(04-06-2022 01:18 PM)klake87 Wrote:  NIU does very little first class. Carpeted basketball courts, the indoor track at convo not being proper distance. They used to have wooden bleachers but put in east side aluminum and steel now it doesn't match west side.

Our indoor practice facility rivals some P5 programs, our endzone facility is very decent, and the convocation center is none too shabby. Other than that, yes, we need to quit cheaping out on projects.

Maybe a quality AD would help move things in the right direction.

I just read that they are starting a fundraiser for an addition to the yordon?

Was that even a mention when they did the master plan?

(04-16-2022 02:22 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I just read that they are starting a fundraiser for an addition to the yordon?

Was that even a mention when they did the master plan?

Link?

(04-16-2022 02:22 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I just read that they are starting a fundraiser for an addition to the yordon?

Was that even a mention when they did the master plan?

Like a true Master(bation) plan, the pace, urgency, and which sports would be stroked constantly changed.

https://niuhuskies.com/news/2022/4/15/fo...uture.aspx

Was in this for the MACC rings.

How much more would it cost to turf the entire baseball field?

(04-16-2022 10:14 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  How much more would it cost to turf the entire baseball field?

At a minimum, I'm sure it'd double the cost. I mean, if you wanted to carpet your living room and then said, heck, just carpet the whole house, how much more would it cost?

Well, a lot.

But, I've never priced out field turf so ultimately, I'm just guessing.

(04-16-2022 06:39 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 02:22 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I just read that they are starting a fundraiser for an addition to the yordon?

Was that even a mention when they did the master plan?

Like a true Master(bation) plan, the pace, urgency, and which sports would be stroked constantly changed.

Since homework can be boring, I did some for all. I have copies of all the mentioned documents and lists. So ...

This project (Yordan) is:
--- not mentioned in the 2021 Huskies Invest campaign
--- not mentioned in the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan
--- not mentioned as a project in the 2017 Campaign to Sustain
--- not mentioned in the 2014-15 master plan for athletic facilities, or revisions since then (2017)

This appears to be another "pop-up" project that it just gets announced. Similar to the sudden announcement of the baseball stadium upgrade plan and new name (2019-20), which eliminated the new ballpark west of the Stephenson lot, the Olympic Village and indoor/outdoor tennis center. Then there was the sudden recent announcement of the Nelson donation to install a fourth tennis court inside Evans Fieldhouse, which sealed the demise of the new tennis center (and also maybe wiped out other recreation uses).

IMO, just have to get used to the fact that while some elements of the master plan have "survived" (for now), projects will be "pop-ups" when and if Athletics a) raises the money/gets a donation, b) finds a way to spend less money, and c) can re-purpose an existing facility. Previous project plans then will be ignored, as the pop-up will be announced as new.

For peace of mind, ignore the 2014-15 plan -- and any others -- and just go with the flow. When it happens it happens, which appears to be Athletics' "new" project strategy.

Huskie Stadium needs major renovation as it has mostly been untouched since the 90s and now we are looking at building an addition to Yordon instead.

I'd rather make a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at cost.

A big part of the of the Cost of Attendance program that is now allowed for athletes is the increase in the amount of meals athletes can be provided. The Yordon Center was built before that program existed thus meals are eaten in meeting and academic space. The plan is to expand the building in one of two places. The more expensive, but more ideal option would be to build a glass enclosed space under the balcony so that athletes can use as a dining area but it could also be used on game day as a premium location for donors, season ticket holders, or other options where they can see the field from that location.

The ring is being sold for $2000 with $1800 the donation part of the purchase.

Also, the new tennis center in
Chick Evans looks fabulous. Great decision.

(04-17-2022 07:13 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Huskie Stadium needs major renovation as it has mostly been untouched since the 90s and now we are looking at building an addition to Yordon instead.

I'd rather make a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at cost.

Yes, they should sell the ring for let’s say $300 with a required minimum donation attached to the purchase. Even the cost plus $1,000 is better than what they are selling it for now. Plus, more fans would be able to afford one. More fans buying it = more donation funds.

These rings were available when Jiff was AD at a very reasonable price. I always appreciated Jiff for that.

BTW, did anyone get an e-mail or snail mail announcing this donation opportunity?

Based on what niu1980 said, if they sell just 250 of these rings, that's 250 x $1,800 = $450,000. They can build a nice addition to the Yordan for that. Sell 500 rings and the income doubles to $900,000. That might help with more improvements to the baseball stadium., or get a new soccer grandstand project started (is there any movement on the heels of the recent men's soccer success? ... other than the needed field rehab/replace.)

?? to niu1980 ... you said "expand in one of two places" but only mentioned one option. What's the other? (I have a reason for asking that too, but ... )

What exactly is the addition to the Yordan center? I'm curious as to what they want and where it is going.

The reason for the hodgepodge approach is the seed money donors have sports specific requests. So when tennis courts done, baseball and soccer fields done it is because bigger donors wanted that project. My small HAF donation yearly does not tip the scales.

(04-18-2022 07:19 AM)klake87 Wrote:  The reason for the hodgepodge approach is the seed money donors have sports specific requests. So when tennis courts done, baseball and soccer fields done it is because bigger donors wanted that project. My small HAF donation yearly does not tip the scales.

How about an ORGANIZED, WELL-MARKETED fundraising campaign aimed at Huskie Stadium improvements? They can have a fund for specific improvements. If they do not reach their goal, the money should stay in an invested fund until future campaigns can bring in more money.

I like the idea of the Yordon fundraising, but they are charging too much for the rings to bring in a lot of money. Not all that many Huskie fans would be willing (or able) to shell out $2,000.

(04-17-2022 02:01 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 07:13 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Huskie Stadium needs major renovation as it has mostly been untouched since the 90s and now we are looking at building an addition to Yordon instead.

I'd rather make a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at cost.

Yes, they should sell the ring for let’s say $300 with a required minimum donation attached to the purchase. Even the cost plus $1,000 is better than what they are selling it for now. Plus, more fans would be able to afford one. More fans buying it = more donation funds.

These rings were available when Jiff was AD at a very reasonable price. I always appreciated Jiff for that.

BTW, did anyone get an e-mail or snail mail announcing this donation opportunity?

What are the rings made of?

I'm guessing they're gold. Not 24k but still gold. Either way, there's no way those rings could be sold for 300 bucks and expect them to make any money off of them.

(04-18-2022 07:50 AM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 02:01 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 07:13 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Huskie Stadium needs major renovation as it has mostly been untouched since the 90s and now we are looking at building an addition to Yordon instead.

I'd rather make a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at cost.

Yes, they should sell the ring for let’s say $300 with a required minimum donation attached to the purchase. Even the cost plus $1,000 is better than what they are selling it for now. Plus, more fans would be able to afford one. More fans buying it = more donation funds.

These rings were available when Jiff was AD at a very reasonable price. I always appreciated Jiff for that.

BTW, did anyone get an e-mail or snail mail announcing this donation opportunity?

What are the rings made of?

I'm guessing they're gold. Not 24k but still gold. Either way, there's no way those rings could be sold for 300 bucks and expect them to make any money off of them.

Right, that's why my suggested approach makes more sense. Require a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at-cost. There's zero tax benefit to paying $2,000 for a $300 ring.

Not that I want the ring anyway. They seem to be going about this wrong. Just setup a specific fundraising campaign for a Yordon Center addition. But more importantly, we need a fundraising campaign for Huskie Stadium.

(04-18-2022 07:50 AM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 02:01 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 07:13 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Huskie Stadium needs major renovation as it has mostly been untouched since the 90s and now we are looking at building an addition to Yordon instead.

I'd rather make a tax deductible donation to purchase the ring at cost.

Yes, they should sell the ring for let’s say $300 with a required minimum donation attached to the purchase. Even the cost plus $1,000 is better than what they are selling it for now. Plus, more fans would be able to afford one. More fans buying it = more donation funds.

These rings were available when Jiff was AD at a very reasonable price. I always appreciated Jiff for that.

BTW, did anyone get an e-mail or snail mail announcing this donation opportunity?

What are the rings made of?

I'm guessing they're gold. Not 24k but still gold. Either way, there's no way those rings could be sold for 300 bucks and expect them to make any money off of them.

They are some base metal called durillium. Sell the rings for a reasonable price and add a required donation. Adding $1,800 to the ring's value is a bit much for many people. They should add a required donation of no more than $1,000 to the price of the ring.

I see the link above for this donation campaign. I went to niuhuskies.com and had a heck of a time trying to find it. It's under men's sports ---> football ---> news. Shouldn't this be blasted everywhere? Has anyone received an e-mail on this, or is it another well-kept secret?