(02-28-2023 10:38 AM)Ourland Wrote:  That press box must be a nightmare. Do fans sit up there? I'm surprised it hasn't been condemned. Do they give tours of the stadium? I have never been in the R Room, press box, or visitor locker room on the south end. I've heard it's in awful condition. If they don't give tours, I really can't blame them.

R room is okay structurally but boring and dated... and moldy... bad.

Haven't been in south locker rooms in years. They usually were better maintained but sufferred from the same thing behind the paint. They're basically a big concrete box. Frankly, I think I'd add a sloped blue metal roof to protect the flat roof and mirror the 'eyebrows' on the North end facility, but that is an artistic choice.

Press box had the 'luxury' suites. It was narrow and stuffy, but reasonably well maintained.... but obviously needed renovation. Haven't seen it in years and I expect it is improved in places and the same in others.... but it needs to simply be replaced as a matter of comfort and function for the press and coaches. What they need to do is:

a) build a new elevator shaft with a faster elevator... maybe two.
b) build a new press box 'in front' of the old one. Make the roof of that new press box a 'patio deck' for the existing press box which can now be more fully renovated as a party suite, but we can turn the 'historic' aspects of it now in to more of a quirky asset than a liability

It wouldn't be that expensive (assuming the support arms that were built to hold highway traffic can hold the new press box) and could be up and running pretty quickly.

The Stadium Club is upstairs next to the press boxes. As Ham described, it is narrow with limited seating. There is nothing "luxury" about it.

I've seen the luxury suites in the press box through the window. There's definitely nothing luxurious about them. I'd rather be in the R Room I think.

I doubt they ever tear the press box down due to the expense, but I could see them renovating and/or adding onto it.

I bet the university's plans for the stadium have been hit with a dose of reality. There isn't going to be money to do big things. I have a feeling that the improvements will be minimal unless the university funds it itself, and I doubt that happens. Cheap bastards.

There are no "luxury suites".

(02-28-2023 11:59 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  The Stadium Club

Been there. Not impressed.

All this time I thought the university has been working within strict, written guidelines as it pertains to funding for athletics, but it hasn't. I'm infuriated. I had no idea that Rice has intentionally starved athletics down to nothing all this time. I'm beside myself.

(02-28-2023 11:50 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(02-28-2023 10:38 AM)Ourland Wrote:  That press box must be a nightmare. Do fans sit up there? I'm surprised it hasn't been condemned. Do they give tours of the stadium? I have never been in the R Room, press box, or visitor locker room on the south end. I've heard it's in awful condition. If they don't give tours, I really can't blame them.

R room is okay structurally but boring and dated... and moldy... bad.

Haven't been in south locker rooms in years. They usually were better maintained but sufferred from the same thing behind the paint. They're basically a big concrete box. Frankly, I think I'd add a sloped blue metal roof to protect the flat roof and mirror the 'eyebrows' on the North end facility, but that is an artistic choice.

Press box had the 'luxury' suites. It was narrow and stuffy, but reasonably well maintained.... but obviously needed renovation. Haven't seen it in years and I expect it is improved in places and the same in others.... but it needs to simply be replaced as a matter of comfort and function for the press and coaches. What they need to do is:

a) build a new elevator shaft with a faster elevator... maybe two.
b) build a new press box 'in front' of the old one. Make the roof of that new press box a 'patio deck' for the existing press box which can now be more fully renovated as a party suite, but we can turn the 'historic' aspects of it now in to more of a quirky asset than a liability

It wouldn't be that expensive (assuming the support arms that were built to hold highway traffic can hold the new press box) and could be up and running pretty quickly.

Aside from adding air conditioning and modern communications gear, the press box has seen very little change since it was built.

The elevator donated by the Cohens is slow, but it has never gotten stuck while I've been in it.

There is zero attempt at ADA compliance - all access to the press box requires climbing steps. The elevator does not arrive on a working floor, but at a small landing a few steps down from the first level.

ADA compliance may be a major sticking point - changes would require ADA compliance, so don't change.

Hambone has mentioned this before, but they would be far better off with a new elevator shaft outside of the stadium walls, mid-way between the restroom pillars. And two elevators would be better than one - for both freight needs and for the coaches to rush up and down at half-time.

Replacing the whole thing is much more likely than piece-meal renovation, IMHO.

Not going to touch the south end issues here.
I pretty much live on the south end.

(02-28-2023 01:14 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  There are no "luxury suites".

LOL. The Flight Decks are great though. That's all Rice really needs. I'd like to see more around the top of the endzone, covered of course.

I put 'luxury' in quotes on purpose.

As I've suggested numerous times... we need to build a new, larger press box in the seating area in front of the old one... Heck, it could be made out of aluminum and/or fiberboard and be 'decent'... I think it would be cool if the roofs of the new press box were a 'patio' with bistro tables for the 'stadium club'.... which you guys are right... isn't a luxury suite... but it DOES have table service and cocktails etc. It serves a purpose.... it CAN Serve a purpose. With the press boxes where they are now 'gone', there is much more room for this 'party room' AND maybe you leave parts of it historic and play up that angle with old pictures and maybe refurbish the original booth where 'the voice of Rice athletics' broadcast the 'BEAUTIFUL day for OUTDOOR football' could be designed to look like it did back in the day. Maybe you put some nods to the old uniforms etc... make it kitchy and cool

THEN you essentially do the same set-up either at the bottom of the west or east sides and build actual suites.... just without the party deck on top of it. You might lose the first 4-5 rows to the suites, and then another 2-3 rows because if the sitelines... which is a lot and thus why I'd prefer they be on the east side... knowing that the sun can be an issue... but maybe we can address that somehow through the glass?? Idk. Be tech smart and creative.

The renditions I saw are somewhat of a pipe dream IMO. The stadium club could look a bit like what they imagined... but a lot of what they showed could only be done on the concourse, and that is mostly unrealistic. We need to embrace that this is COLLEGE athletics... and make it a cool and tech savvy COLLEGE stadium... and not try and compete with Reliant or Minute Maid.... but really more compete with minor league baseball.

I DO think that we could put a rail (with phone chargers) at the wall on the west side and essentially bar/bistro stools, perhaps between the 30's with some TVs and make this a bit like what they imagined... roping off those areas for some exclusivity and then give it some table service... give it the feel of literally sitting at a bar watching a game on a MASSIVE big screen with 2-3 smaller TVs watching the other games (or different views of the game 'on the big screen')

Bottom line, a lot of these things could be done and IMO should be done... and rather than do them, it SEEMS that we're waiting until we can do something even bigger... maybe so somebody can put their stamp on something... It seems that we've finally decided to do some of these things in phases.... but at least we're doing them... and I'm sure that people with tens of millions to donate have seen some plans or ideas... but I think we're missing a lot of help by not making 'the rest of us' aware of these plans, even if they change somewhat as we move forward based on the desires of those tens of millions donors.

Let me say that last part differently...

Those of us who don't have tens of millions to give to a building could nonetheless spent tens of thousands on tickets, our presence and smaller but consistent donations that could concievably allow us to put a better product on the field BEFORE all of these amenities come on line... because we aren't going to the games BECAUSE of the amenities. We've been going to them despite the LACK of them... because we value the guys on the field the most. And those smaller expenditures can add up to meaningful enough dollars to go 7-4 (or 10-2) rather than 4-7.... and we're more likely to do that if we think that there are actually plans beyond putting a little lipstick on a pig.

That sort of thinking is what got Bailiff to 10-3 WITHOUT the EZF.

Here's what I'd like to see (broad strokes)...

We're going to do a (just making up numbers) $25mm renovation to the south EZF that will involve a complete re-roof, gut and repurpose of the interiors in order to better represent our current needs. $5mm of that will renovate the R room... $5mm will be designed for the band hall... $5mm for visitors locker rooms, $5mm for administrative offices and $5mm for cheer or 'whatever else' is still there. You could then solicit to each of those $5mm 'asks' to the Mob's Shylocks, cheerleaders, trainers, the R association and maybe the Rice Historical Society.

We're going to 'sell' access to 'the rail' as a premium for season ticket holders for $1mm.
We're going to build a new 'named' press/coaches box for $10mm. TV guys can do their pregame and half-time from the roof of the press box.
We're going to sell access to a renovated stadium club with a patio deck for $5mm
We're going to build new elevators for $5mm
We're going to 'sell' suites on the east side with 5-10 year leases for $10mm
We're going to round this $56mm up to $75mm to include a maintenance fund and landscaping etc...

That's the $75mm plan, subject to change and wishes of donors... and in addition to the actions of the ADs office, particularly with larger donors and corporations... we're going to engage the R association, The Rally Club, The Mob, Former Cheerleaders, former trainers, the historical society and maybe other groups for money.

I'd add historical references throughout the stadium... like a plaque near where JFK made his speech... a moon rock display at the players entrance... statues of John Heisman, Jess Neely, Dickie, Frank... turn it into a massive museum... 'fan perspective' photos in the stadium club... great plays and players in the r room... and then even a third actual museum as an extension to the east concourse that was for ALL Rice athletics/athletes and becomes part of campus tours. That would be perhaps the next $40mm ask including the building/museum.

and now you have something to 'sell' the University that is much broader than just 'what current football fans or players want'.

Pay for it yourself Rice!!! Show us you care!!!

(02-28-2023 01:15 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(02-28-2023 11:59 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  The Stadium Club

Been there. Not impressed.

Never turn down free food and beverages.

While fans standing at a bar with a place to charge their cell phones (that can't get any throughput anyway) are actual butts-in-seats customers, not no-show season ticket holders, they are at the same time NOT butts-in-seats fans - out where they can be seen.
It's a nice amenity, but it doesn't help with appearances.
There will still be empty seats at least equal to the number of people on the concourse.

(02-28-2023 11:37 PM)Grungy Wrote:  While fans standing at a bar with a place to charge their cell phones (that can't get any throughput anyway) are actual butts-in-seats customers, not no-show season ticket holders, they are at the same time NOT butts-in-seats fans - out where they can be seen.
It's a nice amenity, but it doesn't help with appearances.
There will still be empty seats at least equal to the number of people on the concourse.

Agreed, but a) people already stand at the rail... causing the same issue you're noting.
b) these are premium seats and c) there probably wouldn't be more people 'sitting' at the rail than there currently are people 'standing' at the rail.... and the roped off area would reduce the depth available for people to stand.... at least between the 30's

Potentially this gets people who used to buy GA tickets and stand at the rail, to buy GA tickets and sit in open seats between the 30's, reducing the issue that you note.

And of course, part of my comments were that we would solicit more money for coaching/performance issues on the field that would make the games with 12,000 fans a thing of the past.

(02-28-2023 11:50 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  Frankly, I think I'd add a sloped blue metal roof to protect the flat roof and mirror the 'eyebrows' on the North end facility, but that is an artistic choice.

or this...

If there's no money to tear up the endzone, just reinstall the aluminum benches. It would look good. Tarp them for every game but UH, Texas and LSU.

I'd like to see the steps removed and astroturf put down, but Rice will have to decide if it wants to renovate for 30k or 60k. That's a big decision.

If benches are installed, there's always the outside chance of hosting a big opponent, but there's no reason to do it if those big schools refuse to play us in HRS.

Out with the old, in with the new.
4 April 2023 - old gates removed, and the posts for the new gates installed.
Old gates still in place on Gate 3.
5 April 2023 - it is reported that they are hanging the new gates.

NE women's restroom renovation progress, 4 April 2023
Most of the drain and concrete work is complete.



NE men's restroom renovation progress, 4 April 2023
Most of the drain and concrete work is complete.



South concourse men's restroom left unlocked for first time in years.
This is why it was locked.
Locking the door again is the easiest and cheapest way out.
Don't know what they had in mind, beyond seeing if they still had a key.
The windows face the main part of campus.

(02-28-2023 04:01 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Pay for it yourself Rice!!! Show us you care!!!

Detail, but a significant one. The endowment can't be spent on buildings as I understand it. It can advance funds for construction against future pledges, but it cannot directly pay for construction. I don't think anything about that has changed, but I haven't asked anyone in a long time.

(04-05-2023 10:56 AM)Grungy Wrote:  South concourse men's restroom left unlocked for first time in years.
This is why it was locked.
Locking the door again is the easiest and cheapest way out.
Don't know what they had in mind, beyond seeing if they still had a key.
The windows face the main part of campus.

Wow... maybe they're just airing it out, lol.

(04-05-2023 10:44 AM)Grungy Wrote:  Out with the old, in with the new.
4 April 2023 - old gates removed, and the posts for the new gates installed.
Old gates still in place on Gate 3.
5 April 2023 - it is reported that they are hanging the new gates.

Looks good. At this pace, we may actually finish the renovation by 2045.