/aug/10/lynn-hickey-working-to-both-chip-away-eastern-wash/

 

[EWURanger]

Nice. I’m good with 5,000 more seats and some additional ammenities. I’d gladly donate to that end.

 

[EdubU10]

I'll be happy with anything at this point. Anything to transform Roos from what it is to a respectable stadium that we alumni and fans can be proud of. Even something modest like what UC Davis has would be a big improvement.

 

[Obzerver]

I really think Hickey gets it and wish she would have been around in 2010 and taken advantage of the momentum. But she knows what we need and I believe a realistic view how to get something positive done. Think it will be slow but sure starting with what she said...seating,restrooms and concessions which most of us have been clambering for years about realistically (not an unreachable Gateway dream). Due to real financial restrictions and an entire athletic dept. wanting some pie here's what I dug up on 1st draft plans from an anonymous source not authorized to speak publicly.

* excuse my pessimism..I'm old