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

(06-06-2021 05:09 PM)Monarch Pride Wrote:  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.

I imagine you can’t go to the same well too many times. Somebody get Justin Verlander on the phone...

Tear down Powhatan Apartments and build a park on the water. Every time a HR is hit by the home team sound the train horn.

(06-06-2021 05:09 PM)Monarch Pride Wrote:  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.

It took the school how long to raise the funds necessary for the basketball practice facility, which is a much more favored sport by the donors, alumni and fans. That length of time to raise $9M for it was used as an excuse by WS when the wrestling alumni inquired about why we weren't asked to raise funds to save the program.

It's been a dream season for sure, but what do we actually want after a stadium upgrade? I believe it's more than wishful thinking. Facility upgrades require forward-thinking administration and leadership ... and fundraising efforts that don't lag behind.

I'm all for upgrades to The Bud, but remember where we are and who's driving the ship.

Baseball also has more successful recent alumni at least monetarily than any other sport at ODU by far.

Verlander, Hudson and Yarbrough are pulling in $40+ million by themselves this year. They've had 4 other guys get six figure bonuses in the last 6 years and one other make the majors. They are in a better position to make relationships that drive big money donations to move a renovation forward.

The campus scuttlebutt back in the day was that Verlander was chapped that Guzzo's (his head coach) contract was not renewed and was cold to the Athletic Department because of it. Finwood brought Guzzo back into the fold a few years ago and now he is in the dugout in a prominent role. If they put out a number ($8 million or so), I think they get it off the back of this year, easily.

In years past, I would have been in the camp of don't spend a ton of money on baseball, because there just isn't enough interest. Now, I think baseball is a growing college sport. College Basketball is completely going off the rails, and destroying itself in the process. Football is still strong, but is not growing like it once was. And now with all the streaming services and conference networks (ACCN SECN, etc...), ESPN is in need of more content than ever, and baseball is filling a lot of that void. A lot of true college sports fans are starting to realize that college baseball is the last major sport that can give them that true college sports experience. I think there is an opportunity around putting some marketing dollars and an increased commitment to baseball IF they can maintain a consistently competitive program.

1. Improve facilities - Seat backs are a must.
2. Market the program off the back of this season.
3. Create a fun, festive atmosphere on weekend games. The rally alley is a good start, but you can always do more pregame stuff.
4. Tailgating. Let folks come out and make a day of it on the weekend.

(06-07-2021 01:50 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  In years past, I would have been in the camp of don't spend a ton of money on baseball, because there just isn't enough interest. Now, I think baseball is a growing college sport. College Basketball is completely going off the rails, and destroying itself in the process. Football is still strong, but is not growing like it once was. And now with all the streaming services and conference networks (ACCN SECN, etc...), ESPN is in need of more content than ever, and baseball is filling a lot of that void. A lot of true college sports fans are starting to realize that college baseball is the last major sport that can give them that true college sports experience. I think there is an opportunity around putting some marketing dollars and an increased commitment to baseball IF they can maintain a consistently competitive program.

1. Improve facilities - Seat backs are a must.
2. Market the program off the back of this season.
3. Create a fun, festive atmosphere on weekend games. The rally alley is a good start, but you can always do more pregame stuff.
4. Tailgating. Let folks come out and make a day of it on the weekend.

I think you have good points. Basketball is being destroyed by money. Football the same, plus the safety concerns and dropping interest. But I think soccer has even greater potential than baseball. And if you want to talk about a growing sport that is a lot of fun to watch and tailgate at… let’s put some money and effort into lacrosse.

(06-07-2021 05:40 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:50 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  In years past, I would have been in the camp of don't spend a ton of money on baseball, because there just isn't enough interest. Now, I think baseball is a growing college sport. College Basketball is completely going off the rails, and destroying itself in the process. Football is still strong, but is not growing like it once was. And now with all the streaming services and conference networks (ACCN SECN, etc...), ESPN is in need of more content than ever, and baseball is filling a lot of that void. A lot of true college sports fans are starting to realize that college baseball is the last major sport that can give them that true college sports experience. I think there is an opportunity around putting some marketing dollars and an increased commitment to baseball IF they can maintain a consistently competitive program.

1. Improve facilities - Seat backs are a must.
2. Market the program off the back of this season.
3. Create a fun, festive atmosphere on weekend games. The rally alley is a good start, but you can always do more pregame stuff.
4. Tailgating. Let folks come out and make a day of it on the weekend.

I think you have good points. Basketball is being destroyed by money. Football the same, plus the safety concerns and dropping interest. But I think soccer has even greater potential than baseball. And if you want to talk about a growing sport that is a lot of fun to watch and tailgate at… let’s put some money and effort into lacrosse.

I disagree and soccer and lacrosse. People have been trying to sell those two sports as long as I can remember and it's really isn't happening. College Baseball is ripe to explode for all the reasons mentioned above and the fact that there are already a ton of baseball fans and an awful lot of them are pretty bored with the current state of MLB baseball. The only thing keeping college baseball from being huge is the fact that it starts in February with crappy weather in 70% of the country and it has to go up against March Madness and the NBA for media attention during most of it's season.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Good points but I do think soccer is growing while the major sports are declining. I think college baseball is ascending

(06-07-2021 05:47 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 05:40 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:50 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  In years past, I would have been in the camp of don't spend a ton of money on baseball, because there just isn't enough interest. Now, I think baseball is a growing college sport. College Basketball is completely going off the rails, and destroying itself in the process. Football is still strong, but is not growing like it once was. And now with all the streaming services and conference networks (ACCN SECN, etc...), ESPN is in need of more content than ever, and baseball is filling a lot of that void. A lot of true college sports fans are starting to realize that college baseball is the last major sport that can give them that true college sports experience. I think there is an opportunity around putting some marketing dollars and an increased commitment to baseball IF they can maintain a consistently competitive program.

1. Improve facilities - Seat backs are a must.
2. Market the program off the back of this season.
3. Create a fun, festive atmosphere on weekend games. The rally alley is a good start, but you can always do more pregame stuff.
4. Tailgating. Let folks come out and make a day of it on the weekend.

I think you have good points. Basketball is being destroyed by money. Football the same, plus the safety concerns and dropping interest. But I think soccer has even greater potential than baseball. And if you want to talk about a growing sport that is a lot of fun to watch and tailgate at… let’s put some money and effort into lacrosse.

I disagree and soccer and lacrosse. People have been trying to sell those two sports as long as I can remember and it's really isn't happening. College Baseball is ripe to explode for all the reasons mentioned above and the fact that there are already a ton of baseball fans and an awful lot of them are pretty bored with the current state of MLB baseball. The only thing keeping college baseball from being huge is the fact that it starts in February with crappy weather in 70% of the country and it has to go up against March Madness and the NBA for media attention during most of it's season.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Lacrosse is an amazing spectator sport as long as you are not 1000 yards from the field. And done right, tailgating for Lacrosse can be equal that of football.

(06-07-2021 05:47 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 05:40 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:50 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  In years past, I would have been in the camp of don't spend a ton of money on baseball, because there just isn't enough interest. Now, I think baseball is a growing college sport. College Basketball is completely going off the rails, and destroying itself in the process. Football is still strong, but is not growing like it once was. And now with all the streaming services and conference networks (ACCN SECN, etc...), ESPN is in need of more content than ever, and baseball is filling a lot of that void. A lot of true college sports fans are starting to realize that college baseball is the last major sport that can give them that true college sports experience. I think there is an opportunity around putting some marketing dollars and an increased commitment to baseball IF they can maintain a consistently competitive program.

1. Improve facilities - Seat backs are a must.
2. Market the program off the back of this season.
3. Create a fun, festive atmosphere on weekend games. The rally alley is a good start, but you can always do more pregame stuff.
4. Tailgating. Let folks come out and make a day of it on the weekend.

I think you have good points. Basketball is being destroyed by money. Football the same, plus the safety concerns and dropping interest. But I think soccer has even greater potential than baseball. And if you want to talk about a growing sport that is a lot of fun to watch and tailgate at… let’s put some money and effort into lacrosse.

I disagree and soccer and lacrosse. People have been trying to sell those two sports as long as I can remember and it's really isn't happening. College Baseball is ripe to explode for all the reasons mentioned above and the fact that there are already a ton of baseball fans and an awful lot of them are pretty bored with the current state of MLB baseball. The only thing keeping college baseball from being huge is the fact that it starts in February with crappy weather in 70% of the country and it has to go up against March Madness and the NBA for media attention during most of it's season.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Baseball just isn’t fast paced enough. That’s just the facts. There’s more to it than just what it’s up against.

While I’d love for our guys to be playing at home, I’m not sure dumping millions into a stadium would be smart. This is the first time in how many years we’ve actually technically needed an upgrade? We may have wanted but I’d hate to see us overreact to a good season and spend all that money on a sport that a few hundred might attend on a pretty Saturday, even when we are ranked.

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

(06-08-2021 12:46 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

Or at the very least get our ducks in order with the Tides and Harbor Park in case this is an issue next season.

(06-08-2021 12:59 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:46 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

Or at the very least get our ducks in order with the Tides and Harbor Park in case this is an issue next season.

My thoughts exactly.

(06-08-2021 12:59 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:46 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

Or at the very least get our ducks in order with the Tides and Harbor Park in case this is an issue next season.

With their schedule being different every year, hard to guarantee it’ll be available. So let’s take out the middle man.

(06-08-2021 01:42 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:59 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:46 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

Or at the very least get our ducks in order with the Tides and Harbor Park in case this is an issue next season.

With their schedule being different every year, hard to guarantee it’ll be available. So let’s take out the middle man.

Oh for sure, but we should also have a contingency plan in case we can't get the Bud to code in time and ODU's in the discussion again next season. Can/would the Tides request a long road trip for early June next year? It looks like based on next year's CWS schedule, the regionals would be June 3-6, plus whatever prep time they'd need and a buffer day at the end if weather intercedes.

(06-08-2021 02:12 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 01:42 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:59 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-08-2021 12:46 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

Let’s get the Bud updated!!!

Or at the very least get our ducks in order with the Tides and Harbor Park in case this is an issue next season.

With their schedule being different every year, hard to guarantee it’ll be available. So let’s take out the middle man.

Oh for sure, but we should also have a contingency plan in case we can't get the Bud to code in time and ODU's in the discussion again next season. Can/would the Tides request a long road trip for early June next year? It looks like based on next year's CWS schedule, the regionals would be June 3-6, plus whatever prep time they'd need and a buffer day at the end if weather intercedes.

Yes, we will need a plan in place for next year as it will take at minimum 2 years before we get where we need to be. But let’s not detract this thread for that reason. The Bud press box, regardless of hosting abilities, has needed an upgrade for the last 15 years. The lockerrooms too. Time to make that a reality.

Regarding improvements to the Bud, here is the way things will eventually go (and this is not idle fan speculation):

There won't be any band-aids. The three sets of bleachers, the two locker rooms, the concession stand, and the press box will be removed. All new stands, locker rooms, concessions and press box will be rebuilt. In addition there will be a couple of suites (sky boxes).

There won't be any money spent in these areas until the money is raised for a complete rebuild. There is a certain minimum that will be needed for the minimum number and quality of amenities. If more money can be raised, the number/size/quality of the amenities will be increased.

Regarding moving the site of the whole field/stadium; that isn't going to happen.

Are they gonna keep the standing room area behind home plate or will rally alley be the only standing room option? Might be too early to know, I just enjoy watching the game from that area. I imagine we have some ideas after visiting LA Tech and USC.

(06-08-2021 07:48 PM)ODUi Wrote:  Are they gonna keep the standing room area behind home plate or will rally alley be the only standing room option? Might be too early to know, I just enjoy watching the game from that area. I imagine we have some ideas after visiting LA Tech and USC.

Just too early to tell. It's an unusual situation we have where everything has to be built from the existing ground elevation and up. Can't go down at all. That creates a challenge from ADA standpoint. But now that Rally Alley is there, that area can now serve as the ADA area, meaning you could then have the front row seats behind home plate lower. But I'm guessing that the footprint is too small to do that because you need that space under the stands for locker rooms, concessions, etc. I'll bet the front row seating will be similar to what we have now where the front row elevation is at the top of the dugouts, allowing the option for ground-level viewing from behind home plate if desired. But that is valuable space that will be needed for something other than ADA accessibility.

(06-08-2021 07:03 PM)The Flagship Wrote:  Regarding improvements to the Bud, here is the way things will eventually go (and this is not idle fan speculation):

There won't be any band-aids. The three sets of bleachers, the two locker rooms, the concession stand, and the press box will be removed. All new stands, locker rooms, concessions and press box will be rebuilt. In addition there will be a couple of suites (sky boxes).

There won't be any money spent in these areas until the money is raised for a complete rebuild. There is a certain minimum that will be needed for the minimum number and quality of amenities. If more money can be raised, the number/size/quality of the amenities will be increased.

Regarding moving the site of the whole field/stadium; that isn't going to happen.

Any idea how much money would be needed?