Looking around at the stadiums in the league, Mercer stands out HEAD AND SHOULDERS above all but Drake. It's not even close. The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

Mercer will enter the league at #2 in capacity at 10,200. (Drake has 14,400)

Mercer will also of course have the only brand-new stadium and field. Plus it is on campus and doesn't have a track around it.

Many of these Pioneer league stadiums look like high school stadiums with stands only on the sideline and the track around the field.

I can't imagine that Mercer will be content to remain non-scholarship forever when you add up all the factors.

An extra "bizarre" fact is that Butler once has a 36,000 seat stadium. It was then reduced to 22,000 in the 1950's. It was then further reduced in modern time to only 6,000. That's not a good trend.

Looking forward to that first kickoff!

Mercer stadium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moye_Complex
(links at the bottom to the other stadiums)

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Looking around at the stadiums in the league, Mercer stands out HEAD AND SHOULDERS above all but Drake. It's not even close. The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

Mercer will enter the league at #2 in capacity at 10,200. (Drake has 14,400)

Mercer will also of course have the only brand-new stadium and field. Plus it is on campus and doesn't have a track around it.

Many of these Pioneer league stadiums look like high school stadiums with stands only on the sideline and the track around the field.

I can't imagine that Mercer will be content to remain non-scholarship forever when you add up all the factors.

An extra "bizarre" fact is that Butler once has a 36,000 seat stadium. It was then reduced to 22,000 in the 1950's. It was then further reduced in modern time to only 6,000. That's not a good trend.

Looking forward to that first kickoff!

Mercer stadium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moye_Complex
(links at the bottom to the other stadiums)

Butler's facility is very nice. The press facility and boxes are brand new and butt up nicely against Hinkle Fieldhouse (Where the movie Hoosiers was shot). It is hardly something to sneeze at.

Dayton's facility also seats 11,000 and has had upgrades to the press facility within the last three years.

Campbell is in the process of completing its facility (FINALLY) and it will hold around 6,000, but that doesn't take into account endzone grass seating on the scoreboard end.

As per the scholarship discussion, what is the reason for going non-scholarship initially? Money? If you are going to go scholarship, jump from the start. That is what is proving to be most beneficial (ODU, Charlotte, San Antonio). The issues I see are two fold. One, what if you are non-scholarship but don't win right away? Two, even if you do...how do you justify a loss of $2.5 million dollars of revenue for a $2.5 million dollar expense? Thats a difference of $5 million from non-scholarship to scholarship football. There isn't an FCS conference in America that can make up that difference.

(01-21-2013 12:32 PM)Statman101 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Looking around at the stadiums in the league, Mercer stands out HEAD AND SHOULDERS above all but Drake. It's not even close. The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

Mercer will enter the league at #2 in capacity at 10,200. (Drake has 14,400)

Mercer will also of course have the only brand-new stadium and field. Plus it is on campus and doesn't have a track around it.

Many of these Pioneer league stadiums look like high school stadiums with stands only on the sideline and the track around the field.

I can't imagine that Mercer will be content to remain non-scholarship forever when you add up all the factors.

An extra "bizarre" fact is that Butler once has a 36,000 seat stadium. It was then reduced to 22,000 in the 1950's. It was then further reduced in modern time to only 6,000. That's not a good trend.

Looking forward to that first kickoff!

Mercer stadium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moye_Complex
(links at the bottom to the other stadiums)

Butler's facility is very nice. The press facility and boxes are brand new and butt up nicely against Hinkle Fieldhouse (Where the movie Hoosiers was shot). It is hardly something to sneeze at.

Dayton's facility also seats 11,000 and has had upgrades to the press facility within the last three years.

Campbell is in the process of completing its facility (FINALLY) and it will hold around 6,000, but that doesn't take into account endzone grass seating on the scoreboard end.

As per the scholarship discussion, what is the reason for going non-scholarship initially? Money? If you are going to go scholarship, jump from the start. That is what is proving to be most beneficial (ODU, Charlotte, San Antonio). The issues I see are two fold. One, what if you are non-scholarship but don't win right away? Two, even if you do...how do you justify a loss of $2.5 million dollars of revenue for a $2.5 million dollar expense? Thats a difference of $5 million from non-scholarship to scholarship football. There isn't an FCS conference in America that can make up that difference.

Thanks for the info on the other stadiums, those sounds good. I'm still getting a feel for the Pioneer league. As for the scholarships, I'd say it's more my own wishful thinking. In reality, money would always be a negative against going scholarship. I just think some of the big boosters and supporters of athletics might want "more". Mercer has leaders and supporters that clearly want more and want to win, so that's my reasoning.

(01-21-2013 10:00 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:32 PM)Statman101 Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Looking around at the stadiums in the league, Mercer stands out HEAD AND SHOULDERS above all but Drake. It's not even close. The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

Mercer will enter the league at #2 in capacity at 10,200. (Drake has 14,400)

Mercer will also of course have the only brand-new stadium and field. Plus it is on campus and doesn't have a track around it.

Many of these Pioneer league stadiums look like high school stadiums with stands only on the sideline and the track around the field.

I can't imagine that Mercer will be content to remain non-scholarship forever when you add up all the factors.

An extra "bizarre" fact is that Butler once has a 36,000 seat stadium. It was then reduced to 22,000 in the 1950's. It was then further reduced in modern time to only 6,000. That's not a good trend.

Looking forward to that first kickoff!

Mercer stadium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moye_Complex
(links at the bottom to the other stadiums)

Butler's facility is very nice. The press facility and boxes are brand new and butt up nicely against Hinkle Fieldhouse (Where the movie Hoosiers was shot). It is hardly something to sneeze at.

Dayton's facility also seats 11,000 and has had upgrades to the press facility within the last three years.

Campbell is in the process of completing its facility (FINALLY) and it will hold around 6,000, but that doesn't take into account endzone grass seating on the scoreboard end.

As per the scholarship discussion, what is the reason for going non-scholarship initially? Money? If you are going to go scholarship, jump from the start. That is what is proving to be most beneficial (ODU, Charlotte, San Antonio). The issues I see are two fold. One, what if you are non-scholarship but don't win right away? Two, even if you do...how do you justify a loss of $2.5 million dollars of revenue for a $2.5 million dollar expense? Thats a difference of $5 million from non-scholarship to scholarship football. There isn't an FCS conference in America that can make up that difference.

Thanks for the info on the other stadiums, those sounds good. I'm still getting a feel for the Pioneer league. As for the scholarships, I'd say it's more my own wishful thinking. In reality, money would always be a negative against going scholarship. I just think some of the big boosters and supporters of athletics might want "more". Mercer has leaders and supporters that clearly want more and want to win, so that's my reasoning.

I don't deny that one bit, but you better hope you win and win heavily. That is going to be the big key. If you start out beating a bunch of NAIA and DIII schools, but struggle in the PFL...it won't mean much.

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

The recent renovations certainly had T&F in mind, but Drake Stadium was built for football (original capacity: 18,000+). Drake stayed in major college football longer than anyone else in the PFL.

Looking forward to seeing Mercer on the gridiron this year.



http://pflfan.proboards.com

(01-23-2013 01:42 PM)Lurking Dog Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

The recent renovations certainly had T&F in mind, but Drake Stadium was built for football (original capacity: 18,000+). Drake stayed in major college football longer than anyone else in the PFL.

Looking forward to seeing Mercer on the gridiron this year.



http://pflfan.proboards.com

I went to your pflfan proboard and was not allowed a membership. Looks like Mercer Fans are not welcomed

(02-12-2013 09:30 PM)Team Fletch Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 01:42 PM)Lurking Dog Wrote:  

(01-20-2013 12:53 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  The Drake comparison is also not fair, as that stadium is used for a major track & field event.

The recent renovations certainly had T&F in mind, but Drake Stadium was built for football (original capacity: 18,000+). Drake stayed in major college football longer than anyone else in the PFL.

Looking forward to seeing Mercer on the gridiron this year.



http://pflfan.proboards.com

I went to your pflfan proboard and was not allowed a membership. Looks like Mercer Fans are not welcomed

It didn't let me get an account there either. Welcome to these boards anyways!

No reason you can't get a membership. Follow the instructions, including the part about not using anonymous email (Yahoo), and you'll be in.