https://niuhuskies.com/news/2023/10/17/g...-1899-club

https://crowdfund.niu.edu/project/39537

Quote:Today (October 17, 2023), the Huskie Athletic Fund is launching its vision for the upcoming project, the 1899 Club, an approximately $4 million multi-use facility that is the next step in fulfilling Northern Illinois University Athletics' commitment to provide enhanced nutritional services for NIU student-athletes in the form of a training table. The name references the initial year that NIU competed in intercollegiate athletics.

This is an awesome addition. Providing actual training table meals for our athletes is really a step up.

(10-18-2023 09:36 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  This is an awesome addition. Providing actual training table meals for our athletes is really a step up.

Is $4 million a lot for that? We could build a new baseball park for around that instead of piece mealing the baseball grounds. Also, Huskie Stadium needs a new field and video board.

$4 million seems like a nice downpayment on the stadium upgrades. STF seems to target smaller projects as he's capable of nothing else, and needs to show some upgrades.

This would be a nice thing for NIU after the stadium upgrade, or as part of that package. Also, why couldn't the main mezzanine in the proposed luxury tower at the stadium be used for player food service and study tables?

I assume if STF is finally publicly announcing a project they must have a few lead large donations.

Fabulous upgrade for the student athletes and per the head coaches for football, volleyball and men’s/women’s basketball a great recruiting tool.

(10-18-2023 09:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-18-2023 09:36 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  This is an awesome addition. Providing actual training table meals for our athletes is really a step up.

Is $4 million a lot for that? We could build a new baseball park for around that instead of piece mealing the baseball grounds. Also, Huskie Stadium needs a new field and video board.

Today's costs? $4 million doesn't seem out of line for an addition to the Yordon Center that will include a fully functional kitchen. Clicking on the bottom illustration it shows up as "1899__Option 1__Page__4" Makes one wonder if there are / were other options. Why does NIU athletics always do things that leave questions. STF's original master(bation) plan had similar incomplete architectural renderings.
Would agree that replacing the field and an upgraded video board are needed but don't spend another penny on baseball because eventually it will be dropped so that STF can have a roofed area built for mega donor parking and to house his golf cart.

(10-18-2023 12:05 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(10-18-2023 09:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-18-2023 09:36 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  This is an awesome addition. Providing actual training table meals for our athletes is really a step up.

Is $4 million a lot for that? We could build a new baseball park for around that instead of piece mealing the baseball grounds. Also, Huskie Stadium needs a new field and video board.

Today's costs? $4 million doesn't seem out of line for an addition to the Yordon Center that will include a fully functional kitchen. Clicking on the bottom illustration it shows up as "1899__Option 1__Page__4" Makes one wonder if there are / were other options. Why does NIU athletics always do things that leave questions. STF's original master(bation) plan had similar incomplete architectural renderings.
Would agree that replacing the field and an upgraded video board are needed but don't spend another penny on baseball because eventually it will be dropped so that STF can have a roofed area built for mega donor parking and to house his golf cart.

Agree no more $ for baseball stadium, at least at this time. The improvements done are sufficient for better play ... artificial turf infield, drainage to "replace" (haha) the one shown in the 1990s plan that mysteriously was never built, required ADA grandstand improvements, etc. Leave it for now, let 'em play and see what happens without additional facility costs.

As for HS, what several of us suggested several years back since STF's master(bation)* plan silently faded away was to break up needed/wanted improvements into smaller parts of the whole and market those to potential donors.

Typical of STF, he appears to be doing that without doing that. And even when he does, there are unanswered questions about pronouncements.

For example, is this 1899 Club a slide sideways from the big announcement a couple years ago to sell special rings to raise funds for a student study area and gameday fan enhancement on the north end? Whatever happened to that? How many rings were sold, and how much $ was raised?

As to this new project, which appears to have similar intent, how much has been raised/pledged? I agree STF has to have some promises to make an announcement but, then again, $4 million for an NIU athletic project is still big $ by STF standards.

Do agree, however, this is good for NIU sports and ("high roller") fans, the latter of which are the only ones recognized by STF.

*Crass, but appropriate. Tnx to uiniu57.

Good for overall recruiting. Also $4 million doable. Maybe Dog Fan will kick in enough to get his name on building. The building could be named hot dogs and more presented by Dog Fan

(10-20-2023 10:57 AM)Klake1987 Wrote:  Good for overall recruiting. Also $4 million doable. Maybe Dog Fan will kick in enough to get his name on building. The building could be named hot dogs and more presented by Dog Fan

If Dog Fan is involved they will have to have a Grotto giftshop and theatre as part of the project.

STF just said on tonight's radio show he would like to see naming rights come to fruition for the 1899 Club. He didn't mention that there were any lead donations to this project yet.

Is 1899 chosen to reflect the era of the men’s bathrooms?

(10-21-2023 08:15 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Is 1899 chosen to reflect the era of the men’s bathrooms?

STF said on the radio show it was the first year of intercollegiate athletics at NIU.