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Just thinking out loud... I keep hearing that our stadium isn't good enough to host an NCAA regional. Does anyone know why? is it amenities? Capacity? Accommodations? Whatever the case, coach Finwood has been vocal recently about upgrading facilities. I have no idea how much money athletics has for baseball upgrades, but I thought it'd be cool to make a wish list or post ideas of what would need to be changed in order for us to host. Is the stadium in good enough shape to renovate or do we scrap and build new? Money most certainly will dictate the actions. I'm interested if anybody has heard of anything in the works. I do recall in the old facilities video a drawing of an updated Bud hanging up in the coaches office, so I know the subject has come up in the past. Is the rendering still relevant, has money been put aside, or was it just a dream? What would you like to see happen?

Me personally, I'd like to see the east and west stands connected at the corners with chairback seating, and a new pressbox. Maybe expand the locker rooms and offices underneath. If the issue is capacity, I don't know where they would add seating as you have Rally Alley and the hitting cages down the sidelines. Do you go vertical with a second tier? Do you build outfield seating, or maybe a power porch in right field similar to the Tides? Oh the possibilities

(06-04-2021 10:59 AM)ODUi Wrote:  

Just thinking out loud... I keep hearing that our stadium isn't good enough to host an NCAA regional. Does anyone know why? is it amenities? Capacity? Accommodations? Whatever the case, coach Finwood has been vocal recently about upgrading facilities. I have no idea how much money athletics has for baseball upgrades, but I thought it'd be cool to make a wish list or post ideas of what would need to be changed in order for us to host. Is the stadium in good enough shape to renovate or do we scrap and build new? Money most certainly will dictate the actions. I'm interested if anybody has heard of anything in the works. I do recall in the old facilities video a drawing of an updated Bud hanging up in the coaches office, so I know the subject has come up in the past. Is the rendering still relevant, has money been put aside, or was it just a dream? What would you like to see happen?

Me personally, I'd like to see the east and west stands connected at the corners with chairback seating, and a new pressbox. Maybe expand the locker rooms and offices underneath. If the issue is capacity, I don't know where they would add seating as you have Rally Alley and the hitting cages down the sidelines. Do you go vertical with a second tier? Do you build outfield seating, or maybe a power porch in right field similar to the Tides? Oh the possibilities

It’s not capacity. LaTech has the same or a similar capacity and is hosting. But I would like to see the grandstand seats connected, some chairbacks, an overhang/awning added, concessions upgraded and the bathrooms updated.

I believe the issue is all related to the media setup. We need more camera stands and the press box could use a renovation and expansion. Though I’m not sure how much the press box matters since ESPN is calling the games remotely.

So the elephant is the pressbox. Whatever they do I hope they keep the standing room area behind home plate. It’s a unique feature that adds character.

(06-04-2021 11:21 AM)ODUi Wrote:  So the elephant is the pressbox. Whatever they do I hope they keep the standing room area behind home plate. It’s a unique feature that adds character.

As someone who used the standing room behind home plate several times this year with my daughters, I agree. Only other handicap accessible area in the park is the rally alley and the views aren't as good for 2 6 year olds. Looking forward to being back in the bud next year.

When I played on that field, I thought it was the greatest thing ever....now 20 some years later, it def. needs some work. I'd certainly like the press box upgraded and all of the bleaches connected. Other than that, it probably just need some lipstick.

(06-04-2021 11:21 AM)ODUi Wrote:  So the elephant is the pressbox. Whatever they do I hope they keep the standing room area behind home plate. It’s a unique feature that adds character.

Correct. The Bud needs to increase its pressbox/media space, along with increasing the locker room options to be able to host 3 teams for a regional.

(06-04-2021 12:34 PM)Nukesquad Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 11:21 AM)ODUi Wrote:  So the elephant is the pressbox. Whatever they do I hope they keep the standing room area behind home plate. It’s a unique feature that adds character.

Correct. The Bud needs to increase its pressbox/media space, along with increasing the locker room options to be able to host 3 teams for a regional.

Couldn't the locker room situation be solved by using the locker rooms at the soccer complex or in the athletic administration building? Neither is terribly far.

(06-04-2021 12:44 PM)ODU2K1 Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 12:34 PM)Nukesquad Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 11:21 AM)ODUi Wrote:  So the elephant is the pressbox. Whatever they do I hope they keep the standing room area behind home plate. It’s a unique feature that adds character.

Correct. The Bud needs to increase its pressbox/media space, along with increasing the locker room options to be able to host 3 teams for a regional.

Couldn't the locker room situation be solved by using the locker rooms at the soccer complex or in the athletic administration building? Neither is terribly far.

Technically yes, but not ideal. However, the limited media space (pressbox) is an absolute deal breaker in being able to host a regional.

They need to build a large structure behind the outfield wall to block the wind so they can hit more home runs. Oh, right. Check!

If they are going to expand the stands they need to make the dugouts below ground. Helps protect the players also. I mean, it’s right in the name.

Focus on the things to get the Bud to NCAA-level ASAP, but think about using this season as a jumping off point for discussions about larger-format upgrades. The stadium itself, of course, but I think we also need to consider how a successful season like this (especially if the Monarchs win it all) can serve as the building block for foundational changes in the program.

Among other things I'd like to see (how likely they are to come to pass, I dunno, but call it wishlist stuff):

* Better scheduling: ODU's OOC is largely state/regional with some Northeast programs in the early part of the season. Would be nice to try and get some home-and-homes with more prominent programs, or even buy games/buy serieses against national-level competition. Maybe get into a high-profile early-season tournament.
* Related to that, try to cut down on the Feb./early March home games. Nobody's coming out on a chilly February afternoon to watch High Point, or Rutgers, or LIU Brooklyn or Quinnipiac or whoever else is in the early home games.
* Marketing upgrades. Marketing's one of those things that you can always use more of and better of, but it's a particular need for baseball, which is having a national-level presence this year with a local-level engagement. Make it as much of an event as a Tides game, or at least in the same ballpark. Get people thinking about ODU baseball as a viable sports option in the spring.

Take what Marshall is doing with men's soccer, and do it for ODU baseball (and also ODU soccer at some point).

I think there are only three baseball fields capable of hosting in the NCAAs in our conference. That would be LaTech, So Miss and Rice. CLT was going to use a minor league park to host. Their field is only like 14 years old, nice, but too small. Our biggest crowd this year was around a 1,000. Tear it down. ODU has a history of hosting many NCAAs, including National Championships in different sports. We need that level of Athletic Dept oversight again.

Lockers is an issue. You need a minimum of FOUR (and there aren’t four in the JJ)

They need to rebuild the grandstand with extra locker rooms and press box space. Overall capacity doesn't need to expand. IIRC, there has never been a full sellout of 2500. Just put some chairbacks or bucket seats.

Schedule wise, we probably need to be willing to go on the road to a name team for a weekend early. Keep Rutgers since their RPI should always be decent as a Big ten school.

(06-04-2021 12:51 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  If they are going to expand the stands they need to make the dugouts below ground. Helps protect the players also. I mean, it’s right in the name.

I would think being at sea level prevents this from happening. 49th street floods when it rains at high tide. A true dugout would be a pond.

Maybe a bern that can be pressed into service for capacity games or the NCAAs?

(06-04-2021 07:47 PM)devyanks90 Wrote:  They need to rebuild the grandstand with extra locker rooms and press box space. Overall capacity doesn't need to expand. IIRC, there has never been a full sellout of 2500. Just put some chairbacks or bucket seats.

Schedule wise, we probably need to be willing to go on the road to a name team for a weekend early. Keep Rutgers since their RPI should always be decent as a Big ten school.

(06-04-2021 12:51 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  If they are going to expand the stands they need to make the dugouts below ground. Helps protect the players also. I mean, it’s right in the name.

I would think being at sea level prevents this from happening. 49th street floods when it rains at high tide. A true dugout would be a pond.

I would be shocked if ee can go down. The soli is not good and most of area is flood zone

(06-04-2021 08:38 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 07:47 PM)devyanks90 Wrote:  They need to rebuild the grandstand with extra locker rooms and press box space. Overall capacity doesn't need to expand. IIRC, there has never been a full sellout of 2500. Just put some chairbacks or bucket seats.

Schedule wise, we probably need to be willing to go on the road to a name team for a weekend early. Keep Rutgers since their RPI should always be decent as a Big ten school.

(06-04-2021 12:51 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  If they are going to expand the stands they need to make the dugouts below ground. Helps protect the players also. I mean, it’s right in the name.

I would think being at sea level prevents this from happening. 49th street floods when it rains at high tide. A true dugout would be a pond.

I would be shocked if ee can go down. The soli is not good and most of area is flood zone

ODU will not be going into the ground for any future construction.

(06-04-2021 09:01 PM)Nukesquad Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 08:38 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 07:47 PM)devyanks90 Wrote:  They need to rebuild the grandstand with extra locker rooms and press box space. Overall capacity doesn't need to expand. IIRC, there has never been a full sellout of 2500. Just put some chairbacks or bucket seats.

Schedule wise, we probably need to be willing to go on the road to a name team for a weekend early. Keep Rutgers since their RPI should always be decent as a Big ten school.

(06-04-2021 12:51 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  If they are going to expand the stands they need to make the dugouts below ground. Helps protect the players also. I mean, it’s right in the name.

I would think being at sea level prevents this from happening. 49th street floods when it rains at high tide. A true dugout would be a pond.

I would be shocked if ee can go down. The soli is not good and most of area is flood zone

ODU will not be going into the ground for any future construction.

I was half kidding about the dugout but we're talking a few feet, not digging a basement. I'd be more concerned about the condition of the field if it floods.

(06-04-2021 11:09 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 10:59 AM)ODUi Wrote:  

Just thinking out loud... I keep hearing that our stadium isn't good enough to host an NCAA regional. Does anyone know why? is it amenities? Capacity? Accommodations? Whatever the case, coach Finwood has been vocal recently about upgrading facilities. I have no idea how much money athletics has for baseball upgrades, but I thought it'd be cool to make a wish list or post ideas of what would need to be changed in order for us to host. Is the stadium in good enough shape to renovate or do we scrap and build new? Money most certainly will dictate the actions. I'm interested if anybody has heard of anything in the works. I do recall in the old facilities video a drawing of an updated Bud hanging up in the coaches office, so I know the subject has come up in the past. Is the rendering still relevant, has money been put aside, or was it just a dream? What would you like to see happen?

Me personally, I'd like to see the east and west stands connected at the corners with chairback seating, and a new pressbox. Maybe expand the locker rooms and offices underneath. If the issue is capacity, I don't know where they would add seating as you have Rally Alley and the hitting cages down the sidelines. Do you go vertical with a second tier? Do you build outfield seating, or maybe a power porch in right field similar to the Tides? Oh the possibilities

It’s not capacity. LaTech has the same or a similar capacity and is hosting. But I would like to see the grandstand seats connected, some chairbacks, an overhang/awning added, concessions upgraded and the bathrooms updated.

I believe the issue is all related to the media setup. We need more camera stands and the press box could use a renovation and expansion. Though I’m not sure how much the press box matters since ESPN is calling the games remotely.

That all sounds relatively affordable. It’s time for the university to make the necessary investment. The game last night would have been sold out if it had been played in Norfolk. And just imagine what the turn out would have been tonight for uva. Missed opportunities.

Def not affordable. The would have to make it ADA compliant

I’m thinking ~$8-10M would be enough. Hit up some well-known donors and start an overall campaign. How much did the Mitch cost? And how much did one donor contribute last year to allow our football season to sit out last season. Perhaps he would like another field named after him.