Off Season Random Talk... I'll start!



Football: Good Aspect(s)

As I'm sure many will say about their respective stadiums, I feel Centennial Bank Stadium all in all doesn't have one bad seat in the house. In the past, I would've said Endzone seating kinda sucked but with the addition of the new big video board, it's a pretty good spot to catch the game now.

I think pictures don't truly do justice as to how big the stadium really is (especially once the pressbox get's done...speaking of which, that leads me too...


Bad Aspect(s)


Old Pressbox/"Luxury Seating"
I can't begin to express how badly ASU needed to update the pressbox. Built along with the stadium in the mid 70s, it went pretty much unchanged for almost 4 decades. Hopefully some of my red wolves fans might have some pictures of the inside, but it was seriously outdated-club levels offered "movie theater style sitting with barely enough room for catering, the press level (while certainly offering internet and wifi) the structure definitely had a 70s feel (right down to the bar built in the side corner that was the food station lol). And don't even get me started on the "photography deck"...all I'll say is "not insulated, birds and wasps."

Retaining Wall:


Hard to believe that it took one of our own players suffering a catastrophic injury to have the retaining walls that surround the stadium to have padding installed over them. As you can see in that shot above, the wall practically borders the back endzone and though it's padded, it certainly doesn't absorb a whole lot of impact.


Convocation Center:


First off, let me say the recent renovations that were done inside (updating all the chairs, the video board additions, new floor to name a few) certainly helped A LOT with the aged look it was starting to show. Though I feel it's too big of arena in terms of capacity, the fact that so many events and shows can be held their is certainly plus for both the university and town (I went to A LOT of concerts and shows during my time at ASU).



My biggest complaint is the lack of boxes/luxury suites. Their is an "upper level" that either was or occasionally is used as a "suite style" seating area but when I was up their you could tell it hadn't been used in some time. I know if they opened that up and not only allowed that to be premium seating (with alcohol sold) I know I'd throw big bucks to get in on it.

Tomlinson Stadium:


http://s59.photobucket.com/user/hooginda...sort=3&o=1



I've talked about my thoughts on the Tom before but to be short, It certainly is the "weakest" facility in all the Belt (granted considering the Baseball team has won like 3 conference titles all time and one NCAA appearance, it's understandable why it hasn't had a whole lot of money thrown into it) but their has been few additions to make the experience more fan friendly (most notable the barton's baseball deck) and tailgating outside the left field fence).

Paulson's come a long way in one year. Luxury boxes need updating and the home side needs expansion but all in all most are happy at the moment.







JI Clements Stadium has great game day atmosphere but could use some additional luxury boxes. Slim pickins. Field level facilities are okay for private use but more space would be nice to host larger gatherings.



Hanner Field House

Much has been done to plan for a new arena and there's good potential that a collaborative effort between the city and GS could make it doable. A recent plan by the City to construct an outdoor agribusiness arena has been put on hold despite being funded. Just a hunch but these moneys with GS's could go a long way.

now that wku and mtsu are gone, south likely has the best basketball venue in the belt or at least is 1.b with Troy since theirs is shiney and new (but ours is bigger).

bad aspect: concessions suck

stanky is one of the best diamonds in the belt

bad aspect: parking? dunno, really have to reach here.


ladd is a total dump and I hate it. good aspect: we have a football team to play there

(02-20-2015 07:12 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  now that wku and mtsu are gone, south likely has the best basketball venue in the belt or at least is 1.b with Troy since theirs is shiney and new (but ours is bigger).

bad aspect: concessions suck

stanky is one of the best diamonds in the belt

bad aspect: parking? dunno, really have to reach here.


ladd is a total dump and I hate it. good aspect: we have a football team to play there

After reading chiefsfan's previews, I think Stanky is the park I'd like to visit the most.

(02-20-2015 07:12 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  now that wku and mtsu are gone, south likely has the best basketball venue in the belt or at least is 1.b with Troy since theirs is shiney and new (but ours is bigger).

bad aspect: concessions suck

stanky is one of the best diamonds in the belt

bad aspect: parking? dunno, really have to reach here.


ladd is a total dump and I hate it. good aspect: we have a football team to play there

I'd have to argue for UTA's basketball arena. It just opened in 2012 (so quite new)

No OCS, that is the negative for us.

Veterans memorial stadium

The good..
One of the best in the conference since 2003. Sits very close to the field, up close action to the game. There's not a bad seat in the house, the press box is the largest in the sbc and has 28 suites, I believe we are the only SBC school with video ribbons that extend the full length of the field on both sides. We also have the 3rd largest video board in the conference. But we also have 2.

Construction on the North Endzone is expected to start at the end of next football season.

The bad
Concession stands. They are too slow and run out of stuff and beer at times.

TROJAN ARENA

The good
Opened in 2012, is the nicest basketball arena in the sbc. It's not the biggest as it seats around 6k, but it's got the works including the 2 largest video boards in college basketball at the time it opened. It also has 2indoor practice courts.

The bad
the men's team isn't very good... That's all I can think of because the arena is nice in all aspects.

RIDDLE PACE FIELD

The Good
One of the best in the conference as well, nice setting, sound system, and the wall makes it a unique venue.

The bad
Only think I can think of here is it needs more suites maybe. And a party deck in left field

Paulson Stadium
Pros: Beautiful stadium. Top notch Football Operations Center. Field of Dreams. Gameday atmosphere. New video screen.

Cons: Lopsided stands but I see another expansion in the near future that will correct it. Hopefully a new press box and suites will be a part of that.




JI Clements Stadium
Pros: Really nice facilities and press box. Near the top of the conference in my opinion. Nice suites. Good gameday atmosphere.

Cons: needs an updated scoreboard and possibly sound system.


Hanner Field House
Pros:

Cons:




Recreation Activities Center/Golf Course

Also wanted to talk about Georgia Southern's amazing RAC and brand new golf course. The RAC was recently voted one of the top 10 collegiate gyms in the country. The campus golf course recently opened within the last year or so and is beautiful with some really challenging holes. It's attracting lots of business from locals, students, and people from out of town.

(02-20-2015 08:15 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Veterans memorial stadium

The good..
One of the best in the conference since 2003. Sits very close to the field, up close action to the game. There's not a bad seat in the house, the press box is the largest in the sbc and has 28 suites, I believe we are the only SBC school with video ribbons that extend the full length of the field on both sides. We also have the 3rd largest video board in the conference. But we also have 2.

Our stadium isn't fully enclosed, ergo: we don't have seating all the way to the endzone. (Think the stands stop at the goal line?) Therefore, we can't have ribbon all the way to the South Endzone Complex. However, we do have it down both E & W sides as well as in the North Horseshoe. It's not one continuous ribbon, though. There is a gap between the side ribbons and what is in the horseshoe.

Ya I think Texas state and Troy are the only two with ribbons.... I think App has a small ribbon?

(02-20-2015 06:26 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

Paulson's come a long way in one year. Luxury boxes need updating and the home side needs expansion but all in all most are happy at the moment.







JI Clements Stadium has great game day atmosphere but could use some additional luxury boxes. Slim pickins. Field level facilities are okay for private use but more space would be nice to host larger gatherings.



Hanner Field House

Much has been done to plan for a new arena and there's good potential that a collaborative effort between the city and GS could make it doable. A recent plan by the City to construct an outdoor agribusiness arena has been put on hold despite being funded. Just a hunch but these moneys with GS's could go a long way.

you may want to check out college park center at uta..pretty nice arena

Pros: App has one of the top field level facilities, weight room, luxury boxes, locker rooms etc.in the country, many a pro scout on their annual trip to Boone talk about it being nicer than most P5 schools. Game day atmosphere, with the mountains right on top of the stadium, one of the prettest stadiums to watch a game, and with the sound bouncing off the mountains, 30 thousand like 60 thousand.

Cons: stadium needs expansion, starting with tearing down the old field house, built in the 70's, outdated, definitely past its prime. Remove the track around the stadium, really hurts the overall look, need to make it a football only stadium.

(02-21-2015 08:45 AM)moehler Wrote:  Pros: App has one of the top field level facilities, weight room, luxury boxes, locker rooms etc.in the country, many a pro scout on their annual trip to Boone talk about it being nicer than most P5 schools. Game day atmosphere, with the mountains right on top of the stadium, one of the prettest stadiums to watch a game, and with the sound bouncing off the mountains, 30 thousand like 60 thousand.

Cons: stadium needs expansion, starting with tearing down the old field house, built in the 70's, outdated, definitely past its prime. Remove the track around the stadium, really hurts the overall look, need to make it a football only stadium.

I understand that y'all have been funded for that last bit, correct?

wish we freckin knew, for the last 4 years all we have heard is, be patent, big plans in the works etc. yet here we are, still waiting on some kind of conformation, I guess the one hope we have is we just finished a very successful 200 million plus fund raising campaign where 50 million plus (give or take a few million) is designated for athletic improvements, a large chuck of that money is earmarked for stadium, but until the administration finally comes forward with a plan, your guess is as good as mine when we will see the money spent.

I'd like to see a photo of Georgia Southern's arena set up for basketball (the ones shown is for volleyball). from those photos, I really like that place.

As for Texas State, I like our "bowl in" section the most. It's clean, has plenty of room for people and a bunch of concession stands. Now, if only they learned how to RUN the concessions to get quick service and not run out... I'd say it's perfect (for us).

Worst part? Strahan really isn't HORRIBLE, it just needs the wall removed and the place needs an update. Or a total tear down and rebuild... either/or.

(02-21-2015 01:56 PM)moehler Wrote:  wish we freckin knew, for the last 4 years all we have heard is, be patent, big plans in the works etc. yet here we are, still waiting on some kind of conformation, I guess the one hope we have is we just finished a very successful 200 million plus fund raising campaign where 50 million plus (give or take a few million) is designated for athletic improvements, a large chuck of that money is earmarked for stadium, but until the administration finally comes forward with a plan, your guess is as good as mine when we will see the money spent.

Once you hire a new AD, maybe the wheels will start to turn?

(02-21-2015 02:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I'd like to see a photo of Georgia Southern's arena set up for basketball (the ones shown is for volleyball). from those photos, I really like that place.

Noooooo, I'm afraid you are mistaken Rev! It might be the worst in the Belt... And when I say "might" I mean "is".

Hanner Fieldhouse:



The Rolling Stones have played there. That's about the only redeeming feature.

That does look pretty craptastic in that pic.

its alittle frustrating, the county is selling the old high school land for 20 million (I believe, not entirely sure the amount), not far from the University, would solve alot of our problems, could build a first class track and field complex, and take up the track at the stadium, of course, we don't have an additional 20 million so the beat goes on.

(02-21-2015 02:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I'd like to see a photo of Georgia Southern's arena set up for basketball (the ones shown is for volleyball). from those photos, I really like that place.

As for Texas State, I like our "bowl in" section the most. It's clean, has plenty of room for people and a bunch of concession stands. Now, if only they learned how to RUN the concessions to get quick service and not run out... I'd say it's perfect (for us).

Worst part? Strahan really isn't HORRIBLE, it just needs the wall removed and the place needs an update. Or a total tear down and rebuild... either/or.

A little black paint of the ceiling could go along way in enhancing the overall look but only if we haaaave to keep it for more than a year. Moving the concrete walls back and adding additional seats would be the most economical improvement. Speaking with someone connected a bit better than I couple days ago mentioned that if and when the arena comes Hanner would be used almost exclusively for volleyball and indoor practice for football.

Veterans Memorial Stadium







The New End Zone upgraded scheduled to start after Football season.


Trojan Arena







Riddle Pace Field