The East side concourses, concessions, restrooms, etc will be addressed as well as the west side. Don't just go by the renderings which showcase the west side.

Look at that slideshow with the plans, correct that the renderings only show a small part of what will be done.

There were no east side plans shown, but it doesn't mean they don't have any plans for that side also.

(12-18-2012 03:31 PM)Vewb1 Wrote:  Here is a nice photo gallery

http://www.gobearcats.com/view.gal?id=131630

Amidst all of my crazy optimism for the renovation, I have found two concerns, one major and one minor. They have to do with what I consider iconic views on campus and are part of the charm of Nippert.

The first, photo 6 from the above slideshow, concerns me a lot. It appears that there is consideration of having the walkways that connect to TUC also connect to Steger (I assume the "respond" means UC hasn't approved it, yet). That would have the walkway going over mainstreet and disrupt one of the, if not most, iconic views of the modern campus. It's the view up Mainstreet towards McMicken that all of our "Most Beautiful Campus" recognitions have used. To me, this is an unacceptable compromise.

The second might be more of a personal attachment. It probably has to happen and is part of the growing pains, but photos 5 and 7 seem to indicate that there will be a brick wall from roughly the 30 yardline to the endzone up against the backs of the lower seats. Again, I understand why it is there, I'm not stupid, but to me one of the iconic experiences is being able to walk around the stadium and have a sightline from any of the walkways. More specifically, there is something about walking under the pressbox during gametime and to class. It's what I remember most when cutting through Nippert.

It looks like there are walkways proposed. The one crossing from TUC to Steger would be convenient for students so they don't have to walk down to floor one to cross Mainstreet. Photos might be able to be shot from the walkway up Mainstreet to McMicken or down Mainstreet to Sigma Sigma creating a new vantage points. The walkways also might be architecturally interesting adding to the beauty of campus.

Student convenience and the expansion of Nippert trumps the loss of one photo vantage point to me.
Totally not a deal breaker if those walkways are created.

how exciting is all this?!?!?!? I can't believe it...finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One silver lining about being left at the alter in all of this conference crap - this has certainly forced us not to depend solely on TV money. In becoming a bit more self sufficient, that in itself, will allow us to be a more attractive realignment candidate.

(12-19-2012 05:19 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  One silver lining about being left at the alter in all of this conference crap - this has certainly forced us not to depend solely on TV money. In becoming a bit more self sufficient, that in itself, will allow us to be a more attractive realignment candidate.

Excellent point.

I am a positive thinker - UC is in good hands and we will end up playing top notch football and basketball in a top notch league. But I'm not seeing the silver lining. I think Whit wanted to at least get a commitment from another conference because of the guarantee of TV income, and then do this. Receiving a commitment of an additional 10-15 million in TV money per year would have allowed them to start this sooner without having to raise as much money. Then, he could have raised funds for the Shoe renovation. Instead, we have to milk the donors right now, wait for the invite from the ACC/Big 12 (which I think will come), and then use that money to upgrade the Shoe. I know everybody agrees they would rather already have the commitment from the ACC or Big 12 now. I think not getting that invite has hindered our progress. Whit wasn't going to wait for this - I get the impression he was going to announce these improvements at this time regardless of our conference affiliation, but we just have to raise the money for it now instead of paying with TV revenue.

Whit is doing this precisely because, at this point, UC can't count on being in a conference that will bail out the athletic department with a 15 million dollar check every year to stay solvent. Down the road that could happen. But it isn't now, and all indications are that it will be a while until that call comes, if it ever does. This project gives UC a chance to be on solid financial footing for the first time in decades. There is no scenario in which renovating the shoe can accomplish the same things

There are a lot of schools, such as Houston, that have not had the luxury of being in a BCS conference the last several years like UC has. Yet they are building an entire new stadium.

If you do not constantly improve your facilities, you risk being left out, as UC was on this last try.

(12-20-2012 09:37 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  I am a positive thinker - UC is in good hands and we will end up playing top notch football and basketball in a top notch league. But I'm not seeing the silver lining...

What I guess I'm saying is that this latest disappointment seems to have woken us up to the point that status quo ain't making it (a point Bearcatfan effectively summarized in a couple sentences).

(12-20-2012 10:19 AM)Mopper Wrote:  Whit is doing this precisely because, at this point, UC can't count on being in a conference that will bail out the athletic department with a 15 million dollar check every year to stay solvent. Down the road that could happen. But it isn't now, and all indications are that it will be a while until that call comes, if it ever does. This project gives UC a chance to be on solid financial footing for the first time in decades. There is no scenario in which renovating the shoe can accomplish the same things

I'm not sure about that. If this realignment soap opera has taught us anything, it is that it is constant. I will agree that everything is basically on hold until the Maryland case is settled.

I am starting to think the ACC might just hold firm on 14 for a while. It is obvious from some things that have leaked out the past few days ESPN is going to fill in the gap with the revenue seen in B12/B1G/SEC. I also think unlike the old Big East, the ACC teams are loyal to the conference, particularly the Carolina schools. Finally, I do think the ACC schools are going to sit and wait for ND to join in all sports. Since we know that is not going to ever happen we are going to have a long wait.

The B12 might be the only one who will be making a move. I think at some point they will start to get pressure to get to 12 to have a championship from both the networks and from the other Power 5 conferences. Those schools might even make it a requirement to get a playoff bid. They are not going to let the B12 get away with having that extra chance of losing a game.

(12-20-2012 10:23 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  There are a lot of schools, such as Houston, that have not had the luxury of being in a BCS conference the last several years like UC has. Yet they are building an entire new stadium.

If you do not constantly improve your facilities, you risk being left out, as UC was on this last try.

ESPN's top free agents to move up in realignment are
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-footb...e-football
1) BYU
2) Houston
3) Cincy
4) Boise
5) Temple

(12-20-2012 11:59 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  I am starting to think the ACC might just hold firm on 14 for a while. It is obvious from some things that have leaked out the past few days ESPN is going to fill in the gap with the revenue seen in B12/B1G/SEC.

Is the ACC starting a network, I hear? It could behoove them to add our TV market, if so. If they think UL alone is going to reach into the Ohio media markets, their collective heads are in the sand.

But, what do I know?

(12-20-2012 01:09 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(12-20-2012 11:59 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  I am starting to think the ACC might just hold firm on 14 for a while. It is obvious from some things that have leaked out the past few days ESPN is going to fill in the gap with the revenue seen in B12/B1G/SEC.

Is the ACC starting a network, I hear? It could behoove them to add our TV market, if so. If they think UL alone is going to reach into the Ohio media markets, their collective heads are in the sand.

But, what do I know?

The Cincinnati market.

Cincinnati is a top 25 college football market according to ESPN. Their free agent realignment article says
thetop free agents are
1) BYU
2) Houston
3) Cincy
4) Boise
5) Temple

(12-20-2012 11:59 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  I am starting to think the ACC might just hold firm on 14 for a while. It is obvious from some things that have leaked out the past few days ESPN is going to fill in the gap with the revenue seen in B12/B1G/SEC. I also think unlike the old Big East, the ACC teams are loyal to the conference, particularly the Carolina schools. Finally, I do think the ACC schools are going to sit and wait for ND to join in all sports. Since we know that is not going to ever happen we are going to have a long wait.

The B12 might be the only one who will be making a move. I think at some point they will start to get pressure to get to 12 to have a championship from both the networks and from the other Power 5 conferences. Those schools might even make it a requirement to get a playoff bid. They are not going to let the B12 get away with having that extra chance of losing a game.

Not sure what awhile means or if the ACC has the luxury of being immune from poaching to just sit at 14 for the forseeable future. Is this based on something you heard or just a guess? Considering what the MSU AD said several weeks ago that he wants 16 in the B10, it looks like it's only a matter of time before things start heating up again.