The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams

(11-02-2017 01:21 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams

Maybe the hockey team that we absolutely can't afford can play in the domed stadium that we absolutely can't afford and in the meantime we can not do anything at all while dreaming these dreams and end up 15 years down the road right where we are now

There's a lot of hockey teams nearby now to make scheduling fairly easy if there was a conference/league that all were in together. If you've not been to one of our games, we have basically packed the PIR w/ 1000+ each time so revenue would be pretty good for walkups or season tickets to offset costs. If there's any downside, it's variety due to we play the same teams 4 games during a 16-20 game season instead of just 2 games like basketball.

(11-02-2017 05:15 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  There's a lot of hockey teams nearby now to make scheduling fairly easy if there was a conference/league that all were in together. If you've not been to one of our games, we have basically packed the PIR w/ 1000+ each time so revenue would be pretty good for walkups or season tickets to offset costs. If there's any downside, it's variety due to we play the same teams 4 games during a 16-20 game season instead of just 2 games like basketball.

I've been to several UAB club hockey games. Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU, and Georgia Tech aren't all going to go Division I anytime soon, so the travel costs are still there. Tens of thousands of ticket sales for football isn't paying the costs of that program, a thousand ticket sales for hockey isn't going to pay for that one either

True but the 1000+ at $X per does offset some costs if we became scholarship hockey to some extent not fully fund but better than most other non/little revenue sports we have. Not saying it'd happen anytime soon especially w/current BOT still favoring UAT over the others & the rules which we live under. I'm waiting for my Powerball # to come in so I'll fund it then but I'm not holding my breath either waiting for that day.

In post #2 in this thread, I made a list of several sports UAB might consider adding over time. Ice hockey is just one on that list, and the only one needing a facility not useful to other sports. EX: Most schools that have Lacrosse play it on their existing football or soccer fields. I put "others" on the list because I don't know what additional sports ACC, AAC, etc schools might have.

I want UAB to be able to project itself as a truly national university academically AND athletically. BTW, Did you know that Auburn has won four National Championships in Equestrian? Olympic sports have always been the step child of southern athletics, but UAB could -- might -- break that mold while charting a course based upon hearing a different drummer. I'm sure Dr Volker (who handed my MA to me in 1972) would find such an approach to his liking.

(11-01-2017 01:10 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 01:01 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 09:31 AM)THE_LEGEND Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 08:30 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 07:42 AM)THE_LEGEND Wrote:  Item 1 is a revision to accommodate the USL team with a decently larger facility than the original drawings showed.

Then they will move to the BJCC Stadium by 2021?

Ask the Mayor. (205) 254-2277

Lol it was reported on the news last night. Construction could begin next year (summer time).

When USL was announced the group said playing downtown(in the new stadium?) was preferred. But, one of the sticking points was the turf. The USL prefers real grass...

Ed Enoch‏ @EdEnoch
...The committtee is now considering increasing the budget of the UAB soccer facility project by $2.8M to $7.3M to increase seating capacity.

...The seating capacity would increase by approx. 2k to 5k to accommodate plans to share facility with Birmingham Futball Club.

...Allen Bolton said the UAB is still in talks with the club about a lease agreement, which would come to the board at a later meeting.

...The lease would pay for the expanded project scope $2.8M increase, Bolton said.

$30 million for UA dorm improvements & they are working on parking decks, etc. for UA. Nothing specifically mentioned at this meeting but it is on their master plan.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20171...=hootsuite

The BOT approved the two UAB athletics items. BBVA Compass Field is getting a $7.8M expansion to increase seating capacity to 5k by adding grandstands on the opposite side of the field from the current bleachers. Planning to add restrooms, concessions, and a new scoreboard too.

Allen Bolton said UAB is finalizing a lease agreement with Birmingham's new USL team to play their home games there. The USL team would pick up $2.3M of the project cost.

Good news!

What happened to the plan for more permanent style stadium type seating rather than these collapsible bleachers?

(11-03-2017 11:47 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The BOT approved the two UAB athletics items. BBVA Compass Field is getting a $7.8M expansion to increase seating capacity to 5k by adding grandstands on the opposite side of the field from the current bleachers. Planning to add restrooms, concessions, and a new scoreboard too.

Allen Bolton said UAB is finalizing a lease agreement with Birmingham's new USL team to play their home games there. The USL team would pick up $2.3M of the project cost.

Good news!

Yes, but it also is a telling sign that UA still will not allow UAB to do anything in athletics just for the investment part of it. The money practically had to already be there.

(11-02-2017 11:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  In post #2 in this thread, I made a list of several sports UAB might consider adding over time. Ice hockey is just one on that list, and the only one needing a facility not useful to other sports. EX: Most schools that have Lacrosse play it on their existing football or soccer fields. I put "others" on the list because I don't know what additional sports ACC, AAC, etc schools might have.

I want UAB to be able to project itself as a truly national university academically AND athletically. BTW, Did you know that Auburn has won four National Championships in Equestrian? Olympic sports have always been the step child of southern athletics, but UAB could -- might -- break that mold while charting a course based upon hearing a different drummer. I'm sure Dr Volker (who handed my MA to me in 1972) would find such an approach to his liking.

So now we're adding equestrian to UAB? That makes sense in an urban setting. We're going to be doing very good to have any athletics at UAB in ten years given current government spending trends

(11-03-2017 04:57 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(11-02-2017 11:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  In post #2 in this thread, I made a list of several sports UAB might consider adding over time. Ice hockey is just one on that list, and the only one needing a facility not useful to other sports. EX: Most schools that have Lacrosse play it on their existing football or soccer fields. I put "others" on the list because I don't know what additional sports ACC, AAC, etc schools might have.

I want UAB to be able to project itself as a truly national university academically AND athletically. BTW, Did you know that Auburn has won four National Championships in Equestrian? Olympic sports have always been the step child of southern athletics, but UAB could -- might -- break that mold while charting a course based upon hearing a different drummer. I'm sure Dr Volker (who handed my MA to me in 1972) would find such an approach to his liking.

So now we're adding equestrian to UAB? That makes sense in an urban setting. We're going to be doing very good to have any athletics at UAB in ten years given current government spending trends

Every athletic department in every public state university in Alabama is essentially a private operation based upon private donations that fund only athletics. For AU, the Athletic budget is based upon about $115 million in annual donations and at Bama the Athletic budget receives about $150 million annually in donations. (figures from past articles in the B'ham NEWS)

We have just had an experience with the donations that made the resurrection of UAB football possible. None of these schools could operate their present Athletic Departments on what the schools get from the SETF which for 2018 is still about $500 million less than it had in 2007.

"Current government spending trends" will impact athletics only if the administration has to dip into Athletic Department funds for academic requirements. Since we have been told by posters here that about 80% of UAB sustenance is from grants and such, government policies cutting grants and such could have great impact on our school since the state can't fill any gaps.