(06-10-2016 02:00 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  I may just be naive, but is anyone else confused as to how this is going to be finished by August 1?

me

Wow! What a difference that scoreboard bottom framing makes in the look of the new facility, along with the wall finished in front of the ramp in front. Looks even more impressive now!

That scoreboard is going to be big. Where's the secondary ramp to the field?

I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

(06-14-2016 12:29 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

No clue but I'm sure it would be after the Baylor game if it happened... If we can't sell 40k tickets for a home opener against a top 10 team we are in trouble.

Probably puts our capacity around 35k if it happens? Doubt we hit that number for the rest of the season anyway.

(06-14-2016 01:00 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 12:29 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

No clue but I'm sure it would be after the Baylor game if it happened... If we can't sell 40k tickets for a home opener against a top 10 team we are in trouble.

Probably puts our capacity around 35k if it happens? Doubt we hit that number for the rest of the season anyway.

That's true, but any fan overflow for the Baylor game could sit in the west upper deck.

(06-14-2016 01:09 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:00 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 12:29 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

No clue but I'm sure it would be after the Baylor game if it happened... If we can't sell 40k tickets for a home opener against a top 10 team we are in trouble.

Probably puts our capacity around 35k if it happens? Doubt we hit that number for the rest of the season anyway.

That's true, but any fan overflow for the Baylor game could sit in the west upper deck.

No, I'm saying we should be able to draw close to 45k for the Baylor game which would require the whole stadium in its current configuration. Our last Friday night ESPN home opener was against SMU (a team that was awful but had hired June Jones) and I think we drew 35k or so.

(06-14-2016 01:22 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:09 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:00 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 12:29 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

No clue but I'm sure it would be after the Baylor game if it happened... If we can't sell 40k tickets for a home opener against a top 10 team we are in trouble.

Probably puts our capacity around 35k if it happens? Doubt we hit that number for the rest of the season anyway.

That's true, but any fan overflow for the Baylor game could sit in the west upper deck.

No, I'm saying we should be able to draw close to 45k for the Baylor game which would require the whole stadium in its current configuration. Our last Friday night ESPN home opener was against SMU (a team that was awful but had hired June Jones) and I think we drew 35k or so.

That sounds like a really high number, but who knows? I'd expect something closer to 38k. I hope it's a big crowd.

The last Baylor game had a lot of fans in the Upper East Section. Actually, I prefer the view from the lower part of the Upper stands to that from the Lower stands (especially the non box seats).

(06-14-2016 01:58 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:22 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:09 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:00 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 12:29 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  I heard a rumor on the conference board that we'll be tarping the east upper deck. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that? I sent the athletics department some information a few months ago about a soccer team in Trieste, Italy that covers it's thousands of empty seats with virtual fan tarps. There's an article in the Wall Street Journal about it. I'm wondering if the athletics department ran with the idea.

No clue but I'm sure it would be after the Baylor game if it happened... If we can't sell 40k tickets for a home opener against a top 10 team we are in trouble.

Probably puts our capacity around 35k if it happens? Doubt we hit that number for the rest of the season anyway.

That's true, but any fan overflow for the Baylor game could sit in the west upper deck.

No, I'm saying we should be able to draw close to 45k for the Baylor game which would require the whole stadium in its current configuration. Our last Friday night ESPN home opener was against SMU (a team that was awful but had hired June Jones) and I think we drew 35k or so.

That sounds like a really high number, but who knows? I'd expect something closer to 38k. I hope it's a big crowd.

https://www.productionhub.com/press-rele...gy-upgrade

Looks like our scoreboard will be 1080p LED, we will have the option to input 4K later with our new high-end cameras.

(06-14-2016 10:27 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  https://www.productionhub.com/press-rele...gy-upgrade

Looks like our scoreboard will be 1080p LED, we will have the option to input 4K later with our new high-end cameras.

sounds great, thanks.

(06-14-2016 01:58 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  That sounds like a really high number, but who knows? I'd expect something closer to 38k. I hope it's a big crowd.

That would still be +/- a sell-out with the east upper deck tarped.

The stadium is 70k with all seats... now more like perhaps 57 losing the north ez permanently... and about 45 with both upper decks but neither end-zone. I'm guessing that each upper deck is 12,000 or so (I think it actually seats slightly more than the lowers)?

I find it hard to believe that we'd block off 50 yard line 'premium' seats (given that we've had the opportunity to do so for years now) but it wouldn't surprise me if we tarped outside the 20's... both upper AND lower. The corners at Rice are better than the 30's at some larger stadiums, but they aren't better than inside the 30's at Rice

Condense the crowd and improve the atmosphere.

The original configuration was 40,000 for the lower bowl, and each upper deck 15,000.

(06-15-2016 12:02 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  The original configuration was 40,000 for the lower bowl, and each upper deck 15,000.

Thanks for that info... So if we're 45k without the endzones, then tarping the upper deck on the east puts us at 30k (see, I CAN do math)

which is not something we should do if we are hoping for anywhere close to that

(06-15-2016 11:41 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(06-14-2016 01:58 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  That sounds like a really high number, but who knows? I'd expect something closer to 38k. I hope it's a big crowd.

That would still be +/- a sell-out with the east upper deck tarped.

The stadium is 70k with all seats... now more like perhaps 57 losing the north ez permanently... and about 45 with both upper decks but neither end-zone. I'm guessing that each upper deck is 12,000 or so (I think it actually seats slightly more than the lowers)?

I find it hard to believe that we'd block off 50 yard line 'premium' seats (given that we've had the opportunity to do so for years now) but it wouldn't surprise me if we tarped outside the 20's... both upper AND lower. The corners at Rice are better than the 30's at some larger stadiums, but they aren't better than inside the 30's at Rice

Condense the crowd and improve the atmosphere.

More than anything, those ugly, empty seats in the upper east deck drain a lot of energy from the stadium. I had a brief e-mail conversation with Tanner and JK about it last season and they agreed. A nice tarp would at least appear more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The "fan tarps" I'm referring to are actual photos of the home team's fans taken on game day. They're virtual fans. It makes the place look like it's sold out. Sure, there should be a small section on the 50 for Baylor people, but it wouldn't have to big at all. For UH, just remove the entire tarp. I can't think of any other games where they would have to be removed, and I don't think we'll average over 30k actual butts in the seats anytime soon. The tarps would provide some "theater." It would make the stadium feel a little more full and lend itself to a better atmosphere.

As I said, (but with more detail) that's been suggested for a decade or more to at least three ADs.

Obviously there are reasons, but I'm not privy to what they are.

I know the fan tarps... but I don't think the reason we didn't do it was because solid blue wouldn't look good, nor do I think you do yourself any favors by PRETENDING that you have fans. Lots of places use multi-colored seats for the same effect, but they still need real fans.

Why don't we just install about 5,000 mannequins randomly in the seats?

Besides... you just suggested that you'd expect 38 for Baylor, and now you're saying just create a small section on the 50 for them. Best I can tell that 'small section' would be 8,000 seats.

Rather than tarping off parts or all of the upper deck, move the primary cameras to the east side so at least the television audience is seeing the home side crowd. I realize there are possible issues with sun position, but surely today's technology can deal with that.

I agree with that as well Tomball, but the R would be upside down. Doesn't bother me... but some noted it.

(06-15-2016 02:22 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  As I said, (but with more detail) that's been suggested for a decade or more to at least three ADs.

Obviously there are reasons, but I'm not privy to what they are.

I know the fan tarps... but I don't think the reason we didn't do it was because solid blue wouldn't look good, nor do I think you do yourself any favors by PRETENDING that you have fans. Lots of places use multi-colored seats for the same effect, but they still need real fans.

Why don't we just install about 5,000 mannequins randomly in the seats?

Besides... you just suggested that you'd expect 38 for Baylor, and now you're saying just create a small section on the 50 for them. Best I can tell that 'small section' would be 8,000 seats.

Okay, then give them a full section of 8,000 seats. Easy. I'm just trying to think of ways to make the thousands of empty seats on the west side look more attractive to the fans that are actually in attendance. That's all. I mean no harm whatsoever. I just want people to enjoy the stadium to it's fullest. Looking at a completely empty upper deck at every home game is depressing. My feeling is that those empty seats need to look as attractive as possible until they can be filled by real patrons. That's all.

I don't see any real difference between empty seats and empty seats covered by a tarp.