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

(06-09-2016 01:54 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 01:17 PM)xxxoduxxx Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 12:57 PM)FearTheLion Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 11:25 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I've read from several people on here, and a quote from an ODU official, that limiting supply increases the demand. That is false. Marketing increases demand, we don't do much of it, and the little that we do is done poorly. I want to grow the base and ODU wants to shrink it. We have neither the demographics, nor the alumni wealth, nor the product on the field to be modeling our strategy after Baylor University. We aren't a top 10 program, and we aren't playing Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, and WVU.

I haven't agreed with a lot of your opinions before this one, but I think you killed it here. Fortunately for me and my family, I can pay almost anything that ODU asks and I will enjoy sitting in luxury over the first several years of the new stadium. My biggest concern (and it really is centered on the university vs my personal comfort) is that ODU 20 years from now will be the same graying fanbase with very few newcomers to keep things moving ahead.

High-caliber tailgates for wine and cheese ready alumni, hooray and let's improve the party! New fans that might want to attach themselves to ODU for proximity advantages and a different experience for Hampton Roads, GFY.

Exactly both of you. We need to attract recent graduates living in HR/casual fans for the future of ODU. Im sure there are more than 1000 local HR students who graduate from ODU every year. Even if we can get 200 of them to attend right now, that would be a plus. If there are no seats for die hard recent graduated students to attend the game, I'm sure they will start losing interest in ODU football. Its not about now, but more for the future. They may not have money right now since paying student loans, settling life etc. But in future he/she will surely settle down, earn money, bring in kids and wife/husband, buy season tickets, donate. Its about growing and thinking about the fastest growth. If I was an Admin, I would get those student ticket data and see which local students are attending 90% of the football games. I would offer them 2 to 3 years of free tickets if we had enough seats.

That is one of the better ideas I've seen on here. RJ Reynolds used Joe Camel to get me hooked on smoking when I was young. What better way to hook young graduates that have paid 4+ years of fees and attended games at a good rate and make them donors for life than with free tickets extending for a period after graduation? Unfortunately, we don't have the capacity to do that.

That's actually a pretty good idea that should be done with expansion soon as our other dept is cleared up. Let's say we know we're going to have some of our other debts cleared up in 4 years we say "ok Freshman. If you go to x games for the next 4 years we'll have season tickets for you for 2 years for free because in 4 years we're adding on to East side." That's kinda cool but if there is a demand already there for paying folks that might not fly... money talks.

I like that idea about free tickets for grads.
Gotta do something like have them at the box office for pick up, and show your transcript or something as proof. That way tickets that are not picked up can still be sold last minute.

1)As for the debts being cleared up in 4 years. Will the new buildings being added to campus put us back where we were? I'm clueless as to how that sort of financing works out with the school and state.

2) Any idea why Ross Mugler voted no to the stadium?

(06-09-2016 02:06 PM)GhentFan Wrote:  I like that idea about free tickets for grads.
Gotta do something like have them at the box office for pick up, and show your transcript or something as proof. That way tickets that are not picked up can still be sold last minute.

1)As for the debts being cleared up in 4 years. Will the new buildings being added to campus put us back where we were? I'm clueless as to how that sort of financing works out with the school and state.

2) Any idea why Ross Mugler voted no to the stadium?

I can answer #2. He didn't want to vote yes on something without getting more details on everything.

Lets do discounted tickets with no ODAF donation required and access to student tailgate area. Free tickets dilutes the product.

(06-09-2016 02:22 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Lets do discounted tickets with no ODAF donation required and access to student tailgate area. Free tickets dilutes the product.

They are offering a discounted tailgating pass this season to young alums. A $100 donation gets you parking for the first 3 (maybe 4) years after graduation. That includes the match they give you, so the donation is discounted as well. They did the same for the BBR for hoops this season. It was a fantastic deal that more should be taking advantage of.

(06-09-2016 02:06 PM)GhentFan Wrote:  I like that idea about free tickets for grads.
Gotta do something like have them at the box office for pick up, and show your transcript or something as proof. That way tickets that are not picked up can still be sold last minute.

Lol not transcript and all. It should be online just like the student tickets, let them reserve it online before Thursday or friday and get their tickets at the box office. Their name will be in the database, and they will be notified after graduation regarding the tickets. Lets say we have 2000 tickets reserved, it will be first come first serve. Also this should be available for every game and not the games that are not going to sell.

(06-09-2016 02:22 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Lets do discounted tickets with no ODAF donation required and access to student tailgate area. Free tickets dilutes the product.

When expanded to 30K, I think upper bowl and the endzone tics wont require ODAF donation, unless there is a big surge in ticket demand.

(06-09-2016 02:34 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  I'm not a fan of 22K seats. Beyond 6 games a year, I think we can attract larger events with a larger stadium that will help pay for that bigger capacity. I understand the stadium is expandable and the amenities will be fantastic, and I commend the school for not raising student fees in the process, but 55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats. I don't know, maybe I'm just cheap...

Regardless, I'm still excited for this beauty.

I seem to be repeating this all day. "55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats." That is a correct statement! However, we aren't spending 55 mil to get 2000 seats. We are getting better seats, better restrooms, better concessions, better flow, better locker rooms, better club levels. There is more to a stadium than capacity.

(06-09-2016 02:37 PM)odu09 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 02:34 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  I'm not a fan of 22K seats. Beyond 6 games a year, I think we can attract larger events with a larger stadium that will help pay for that bigger capacity. I understand the stadium is expandable and the amenities will be fantastic, and I commend the school for not raising student fees in the process, but 55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats. I don't know, maybe I'm just cheap...

Regardless, I'm still excited for this beauty.

I seem to be repeating this all day. "55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats." That is a correct statement! However, we aren't spending 55 mil to get 2000 seats. We are getting better seats, better restrooms, better concessions, better flow, better locker rooms, better club levels. There is more to a stadium than capacity.

Yep. The Ted is absolutely a great example of this. Personally, I've always felt 35k is probably the top-end of our program, but 30k is plenty fine with me considering what the facility will be like. And...though I'm no architect, I'm not convinced it's not expandable from that point.

If the stadium is done 2019 we will host OOC:


2019
Buffalo
ECU

2020
Wake Forest
UNC
UVA

2021

2022
VT
Idaho

2023

2024
VT


I can see all those games except Idaho and Buffalo demanding more than 30k
Now does the extra money between the 28k stadium and the 22k stadium plans justify those handful of games?

I'm actually in the camp of Maxing the stadium at 30-35k, but I think we could have gone up from the 22k plan with out too much more being spent.
Props to Broderick for not increasing the student fees to get this worked out.

(06-09-2016 02:40 PM)Monarch Maniac 10 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 02:37 PM)odu09 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 02:34 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  I'm not a fan of 22K seats. Beyond 6 games a year, I think we can attract larger events with a larger stadium that will help pay for that bigger capacity. I understand the stadium is expandable and the amenities will be fantastic, and I commend the school for not raising student fees in the process, but 55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats. I don't know, maybe I'm just cheap...

Regardless, I'm still excited for this beauty.

I seem to be repeating this all day. "55 million doesn't seem to justify 2000 extra seats." That is a correct statement! However, we aren't spending 55 mil to get 2000 seats. We are getting better seats, better restrooms, better concessions, better flow, better locker rooms, better club levels. There is more to a stadium than capacity.

Yep. The Ted is absolutely a great example of this. Personally, I've always felt 35k is probably the top-end of our program, but 30k is plenty fine with me considering what the facility will be like. And...though I'm no architect, I'm not convinced it's not expandable from that point.

It's not like the Ted though is all that small. 8600 for basketball is above average for the NCAA. 22K is far below average for FBS football. A 28K stadium with all the bells and whistles would probably be more appropriate.

(06-09-2016 12:26 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Was there any comment from the powers that be about what would be required to build the second phase? Is it contingent on season ticket demand? Walk-up demand? Conference affiliation? I don't expect a strict numerical equation -- if we sell out three straight seasons, we'll start pursuing the second phase -- but some idea about what shapes their long game would be nice.

Just like everyone else I had hoped for no less than 25K to open the stadium. However after all of the factors that have become obstacles that ODU needed to address, and what had to be reconciled to build a new stadium, I am proud of the way it has been handled and what I saw today.

Those that attended the presentation today clearly were treated to how our leaders, administration and BOV's methodically and professionally orchestrated around the many land mines that they were facing to build this new stadium. One of the most impressive elements that become evident is the stewardship and care our leaders demonstrated to resolve the cost to build the stadium. Phase I / $55 Million, however this was only a very small portion of the overall financial issues that were masterfully handled. They have also guaranteed zero increase in student fees, to assure current and future students that the burden would not be a financial issue strapped or placed on their backs. Creating a fiscally responsible way to cover the future debt service through axillary funds. Funds the University already has, yet another way our leaders have placed into motion a vision or plan to keep ticket prices for the general public at or around the current price structure. Setting into motion as we move forward the potential to add millions to ticket revenues from high dollar or corporate purchasers for suites, club seating and premium seating prices. All to immediately cover cost that would not have to be addressed by most season ticket holders. Ticket price increases to accommodate the building of the new stadium may have been an issue yet this was handled very strategically. The fact is ticket price issues may have slowed or burdened future football patriots and could have had a negative effect.

I also admired the way the University leaders, Populas and our BOV's addressed concerns and the overall presentation and the way the overall proposal was offered. It clearly was researched and the seamless professional, confident and supporting information, demonstrated they had reviewed and covered many aspects to finally get to their conclusions. However, I was even more impressed with the BOV Chair and his assertive command to handle the BOV and push for the vote and move this project immediately forward, so it can proceed to the next step.

I truly do not believe the administration could have handled and planned this stadium with the Universities welfare and have been more fiscally responsible in their approach to achieve the first and most important phase of ODU's football future.

One final mention, I hope the second phase comes very quickly with a renewed vigor and excitement as we all see this dream come true. (I may have missed this, but, a question. I thought this first phase is planed to be ready. completed by the start of 2017 .....or was that 2018). Anyway, I do believe that we will see a package of donors step up to assure the 2nd phase will move along faster than we all anticipate.

Old Dominion Hail

We're not paying $55M for 2000 seats, we're paying $55M for an entirely new stadium. Some people are a little do deep in the sat number game but this is a massive demolition, re-designing, re-infrastructuring, and all new construction. That ain't cheap. I do wish we had a larger stadium at the end of phase 1 and of course at the end of phase 2 but it's annoying when people turn a blind eye to what is actually being done... If you want a new building where a current building stands, and it's not feasibleto add 2 more floors on top of it you take it down and put a new one up. This is the exact same thing.

(06-09-2016 02:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  It's not like the Ted though is all that small. 8600 for basketball is above average for the NCAA. 22K is far below average for FBS football. A 28K stadium with all the bells and whistles would probably be more appropriate.

To be fair, when it comes to football I think you have to throw out the P5 stadiums. We will never be at that level and P5 football capacities severely bloat the average.

Our goal should be to become a top-tier G5 program. When you look at the average attendance for these schools, the numbers line up nicely. There are 61 teams, and assuming we continue to sell out while our stadium is at 22k, we'd be ranked 24th in attendance. Above the average.

When we go to 30k and we continue to sell out, we move up to 8th on that list.

Now is this fun with numbers? It sure is. But I do appreciate the "quality" aspect of this proposal as well. I highly doubt anybody can seriously tell the difference between 30k and 35k when they're at the game. Chairs with backs, plenty of space, angled seating, great food, beautiful facilities...all of those are far more likely to leave an impression on both visitors AND recruits when they visit with their families.

(06-09-2016 02:58 PM)Monarch Maniac 10 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 02:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  It's not like the Ted though is all that small. 8600 for basketball is above average for the NCAA. 22K is far below average for FBS football. A 28K stadium with all the bells and whistles would probably be more appropriate.

To be fair, when it comes to football I think you have to throw out the P5 stadiums. We will never be at that level and P5 football capacities severely bloat the average.

Our goal should be to become a top-tier G5 program. When you look at the average attendance for these schools, the numbers line up nicely. There are 61 teams, and assuming we continue to sell out while our stadium is at 22k, we'd be ranked 24th in attendance. Above the average.

When we go to 30k and we continue to sell out, we move up to 8th on that list.

Now is this fun with numbers? It sure is. But I do appreciate the "quality" aspect of this proposal as well. I highly doubt anybody can seriously tell the difference between 30k and 35k when they're at the game. Chairs with backs, plenty of space, angled seating, great food, beautiful facilities...all of those are far more likely to leave an impression on both visitors AND recruits when they visit with their families.

+ 1

(06-09-2016 02:58 PM)Monarch Maniac 10 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 02:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  It's not like the Ted though is all that small. 8600 for basketball is above average for the NCAA. 22K is far below average for FBS football. A 28K stadium with all the bells and whistles would probably be more appropriate.

To be fair, when it comes to football I think you have to throw out the P5 stadiums. We will never be at that level and P5 football capacities severely bloat the average.

Our goal should be to become a top-tier G5 program. When you look at the average attendance for these schools, the numbers line up nicely. There are 61 teams, and assuming we continue to sell out while our stadium is at 22k, we'd be ranked 24th in attendance. Above the average.

When we go to 30k and we continue to sell out, we move up to 8th on that list.

Now is this fun with numbers? It sure is. But I do appreciate the "quality" aspect of this proposal as well. I highly doubt anybody can seriously tell the difference between 30k and 35k when they're at the game. Chairs with backs, plenty of space, angled seating, great food, beautiful facilities...all of those are far more likely to leave an impression on both visitors AND recruits when they visit with their families.

solid post

Someone on here assured us the BOV would not approve the proposal today. They assured us we'd have to wait for the next BOV meeting to hear if it was accepted or not.

WRONG

(06-09-2016 12:23 PM)Cr8n Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 12:21 PM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  Of course this is just my opinion, and it appears as though I am in a small minority with it, but I believe that holding down student fee increases to $0, and providing high quality amenities to all (not just those with premium seating,) were the two overarching factors in this stadium plan.

I do not believe for one minute that keeping the capacity low to maintain sellouts was nearly as important a factor as most are making it out to have been.

That's my take as well.

Bingo

I know that there is a PDF of all the information. However, is there a video of the actual presentation given this morning? I'd love to watch if possible.

I was just thinking about that.
It'd be nice to watch. More information that way like the Master plan video.