If there's no money for the new stadium, where should ETSU football be played?

Well they've already got 7 million approved. It will get built, it's just a matter of when. I wished we'd get a freaking update other than "we should know something in 2 weeks."

(04-19-2014 01:38 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Well they've already got 7 million approved. It will get built, it's just a matter of when. I wished we'd get a freaking update other than "we should know something in 2 weeks."

$7mil is a great start. But, if all the speculation of budget cuts, free TN community college tuition, and the such all comes to fruition, then it might be a long, long while (years) until the other $11mil shows up for the $18mil stadium. And, by then, considering inflation, they'd probably need $25mil to build the same stadium. So, supposing it is in fact years until a new stadium is built, then where do you think we should play home games during that time?

They have a new fee that should generate more than $3 million/year. If they say that they cannot build a stadium, it is an excuse, flat out. They shoiuld be able to build the stadium wtih no state funds if needed. Sure, they would like to spend that money on other things, but it all comes back to priorities.

(04-19-2014 05:37 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  They have a new fee that should generate more than $3 million/year. If they say that they cannot build a stadium, it is an excuse, flat out. They shoiuld be able to build the stadium wtih no state funds if needed. Sure, they would like to spend that money on other things, but it all comes back to priorities.

They don't have $3 million/year that can be used for a stadium. The fee has three purposes.

1. To provide ALL operating expenses for football (coaches salaries and benefits, equipment, 63 player scholarships, travel expenses, pay rental on a facility during start up, etc.)
2. To provide funds to service a $7 million bond to be used as part of the funds to build the stadium.
3. To fund equivalent women's sports to be Title IX compliant.

That is the fee proposal as approved by TBR. There are no other "priorities" for which a dedicated fee can be spent.

Keep the fundraising going for PAC until it is over the top. In the mean time use the cash on hand from the fee, whatever it is, as a down payment on the bond to build the stadium. Then borrow whatever money it takes and start the stadium. Delaying just makes it more expensive. If the engineering is completed then it is important to get started and least try to meet the 2016 kickoff deadline.

Isn't Fulmer going to bring any money in? What's his job? What's he doing to earn his paycheck? Surely he's not just being paid for rights to use his name.

Besides, what is going on inside the athletic department that indicates that the original plan to be in an on-campus stadium for the 2016 season is no longer viable?

The current silence means what?

Is the Game Time Tour producing any news?

http://www.etsubucs.com/mbasketball/news...-april-10/

How's this one (below)being funded? Has the state kicked any in? State bonds? Private funds? All these? Is there too much gloom already? Just hard to see Noland, Sander, Torbush, Ramsey (is he still working on it?)and Fulmer making all these specific, official promises without an end plan and a game plan to accomplish it. If this stadium does not get done soon, then their credibility goes up in smoke. This on campus stadium is the very key, the very essence of getting this program up and running. Without it, it ain't gonna work, period.

http://www.apsu.edu/stadium/new-governors-stadium

I love how several people on this board are saying an on campus football stadium is must but lets move basketball off campus to Freedom Hall. Like it or not basketball is the primary sport at ETSU and probably will be for the foreseeable future, it needs to stay on campus as well.

(04-19-2014 10:56 AM)Buc66 Wrote:  How's this one (below)being funded? Has the state kicked any in? State bonds? Private funds? All these? Is there too much gloom already? Just hard to see Noland, Sander, Torbush, Ramsey (is he still working on it?)and Fulmer making all these specific, official promises without an end plan and a game plan to accomplish it. If this stadium does not get done soon, then their credibility goes up in smoke. This on campus stadium is the very key, the very essence of getting this program up and running. Without it, it ain't gonna work, period.

http://www.apsu.edu/stadium/new-governors-stadium

According to sources available via a web search, the state will pay only $900,000 of the $16 million required to renovate the AP stadium.

I went back and re-read this http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/article/...-locations article from back in October. Here's the last three sentences from it:


Though the stadium project was approved in July by the State Building Commission, Noland said there is no concrete timeline for the project’s construction.

“Finding the right location is taking longer than we anticipated,” he said. “But that should not affect our anticipated first season.”


Here's how I read it:
"But that should not affect our anticipated first season scheduled to be played at Science Hill. And because there is no concrete timeline for the project's construction, the second, third, fourth, or even more seasons may still be played at Science Hill."

(04-19-2014 10:56 AM)Buc66 Wrote:  How's this one (below)being funded? Has the state kicked any in? State bonds? Private funds? All these? Is there too much gloom already? Just hard to see Noland, Sander, Torbush, Ramsey (is he still working on it?)and Fulmer making all these specific, official promises without an end plan and a game plan to accomplish it. If this stadium does not get done soon, then their credibility goes up in smoke. This on campus stadium is the very key, the very essence of getting this program up and running. Without it, it ain't gonna work, period.

http://www.apsu.edu/stadium/new-governors-stadium

1. Austin Peay isn't building a new stadium. All they've done is renovate the old one. That's the original Municipal/Governors Stadium that was built in the 1950's, they just tore down the visitor sidelines and are building what you see.
2. The money came in on LAST YEARS BUDGET. Not this year. Also, according to their website, they were able to set aside six million dollars for the renovation, which I suspect pays for the new sideline portion. From there, it's been private giving, corporate partnerships, etc...
And the problem is when it comes to this project, the people involved are clueless. Fulmer hasn't ever been in a situation where money is tight, he's had a warchest his whole career. Same with Noland at WVU, Torbush and in the case of Sander, he's never dealt with football.
It takes some patience and time, as well as a few learning curves along the way. It'll get done, and at the end of the day, I don't want another mini dome disaster. I want something that will last 100 years.

IMO the 18 million figure is not correct for what it will cost to start the football program. The stadium is not the only cost. Maybe you could build a bare bones 10,000 seat stadium for 18 million. What is the cost to build a field house, equip the team and build all the infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, sky boxes, meeting rooms, weight room, etc.

Austin Peay is building only one side, that includes all the perks. They will not be building or paying for a field, a visitors side, lighting, team equipment, roads, a band and etc. The price tag for their renovation, 16 million.

I don't believe for a second that ETSU can build a complete stadium, a field house, build the infrastructure needed to move and handle the fans, plus equip 90-100 players for only 2 million dollars more than Austin Peay's stadium renovation.

Looking at the costs for other stadiums that have been built in the last couple of years and adding in the start up costs, IMO ETSU's total cost will fall somewhere between 25-30 million.

Without the 18 million Ron Ramsey promised, ETSU will have to depend on fundraising and borrowed money to make up the difference between student fees and the actual cost of the total program. If Ramsey can deliver the 18 million in next years budget, ETSU will still have to come up with at least another 7-12 million.

The other fly in the ointment is the PAC. Dr. Noland has said many times that the 9 million dollar fund raising project for the PAC has to been finished before football fundraising can be kicked into high gear.

(04-24-2014 02:47 PM)bucgal Wrote:  IMO the 18 million figure is not correct for what it will cost to start the football program. The stadium is not the only cost. Maybe you could build a bare bones 10,000 seat stadium for 18 million. What is the cost to build a field house, equip the team and build all the infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, sky boxes, meeting rooms, weight room, etc.

Austin Peay is building only one side, that includes all the perks. They will not be building or paying for a field, a visitors side, lighting, team equipment, roads, a band and etc. The price tag for their renovation, 16 million.

I don't believe for a second that ETSU can build a complete stadium, a field house, build the infrastructure needed to move and handle the fans, plus equip 90-100 players for only 2 million dollars more than Austin Peay's stadium renovation.

Looking at the costs for other stadiums that have been built in the last couple of years and adding in the start up costs, IMO ETSU's total cost will fall somewhere between 25-30 million.

Without the 18 million Ron Ramsey promised, ETSU will have to depend on fundraising and borrowed money to make up the difference between student fees and the actual cost of the total program. If Ramsey can deliver the 18 million in next years budget, ETSU will still have to come up with at least another 7-12 million.

The other fly in the ointment is the PAC. Dr. Noland has said many times that the 9 million dollar fund raising project for the PAC has to been finished before football fundraising can be kicked into high gear.

I tend to take it as a positive when they say the official capital campaign for football has not yet begun. I would like to think this means there is some latent money out there and they are just wanting to finish up the PAC first.

(04-24-2014 02:47 PM)bucgal Wrote:  IMO the 18 million figure is not correct for what it will cost to start the football program. The stadium is not the only cost. Maybe you could build a bare bones 10,000 seat stadium for 18 million. What is the cost to build a field house, equip the team and build all the infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, sky boxes, meeting rooms, weight room, etc.

Austin Peay is building only one side, that includes all the perks. They will not be building or paying for a field, a visitors side, lighting, team equipment, roads, a band and etc. The price tag for their renovation, 16 million.

I don't believe for a second that ETSU can build a complete stadium, a field house, build the infrastructure needed to move and handle the fans, plus equip 90-100 players for only 2 million dollars more than Austin Peay's stadium renovation.

Looking at the costs for other stadiums that have been built in the last couple of years and adding in the start up costs, IMO ETSU's total cost will fall somewhere between 25-30 million.

Without the 18 million Ron Ramsey promised, ETSU will have to depend on fundraising and borrowed money to make up the difference between student fees and the actual cost of the total program. If Ramsey can deliver the 18 million in next years budget, ETSU will still have to come up with at least another 7-12 million.

The other fly in the ointment is the PAC. Dr. Noland has said many times that the 9 million dollar fund raising project for the PAC has to been finished before football fundraising can be kicked into high gear.

Peay splurged and upgraded their lights. But you're spot on, they're renovating half the stadium, the other half looks like a rotting high school field (the original home side).
Even with their renovations, they really need another 18-20 million for a better video board, reno to the original home stands and maybe a fieldhouse.
I guess they seem really cavalier about it so it makes me wonder if they've got something in the works.