The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(06-22-2017 09:56 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 08:47 AM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 08:17 AM)Monarch Blue Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 07:21 AM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  Why is this even being discussed ? The likely hood of us seeing a +30K stadium is 0%. We cant even fill up a 20K seat stadium with season ticket holders when we have close to 50k alum in the area. We are having to virtually give away tickets now. Students don't usually pick up their allotment either. We will be at 22k seats for a LONG time. Sorry but those are the facts. Unless there is a change in conference that brings in more recognizable programs on a regular basis it will be hard to fill a 22k seat stadium.

The administration went small on the stadium and that sent the message that the school really has no ambition to create a great program. Thinking small is a turnoff. The results of that decision speak for themselves both in ticket sales and recruiting.

To be fair they are actually simply going with what is possible. With the new state mandates on spending for athletics they have to be able to show the state legislature how they will pay for the stadium to get permission to build it. Remember they not only can't get any money for the stadium from student fees they still have to cut the student fees they are presently getting to comply with the Cox Law. With the financial resources they have available 55 million looks to be the maximum they have to spend at this time. Further, to get to that number they will need about 10 million in donations above and beyond all the donations they are using now. I am sure many of you are aware that the ODU folks are not happy about the Cox mandate but it is the law now and they have to comply. As I have said before if any on you can find someone (some entity) willing to donate significant millions more (remember we already have to raise 10 - so above that) ODU will be very happy to build more seats. If you can come up with the additional 90 million or so needed for Phase 2 I absolutely believe they will build it all. Money, money, money, that is the key in building the stadium and not the constraints of small minds. Remember that Pres. Broderick was/is a strong supporter of ODU football and although many on here complain about him, Wood Selig was brought in to use his experience at WKU in guiding our new program along.

I thought the football stadium was grandfathered in since it was planned before the Cox bill was passed and therefore exempt from its restrictions. I think the same is true for the JMU arena. Is that not the case?

No, sadly it is not the case. At one point Cox did suggest that he thought our stadium could be "Grandfathered" if it came down to it. Alas when the time came he reneged on that idea. Technically the explanation was that our exemption was not provided for in the Bill as it was passed by the State Legislature and that was that. Check with anyone on the admin side at ODU and they can give you the story. To be totally candid *(and this is just my opinion)* I really do think the Cox Bill was totally aimed at ODU and I hope the fleas of a million camels destroy his home.