(07-28-2016 10:24 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  and more to come for football as well. It may not be $30-50mm at a whack, but it will be substantial. We need to not forget that unlike many of our peers, the 'guts' of our stadium (something which many of them need to pay $50+mm to match) is still highly usable.

I agree. I'm glad we have chosen the renovate HRS path rather than demolish for a smaller facility. We should keep that baby here for a long, long time.

Again, I hope they announce Phase 2 of HRS renovations at the EZF opening.

Great job!!!

(07-28-2016 09:16 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Posted this on AAC board's Rice thread yesterday, in response to some of their comments about Rice's "YMCA-like" facilities. That is incorrect, of course, although it was probably true 20 years ago:

(07-25-2016 06:26 AM)BigHouston Wrote:  Rice doesn't used to not support their athletics department.

The AAC needs someone who does

We do now:

$32 million spent this year (all paid for in advance) just on new End Zone Facility (replacing old north seating stands) including coaches offices, weight room, training and therapy areas, players locker rooms and lounge, players meeting auditorium, and more says you're mistaken:




Also, $23 million complete recent renovation and expansion of Basketball facility Tudor Fieldhouse:



Reckling Park, one of the nation's premier modern college baseball stadiums, seating 7,000 +, 9 suites, spacious press box and radio spaces and host to many NCAA Regionals and Superregionals as well as the 20003 National baseball Champion Rice Owls and scheduled for additional multi-million dollar expansion of facilities down third base line:



Brand-new $8 Million 120,000-sf, 14-court George R. Brown Tennis facility and Stadium Seating for 600+:



Brand-new $2 Million Wendel D. Ley Track & Holloway Field. The grandstand accommodates 1,500 people with a mixture of chairback and bleacher seating, as well as a new press box. The teams' building includes meeting rooms, a weight room and space for visiting teams, in addition to restrooms for fans.



Rice Aquatics Center Natatorium Size: 12,650-sf 50-meter completion pool Completion: 2009 Highlights: 8 lanes and 4 diving boards, 4-ft wide moveable bulkhead, 20 cross course lanes available




Rice in the last several years has dramatically upgraded its facilities and has been spending millions to get back to where it once was long ago. Additional phased renovations are planned for the football stadium including press box, seating areas and suites, concessions, bathrooms and more.

(07-28-2016 11:20 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 10:24 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  and more to come for football as well. It may not be $30-50mm at a whack, but it will be substantial. We need to not forget that unlike many of our peers, the 'guts' of our stadium (something which many of them need to pay $50+mm to match) is still highly usable.

I agree. I'm glad we have chosen the renovate HRS path rather than demolish for a smaller facility. We should keep that baby here for a long, long time.

Again, I hope they announce Phase 2 of HRS renovations at the EZF opening.

+1! I still haven't been in a stadium that provides a better view of the game on the field.

perhaps the most complicated problem with HRS (as I have been told) is that our step design doesn't really allow for much seating to be replaced with chair backs... the distance between the steps. If some engineers could come up with a solution for that (perhaps piggybacking on the airlines) it could actually be a billion dollar idea to allow for renovations to older facilities with similar issues.

Of course, we have bigger fish to fry....

I still don't understand why we can't build extensions off of the concourses that house more bathrooms and even have places to park and vent food trucks with longer ADA compliant ramps... and a front façade (facing the parking lots) reminiscent of Lovett Hall (especially the one on the East side). You could have meeting rooms for events or press on the west side and a Rice Historical Society Museum on the east with or offices or ticket booths at ground level. It seems that would solve many of our issues.... and it could 'technically' be free standing (connected by a short alley)

(07-28-2016 12:58 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  perhaps the most complicated problem with HRS (as I have been told) is that our step design doesn't really allow for much seating to be replaced with chair backs... the distance between the steps. If some engineers could come up with a solution for that (perhaps piggybacking on the airlines) it could actually be a billion dollar idea to allow for renovations to older facilities with similar issues.

Any idea how deep the steps are? Like you said I can't imagine it being much tighter than an airplane. Not that people particularly enjoy sitting in airplane seats for extended periods of time.

(07-28-2016 01:01 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 12:58 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  perhaps the most complicated problem with HRS (as I have been told) is that our step design doesn't really allow for much seating to be replaced with chair backs... the distance between the steps. If some engineers could come up with a solution for that (perhaps piggybacking on the airlines) it could actually be a billion dollar idea to allow for renovations to older facilities with similar issues.

Any idea how deep the steps are? Like you said I can't imagine it being much tighter than an airplane. Not that people particularly enjoy sitting in airplane seats for extended periods of time.

I don't think we necessarily need full, chair-back style seating. I think the semi-permanent "seatbacks" would be plenty. Perhaps each season ticket holder could get one, as an incentive for people to invest in season tickets. At UT, the stadium is dotted with them. You have to donate a certain amount to the Longhorn Foundation in order to get one.

(07-28-2016 01:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I don't think we necessarily need full, chair-back style seating. I think the semi-permanent "seatbacks" would be plenty. Perhaps each season ticket holder could get one, as an incentive for people to invest in season tickets. At UT, the stadium is dotted with them. You have to donate a certain amount to the Longhorn Foundation in order to get one.

That's actually a great idea.... an visible and tangible inducement for season tickets that doesn't really cost us much (on an annual basis) since they could 'belong' to the stadium and thus could be used for many years.... maybe as an owl club inducement/season ticket holder?

If we went with the 'rented' versions (so that people couldn't donate once and then have the chair back forever) they'd have to be nicer than those old ones we used to have... which of course you can buy a lifetime version of. Perhaps something molded rather than foam and/or cloth (which is easily damaged)

Again, engineers.

(07-28-2016 01:11 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 01:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I don't think we necessarily need full, chair-back style seating. I think the semi-permanent "seatbacks" would be plenty. Perhaps each season ticket holder could get one, as an incentive for people to invest in season tickets. At UT, the stadium is dotted with them. You have to donate a certain amount to the Longhorn Foundation in order to get one.

That's actually a great idea.... an visible and tangible inducement for season tickets that doesn't really cost us much (on an annual basis) since they could 'belong' to the stadium and thus could be used for many years.... maybe as an owl club inducement/season ticket holder?

If we went with the 'rented' versions (so that people couldn't donate once and then have the chair back forever) they'd have to be nicer than those old ones we used to have... which of course you can buy a lifetime version of. Perhaps something molded rather than foam and/or cloth (which is easily damaged)

Again, engineers.

Here is the link for the UT seatbacks. It's actually available to season ticket holders for a small fee. The seatbacks are bolted to the aluminum bleachers.

http://texassports.com/sports/2015/3/5/t...spx?id=610

(07-28-2016 01:11 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 01:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I don't think we necessarily need full, chair-back style seating. I think the semi-permanent "seatbacks" would be plenty. Perhaps each season ticket holder could get one, as an incentive for people to invest in season tickets. At UT, the stadium is dotted with them. You have to donate a certain amount to the Longhorn Foundation in order to get one.

That's actually a great idea.... an visible and tangible inducement for season tickets that doesn't really cost us much (on an annual basis) since they could 'belong' to the stadium and thus could be used for many years.... maybe as an owl club inducement/season ticket holder?

If we went with the 'rented' versions (so that people couldn't donate once and then have the chair back forever) they'd have to be nicer than those old ones we used to have... which of course you can buy a lifetime version of. Perhaps something molded rather than foam and/or cloth (which is easily damaged)

Again, engineers.

Reminds me of the not so good old days when Tiki was prone to give RG public performance reviews and those of us sitting in the vicinity (aka "Friends of Tiki") were always worried our chair-back seat wouldn't be there at the next game, just the bolts protruding from the concrete.

I like those for 'rentals'....

but I'd like to see something with arms and a taller back etc for the 'permanent' ones. Fitting into the space allotted isn't a priority for us

Seatbacks are for us old farts. I think the kind of people we are trying to draw to the stadium are the ones who want the team's performance to pull them out of their seats. Jusy my opinion, and just sayin'. Invest in improving the teams and improving exposure and awareness.

(07-28-2016 08:08 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  Seatbacks are for us old farts. I think the kind of people we are trying to draw to the stadium are the ones who want the team's performance to pull them out of their seats. Jusy my opinion, and just sayin'. Invest in improving the teams and improving exposure and awareness.

Longhorn seatbacks guarantee there is only one butt to your seat. Definitely worth the investment at many longhorn games.

(07-28-2016 08:12 PM)mbrindley Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 08:08 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  Seatbacks are for us old farts. I think the kind of people we are trying to draw to the stadium are the ones who want the team's performance to pull them out of their seats. Jusy my opinion, and just sayin'. Invest in improving the teams and improving exposure and awareness.

Longhorn seatbacks guarantee there is only one butt to your seat. Definitely worth the investment at many longhorn games.

Recently?

(07-28-2016 09:58 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 08:12 PM)mbrindley Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 08:08 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  Seatbacks are for us old farts. I think the kind of people we are trying to draw to the stadium are the ones who want the team's performance to pull them out of their seats. Jusy my opinion, and just sayin'. Invest in improving the teams and improving exposure and awareness.

Longhorn seatbacks guarantee there is only one butt to your seat. Definitely worth the investment at many longhorn games.

Recently?

In my section on the east side, yes.

(07-28-2016 10:25 PM)mbrindley Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 09:58 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 08:12 PM)mbrindley Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 08:08 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  Seatbacks are for us old farts. I think the kind of people we are trying to draw to the stadium are the ones who want the team's performance to pull them out of their seats. Jusy my opinion, and just sayin'. Invest in improving the teams and improving exposure and awareness.

Longhorn seatbacks guarantee there is only one butt to your seat. Definitely worth the investment at many longhorn games.

Recently?

In my section on the east side, yes.

I would love for Rice to have the problem of ~ 89k fans per game for a team w a losing record

It's two-fold Bill.

The point of a chair back is that you take in more than they cost... so it increases the money available to invest in the product... and people get something for their money... something that is tangible and visible and perhaps desirable/spurs others to join that group... whether it be season ticket holders who also make a new minimum $500 donation to the Owl club or add a min $250 to whatever they were doing before... (some way not to short-change long-timers, but also not give it away). Yes, it's for us old farts... but it's also a 'I want to be part of that special group' thing. There are some more innovative designs than the traditional chair-back.

http://stadiumback.com/ is an example... Those are pretty lightweight and I'd want something more padded, but it shows that there are other approaches to the concept.

Have some like that (in blue with the R on them) for rent for 10 (paid off in 3 games, often by the old farts who are visiting) and have nicer more padded ones, perhaps with a 'bottom' as well... maybe even with your 'name' across the back in Velcro (making it look more like a Jersey back) that might cost $50 available for the players families... (they keep the name and can buy the chair back) and season with a $250 Owl club donation. I'm just spit-balling

(07-29-2016 10:32 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  It's two-fold Bill.

The point of a chair back is that you take in more than they cost... so it increases the money available to invest in the product... and people get something for their money... something that is tangible and visible and perhaps desirable/spurs others to join that group... whether it be season ticket holders who also make a new minimum $500 donation to the Owl club or add a min $250 to whatever they were doing before... (some way not to short-change long-timers, but also not give it away). Yes, it's for us old farts... but it's also a 'I want to be part of that special group' thing. There are some more innovative designs than the traditional chair-back.

http://stadiumback.com/ is an example... Those are pretty lightweight and I'd want something more padded, but it shows that there are other approaches to the concept.

Have some like that (in blue with the R on them) for rent for 10 (paid off in 3 games, often by the old farts who are visiting) and have nicer more padded ones, perhaps with a 'bottom' as well... maybe even with your 'name' across the back in Velcro (making it look more like a Jersey back) that might cost $50 available for the players families... (they keep the name and can buy the chair back) and season with a $250 Owl club donation. I'm just spit-balling

I like the concept, but.... Old farts???!!!! Really????!!!!!

(07-29-2016 12:20 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  Have
I like the concept, but.... Old farts???!!!! Really????!!!!!

Lol...

That's how Bill described himself, and I said 'us' so I threw myself in there as well.

I didn't intend to imply that all old people were 'farts', or even define 'old'. If the term speaks to anyone, then that's fine. If not, then it wasn't meant to include you

My guess is that the EZF is a lot closer to completion then what people might think. When landscapers start prepping for plant material, you know you are close.

(07-29-2016 03:10 PM)RiceBull Wrote:  My guess is that the EZF is a lot closer to completion then what people might think. When landscapers start prepping for plant material, you know you are close.

I tweeted back and forth a bit with Adam Coleman (new beat writer) during today's media tour. He said that all of the coaches should be moved in by next Thursday.