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

(12-08-2015 10:23 AM)T-Mac Wrote:  Guys, the program is NOT supported by ticket sales. The program is supported by ODAF donations. If the incentive to give is lessened, the donations will decrease. Right now the top tier (Silver Lot) pay $7,500/yr. The next tier (Black Lot) pays $5,000/yr. The goal from what I can gather is to significantly increase the level of those two lots to as close to $15k/10k as possible. I'm in the Black Lot and I can assure you that I wouldn't pay $5k if I could get away with paying $2k for exactly what I have now. ODAF knows that the ONLY way to increase revenue is to keep demand very high. Demand at a new stadium will increase. If supply increases more than demand, then ODAF has no chance of getting $15k/10k from the top donors.

That is why the new stadium needs to have 2 descernable levels. Keeps the exclusivity of the current base and expands a to a new base.

How about start with something like Charlotte has (maybe a bit larger) at one level (lower bowl). Then add the upper level(s) over time as funding and demand grow.

I don't have a dog in the fight but it seems to me your existing field and the new football suites are very nice. If anything you guys should keep that and build new around it.

What are some of the reasons for not wanting to use the existing site? I know your stadium is historic, but maybe some of it could be preserved in some way or the new could incorporate some of the design of the old.

(12-08-2015 10:49 AM)40smokingcannon Wrote:  How about start with something like Charlotte has (maybe a bit larger) at one level (lower bowl). Then add the upper level(s) over time as funding and demand grow.

I don't have a dog in the fight but it seems to me your existing field and the new football suites are very nice. If anything you guys should keep that and build new around it.

What are some of the reasons for not wanting to use the existing site? I know your stadium is historic, but maybe some of it could be preserved in some way or the new could incorporate some of the design of the old.

Because it is much, much cheaper to build a larger stadium than to build a smaller one and then expand it. If they can build a large enough stadium on the current site, I would be fine with it. I believe that may not be the case, but details have been sketchy at best.

(12-08-2015 10:49 AM)40smokingcannon Wrote:  How about start with something like Charlotte has (maybe a bit larger) at one level (lower bowl). Then add the upper level(s) over time as funding and demand grow.

I don't have a dog in the fight but it seems to me your existing field and the new football suites are very nice. If anything you guys should keep that and build new around it.

What are some of the reasons for not wanting to use the existing site? I know your stadium is historic, but maybe some of it could be preserved in some way or the new could incorporate some of the design of the old.

Foreman Field is not structurally sound to expand on. It was built in the early 1900s as a means to provide jobs and no code was used. If we wanted to safely expand on the site it would have to be torn down. Another problem is proximity to the street and adjacent neighborhood on the West side. One spot is about 70 feet (could be a little off) from the street, so expansion is not feasible there, or at least it would be really diffucult and would have to be jammed in there. Also, the stadium goes North-South but is cocked slightly NW/SE. If the ones in charge of all this wanted to, they could tear down all of the school buidlings in the block that contains the stadium and could have a much larger footprint and could start fresh, but I dount they want to tear down some of the first buildings erected on campus.

Here's a screenshot for visuals:

(12-08-2015 03:16 AM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Post any information you have here or discuss the pros and cons of a new stadium in a civil manner.

I personally think we need one but only at the present site because razing perfectly usable student housing and rebuilding it unnecessarily adds to the cost of the stadium.

I envision a stadium like Maryland's Byrd Stadium at a slightly smaller scale where the east side of Foreman field will have a second deck and the smaller west side stands (because of Bluestone Ave.) will include suites.

I'm not sure what you mean by perfectly usable student housing. I'm assuming you are speaking of Whitehurst and not Powhatan Apartments. They were the worst place to live back in 2003 - 2008 and hadn't been renovated since probably the 80's (based upon the kitchen area).

I would agree with building the stadium on the current site, if that was possible, but with bluestone, hampton blvd and the fact that the university isnt going to let them tear down the orginal buildings we have to look some place else. Powhatan is that someplace else.

Question I have is do we lose Whitehurst as well due to the size and parking of the stadium.

Finally, has did anyone else do the survey concerning the new stadium?

(12-08-2015 09:40 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:19 AM)ODUi Wrote:  I don't mind an unbalanced asymmetrical stadium... We'll call it character

As long as it isn't totally off balance like JMU's. I think what S Miss has would work for us. Gameday in the end zone and the sides pushed in towards the field. Size is good and looks like it would fit on our footprint

I agree with you DaBig the Southern Miss stadium has a nice symmertical look to it and should get the job done. At least something along those lines.

(12-08-2015 08:37 AM)MonGNARch Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 06:05 AM)12thmonarch Wrote:  I know this is a dugout but this looks beautiful and with both sides finished that would be something i am interested in at 30~35 K

As beautiful as this is and I know we've talked about it before, I don't think we can dig a hole in the ground and build a stadium there, especially at the Powhatan site.

UNLESS we build a hill and do it from there!

Yeah i don't think we can dig anywhere on campus and not hit water table 20 ft under (i assume) but that looks nice nonetheless

(12-08-2015 10:13 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 10:02 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:48 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:43 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I don't care what it looks like as long as the view of the field is good and it has enough capacity that people can walk up and buy tickets on game day every week.

I get into it with ODAF people all the time. Forget the sellout streak, how do you add new fans if you don't have tickets to sell them. Few are going to buy season tickets without going to a single game.

There are plenty of single game tickets for nearly every game. Stub Hub, Craigs List, people outside the stadium. I know people that go to the games without tickets all the time. Half the time, someone just gives them a ticket because there are so many extras floating around. If people want to go to a game its not that hard.

This is true, when looking for singles. Guys aren't going to load up the family of four and go get scalped tickets. Many people don't like Craigslist or Stubhub. It's a secondary market. We need to grow the fan base and raise more money. The only way to do this, is have seats to sell.

Single game tickets were available every game this year through the ODU ticket office. Most games didn't sell out until a few days prior to kickoff.

I think the point was that nobody knows that. The heavy promotion of the sell out streak makes it seem impossible to get tickets.

Have to believe we will be hearing something within the next couple of months as to the results of the survey + additional details.

This has taken way too long. We are now looking at the early 2020's before this project will be complete. It will take 2-3 years to fund raise and another year to clear the site. and 2 years to build. They will have certainly gotten their moneys worth out of SB Ballard stadium.

(12-09-2015 01:49 PM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  This has taken way too long. We are now looking at the early 2020's before this project will be complete. It will take 2-3 years to fund raise and another year to clear the site. and 2 years to build. They will have certainly gotten their moneys worth out of SB Ballard stadium.

I believe we were supposed to hear some news over the summer, so 4-6 months ago. the year 2018 has been thrown around a lot (whether that was realistic or not I don't know). for arguments sake, lets say 2018 is still the target date (approx. 2 yrs and 9 months from today). I don't think a 4-6 month delay will add 2 additional years to the project. now, if 2018 was never in reach regardless, then that's a different story.

I want a new stadium as much as everyone else, but I'm fine with them taking their time if they are doing their diligence to make it right.

(12-09-2015 01:49 PM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  This has taken way too long. We are now looking at the early 2020's before this project will be complete.

I don't see it taking that long. UCF managed to get their stadium up and opened in 18 months. I'm not sure if they had to tear down anything before they built Bright House, but knocking Powhatan down should not be much more difficult than leaning on it.

(12-09-2015 02:14 PM)ODU2K1 Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 01:49 PM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  This has taken way too long. We are now looking at the early 2020's before this project will be complete.

I don't see it taking that long. UCF managed to get their stadium up and opened in 18 months. I'm not sure if they had to tear down anything before they built Bright House, but knocking Powhatan down should not be much more difficult than leaning on it.

while that is true (good luck to anyone that still lives there), they have to build powhatan's replacement before they can tear it down.

Hence my point of 2 years of fundraising. They will build replacement dorms during 2016-2018. I have a feeling you will also see an increase in ticket prices and the start of either higher required ODAF donations or seat premium fees to start to build the bank account to fund this project. What is clear....student fees will not go up and there will not be State $ used to fund the project like other Universities have been able to do in the past. Maybe there is a private firm that would build the stadium that could bring outdoor events. Also, would the City of Norfolk invest in such a facility ?

(12-09-2015 03:06 PM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  Hence my point of 2 years of fundraising. They will build replacement dorms during 2016-2018. I have a feeling you will also see an increase in ticket prices and the start of either higher required ODAF donations or seat premium fees to start to build the bank account to fund this project. What is clear....student fees will not go up and there will not be State $ used to fund the project like other Universities have been able to do in the past. Maybe there is a private firm that would build the stadium that could bring outdoor events. Also, would the City of Norfolk invest in such a facility ?

ODAF is trying to raise $4.4 mil this year. That won't build a section of a stadium. And I don't know about you but myself and others that I know are just about maxed out on contributions.

I doubt they plan on a bunch of old geezers donating enough to build a stadium. The money will probably come from issuing bonds. ODAF donations go to coaches salaries and operating expenses.

Something to think about when we are building our stadium and our sports program.

http://projects.huffingtonpost.com/ncaa/subsidy-gap

I hope sports is not the end game for ODU's leadership. There are so many opportunities here for them to partner up with local industry for research and development for the students.
I'd be nice if we can raise our academics.

(12-08-2015 09:40 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 09:19 AM)ODUi Wrote:  I don't mind an unbalanced asymmetrical stadium... We'll call it character

As long as it isn't totally off balance like JMU's. I think what S Miss has would work for us. Gameday in the end zone and the sides pushed in towards the field. Size is good and looks like it would fit on our footprint

I actually like JMU's stadium. However it gives off the, you must have money to enter feel to me.

I'd love JMUs half stadium, I just would want the other half too.