The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Over on the MAC board I keep seeing some great potential and planned improvements to stadiums at Miami, Ball St, BG, NIU, etc. Dix is really starting to look pretty poor in comparison. The Field Turf is great and the new stands are an improvement, but overall the faciliity lacks character.

What improvements would you like to see or should happen to make Dix a first class facility?


Mine:
1. New bathrooms with HOT water, more than 2 towel dispensers and to be family friendly, how about some diaper changing stations.

2. Improved consessions and concourse arrangement.

3. Video replay scoreboard

4. Structurally, maybe tear down the end zone bleachers, lower them and round out the stadium to open to the North end, Make it more of a bowl?

Great ideas ... lowering the endzones and closing it in would allow more of the surrounding landscape, which can look great in the fall, to be seen from inside the stadium.

If the funds are eventually there, it would be best to build stands on the visitors side just like the home side (similar to BG). It would create much more room for lockers, meeting rooms, coaches offices, training rooms, and open up space for the other sports that use the stadium facilities. At the same time they could renovate the end zones and the concourse. Obviously this would be a major renovation which we can only expect if we win. But think of the recruiting tool it would be, on top of the other great facilites we have.

I think a plaza or concourse as FIDO and Flash suggest would go a long way in aesthetics.

The field house isn't bad, but if there could be some structure connected to it, maybe under new stands, it would be great.

The wackier ideas follow... but they address the biggest problem...we need something to connect Dix to the rest of the campus. Now that the REC center and other stuff are moving closer, the stadium is not as far out as it used to be. What about tailgating/picnic/park areas on the Dix side of the Rt. 59 by pass? Anything that makes it look like there is a connection to something. With some landscaping, pavilions, recreation, it could make Dix a more welcoming place.

What about a bike/walkway from Dix the campus? (We actually discussed this in B.I.S.) It's like the new bike/walkway being installed to connect front campus with the Student Center areas and dorms...something planned and attractive. Dix is not as far from the Townhomes and dorms as it used to be.

All this takes private funds, but I'm optimistic. If we post two winning seasons in a row, money will come pouring in.

After driving and walking around KSU this afternoon, I thought that Dix Stadium is not the only thing that needs improvements. I realize the university recently renovated Kent Hall and has built outstanding dorms in Centennial Court but overall I thought the campus looked rather bad. Since it hasn't rained in Kent for a long time, the grass is brown which makes everything look so drab. Obviously the school can't do much about the lack of rain but it can make the grounds look much better than it has the last several years.

There always seems to be some construction going on around the Student Center but it never seems to be completed. Does anyone know what the construction is for next to Bowman Hall?

South Lincoln St. and E. Summit St. desperately need repaving. Everytime when I go back to Kent I think that these streets will be paved the next time I see them the following year but they never are. I realize the budget crunch makes it difficult to come up with enough funding to repair or renovate many of the structures that need attention but the overall appearance of the school is important to student recruitment.

As far as Dix Stadium is concerned, I think many of the suggested ideas are good. If anything, just some new paint can help improve the appearance of parts of the stadium.

I realize the elements of Northeastern Ohio winters can take its toll on the roads, sidewalks, pavement and structures in and around KSU. However, since Kent is the second largest university in Ohio, you would think it could get enough funding from tuition and the state to make the necessary improvements when needed.

I realize Kent will never look as nice as Ohio University or Miami University but it should look much better than it has the last several years. Am I the only one who thinks this way?

I agree with these ideas. Here are a couple of things they could do based on issues I have noticed...

A couple of seasonas ago they ran out of Coke products before halftime! I don't even think that happens at the high school level. So, I definitely agree with more concessions. It is also a little embarassing when visiting fans talk about how bad your concessions/restrooms are.

Also, someone needs to go to a hardware store and buy some black paint!! The rows and seat numbers are barely marked. At each first home game of the season I hope this will have changed, but it never does. I have season tickets, so I know where to go, however, most others don't.

I know this one probably won't happen soon, but I really like the video board/bigger scoreboard with more stats, etc. idea.

It's interesting, nashville, because I typically think the campus looks so much better when I go back. The lanscaping in the Plaze softens it a bit, the new esplanade connecting front campus and the student center helps alot, and it's the the new Honors college building going up next to Bowman. ( It is a combination of classroom and small group living space.) The schoolis on a multi year plan to upgrade the Student Center. The current acitivty is to build a rear entrance. Don't know if you got over the Eastway, but it's been gutted and rebuilt.

There are renovations not obvious on a walk. All the dorms are on a plan for renovation, all new bathrooms, room re-configurations and amenties like high speed lines, etc.

The school submits a five year capital campaign...it was last submitted in 2004. Don't know if it includes paving. State funding has fallen way, wat off in the last few years ( according to Senator DeWine, Ohio ranks second to last in the MidWest
( Illinois, Michigna, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia) is appropriations to state universities. Tuition is now capped, so with the increase in enrollment over the past few years we've gottne more traffice but a fall off in per capita dollars.

I believe the construction going on right next to Bowman Hall is to be a NEW residency Hall for
HONOURS students.

I guess there should be some kind of reward for doing well

I think some minor improvments like renovating the bathrooms and a new paint job would help a lot. A Miami style plaza and video board are on my wish list. I also think they really need to add an access road to SR 261 to the west side lot to alleviate traffic on Summit which can be horible even with a half way decent crowd, and make summit 4 lanes around Dix. Making Summit more pedestrian friendly is a big needs. When I had a Stadium pass I used to take the Summit East bus to get my car. There's no side walk and the intersection w/ 261 is dangerous for pedestrians.

The construction around Bowman is the new Stopher and Johnson resident halls. They're also taking out Jannick Dr and conecting it to a new walkway that conects South and Front Campus. The master plan is to make a walkway going all the way downtown, but it faces opposition from slum lords who fear they'd lose some houses.

Well, everyone's right about the consturction next to Bowman. The Honors College gets a state of the art building with new dorms attached. The Honors students have their own living/learning center, complete with high tech classrooms, small conference/project rooms, and rooms in the new Stopher/Johnson. It will be a nice, short walk on a cold January morning!

Quote: They're also taking out Jannick Dr and conecting it to a new walkway that conects South and Front Campus. The master plan is to make a walkway going all the way downtown, but it faces opposition from slum lords who fear they'd lose some houses.

The walkway is planned to go right past the new hotel and conference center complex planned for the corner of Lincoln and Summit, if it can survive the fight. Geez, as any out of towner knows, Kent needs a decent hotel. The University is finally stepping up to build a conference center which will attract a franchise hotel. All planned to open by 2010, KSU's 100th birthday!

FlashFan Wrote:The University is finally stepping up to build a conference center which will attract a franchise hotel.

I know Kent has been talking about building a new hotel for years. Let us hope that it finally gets built. I have always thought that Kent has never fully realized its potential. With all the new construction and renovation, Kent's future looks better to me now.

If it would only rain. :(

I agree, nashville. Interestingly, everyone I speak with agrees, but we mostly come from out of town. Have to think parents of out of town students would be in this camp as well.

There are two obstacles: One, many Kent residents are vehemently against it, mostly those who have rental housing arouns Summit and Lincoln. Two, apparently we can't get a franchise hotel ( e.g. Hilton, Marriott) to come in unless we build a conference center. This is also not a bad idea and could generate some revenue.
(Think of what the business school could offer with the trading floor and accounting groups, showcase JMC with media training, education and nursing, ect, ect.ect. ). We have to raise the money for the conference center, and there is a plan to try to do that.

Quote:I know Kent has been talking about building a new hotel for years. Let us hope that it finally gets built.

I don't think that is going to happen, if you have been around S. Willow/College St they all have signs saying "Not for sale at any price" I guess that is the area they wanted to build the Convocation Center/Hotel/Parking garage. I like the idea, haven lived on S. Willow previously, and they should all be condemned. But I am pretty sure it fell through, because of the huge city opposition.

Note: I skipped the previous reply, sorry about the double information

News on some paving included in this link, nashville, but we have to wait to 2007.



<a href='http://www.recordpub.com/article.php?pathToFile=/articles/news/&file=_news3.txt&article=1&tD=' target='_blank'>http://www.recordpub.com/article.php?pathT...t&article=1&tD=</a>

FlashFan, it’s nice to know that some of the streets around KSU will eventually be paved. But as bad as they are now, it is too bad we have to wait until 2007. While I was in Kent the other day, however I did notice that Main Street had been recently paved.

I agree that one cannot recognize all the renovation that is currently being done on campus simply by driving around the school. However, for visitors who are just passing through or for prospective students who are visiting the school for the first time, appearance is important in developing first impressions.

For example, when I first visited Miami University, I couldn’t help not be impressed with the beauty of the campus and the shops located nearby. When I visit Ohio University, I stay at the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center which is located next to the university. Although the inn is not operated by a major hotel like Hilton or Marriott, I believe it is very attractive and greatly complements the university.

After visiting the Cleveland Botanical Gardens yesterday, I walked around Case Western Reserve. I have always liked the university’s banners that are displayed throughout the campus and wish that Kent would have banners similar to Case’s. The banners at CWRU simply have the name, Case and the respective school that is located in the area (i.e.,

Case
School of Law

The banners at Kent have the word, IMAGINE coupled with a photo of a student. Although I like the banners because they promote diversity by representing students from diverse cultures, I think the ones at CWRU look much more impressive. In the future, I would like to see banners that just have the name, KENT and the respective school such as School of Nursing.

Many of the ideas suggested for Dix Stadium are good and would improve the appearance of the facility.

Although Kent State has much to offer, I believe its image could be enhanced by the addition of a new hotel and conference center.

What other suggestions do you have to improve KSU?

By the way, does anyone know if the fountain in front of the library still operates? It has been awhile since I have seen it run but I get back to Kent only once in a while. I use to enjoy watching the fountain when it was running and thought it added a lot to the plazza.

I think that the fountain operates about 2 weeks of the year. While I was partially joking, I believe that is close to the real number..

I think the RC is reading, nashville, because they just published another feature on the upgrades at KSU. The column describes the new Honors project, the new entrance, the dorm renovations, the Student Center and the esplanade.

<a href='http://www.recordpub.com/article.php?pathToFile=/articles/news/&file=_news3.txt&article=1' target='_blank'>http://www.recordpub.com/article.php?pathT...3.txt&article=1</a>

Part of the Homecoming Plans include campus tours (I bet we even have the fountain going :D ). At any rate, if you ever have the chance to take a tour with the University architect, it is very informative. He describes the current projects and future plans. They have some interesting ideas.

Good idea on the banners. The "Imagine" banners supported a larger TV ad campaign for KSU...don't know how long they are planned. I'll be back in Kent in another month, and will inquire about paving plans.

BTW, the last conversation I had on this was in May, but at that time, The University had plans to raise it's share of the money for the Conference Center. I suppose it could have changed since then, but haven't heard differently. It is a fight with some members of City Council, but others have been quite openly supportive. We'll know soon, as the hotel/conference center is planned to celebrate the Centennial, they have to come to a resolution soon.

As far as the rental home owners in the Summit/Main/Lincoln area, I say that their properties may fall down if they are not turn down. If they are that attached to those investments, fix them up. For the most part, the rental homes are eye sores.

FlashFan, to see a photo of one of the banners at Case, click on the following link and then click on the View Full Size link:
<a href='http://community.webshots.com/photo/348789347EQVNDI' target='_blank'>http://community.webshots.com/photo/348789347EQVNDI</a>

As you can see, this one just has Case in large letters and Case Western Reserve in small letters along with the logo of CWRU.

Kent could have a similar banner with KENT in large letters and Kent State University in small letters. It could also have Kent's logo.

As mentioned before, banners located near a particular school could also have the name of the school in small letters (i.e., School of Business)

Case has these banners placed throughout its campus and I have always thought they looked classy.

What do you think?

I think they look good and would be a nice addition to Kent State, once the IMAGINE campaign runs its course.

While in Kent last week, I also noticed that no new businesses have been developed downtown. I had hoped that some new businesses would have gone in to some of the ones that closed last year. As a result of all the closings over the years, downtown Kent has deteriorated so much it is depressing. An excerpt from the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter discusses the closing of businesses downtown and how they affect funding for repaving.
With the closing of other businesses outside of the downtown area (i.e., Ground Round), I can only encourage Kent students and visiting alumni to patronize area businesses. A good town and gown relationship is important for maintaining the vitality for the city of Kent and KSU.

From April 2005 Kent Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter

Last year, two long-time businesses and traffic generators in downtown, Thompson’s Drug Store and Ohio Edison, closed theirs doors. These two closings emphasized the continuing downward trend in the life and vibrancy of Kent’s historic downtown.

Since the Seventies, Kent’s downtown business structure and tax base have eroded: the big fire in downtown Kent in 1972, the ending of the railroad era, the Post Office relocation the relocation of Davey Tree out of the Central Business District, the use of ATMs limiting the need to actually visit a bank, the advent of shopping malls and “big box