(12-15-2011 11:12 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  what is the deal with aluminum in florida?

They are common in florida because of their durability through all the hurricanes floridians experience.

(12-15-2011 10:23 PM)Dwayne From Minden Wrote:  As of this time there is over $9MM collected around a total of $12MM pledged...

It has taken 18 months to raise that amount -

And all of the heavy hitters have not been tapped and the "grass roots" level of fundraising has not begun, that will happen once the construction plans are finalized for bid -

The endzone facility should be in the $16MM range based on preliminary estimates, the additional $4MM or so is supposedly slated for pressbox renovations and more renovations for the TAC

If they have to go to the students to bond the remaining $$$ (worst case scenario would be around $5MM) - it will pass, the students HAVE NEVER voted down an athletic fee -

And we all know that if James Davison wishes he can write the check tomorrow and it will get done -

Also Sam Wyly and his brother's estate have still not come to the decision of what their contribution will be yet

---------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your civilized response. I am told the funds ACTUALLY collected was around $5mil but more could have slipped in, its puzzling why a project like this which means so much to the school and depending upon public support is not more open with everyone being officially kept up to date. I am amazed that they quote Spring or Summer as start date. They dont have the architect plans which would then need to be placed out for bid and construction contract cant be signed until the money is in hand. Yes, there are some heavy weights who could write the check but so far they havent. It would take at least a year to get a student proposal like this on the ballot so from an outsider view point the start date is too optomistic

Just sayin'....

Take a tour for yourself:

http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=204777763

BTW, it is my understanding that initial funding approval has already been run by the BOR for increasing FB stadium seating capacity over 40,000 (architectural designs were done with 1st renovation), indoor practice facility, new grandstand upgrades to baseball stadium and additional seats/Topper Club suite in upper end zone of arena. This would mostly likely coincide with a move "up" in conference affiliation.

(12-16-2011 08:58 AM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(12-15-2011 10:23 PM)Dwayne From Minden Wrote:  As of this time there is over $9MM collected around a total of $12MM pledged...

It has taken 18 months to raise that amount -

And all of the heavy hitters have not been tapped and the "grass roots" level of fundraising has not begun, that will happen once the construction plans are finalized for bid -

The endzone facility should be in the $16MM range based on preliminary estimates, the additional $4MM or so is supposedly slated for pressbox renovations and more renovations for the TAC

If they have to go to the students to bond the remaining $$$ (worst case scenario would be around $5MM) - it will pass, the students HAVE NEVER voted down an athletic fee -

And we all know that if James Davison wishes he can write the check tomorrow and it will get done -

Also Sam Wyly and his brother's estate have still not come to the decision of what their contribution will be yet

---------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your civilized response. I am told the funds ACTUALLY collected was around $5mil but more could have slipped in, its puzzling why a project like this which means so much to the school and depending upon public support is not more open with everyone being officially kept up to date. I am amazed that they quote Spring or Summer as start date. They dont have the architect plans which would then need to be placed out for bid and construction contract cant be signed until the money is in hand. Yes, there are some heavy weights who could write the check but so far they havent. It would take at least a year to get a student proposal like this on the ballot so from an outsider view point the start date is too optomistic

It's really not that long of a time frame - it might could of been shortened by 3 to 6 months but that's about it -

I'm doing a $2.7MM library expansion here in the parish and its taking almost exactly a 2 year period from feasibility study, initial drawings, bond commission approval, tax renewal, construction drawings to actual construction...

I don't think this phase will go before the students and they are hoping they don't have to do grass roots - my guess is that phase II and III is what they want to save those two areas for...

While I have many faults with Dan Reneau, over extending TECH financially is something he cannot be accused of - he is consistent with using private monies for this

(12-16-2011 08:58 AM)eager eagle Wrote:  I am told the funds ACTUALLY collected was around $5mil but more could have slipped in

I quoted the exact same numbers Dwayne quoted over a month ago in response to one of your hatchet acts...didn't fit your agenda, so you ignored it.

(12-16-2011 10:06 AM)johnnylightnin Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 08:58 AM)eager eagle Wrote:  I am told the funds ACTUALLY collected was around $5mil but more could have slipped in

I quoted the exact same numbers Dwayne quoted over a month ago in response to one of your hatchet acts...didn't fit your agenda, so you ignored it.

He will ignore Dwayne's numbers in a couple of months as well.

The endzone facility should be in the $16MM range based on preliminary estimates, the additional $4MM or so is supposedly slated for pressbox renovations and more renovations for the TAC

If they have to go to the students to bond the remaining $$$ (worst case scenario would be around $5MM) - it will pass, the students HAVE NEVER voted down an athletic fee -

And we all know that if James Davison wishes he can write the check tomorrow and it will get done -

Also Sam Wyly and his brother's estate have still not come to the decision of what their contribution will be yet


[/quote]---------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your civilized response. I am told the funds ACTUALLY collected was around $5mil but more could have slipped in, its puzzling why a project like this which means so much to the school and depending upon public support is not more open with everyone being officially kept up to date. I am amazed that they quote Spring or Summer as start date. They dont have the architect plans which would then need to be placed out for bid and construction contract cant be signed until the money is in hand. Yes, there are some heavy weights who could write the check but so far they havent. It would take at least a year to get a student proposal like this on the ballot so from an outsider view point the start date is too optomistic


[/quote]

It's really not that long of a time frame - it might could of been shortened by 3 to 6 months but that's about it -

I'm doing a $2.7MM library expansion here in the parish and its taking almost exactly a 2 year period from feasibility study, initial drawings, bond commission approval, tax renewal, construction drawings to actual construction...

I don't think this phase will go before the students and they are hoping they don't have to do grass roots - my guess is that phase II and III is what they want to save those two areas for...

While I have many faults with Dan Reneau, over extending TECH financially is something he cannot be accused of - he is consistent with using private monies for this


[/quote]-----------------------------------------------------

This phase II and phase III is what I have heard about for several months. The first phase is athletic related and you will have collected enough for that but the other phases will be unrelated to athletics and can b e funded by the state if money is available.

actually phase II and phase III is tied to athletics also - but also includes "university life" (I can't think of a better term for it) infrastructure upgrades...

Basically total integration from the TAC to JAS to PPP to Tech Pointe all the way to downtown Ruston to tie in with the Town of Ruston's revitalization of the downtown dining/entertainment district -

Tech is in the process of aquiring all properties along that corridor -

It is a massive and ambitious project - basically a game changer for the university in all fields (DR's legacy imprint...)

(12-16-2011 12:19 AM)Nick305 Wrote:  

(12-15-2011 11:12 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  what is the deal with aluminum in florida?

They are common in florida because of their durability through all the hurricanes floridians experience.

+1

Quick and easy to build, once you cover the supprot structure (FAU has done this with screens showing picutures of players and historic moments in the program) it doesnt look like an erector set.

Plus it gets loud as hell when everyone is stomping thier feet. We had over 29K at the opener (Butts in seats) and that place was loud as hell when everyone stomped.

I never did get the hate for Steel/Aluminum stadiums. They work just as well as concrete ones.

(12-15-2011 12:17 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  ULL has a cool basketball arena

UL has a great basketball facility in the CajunDome which seats 12,000. Football stadium will be upgraded to seat 52,000 within 2 years. We are the only school with an Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). Baseball is being upgraded next year and already seats 7,000 and was voted one of the Top 20 college stadium atmospheres in the country. We just built a new softball stadium for our perennially Top 20 softball team. We are upgrading baseball and track & field next year and football following that. No one has or will have better facilities. Any new stadiums built were only with 30,000 seats, so there is NO further expansion in the immediate future. Attendance is woeful for those new stadiums. And, UNT does not even have baseball.

More importantly, ask about attendance in each sport. UL averaged almost 7,000 last year in basketball, over 29,000 in football and 6,000 in baseball. And, we put 43,000 in the New Orleans Bowl.

Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
Louisiana-Lafayette

(12-19-2011 02:53 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
Louisiana-Lafayette

WKU? WKU has an 18,000 seat football stadium and a very nice basketball arena. FAU just built a 30,000 seat metal stadium. Neither is expanding because attendance averages under 15,000. Louisiana has a 31,000 seat stadium with bowled endzones that has sat 43,000 for its largest attendance. Average attendance this year was over 29,000. The stadium will undergo a renovation in 2 years to seat 52,000. Our CajunDome basketball facility seats 12,000. Baseball seats 7,000 and is being renovated in 2012. It is already one of the Top 20 baseball atmospheres in the country and will only be better. And, we like to refer to ourselves as LOUISIANA, not Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks for your consideration is doing so.

(12-19-2011 02:12 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(12-15-2011 12:17 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  ULL has a cool basketball arena

UL has a great basketball facility in the CajunDome which seats 12,000. Football stadium will be upgraded to seat 52,000 within 2 years. We are the only school with an Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). Baseball is being upgraded next year and already seats 7,000 and was voted one of the Top 20 college stadium atmospheres in the country. We just built a new softball stadium for our perennially Top 20 softball team. We are upgrading baseball and track & field next year and football following that. No one has or will have better facilities. Any new stadiums built were only with 30,000 seats, so there is NO further expansion in the immediate future. Attendance is woeful for those new stadiums. And, UNT does not even have baseball.

More importantly, ask about attendance in each sport. UL averaged almost 7,000 last year in basketball, over 29,000 in football and 6,000 in baseball. And, we put 43,000 in the New Orleans Bowl.

I have a few questions:

I checked the NCAA website and it listed an average basketball attendance last year of 3,919 per game last year. How did you get 7,000 per game?

For football I again checked the NCAA website and the last 5 years Louisiana averaged 17,383 (2010), 18,666 (2009), 21,468 (2008), 16,651 (2007) and 14,516 (2006). A 29,000 average this year looks like an anomaly. Why the big jump this year? Is this the justification for the expansion to 52,000?

(12-19-2011 03:22 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  And, we like to refer to ourselves as LOUISIANA, not Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks for your consideration is doing so.

What about Louisiana-Monroe? And why not officially drop Lafayette from the name?

(12-19-2011 03:22 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  The stadium will undergo a renovation in 2 years to seat 52,000.

Why?

(12-19-2011 03:51 PM)ClassicTU Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 02:12 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(12-15-2011 12:17 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  ULL has a cool basketball arena

UL has a great basketball facility in the CajunDome which seats 12,000. Football stadium will be upgraded to seat 52,000 within 2 years. We are the only school with an Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). Baseball is being upgraded next year and already seats 7,000 and was voted one of the Top 20 college stadium atmospheres in the country. We just built a new softball stadium for our perennially Top 20 softball team. We are upgrading baseball and track & field next year and football following that. No one has or will have better facilities. Any new stadiums built were only with 30,000 seats, so there is NO further expansion in the immediate future. Attendance is woeful for those new stadiums. And, UNT does not even have baseball.

More importantly, ask about attendance in each sport. UL averaged almost 7,000 last year in basketball, over 29,000 in football and 6,000 in baseball. And, we put 43,000 in the New Orleans Bowl.

I have a few questions:

I checked the NCAA website and it listed an average basketball attendance last year of 3,919 per game last year. How did you get 7,000 per game?

For football I again checked the NCAA website and the last 5 years Louisiana averaged 17,383 (2010), 18,666 (2009), 21,468 (2008), 16,651 (2007) and 14,516 (2006). A 29,000 average this year looks like an anomaly. Why the big jump this year? Is this the justification for the expansion to 52,000?

That sounds about right for the 2010-2011 Basketball season. It was mainly during the latter part of the season when attendance spiked and 7,000 might have been the average for that time period.

Football wise...let me be clear here as this is a tricky situation across the nation. Let's take Tulane...reports 20k...1k butts in the seats. We don't pad numbers. We don't use faux-home games either. From 2006 to 2010 we had some big hits attendance wise but also had some flops. So our average attendance had potential it never showed what it can do when everything goes right. 2011 was the perfect storm. We had a young energetic coach that really got the fanbase going in the right direction(increased season ticket sales before game one), we had a dream season that saw UL go undefeated at home and compete for the Sun Belt Championship, and we had perfect weather for every single home game.

While this season looks like an anomaly, I fully expect to exceed that number next season...and the year after that. So on and so forth. For so long the administration at UL was one of Academics first, athletics second. That has since changed. The investment and dedication to athletics is going to be turning some heads in the next few years.

52,000 is a big number, I have heard as low as 40,000 with the ability if need be to expand to 52,000. So let's just throw that 52k number in the garbage. 40k is much more realistic. Hell, we put more than that already in Cajun Field as it is now. The stadium upgrade will be coming sooner than most think.

Let's put into account now a miraculous bowl win, a second season with energetic young coach further invigorating the fan base, and driving season ticket sales into territory once unheard of. 40k looks realistic, but if everything goes right 52k looks realistic also. Our recruiting areas are fertile, our local TV market has the ability to stretch into sizable markets, Lafayette itself is home to more Millionaires per capita than any other city in the US(we just have to figure out how to get them to spend it on us), and lastly we have our atmosphere. You will never find a better game atmosphere at a mid-major then you will find at UL. Hell, some BCS schools can't bring it like we do. If you doubt that, try it for yourself or ask someone who has.

While UL doesn't hold the monstrous TV markets like UNT, FAU, & FIU do, but what we lack in TV markets we make up for in game day atmosphere and attendance. Ask the Oklahoma State fans how much fun they had last year. Same with Kansas State fans from 2009. But don't ask Texas A&M...they don't want to remember that night.

(12-19-2011 04:09 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 03:22 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  And, we like to refer to ourselves as LOUISIANA, not Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks for your consideration is doing so.

What about Louisiana-Monroe? And why not officially drop Lafayette from the name?

They legally cannot do that. Tulane is actually the University of Louisiana (Tulane is the only university that went Public to private) and legally own the name which is why in official documents and broadcasts they don't call them Louisiana. Tulane would have to give it up in order for some other school to use it.

(12-19-2011 04:57 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 04:09 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 03:22 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  And, we like to refer to ourselves as LOUISIANA, not Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks for your consideration is doing so.

What about Louisiana-Monroe? And why not officially drop Lafayette from the name?

They legally cannot do that. Tulane is actually the University of Louisiana (Tulane is the only university that went Public to private) and legally own the name which is why in official documents and broadcasts they don't call them Louisiana. Tulane would have to give it up in order for some other school to use it.

This is 100% untrue. In 1984 the name was legally changed to The University of Louisiana from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. This didn't sit well with others in the state so they basically sent in their goons to take care of it. Result of the court case was summed up as there is nothing in the law that says they can't but their is nothing in the law that says they can. We never challenged it and in the late 90's the whole name thing came up again but it was with the "LSU Rule" caveat. Which is no one university can hold the name of University of Louisiana, they must have the @ and regional city names. Also, it was decreed that more than one university had to change names at one time...ULM was their fall guy...they were more than happy to help twist the knife. So putting Tulane's name is 100% false. That's why we want it...it was rightfully ours to begin with. So please...if you want to be kind...drop the L and the Lafayette.

(12-19-2011 05:21 PM)cajunhawk Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 04:57 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 04:09 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2011 03:22 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  And, we like to refer to ourselves as LOUISIANA, not Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks for your consideration is doing so.

What about Louisiana-Monroe? And why not officially drop Lafayette from the name?

They legally cannot do that. Tulane is actually the University of Louisiana (Tulane is the only university that went Public to private) and legally own the name which is why in official documents and broadcasts they don't call them Louisiana. Tulane would have to give it up in order for some other school to use it.

This is 100% untrue. In 1984 the name was legally changed to The University of Louisiana from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. This didn't sit well with others in the state so they basically sent in their goons to take care of it. Result of the court case was summed up as there is nothing in the law that says they can't but their is nothing in the law that says they can. We never challenged it and in the late 90's the whole name thing came up again but it was with the "LSU Rule" caveat. Which is no one university can hold the name of University of Louisiana, they must have the @ and regional city names. Also, it was decreed that more than one university had to change names at one time...ULM was their fall guy...they were more than happy to help twist the knife. So putting Tulane's name is 100% false. That's why we want it...it was rightfully ours to begin with. So please...if you want to be kind...drop the L and the Lafayette.

Sorry spin it how you want you are not the University of Louisiana. It is false. You had that name for less than a month you cannot claim it. Tulane had that name and you have no legal claim to it so stop trying.

Do note that I am NOT saying whether you should be allowed to be Louisiana. I don't care either way. I am only saying that legally you are not and that is why you don't see it on anything official. Currently it is a system and an old reference to Tulane. Legally you lost the case so officially that is where you are. If you do go to court and win then you can be Louisiana and that is fine with me.

The only reason the name is not ours is because of in state back biting and jealousy. We won't do it through the courts this time buddy, were just gonna win and it will take care of itself. Have fun holding to that Tulane argument...