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

(09-26-2017 10:53 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:51 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  What are peoples thoughts on standing room only areas? No need to build more seats. Get more people in the door spending money and raises the capacity. Virtually guarantees a sellout if you sell standing room only tickets for $10-$20. Its a win win

Big fan. The Orioles and Nats do SRO tickets the right way and it would smart to emulate.

They could turn the beer garden into SRO. Leave their seats for fans that want to watch the game.

Would love to see ODU partner with O'Connor Brewing Co (ODU grad) and have a larger beer garden at the stadium. That would be cool

(09-26-2017 10:11 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:02 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 09:21 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  Here is an in depth look into the finances at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium from a couple years ago.

http://www.uh.edu/af/stadiumupdate.pdf

I truly don't understand how the state of Virginia and the administration at ODU expect us to compete with other G5 teams when they are spending triple the amount on facilities as we do.

To me I dont see them spending more than us. Game Day building $29M, Phase I $55M, Phase II $99M Total $183M. We are just spreading the money out over years. The issue I have is that we are not getting the most for our money. If Houston gets 40k seats for $160M, how are we spending $183M and getting 30k seats. Could be some inflation there but not that much.

Because we are not doing it all at once.

(09-26-2017 01:02 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:11 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:02 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 09:21 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  Here is an in depth look into the finances at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium from a couple years ago.

http://www.uh.edu/af/stadiumupdate.pdf

I truly don't understand how the state of Virginia and the administration at ODU expect us to compete with other G5 teams when they are spending triple the amount on facilities as we do.

To me I dont see them spending more than us. Game Day building $29M, Phase I $55M, Phase II $99M Total $183M. We are just spreading the money out over years. The issue I have is that we are not getting the most for our money. If Houston gets 40k seats for $160M, how are we spending $183M and getting 30k seats. Could be some inflation there but not that much.

Because we are not doing it all at once.

I get you save some by doing it at once but geez. North texas spent $78M at once and got 30k seats. I think we will have a nicer stadium than NT and also the nicest in C-USA. Also def good enough to compete with AAC stadiums.

(09-26-2017 10:51 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  What are peoples thoughts on standing room only areas? No need to build more seats. Get more people in the door spending money and raises the capacity. Virtually guarantees a sellout if you sell standing room only tickets for $10-$20. Its a win win

I'm surprised the Populous recommendation didn't include a standing room area. They seem to be popular everywhere they've been built. And many fans are there to socialize as much as watch the game. Makes a great way to do that. If it's not part of phase 1, it should be fast tracked for phase 2.

(09-26-2017 02:40 PM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 01:02 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:11 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:02 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 09:21 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  Here is an in depth look into the finances at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium from a couple years ago.

http://www.uh.edu/af/stadiumupdate.pdf

I truly don't understand how the state of Virginia and the administration at ODU expect us to compete with other G5 teams when they are spending triple the amount on facilities as we do.

To me I dont see them spending more than us. Game Day building $29M, Phase I $55M, Phase II $99M Total $183M. We are just spreading the money out over years. The issue I have is that we are not getting the most for our money. If Houston gets 40k seats for $160M, how are we spending $183M and getting 30k seats. Could be some inflation there but not that much.

Because we are not doing it all at once.

I get you save some by doing it at once but geez. North texas spent $78M at once and got 30k seats. I think we will have a nicer stadium than NT and also the nicest in C-USA. Also def good enough to compete with AAC stadiums.

Maybe when its finished. I look at it as Houston getting 40,000 for $160M while ODU gets 22,000 and spends $55M but a LOT fewer bells and whistles that impress recruits, generate revenue and enhance the game day experience. I don't see any way we are the best stadium in CUSA with the new phase one. We may not even be the best FCS stadium in the state at phase one. From the looks of it, We'll still be barely average for CUSA once we get the new stadium built (phase one). Phase 2 is another story, but they make it sound like many of us may not be alive to see that built.

(09-26-2017 04:16 PM)Sidewinder Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:51 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  What are peoples thoughts on standing room only areas? No need to build more seats. Get more people in the door spending money and raises the capacity. Virtually guarantees a sellout if you sell standing room only tickets for $10-$20. Its a win win

I'm surprised the Populous recommendation didn't include a standing room area. They seem to be popular everywhere they've been built. And many fans are there to socialize as much as watch the game. Makes a great way to do that. If it's not part of phase 1, it should be fast tracked for phase 2.

This is, in fact, a priority for the new stadium. Wood recently addressed this at a meeting and stated that he doesn't like how we have a lot of empty seats during the game, because so many are crammed down under the corner of the game day building, where they can't be involved or even see much of the game. He gave a few examples of what they are looking to mimic... he specifically mentioned Penn St's stadium.

When it comes to our new stadium, please keep in mind that the renderings that have been made public were just for the initial funding to mostly satisfy the state, while answering some basic internal questions about feasibility and constructability. Don't be surprised one bit, if the final version and phasing is a lot different than what we have been looking at the past several months. Populous is basically starting from scratch with design details and will thoroughly vet many options. Fundraising, since the submission to the state will also be a factor.

I can't imagine it being too different. Ballards and Populous had the same rough idea for their layouts.

(09-26-2017 06:45 PM)GhentFan Wrote:  I can't imagine it being too different. Ballards and Populous had the same rough idea for their layouts.

Agreed... the basic, overall appearance may be similar (as are most stadiums), but there are a lot of details and tweaking that will be done, which will probably change the overall "feel" and function of the structure.

(09-26-2017 06:06 PM)Cant Tame the Lion Wrote:  When it comes to our new stadium, please keep in mind that the renderings that have been made public were just for the initial funding to mostly satisfy the state, while answering some basic internal questions about feasibility and constructability. Don't be surprised one bit, if the final version and phasing is a lot different than what we have been looking at the past several months. Populous is basically starting from scratch with design details and will thoroughly vet many options. Fundraising, since the submission to the state will also be a factor.

WS said that $10M had been pledged since the submission. He alluded to the design of phase I possibly changing IF those pledges are delivered in time. If that happens they will likely add income generating suites, but I hope they throw the everyday fans some red meat as well, like the jumbo score board.

(09-26-2017 05:17 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 02:40 PM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 01:02 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:11 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:02 AM)monarx Wrote:  I truly don't understand how the state of Virginia and the administration at ODU expect us to compete with other G5 teams when they are spending triple the amount on facilities as we do.

To me I dont see them spending more than us. Game Day building $29M, Phase I $55M, Phase II $99M Total $183M. We are just spreading the money out over years. The issue I have is that we are not getting the most for our money. If Houston gets 40k seats for $160M, how are we spending $183M and getting 30k seats. Could be some inflation there but not that much.

Because we are not doing it all at once.

I get you save some by doing it at once but geez. North texas spent $78M at once and got 30k seats. I think we will have a nicer stadium than NT and also the nicest in C-USA. Also def good enough to compete with AAC stadiums.

Maybe when its finished. I look at it as Houston getting 40,000 for $160M while ODU gets 22,000 and spends $55M but a LOT fewer bells and whistles that impress recruits, generate revenue and enhance the game day experience. I don't see any way we are the best stadium in CUSA with the new phase one. We may not even be the best FCS stadium in the state at phase one. From the looks of it, We'll still be barely average for CUSA once we get the new stadium built (phase one). Phase 2 is another story, but they make it sound like many of us may not be alive to see that built.

I was talking about after Phase II. Cmon. Phase I is nothing to me

(09-26-2017 07:03 PM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 06:06 PM)Cant Tame the Lion Wrote:  When it comes to our new stadium, please keep in mind that the renderings that have been made public were just for the initial funding to mostly satisfy the state, while answering some basic internal questions about feasibility and constructability. Don't be surprised one bit, if the final version and phasing is a lot different than what we have been looking at the past several months. Populous is basically starting from scratch with design details and will thoroughly vet many options. Fundraising, since the submission to the state will also be a factor.

WS said that $10M had been pledged since the submission. He alluded to the design of phase I possibly changing IF those pledges are delivered in time. If that happens they will likely add income generating suites, but I hope they throw the everyday fans some red meat as well, like the jumbo score board.

I agree here. While I want more than 22k seats, I know that is not on the table, so adding suites and a scoreboard seems like the best use of additional funding in phase 1

Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

(09-26-2017 09:21 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  Here is an in depth look into the finances at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium from a couple years ago.

http://www.uh.edu/af/stadiumupdate.pdf

Pardon my interruption as I typically read only, but do not post on other school's boards. ODU fans may find this additional information about the Houston stadium document of interest, however, as you try to understand the costs involved in building a new FB facility. This information comes via my architect brother, who was the on-site architectural manager brought in by UH after they had started the project. UH started the project in-house with the kind of cost projections you've posted, but they quickly found out that the university had seriously bitten off more than they could manage, and the construction deadline and costs were way off-base.

Bottom line, the initial projected stadium costs by UH were off (underestimated) by at least $30 mil. In the end, the stadium was completed and opened on time, but behind the scenes wrangling about the additional costs for the job continue. In the end, the UH facility is a big improvement over what they had been playing in, but the cost was substantially higher than what is outlined in the document you shared.

(09-26-2017 09:12 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 09:21 AM)cmett003 Wrote:  Here is an in depth look into the finances at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium from a couple years ago.

http://www.uh.edu/af/stadiumupdate.pdf

Pardon my interruption as I typically read only, but do not post on other school's boards. ODU fans may find this additional information about the Houston stadium document of interest, however, as you try to understand the costs involved in building a new FB facility. This information comes via my architect brother, who was the on-site architectural manager brought in by UH after they had started the project. UH started the project in-house with the kind of cost projections you've posted, but they quickly found out that the university had seriously bitten off more than they could manage, and the construction deadline and costs were way off-base.

Bottom line, the initial projected stadium costs by UH were off (underestimated) by at least $30 mil. In the end, the stadium was completed and opened on time, but behind the scenes wrangling about the additional costs for the job continue. In the end, the UH facility is a big improvement over what they had been playing in, but the cost was substantially higher than what is outlined in the document you shared.

Thanks for chiming in, that is good to know.

(09-26-2017 06:06 PM)Cant Tame the Lion Wrote:  When it comes to our new stadium, please keep in mind that the renderings that have been made public were just for the initial funding to mostly satisfy the state, while answering some basic internal questions about feasibility and constructability. Don't be surprised one bit, if the final version and phasing is a lot different than what we have been looking at the past several months. Populous is basically starting from scratch with design details and will thoroughly vet many options. Fundraising, since the submission to the state will also be a factor.

I would think that they need to finalize a lot of these basic "what is in or out" decisions in the next couple months. Hopefully we see some renderings from Populous after those decisions are finalized.

Harry has stated on this week's ODU blitz vid he will have a column out Sunday, providing some criticisms on the Populous design for the new stadium. Believes there are some flaws in the design that ODU officials will probably agree with him.

Anyone betting on him bringing up Liberty at some point?

jk jk. (Not trying to derail the thread).

(09-28-2017 12:33 PM)FantomVII Wrote:  Harry has stated on this week's ODU blitz vid he will have a column out Sunday, providing some criticisms on the Populous design for the new stadium. Believes there are some flaws in the design that ODU officials will probably agree with him.

Anyone betting on him bringing up Liberty at some point?

jk jk. (Not trying to derail the thread).

I'll set the over/under for number of times Harry says "Liberty" in the article at 0.5

My sense is that if Harry says ODU admin would probably agree with him he has discussed with the appropriate people on campus and they do agree with him. It would be foolish for him to say that otherwise. So it should be a very interesting piece come Sunday.

I don't have to make flaws with the new stadium. Just capacity after Phase II should be at least 35k with the ability to expand and sell alcohol at the stadium to make more money (although I dont think that was on Populous). I actually like the look of the stadium from the exterior and the scoreboard is bada$$.

(09-28-2017 01:37 PM)jumpshooter Wrote:  My sense is that if Harry says ODU admin would probably agree with him he has discussed with the appropriate people on campus and they do agree with him. It would be foolish for him to say that otherwise. So it should be a very interesting piece come Sunday.

Indeed. Sounds like the article will work as an unofficial release/report to the changes they're making to Phase 1 designs.