The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(08-06-2015 10:23 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:12 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  " Expansions aren't cheap and they should be spread out by at least a decade. "

Are you an expert in this field? If so, I'll stand down. Otherwise, you're just plucking a # out of the air and throwing it out there like it's gospel. I feel confident that the amount of research into every aspect of this project ODU has done and is doing far exceeds anything anyone on here has done.

So I need to be an expert to realize that you shouldn't need to add capacity for a multi-million dollar project within a ten-year window? Give me a break.

You don't need to be an expert to have an opinion; I just wondered if there was reason to put any credence into what you put forth.

(08-06-2015 10:23 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:12 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  " Expansions aren't cheap and they should be spread out by at least a decade. "

Are you an expert in this field? If so, I'll stand down. Otherwise, you're just plucking a # out of the air and throwing it out there like it's gospel. I feel confident that the amount of research into every aspect of this project ODU has done and is doing far exceeds anything anyone on here has done.

So I need to be an expert to realize that you shouldn't need to add capacity for a multi-million dollar project within a ten-year window? Give me a break.

Isn't that what Charlotte's doing? There's almost no way that they're going to wait 10 years to go up from 15,000 capacity. Obviously with them, they have the blueprints and it's about as plug-and-play as you can get for a stadium expansion, but at the same time, they're willing to go up on capacity (and they'll have to, now that they're in FBS).

If circumstances require that a 25,000-seat Foreman Field replacement go up to 30,000 or 32,000 within five years, I'm fine with that. So long as the higher powers at ODU understand that reworking Foreman isn't viable and that 20,000 should NOT be considered the max of our range, or even the floor.

(08-06-2015 03:15 PM)jumpshooter Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:23 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:12 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  " Expansions aren't cheap and they should be spread out by at least a decade. "

Are you an expert in this field? If so, I'll stand down. Otherwise, you're just plucking a # out of the air and throwing it out there like it's gospel. I feel confident that the amount of research into every aspect of this project ODU has done and is doing far exceeds anything anyone on here has done.

So I need to be an expert to realize that you shouldn't need to add capacity for a multi-million dollar project within a ten-year window? Give me a break.

You don't need to be an expert to have an opinion; I just wondered if there was reason to put any credence into what you put forth.

I'm not going to put my resume on here to help prove my point. If you want to know my background and learn about my experience with capital planning/budgeting, feel free to send me a PM.

(08-06-2015 03:47 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:23 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:12 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  " Expansions aren't cheap and they should be spread out by at least a decade. "

Are you an expert in this field? If so, I'll stand down. Otherwise, you're just plucking a # out of the air and throwing it out there like it's gospel. I feel confident that the amount of research into every aspect of this project ODU has done and is doing far exceeds anything anyone on here has done.

So I need to be an expert to realize that you shouldn't need to add capacity for a multi-million dollar project within a ten-year window? Give me a break.

Isn't that what Charlotte's doing? There's almost no way that they're going to wait 10 years to go up from 15,000 capacity. Obviously with them, they have the blueprints and it's about as plug-and-play as you can get for a stadium expansion, but at the same time, they're willing to go up on capacity (and they'll have to, now that they're in FBS).

If circumstances require that a 25,000-seat Foreman Field replacement go up to 30,000 or 32,000 within five years, I'm fine with that. So long as the higher powers at ODU understand that reworking Foreman isn't viable and that 20,000 should NOT be considered the max of our range, or even the floor.

They have something ODU doesn't; Jerry Richardson.

No, sir, I'll take your word for it.

Demo is cheap. We could put temporary metal bleachers in the endzone and expand 5-10 years from now with only about $40-50k loss over building it out immediately. I'm going to trust that whatever plan ODU comes up with will be far more researched and cost effective than any random dude on a message board.

All it takes is a year or two of losing seasons and no marketing campaign will fill a 40K stadium. Just look at the Ted after one mediocre year followed by a disastrous year.

If we have a 28-30K stadium almost filled with season ticket holders 10K of them are there for tailgating/social experience, 10K are diehard ODU fans that would be there for an 0-11 team and 10K fair-weather fans.

I think the low expectations for season tix sold from that study prior to our football restart was probably due to using a not very good company. Populous sounds like the gold standard for these purposes. I'll be happy with whatever they decide. With the Cox/General Assembly restrictions and just the fairness of not strapping the cost on student fees we are somewhat restricted. Remember the saying...Only things certain in life are death and taxes? Add your season ticket prices going up!

(08-06-2015 11:03 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Feels like they are setting up a UR-type project to me. I know UR's will be smaller than ours, but they built andwent for top notch comfort and amenities. I don't have a problem with going for quality, but I think it's a cop out to say you are going to under-build simply to maintain top demand.

It's ultimately a business decision, but for once, just once, (and I'm a big Wood supporter by the way), I'd love to see Old Dominion University grow its football fanbase through marketing and hard work. I just get so frustrated with this uber-conservative approach to everything when you brag about being the best startup ever. If we're really special, let's take advantage of it.

We could have had a 25k seat deal built earlier but the administration spent several years milking this unbelievable demand in the early years of ODU football. I can't fault them for the decision to just put lipstick on the old building and it was a business decision, but when you make that kind of decision and sit tight for 7 years, you'd think the next one might be about taking a step up, not just adding great amenities. Hell we talked about top notch facilities when we added the Ainsley building and its suites.

To me ODU football needs more FBS football fans, not better comfort for the same fat and happy fans. And I'm one of those happy ones by the way.

I agree with most of this. The new stadium need to be big enough to grow the brand. I don't believe that support is tapped out a 20k, and if it is, we are in trouble. You can't build the brand if the same 20k of us are the only ones who can see a game.

Remember ODU has never needed to sell FB tickets. No marketing, no push was ever done before and now they have tickets for sale. How do we market FB, thats the question. I felt a problem is many in the 757 believe we are sold out. Well we have season tickets for sale and Wood really wants to maintain the sellout streak. But we have a huge untapped potential here, like the Navy and the 100K young men just 4 miles down Hampton Blvd and the huge alumni base we have in the 757 that we have only scratch. Look at ECU, they're looking to go to 60K, they didn't get there by worrying about season tickets and we shouldn't either. You got to have seats to add new fans and ODAF members.

Now we're doing well. How many schools, avg 100% capacity for home FB games and 86% capacity in MBB. That list is very small.

(08-06-2015 04:05 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 03:47 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:23 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:12 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  " Expansions aren't cheap and they should be spread out by at least a decade. "

Are you an expert in this field? If so, I'll stand down. Otherwise, you're just plucking a # out of the air and throwing it out there like it's gospel. I feel confident that the amount of research into every aspect of this project ODU has done and is doing far exceeds anything anyone on here has done.

So I need to be an expert to realize that you shouldn't need to add capacity for a multi-million dollar project within a ten-year window? Give me a break.

Isn't that what Charlotte's doing? There's almost no way that they're going to wait 10 years to go up from 15,000 capacity. Obviously with them, they have the blueprints and it's about as plug-and-play as you can get for a stadium expansion, but at the same time, they're willing to go up on capacity (and they'll have to, now that they're in FBS).

If circumstances require that a 25,000-seat Foreman Field replacement go up to 30,000 or 32,000 within five years, I'm fine with that. So long as the higher powers at ODU understand that reworking Foreman isn't viable and that 20,000 should NOT be considered the max of our range, or even the floor.

They have something ODU doesn't; Jerry Richardson.

and land...

(08-06-2015 04:22 PM)T-Mac Wrote:  Demo is cheap. We could put temporary metal bleachers in the endzone and expand 5-10 years from now with only about $40-50k loss over building it out immediately. I'm going to trust that whatever plan ODU comes up with will be far more researched and cost effective than any random dude on a message board.

Don't be too sure about that. Remember the Maglev? How many millions did ODU waste on that? The powers-that-be who decide on these plans can be swayed by pretty presentations and a good sales job. I've sat in on some of these and have been amazed how many times a good presentation will save a bad proposal. A little internet search can find a lot of "what were they thinking?" projects. I'm not saying that ODU will make a bad decision, but sometimes smart people make really dumb decisions. That's why these things need to have public scutiny (and this includes this message board).

(08-07-2015 08:41 AM)reagan Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 04:22 PM)T-Mac Wrote:  Demo is cheap. We could put temporary metal bleachers in the endzone and expand 5-10 years from now with only about $40-50k loss over building it out immediately. I'm going to trust that whatever plan ODU comes up with will be far more researched and cost effective than any random dude on a message board.

Don't be too sure about that. Remember the Maglev? How many millions did ODU waste on that? The powers-that-be who decide on these plans can be swayed by pretty presentations and a good sales job. I've sat in on some of these and have been amazed how many times a good presentation will save a bad proposal. A little internet search can find a lot of "what were they thinking?" projects. I'm not saying that ODU will make a bad decision, but sometimes smart people make really dumb decisions. That's why these things need to have public scutiny (and this includes this message board).

didn't ODU get paid to put the Maglev up?

Why does that information continue to be public miss-knowledge?

"The project received a $7.9 million federal grant with more than $700,000 going to ODU for its role."
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/odus-sta...ext-phase#

But anyway back on topic I agree it should be as transparent as possible for such a large project. I saw a 15 story tower (where I'm sitting now) go up in 1 year from ground breaking. Even if they finish plans by mid-2016 and start summer 2017... 2018 is still feasible imo. It could happen.

(08-07-2015 08:58 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  Why does that information continue to be public miss-knowledge?

"The project received a $7.9 million federal grant with more than $700,000 going to ODU for its role."
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/odus-sta...ext-phase#

But anyway back on topic I agree it should be as transparent as possible for such a large project. I saw a 15 story tower (where I'm sitting now) go up in 1 year from ground breaking. Even if they finish plans by mid-2016 and start summer 2017... 2018 is still feasible imo. It could happen.

But the Maglev cost $16 million! http://wtkr.com/2014/04/28/levitating-tr...money-pit/

Look at what Norfolk is paying for the convention center. That is why we need to be careful about offers too good to be true. http://hamptonroads.com/2015/03/norfolk-...nce-center

(08-07-2015 09:56 AM)reagan Wrote:  

(08-07-2015 08:58 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  Why does that information continue to be public miss-knowledge?

"The project received a $7.9 million federal grant with more than $700,000 going to ODU for its role."
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/odus-sta...ext-phase#

But anyway back on topic I agree it should be as transparent as possible for such a large project. I saw a 15 story tower (where I'm sitting now) go up in 1 year from ground breaking. Even if they finish plans by mid-2016 and start summer 2017... 2018 is still feasible imo. It could happen.

But the Maglev cost $16 million! http://wtkr.com/2014/04/28/levitating-tr...money-pit/

Look at what Norfolk is paying for the convention center. That is why we need to be careful about offers too good to be true. http://hamptonroads.com/2015/03/norfolk-...nce-center

There were multiple grants that were used in the project, as well as other methods of funding. Don't worry, ODU itself will spend more money tearing it down that they ever have on it being built up