(03-27-2014 11:30 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Just went in Rupp arena today and their seating is STEEP. Especially in the upper deck.
The area within the 4 walls is actually surprisingly small, but they fit 23,000 in there for a raucous environment.
If they had suites it would be a perfect model for JMU to build at 40% scale.

The new convo can be great with a decent architect.

Rupp is starting a major expansion soon. I believe that proposals may have already been submitted.

Follow up:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/19550...s-revealed

(01-22-2014 05:35 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  The new Convo is definitely coming, it is just a matter of when and where. Beyond dollars, one of the biggest hold ups now is deciding exactly where it will be located.

Why don't we tear down BFS and build half a convo next to Godwin with a lake view?

A new convo and a beach volleyball facility. Boom. Done.

I shared this concern on the Newest Conference Rumor thread but it belongs on this thread. I know for a fact JMU is trying to raise a certain amount of private funds before JMU taps into the Va. bonds to finance the new convo but with conference affiliation in flux and the uncertainty possibly causing decrease excitement for JMU athletics I have concerns JMU may not build a new convo at all. If the private funds do not come available the New Convo may be a pipe dream.

(03-27-2014 11:38 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(01-22-2014 05:35 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  The new Convo is definitely coming, it is just a matter of when and where. Beyond dollars, one of the biggest hold ups now is deciding exactly where it will be located.

Why don't we tear down BFS and build half a convo next to Godwin with a lake view?

Nice. Best idea yet. We obviously will not and don't need the seats in BFS.

(03-27-2014 11:38 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Why don't we tear down BFS and build half a convo next to Godwin with a lake view?

we get it. you don't understand why we expanded the (consistently sold out) football stadium to stay in the CAA (which we are not going to do) instead of dumping money into a new (half empty) basketball arena. we get it.

(03-27-2014 12:00 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  I shared this concern on the Newest Conference Rumor thread but it belongs on this thread. I know for a fact JMU is trying to raise a certain amount of private funds before JMU taps into the Va. bonds to finance the new convo but with conference affiliation in flux and the uncertainty possibly causing decrease excitement for JMU athletics I have concerns JMU may not build a new convo at all. If the private funds do not come available the New Convo may be a pipe dream.

I'm confident that it will get built eventually, but the environment in Richmond regarding using students fees to pay for sports facilities has taken a dramatic turn recently. ODU got raked over the coals last month while trying to get permission to build their new football stadium. They're proposing to do the same sort of thing that JMU is planning to do with the new Convo - issue bonds to paid for by student fees and whatever other revenue they can generate.

The bonds were already approved to build the new convo, were they not?

(03-27-2014 01:03 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 11:38 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Why don't we tear down BFS and build half a convo next to Godwin with a lake view?

we get it. you don't understand why we expanded the (consistently sold out) football stadium to stay in the CAA (which we are not going to do) instead of dumping money into a new (half empty) basketball arena. we get it.

JMU dropped 15% in attendance last year... and we didn't consistently sell out.

(03-27-2014 02:36 PM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  JMU dropped 15% in attendance last year... and we didn't consistently sell out.

We also went 6-6 with arguably the lamest 7-game home schedule of opponents in a decade. Our attendance decline last year has virtually no bearing on our conference.

I would wager that even if there is no conference announcement prior to kickoff at Maryland this year our attendance will be higher based on Wither's football style (If they play they way they hype it right now football will be exciting this fall) and the fact that there's 2 less games to attend than last year.

(03-27-2014 02:32 PM)hburg Wrote:  The bonds were already approved to build the new convo, were they not?

Yes. The new Convo is a go. The issue of when ground will be broken is tied to private gifts, and the states bonding capacity. The location hasn't changed, but the scale/size and "extras" associated with the project are still tbd.

(03-27-2014 03:02 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 02:36 PM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  JMU dropped 15% in attendance last year... and we didn't consistently sell out.

We also went 6-6 with arguably the lamest 7-game home schedule of opponents in a decade. Our attendance decline last year has virtually no bearing on our conference.

I would wager that even if there is no conference announcement prior to kickoff at Maryland this year our attendance will be higher based on Wither's football style (If they play they way they hype it right now football will be exciting this fall) and the fact that there's 2 less games to attend than last year.

These numbers may not be "official", but I have our attendance per games as...

2011 = 25,002
2012 = 22,783
2013 = 21,011

This is not the trend you want.

I have not seen the detailed Duke Club numbers, but I think donations to the athletics department were flat last year after several years of ~10% growth. It's going to take a while to raise $15 million dollars for the Convo when we average just over $2 million in donations per year.

We may be able to tap some large donors for "special gifts", but I've never seen a year with more than $4 million in total (operating + capital) contributions.

Does anyone know the donation $ raised specifically for the BFS expansion?

(03-27-2014 08:41 PM)HooDukeVooDuke Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:02 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 02:36 PM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  JMU dropped 15% in attendance last year... and we didn't consistently sell out.

We also went 6-6 with arguably the lamest 7-game home schedule of opponents in a decade. Our attendance decline last year has virtually no bearing on our conference.

I would wager that even if there is no conference announcement prior to kickoff at Maryland this year our attendance will be higher based on Wither's football style (If they play they way they hype it right now football will be exciting this fall) and the fact that there's 2 less games to attend than last year.

These numbers may not be "official", but I have our attendance per games as...

2011 = 25,002
2012 = 22,783
2013 = 21,011

This is not the trend you want.

I have not seen the detailed Duke Club numbers, but I think donations to the athletics department were flat last year after several years of ~10% growth. It's going to take a while to raise $15 million dollars for the Convo when we average just over $2 million in donations per year.

We may be able to tap some large donors for "special gifts", but I've never seen a year with more than $4 million in total (operating + capital) contributions.

Does anyone know the donation $ raised specifically for the BFS expansion?

I doubt those folks are going to be too receptive to another round of significant donations to build another facility based on the Admins lack of direction and commitment to athletics.

(03-27-2014 05:08 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 02:32 PM)hburg Wrote:  The bonds were already approved to build the new convo, were they not?

total
Yes. The new Convo is a go. The issue of when ground will be broken is tied to private gifts, and the states bonding capacity. The location hasn't changed, but the scale/size and "extras" associated with the project are still tbd.

The statement that the site has not changed is not totally true. There is a definite possibility that the site is not where it was originally planned. Not saying it will change, but believe me another location has been discussed.

That said you are correct that no ground will be broken until a bunch of money is in the bank.

(03-27-2014 08:54 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:41 PM)HooDukeVooDuke Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:02 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 02:36 PM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  JMU dropped 15% in attendance last year... and we didn't consistently sell out.

We also went 6-6 with arguably the lamest 7-game home schedule of opponents in a decade. Our attendance decline last year has virtually no bearing on our conference.

I would wager that even if there is no conference announcement prior to kickoff at Maryland this year our attendance will be higher based on Wither's football style (If they play they way they hype it right now football will be exciting this fall) and the fact that there's 2 less games to attend than last year.

These numbers may not be "official", but I have our attendance per games as...

2011 = 25,002
2012 = 22,783
2013 = 21,011

This is not the trend you want.

I have not seen the detailed Duke Club numbers, but I think donations to the athletics department were flat last year after several years of ~10% growth. It's going to take a while to raise $15 million dollars for the Convo when we average just over $2 million in donations per year.

We may be able to tap some large donors for "special gifts", but I've never seen a year with more than $4 million in total (operating + capital) contributions.

Does anyone know the donation $ raised specifically for the BFS expansion?

I doubt those folks are going to be too receptive to another round of significant donations to build another facility based on the Admins lack of direction and commitment to athletics.

The original goal for BFS was $10 million and I believe somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 million was pledged. That does not mean $7 million was collected.

As much as people want to talk about the money that will roll in after going FBS, nothing to date has shown that will be the case.

I am huge supporter of going to the MAC and think CUSA would be a good alternative, but we are kidding ourselves if you think the admin can count on a huge inflow of dollars once we do. Nothing that has happened in the past shows that we have those donors and if we did they already would have said I am in for X. To my knowledge that has not happened.

2011 = 25,002 * 5 = 125,010
2012 = 22,783 *6 = 136,698
2013 = 21,011 *7 = 147,077

Let's see how things go this season. I'm not too concerned yet. A lot of folks here were predicting avg attendance in the 18,000 - 22,000 range in year one. I'd say paid attendance has exceeded most expectations up to this point.

(03-27-2014 09:08 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote:  2011 = 25,002 * 5 = 125,010
2012 = 22,783 *6 = 136,698
2013 = 21,011 *7 = 147,077

Let's see how things go this season. I'm not too concerned yet. A lot of folks here were predicting avg attendance in the 18,000 - 22,000 range in year one. I'd say paid attendance has exceeded most expectations up to this point.

The most interesting metric to me would be season ticket packages sold each year, as that says more about the core fan base and their commitment. Attendance will vary some depending on who the opponent is, the season win/loss record, and even the weather conditions.

(03-27-2014 09:14 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 09:08 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote:  2011 = 25,002 * 5 = 125,010
2012 = 22,783 *6 = 136,698
2013 = 21,011 *7 = 147,077

Let's see how things go this season. I'm not too concerned yet. A lot of folks here were predicting avg attendance in the 18,000 - 22,000 range in year one. I'd say paid attendance has exceeded most expectations up to this point.

The most interesting metric to me would be season ticket packages sold each year, as that says more about the core fan base and their commitment. Attendance will vary some depending on who the opponent is, the season win/loss record, and even the weather conditions.

I've had the same thought. The club seats & suites are really the key issue since they have significant donation dollars tied to them. We do have some total ticket sales info .....

2010 = $826,886
2011 = $1,903,709
2012 = $1,871,713
2013 = ????

All of this points to justification/financing of the new convo being tough unless the state lets us increase student fees ~$300 per student.

The FBS move clouds the issue slightly. The Carr report assumes donations essentially double to ~$4 million/year with a move to any FBS conference, but the students will still see a small ($50-75/year) fee increase for FBS even with increased donations. I know many people have said they would "double down" on an FBS move, but I'm not sure I would count on everyone.

Looks like campaign for the new convo is under way. Seems like the campaign is set to really kick off in July!

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=209471160