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

(06-09-2016 04:33 PM)ODU Oldtimer Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 04:00 PM)jumpshooter Wrote:  Intriguing comment from Wilder about there still being a lot to discuss between now and the first spade entering the ground. I'm going to interpret that to mean there could be changes to what was announced today, especially if a big gift appears on the horizon. Why not? No one saw the $35m Barry gift coming, although those things are usually in negotiations for quite awhile before being announced.

Where did you see this comment? Thanks

it could mean a lot of things (or nothing at all), but my first thought was we are taking down two pretty big, 80 year old structures. I'm sure there are some unplanned things that could happen while doing that or things that you find that you didn't know where there.

(06-09-2016 03:30 PM)ODU86 Wrote:  We currently have a high budget for what we have now. We can't afford to increase our budget by much more. Why can't some people understand this?

The point is not to question why we can't raise the budget more. The point is to question why we struggle to fund needed facilities that will keep us on par with our rivals, our coaches are on the low end salary wise, and overall performance is mediocre when we have such a large budget. Where is the waste that keeps us from capitalizing on the great support that we get?

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What I have not heard, and maybe I missed it, is how this is going to be implemented. Are they going to do one side per off season? Are they going to be able to get both sides done in one off season? Are we going to have to find a place to play for a year?

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(06-09-2016 04:41 PM)ODU_NYG Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 04:33 PM)ODU Oldtimer Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 04:00 PM)jumpshooter Wrote:  Intriguing comment from Wilder about there still being a lot to discuss between now and the first spade entering the ground. I'm going to interpret that to mean there could be changes to what was announced today, especially if a big gift appears on the horizon. Why not? No one saw the $35m Barry gift coming, although those things are usually in negotiations for quite awhile before being announced.

Where did you see this comment? Thanks

it could mean a lot of things (or nothing at all), but my first thought was we are taking down two pretty big, 80 year old structures. I'm sure there are some unplanned things that could happen while doing that or things that you find that you didn't know where there.

Years ago when I lived in San Diego, they were doing construction on a new building near by. Construction was halted due to finding fossils under the old building. I guess something like that could happen here.
That or find out that the stadium was built on a Revolutionary War cemetery.

(06-09-2016 04:57 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  What I have not heard, and maybe I missed it, is how this is going to be implemented. Are they going to do one side per off season? Are they going to be able to get both sides done in one off season? Are we going to have to find a place to play for a year?

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They were very clear in both the Presentation and then the Presser, that they will tear down both sides after the 2018 season and and build back both sides for kickoff 2019. In both venues they said they had been assured it can be done. Of course, I would imagine we will help that along by probably ending 2018 on the road and maybe having our 1st home game in 2019 a little later in September if possible.

Not trying to be combative, but just wondering... So am I correct that we are 2.5 years away from groundbreaking? If so, what causes the process to take that long? Is it fundraising? Financing? Moving through the political process? All of the above?

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Bobby Wilder to critics of ODU's stadium plan...

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/ol...74ee9.html

(06-09-2016 06:24 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  Not trying to be combative, but just wondering... So am I correct that we are 2.5 years away from groundbreaking? If so, what causes the process to take that long? Is it fundraising? Financing? Moving through the political process? All of the above?

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Have to present the proposal to State Legislature Jan./Feb. 2017 legislative session. They approve our proposal and we can put it out for bid June/July (sorry cannot remember which month) 2017. Then the process to get bids give contracts etc. probably takes about a year, so we have our builder and are ready to get going summer 2018. Wait for the 2018 season to end and start the dirt flying ASAP, hopefully new stadium done by kick-off 2019.

(06-09-2016 03:36 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 10:27 AM)Cr8n Wrote:  I do actually. It's not just the seats. It's the concourse, the building itself, it's going to be really nice from the renderings. But... not everyone is happy and I get that. So carry on. I'll continue to donate and carry my happy ass to my chair back seats in a couple years closer to the 50 after the unhappy folks don't renew.

I share this too. I woke up and saw the number and got really mad and my BP shot through the roof and i calmed down a bit after sometime. I am completely fine now with the capacity as long as we have a pretty sweet stadium with chair backs esp with out raising the student fees and an expansion plan based on demand getting us to 30k plus. I am really happy we didn't end up being more dependent on student fees for this stadium and we will probably get to that 55 percent some time soon. I am not going to stop donating but to the unhappy folks put yourself in the seats of Admin and think you will see why they made a wise decision.

(06-09-2016 06:36 PM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  Bobby Wilder to critics of ODU's stadium plan...

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/ol...74ee9.html

Only 70 mil to finish. There must be sunken costs involved.

(06-09-2016 06:36 PM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  Bobby Wilder to critics of ODU's stadium plan...

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/ol...74ee9.html

"29 months until the first shovel hits the ground"

Yep, I gotta forget about worrying about this thing. It's a long time still before I can buy a ticket there.

(06-09-2016 04:42 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 03:30 PM)ODU86 Wrote:  We currently have a high budget for what we have now. We can't afford to increase our budget by much more. Why can't some people understand this?

The point is not to question why we can't raise the budget more. The point is to question why we struggle to fund needed facilities that will keep us on par with our rivals, our coaches are on the low end salary wise, and overall performance is mediocre when we have such a large budget. Where is the waste that keeps us from capitalizing on the great support that we get?

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We have a lot more sports than everyone else. That is where the money is going and where it will be cut.

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If that is the case, then we should be considering necessary changes that bring us in line with our peers asap. I mean appreciate athletes in the Olympic sports, but not at the expense of revenue/brand enhancing sports.

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Now we're cutting funding of other sports?

(06-09-2016 08:09 PM)Cr8n Wrote:  Now we're cutting funding of other sports?

Unless either the basketball team makes a Final Four run or one of us becomes Donald Trump, we will probably have to eventually. The bills are getting more expensive and the revenue is getting tighter.

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Can you provide sources? I ask because each year we set new donor and revenue records. Yeah, media deal sucks but it's still 200,000 more than we were bringing in while in the CAA.

edit: we were actually one of the few universities to actually be in the black if I recall?

Basketball is the definition of mediocrity...and you want to throw more money behind that albatross? And cut programs that actually produce? LOL!!!

(06-09-2016 08:09 PM)Cr8n Wrote:  Now we're cutting funding of other sports?

There was a very clear if component to my statement, and if that "if" is reality, I absolutely would prefer to cut sports rather than fund our high profile sports at a level that does not allow them to compete at the highest level possible among our peers.

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(06-09-2016 08:49 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  Basketball is the definition of mediocrity...and you want to throw more money behind that albatross? And cut programs that actually produce? LOL!!!

Please. I follow most but not all of our sports teams but to even take shots at basketball is crazy, it isn't going anywhere. Even if it doesn't produce to your satisfaction it gets over $20.00 a ticket from 6,000 people 15 times a year plus concessions. $120,000 a game just from the gate, which probably pays for travel for most of the season for a non-revenue sport.

Football, basketball, soccer, baseball, sailing, and tennis are all safe on the men's side of things and everything else is on the block.

The decision today should make you all realize it is about the money and nothing else.

(06-09-2016 08:49 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  Basketball is the definition of mediocrity...and you want to throw more money behind that albatross? And cut programs that actually produce? LOL!!!

As much as you may not like basketball, it is the one sport that means more to a g5/mid major than any other. Football likely won't put us on the national map. Wrestling, sailing, tennis, swimming and diving, any women's sport, baseball, and soccer sure as hell aren't going to raise the profile. But a few seasons as a top 25 basketball program are both attainable, and capable of significantly raising the national profile of the entire university. The only reason we have never competed at that level consistently is because we have never fully committed to it. We have come close, and as a result have come close to breaking through, but we never taken the full leap.

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