Yes I agree unless football becomes a consistent winner no major $$$$ will be raised for stadium replacement or a major overhaul.

A new scoreboard, new lights and a new press box are reasonable goals for right now.

(08-03-2015 10:15 PM)2Intense Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 10:09 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear 2Intense,
How do I know what other schools have done? Some may not have track teams. My reference was with the athletic campus at Eastern. All space (to my knowledge) is used by the football stadium, basketball arena, baseball stadium, soccer field, indoor practice facility, tennis courts, and parking. If the track can be configured within that, without losing too much parking, I would like to see it.

First, virtually all of them have track teams and the other schools have dealt with it by utilizing existing property or procuring additional acreage. Where to hold track meets is a surmountable issue and I recognize the importance of Track at EMU.

Well stated! EMU has some problems, finding space for a first class track facility, befitting of our nationally great track program is not one of them. If anything, the track team deserves better than to be running in an oversized cement quarry.

(08-03-2015 09:47 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 03:58 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Rynearson is not "just fine" for football. It is a national joke and it will always, always keep EMU from being a good team--make no mistake, it is a recruit repellent. Why do you think we cannot recruit instate? A 20-25k horeshoe stadium with 2 legitimate scoreboards, modern lockerrooms, and a state of the art press box is all it would take to compete with CMU and WMU. Until then, we will ALWAYS be the third choice of the state MAC schools. This half-a** attitude of EMU fans is infuriating.

Agree Bob. Others need to see how much better the stadium experience could be by checking out what other schools have built more recently. Rynearson stadium in it's current state doesn't cut it. Though I can't see people throwing money at large scale stadium renovations until the program can put together some winning seasons.


FAU Stadium opened in 2011 for $70 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAU_Stadium

InfoCision Stadium, Akron opened in 2009 for $61.6 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoCision...umma_Field

Great examples.

Dear Bob,
What are all of the other stadiums in America built from? Concrete!
Also, just in passing, the University of Washington, Duke University, and Buffalo (even in our league), all have tracks in their football stadiums.

(08-04-2015 07:55 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
What are all of the other stadiums in America built from? Concrete!
Also, just in passing, the University of Washington, Duke University, and Buffalo (even in our league), all have tracks in their football stadiums.

Yeah, but UB has one of the least attractive stadiums in FBS. One could make the case that no FBS super power has a track. Washington, Duke, UB, EMU, etc. aren't FBS powers.

If anything, UB's stadium is a 'case study' why NOT to have a track inside a football stadium.

Akron's stadium is a 'case study' of an excellent G5 football stadium (no track, nice press box, suites, loge seating, etc. etc.). Very intimate.

(08-04-2015 09:04 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 07:55 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
What are all of the other stadiums in America built from? Concrete!
Also, just in passing, the University of Washington, Duke University, and Buffalo (even in our league), all have tracks in their football stadiums.

Yeah, but UB has one of the least attractive stadiums in FBS. One could make the case that no FBS super power has a track. Washington, Duke, UB, EMU, etc. aren't FBS powers.

If anything, UB's stadium is a 'case study' why NOT to have a track inside a football stadium.

Akron's stadium is a 'case study' of an excellent G5 football stadium (no track, nice press box, suites, loge seating, etc. etc.). Very intimate.

This! +1,000.

(08-03-2015 04:05 PM)2Intense Wrote:  True, 3rd worst in the country back in 2014 in the opinion of this writer.

As he states, "Any stadium with a track that sits between the field and the stands is going to have two strikes against it right from the get-go...."

Just realized I failed to paste in the link on my earlier comment above so I can see where it may have been taken out of context...

BTW, where EMU was considered 3rd worst, Akron is listed as the #1 worst stadium. Apparently the author just has a chip on his shoulder for Akron as he does not offer a legitimate reason for its ranking.

Here's the link this time: http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/w...e-football

Dear steve,
So now we are qualifying power schools only? And if that is the case, then it should be okay for the lesser of FBS schools to have tracks in their stadiums.

(08-04-2015 10:02 AM)2Intense Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 04:05 PM)2Intense Wrote:  True, 3rd worst in the country back in 2014 in the opinion of this writer.

As he states, "Any stadium with a track that sits between the field and the stands is going to have two strikes against it right from the get-go...."

Just realized I failed to paste in the link on my earlier comment above so I can see where it may have been taken out of context...

BTW, where EMU was considered 3rd worst, Akron is listed as the #1 worst stadium. Apparently the author just has a chip on his shoulder for Akron as he does not offer a legitimate reason for its ranking.

Here's the link this time: http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/w...e-football

I have seen, in person, the Akron stadium and consider it the best in the MAC.

The MAC doesn't have any football palaces. Most are kind of average with some not too good, e.g., UB, Kent, BG, etc.

(08-04-2015 10:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 10:02 AM)2Intense Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 04:05 PM)2Intense Wrote:  True, 3rd worst in the country back in 2014 in the opinion of this writer.

As he states, "Any stadium with a track that sits between the field and the stands is going to have two strikes against it right from the get-go...."

Just realized I failed to paste in the link on my earlier comment above so I can see where it may have been taken out of context...

BTW, where EMU was considered 3rd worst, Akron is listed as the #1 worst stadium. Apparently the author just has a chip on his shoulder for Akron as he does not offer a legitimate reason for its ranking.

Here's the link this time: http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/w...e-football

I have seen, in person, the Akron stadium and consider it the best in the MAC.

The MAC doesn't have any football palaces. Most are kind of average with some not too good, e.g., UB, Kent, BG, etc.

No one can honestly tell me that CMU, Kent or BG have a better stadium to Rynearson.

Glass Bowl, Waldo, Miami, NIU are better facilities overall.

Haven't been to the rest - I hear O-U is nice, but I refuse to set foot there.

(08-04-2015 10:35 AM)Huron Boy Wrote:  No one can honestly tell me that CMU, Kent or BG have a better stadium to Rynearson.

Glass Bowl, Waldo, Miami, NIU are better facilities overall.

Haven't been to the rest - I hear O-U is nice, but I refuse to set foot there.

You thought NIU was a step up? I really wasn't impressed when I was at Huskie Stadium in 2011. Poor restrooms. Inconveniently located concession stands. Difficulty from moving from one side of the stands to the other. The intimacy was nice, but I wouldn't call it better than Rynearson.

I've never been to Dix at Kent State, but from all the pictures and video I've seen, I'm none-too-impressed. Ball State's stadium is fairly new, but I can't say I really enjoy the design. It feels like an incredibly large high school stadium more than anything.

(08-04-2015 11:11 AM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 10:35 AM)Huron Boy Wrote:  No one can honestly tell me that CMU, Kent or BG have a better stadium to Rynearson.

Glass Bowl, Waldo, Miami, NIU are better facilities overall.

Haven't been to the rest - I hear O-U is nice, but I refuse to set foot there.

You thought NIU was a step up? I really wasn't impressed when I was at Huskie Stadium in 2011. Poor restrooms. Inconveniently located concession stands. Difficulty from moving from one side of the stands to the other. The intimacy was nice, but I wouldn't call it better than Rynearson.

I've never been to Dix at Kent State, but from all the pictures and video I've seen, I'm none-too-impressed. Ball State's stadium is fairly new, but I can't say I really enjoy the design. It feels like an incredibly large high school stadium more than anything.

I should have included Miami's among the MAC's best (along with Akron). Also WMU is good. Ohio is good, but has those hideous corner end zone seating dating back to the days when they, too, were forced to expand their capacity. Peden has potential to get better without spending a ton of $.

I do believe the KSU and BSU stadiums have a lot of high schoolish elements to them.

(08-04-2015 10:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 10:02 AM)2Intense Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 04:05 PM)2Intense Wrote:  True, 3rd worst in the country back in 2014 in the opinion of this writer.

As he states, "Any stadium with a track that sits between the field and the stands is going to have two strikes against it right from the get-go...."

Just realized I failed to paste in the link on my earlier comment above so I can see where it may have been taken out of context...

BTW, where EMU was considered 3rd worst, Akron is listed as the #1 worst stadium. Apparently the author just has a chip on his shoulder for Akron as he does not offer a legitimate reason for its ranking.

Here's the link this time: http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/w...e-football

I have seen, in person, the Akron stadium and consider it the best in the MAC.

The MAC doesn't have any football palaces. Most are kind of average with some not too good, e.g., UB, Kent, BG, etc.

You guys obviously haven't been to BG's stadium in awhile, it is beautiful. They upgraded their facility in 2007 and I have taken a tour of the renovated Doyt Perry stadium as well as the new basketball arena and they are both first class and very impressive.

(08-04-2015 02:16 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 10:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 10:02 AM)2Intense Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 04:05 PM)2Intense Wrote:  True, 3rd worst in the country back in 2014 in the opinion of this writer.

As he states, "Any stadium with a track that sits between the field and the stands is going to have two strikes against it right from the get-go...."

Just realized I failed to paste in the link on my earlier comment above so I can see where it may have been taken out of context...

BTW, where EMU was considered 3rd worst, Akron is listed as the #1 worst stadium. Apparently the author just has a chip on his shoulder for Akron as he does not offer a legitimate reason for its ranking.

Here's the link this time: http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/w...e-football

I have seen, in person, the Akron stadium and consider it the best in the MAC.

The MAC doesn't have any football palaces. Most are kind of average with some not too good, e.g., UB, Kent, BG, etc.

You guys obviously haven't been to BG's stadium in awhile, it is beautiful. They upgraded their facility in 2007 and I have taken a tour of the renovated Doyt Perry stadium as well as the new basketball arena and they are both first class and very impressive.

I attended a game there in 2009 and wasn't impressed.

I have NOT been to the new arena, but it appears to be excellent.

I'd call Doyt Perry a tad nicer than Rynearson, due to the more recent renovation. The design is almost exactly the same. If I remember, a lot of the concession stands are not covered by the stadium stands, meaning their exposed to the elements.

(08-04-2015 02:51 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  I'd call Doyt Perry a tad nicer than Rynearson, due to the more recent renovation. The design is almost exactly the same. If I remember, a lot of the concession stands are not covered by the stadium stands, meaning their exposed to the elements.

Doyt Perry seemed way nicer. One of the reasons is it has some color. Orange in the seating, the turf looks good, both ends are relatively closed. Rynearson is gray, gray, and more gray. Quite honestly, it is depressing. The gray turf just accentuates the cement like quality of the place. It is like they are embracing the ugliness of all that cold cement.

(08-03-2015 09:47 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 03:58 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Rynearson is not "just fine" for football. It is a national joke and it will always, always keep EMU from being a good team--make no mistake, it is a recruit repellent. Why do you think we cannot recruit instate? A 20-25k horeshoe stadium with 2 legitimate scoreboards, modern lockerrooms, and a state of the art press box is all it would take to compete with CMU and WMU. Until then, we will ALWAYS be the third choice of the state MAC schools. This half-a** attitude of EMU fans is infuriating.

Agree Bob. Others need to see how much better the stadium experience could be by checking out what other schools have built more recently. Rynearson stadium in it's current state doesn't cut it. Though I can't see people throwing money at large scale stadium renovations until the program can put together some winning seasons.


FAU Stadium opened in 2011 for $70 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAU_Stadium

InfoCision Stadium, Akron opened in 2009 for $61.6 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoCision...umma_Field

We should not be following Akron:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf...y_off.html

(08-04-2015 06:04 PM)masttg Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 09:47 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 03:58 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Rynearson is not "just fine" for football. It is a national joke and it will always, always keep EMU from being a good team--make no mistake, it is a recruit repellent. Why do you think we cannot recruit instate? A 20-25k horeshoe stadium with 2 legitimate scoreboards, modern lockerrooms, and a state of the art press box is all it would take to compete with CMU and WMU. Until then, we will ALWAYS be the third choice of the state MAC schools. This half-a** attitude of EMU fans is infuriating.

Agree Bob. Others need to see how much better the stadium experience could be by checking out what other schools have built more recently. Rynearson stadium in it's current state doesn't cut it. Though I can't see people throwing money at large scale stadium renovations until the program can put together some winning seasons.


FAU Stadium opened in 2011 for $70 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAU_Stadium

InfoCision Stadium, Akron opened in 2009 for $61.6 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoCision...umma_Field

We should not be following Akron:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf...y_off.html

Akron apparently has systemic problems. It is not clear what the source of the problems are. I'm not sure that the stadium was that much of the problem.

At EMU, any expensive plans e.g., lights/scoreboard/press box/new football building, etc. should be financed by gifts and maybe borrowing in the credit markets by pledging say 1M / year of monies (receivables) from college football playoffs, ESPN television monies, or road FB game guarantees.

Why not borrow monies over a 20 year period for big ticket items???

Borrow 20M and go for 5 - 10M in donor monies.

(08-04-2015 06:41 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 06:04 PM)masttg Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 09:47 PM)EMU03 Wrote:  

(08-03-2015 03:58 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Rynearson is not "just fine" for football. It is a national joke and it will always, always keep EMU from being a good team--make no mistake, it is a recruit repellent. Why do you think we cannot recruit instate? A 20-25k horeshoe stadium with 2 legitimate scoreboards, modern lockerrooms, and a state of the art press box is all it would take to compete with CMU and WMU. Until then, we will ALWAYS be the third choice of the state MAC schools. This half-a** attitude of EMU fans is infuriating.

Agree Bob. Others need to see how much better the stadium experience could be by checking out what other schools have built more recently. Rynearson stadium in it's current state doesn't cut it. Though I can't see people throwing money at large scale stadium renovations until the program can put together some winning seasons.


FAU Stadium opened in 2011 for $70 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAU_Stadium

InfoCision Stadium, Akron opened in 2009 for $61.6 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoCision...umma_Field

We should not be following Akron:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf...y_off.html

Akron apparently has systemic problems. It is not clear what the source of the problems are. I'm not sure that the stadium was that much of the problem.

At EMU, any expensive plans e.g., lights/scoreboard/press box/new football building, etc. should be financed by gifts and maybe borrowing in the credit markets by pledging say 1M / year of monies (receivables) from college football playoffs, ESPN television monies, or road FB game guarantees.

Why not borrow monies over a 20 year period for big ticket items???

Borrow 20M and go for 5 - 10M in donor monies.

I agree that improvements are needed and overdue - but getting everyone that needs to be on board with it will require some success on the football field. I suppose for multiple reasons the next few years are big.....BIG I'M TELLING YA