Here is some interesting information that was compiled by Madison09 over on the old Zone.
05-01-2011, 08:37 AM
Several of you have mentioned going through the construction thread and compiling all the information to avoid repeat questions etc. I was bored today so here it is:
This is for the newbies and lurkers….read this before posting in the IN-GAME: STADIUM thread so you don’t get pistol whipped by asking about the flaps or something.
JMU’s Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion will bring the stadium capacity to +25,000. The projects cost is estimated at 62,000,000 dollars although the final total will most likely be considerably lower. JMU raised 6 of the 62 million with the rest coming from the commonwealth in the form of bonds which will be repaid mainly via student fees.
The expansion began at the end of the 2009 football season with the demolition of the existing west side stands. (Video Here (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXahEdni9mg)). The project has been divided into 2 phases with the first completed before the start of the 2010 season (Video Here (
http://www.youtube.com/user/DukeDogTV#p/...AX4F6r9Z28)) and the second will be completed before the 2011 season. The stadium is steel and aluminum construction vs. traditional concrete. When feasible the stadium will be expandable to +40,000.
Architect- Mosley Architects (
https://www.moseleyprojects.com/ActivePa...0714617118 5919662243393)
Construction- Donley’s Inc
Stadium Height: +130 ft.
Stadium Capacity: + 25,000
-Lower Bowl=12,239 (Lower deck 7,000, End zone 5,000)
-Upper Deck= 7,000-8,000 (need some help on this one (
https://www.moseleyprojects.com/ActivePa...AGES_Page_ 11.jpg&path=/0000_Media/Photos/480261/480261_20090122180634))
-East Stands=5,157
Suites: 15 available suites plus an additional two that belong to the President and Athletic Director. $ 25,500 a year 4 year commitment. More info here (
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...D=572451).
Club level: Features access to an 8,000 sq. ft. lounge. There are 1,006 Club level seats. Seats are chair backs w/cup holders. Currently about 70% of them are sold. Info here (
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...04770486).
Chairbacks/Benchbacks: All of the Club level has chair backs as well as sections 104-108 and 305-308.
Sections 201-203, 209-214, 302-304, 309-314 have bench backs. (I'm assuming the 100 lvl does too?)
Video board: 60x25ish ft . 45x25 will be used for gameday video, clock, down etc. The other will be ads. The scoreboard will also feature new speakers hidden behind the Duke Dog logos, which can be seen in the renderings (
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u53/h...ard1.jpg). Should be installed this month. HD capabilities unknown.
Pressbox: The pressbox is one level however many areas such as the press area, coaches box, and radio box are split level. There are three designated locations for TV cameras - two at either end of the pressbox and one at the 50 yd line that will allow the camera to move along the sideline 10 yds.
Concessions: Many new concession options will be available. The student side concessions have been moved near the Godwin loading dock. Please PM is you know more.
Team Store: There will be two team stores (1 on each level) featuring JMU gear. These are not walk-in stores; they are similar to concessions.
Concourses: Unlike the old stands which were accessed via ground level, the first level will be accessed via concourse which is at the top of the stands. The Concourses is where you will find concessions, team stores, bathrooms and information booths. If you have to leave your seat to access one of the above amenities the game will be piped in via speakers and tv's, so you do not miss any of the game.
FYI-
-The finish date is mid-August. Plenty of time before the season opener on Sept. 10 vs. Central Connecticut State.
-While the light bars may look small to some, this year at Bridgeforth there is 208 lights vs. 157 (pre-renovations).
-The seats are now 40 feet closer than the original stands.
-You may notice some "flap" like things along the top walls. The walls are currently unfinished, so they look strange. They do have a purpose though. The flaps are to prevent people from placing objects on the top ledge which could then fall and hit those below.
-The balcony on the Plecker Center will stay. Access to it however, will be limited to football staff only (mainly for recruits).
-The endzone structure is not designed to support an upper deck.
-Currently there are no plans to demo Godwin. Just the opposite- JMU has requested 91 million to renovate the building.
Links of interest:
Webcam-
http://134.126.89.164/index.html?size=1&mode=0
Webcam pics-
http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/cmpa/bfwebcam/?C=M;O=D
JMU Official construction pictures (
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...M_ID=14400)
Bridgeforth Seating Chart (
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics32...171403.gif)
Campaign for Bridgeforth (
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=204770166)
Bridgeforth Stadium (
http://www.jmu.edu/bridgeforthstadium/)
25KStrong (
http://www.25kstrong.com/)
JMU Nation gets a facelift (
http://www.jmu.edu/bethechange/stories/J...lift.shtml)
Interested in becoming a season ticket holder? Click Here (
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=205082808)
Countdown to Opening Day (
http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/cust...=00&p0=263)