whupemall
1st String

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I Root For: Jax State
Location: Newton, AL
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(10-25-2024 11:53 AM)topper1296 Wrote: (10-25-2024 11:03 AM)smith79jordan Wrote: (10-25-2024 09:24 AM)jpw67 Wrote: (08-23-2024 02:28 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote: Floyd Stadium 8/23/24
https://twitter.com/MaplesLarryD/status/...2541864973
It is a great looking stadium, though all those seats make me wonder how G5's should optimize stadium seating in a world where they no longer have to provide 30k seats to be classified as 1A/ FBS. I don't see anyone in CUSA drawing 30k consistently, so is it better to have 30k+ seats and have half of them empty, or does it make sense to scale back a bit and deliver a better overall game day atmosphere. Downsizing seems to be happening at all levels - Florida State, Northwestern and Georgia Tech are recent examples, and even UL Lafayette in the SBC is downsizing in the name of providing better amenities.
I think this is the key - none of us in CUSA needs the biggest stadium we can build, we should be going for the nicest 20-25k seat stadiums we can build. In MTSU's case, they may have the right balance. With a 55+ yo stadium I know for a fact La Tech needs to downsize and continue to work on amenities, sightlines, etc.
I believe Missouri State's AD said their stadium renovation method will focus on creating premium seating. I think that's the way to go for our members. We won't flirt with sellouts on most nights, so let's invest in seating that enhances the experience and allows us to make more money.
I've been saying for years that QUALITY of fan experience is far more important than QUANTITY of fans a stadium can hold for the vast majority of programs (outside of the football factories like Bama, OSU, ND) because of HDTV. Why travel to a game, wait in traffic to park, pay to park, pay for higher priced food/drinks and wait in line to use the restroom when you can sit in your living room in your recliner and watch it on an 80' HDTV with surround sound. Fans need a good reason(s) to go to a game in today's world.
Ditto.
I think the 20K-30K range is the sweet spot for lower-end FBS stadiums, and the upper part of that range should only be explored by teams with markets and/or fan bases who can consistently fill those seats.
Jax State lost a couple thousand seats in their latest round of renovations, and I'm totally fine with that, just so they continue to sell the seats they DO have.
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| 10-25-2024 03:30 PM |
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KATatonic
2nd String

Posts: 424
Joined: Nov 2021
Reputation: 40
I Root For: Sam Houston Bearkats
Location:
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(10-25-2024 03:30 PM)whupemall Wrote: (10-25-2024 11:53 AM)topper1296 Wrote: (10-25-2024 11:03 AM)smith79jordan Wrote: (10-25-2024 09:24 AM)jpw67 Wrote: (08-23-2024 02:28 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote: Floyd Stadium 8/23/24
https://twitter.com/MaplesLarryD/status/...2541864973
It is a great looking stadium, though all those seats make me wonder how G5's should optimize stadium seating in a world where they no longer have to provide 30k seats to be classified as 1A/ FBS. I don't see anyone in CUSA drawing 30k consistently, so is it better to have 30k+ seats and have half of them empty, or does it make sense to scale back a bit and deliver a better overall game day atmosphere. Downsizing seems to be happening at all levels - Florida State, Northwestern and Georgia Tech are recent examples, and even UL Lafayette in the SBC is downsizing in the name of providing better amenities.
I think this is the key - none of us in CUSA needs the biggest stadium we can build, we should be going for the nicest 20-25k seat stadiums we can build. In MTSU's case, they may have the right balance. With a 55+ yo stadium I know for a fact La Tech needs to downsize and continue to work on amenities, sightlines, etc.
I believe Missouri State's AD said their stadium renovation method will focus on creating premium seating. I think that's the way to go for our members. We won't flirt with sellouts on most nights, so let's invest in seating that enhances the experience and allows us to make more money.
I've been saying for years that QUALITY of fan experience is far more important than QUANTITY of fans a stadium can hold for the vast majority of programs (outside of the football factories like Bama, OSU, ND) because of HDTV. Why travel to a game, wait in traffic to park, pay to park, pay for higher priced food/drinks and wait in line to use the restroom when you can sit in your living room in your recliner and watch it on an 80' HDTV with surround sound. Fans need a good reason(s) to go to a game in today's world.
Ditto.
I think the 20K-30K range is the sweet spot for lower-end FBS stadiums, and the upper part of that range should only be explored by teams with markets and/or fan bases who can consistently fill those seats.
Jax State lost a couple thousand seats in their latest round of renovations, and I'm totally fine with that, just so they continue to sell the seats they DO have.
Sam Houston doesn't have to worry about too much seating capacity.
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| 10-25-2024 06:37 PM |
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Ewglenn
Heisman

Posts: 5,610
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I Root For: MTSU
Location: Murfreesboro
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
With the SAPC being built in the north end zone, our new capacity is 27,303. Personally I feel like everyone in our conference should be no more than 25k. We have only had more than our current capacity 5 times in our history. No need for that many seats. We are adding some new premium seating options in the SAPC. One of the suites was sold to SRM Concrete for 3 million. Premium options are the way to go.
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| 10-26-2024 12:13 PM |
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CrimsonPhantom
CUSA Curator

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
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| 11-27-2024 05:12 PM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
Looks great!
Question.
From the aerial view--What is that space in the upper left corner of the picture ?
It is staged with construction equipment and a huge pile of dirt/sand in the middle--Is it just a parking lot or the site for some future project?
(This post was last modified: 11-27-2024 06:55 PM by TOPSTRAIGHT.)
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| 11-27-2024 06:53 PM |
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CrimsonPhantom
CUSA Curator

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(11-27-2024 06:53 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote: Looks great!
Question.
From the aerial view--What is that space in the upper left corner of the picture ?
It is staged with construction equipment and a huge pile of dirt/sand in the middle--Is it just a parking lot or the site for some future project?
Its usually a parking lot. I believe its suppose to be paved after the construction.
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| 11-27-2024 07:51 PM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(This post was last modified: 12-04-2024 12:14 PM by TOPSTRAIGHT.)
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| 12-04-2024 12:01 PM |
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Baldspot
Special Teams

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I Root For: Liberty
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
Impressed with new buildings at NM State and WKU.
Looks like WKU will get a lot of different uses out of their IPF. Liberty’s is also close to their stadium and makes a great pre-game fan-fest area for recruits, kids and fans. Looks like WKU will have similar options.
(This post was last modified: 12-04-2024 01:58 PM by Baldspot.)
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| 12-04-2024 01:55 PM |
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Bearkat21
2nd String

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I Root For: Sam Houston
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
https://www.shsu.edu/today@sam/T@S/artic...de-project
This is so damn exciting for us Bearkat fans. We've had no major renovation of our stadium since the 1980s other than a video board a decade ago, the track being taken out last season, and some chairbacks added. Biggest complaint from fans has never been the on the field product but rather our facilities and gameday atmosphere. If it weren't for us winning so much in the FCS we would not be in CUSA so it's nice to finally see some FBS level upgrades actually in the works.
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| 12-05-2024 04:30 PM |
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CrimsonPhantom
CUSA Curator

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(11-27-2024 05:12 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:
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| 12-17-2024 07:29 PM |
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NMSUPistolPete
All American

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
NMSU basketball locker room upgrade...
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| 12-18-2024 04:49 PM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(This post was last modified: 01-27-2025 05:20 PM by TOPSTRAIGHT.)
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| 01-27-2025 04:59 PM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(08-02-2024 12:09 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote: https://www.itemonline.com/elliott-t-bow...19436.html
New press box will include
-12 suites and president’s box
-a club level with exterior seating and a lounge with a bar and patio
-a visitors’ box (something SH didn’t previously have) for CUSA Presidents and ADs
-a team store
-new entrance ramps into the facility
You’ll notice neither the track removal or the fieldhouse’s expansion are in the flyover, although both will of course be done by the beginning of the season.
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| 01-27-2025 05:17 PM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
Current Major FB construction--SH, MT, WKU, NMSU
Other FB constuction-- La Tech
Recently completed-- JAX
None at this time-- Liberty, FIU, UTEP
Planning stages? (No renderings)--UD, KSU, Mo St.
[Glad to be corrected if I've left out some FB construction or major announcement.]
(This post was last modified: 01-27-2025 05:52 PM by TOPSTRAIGHT.)
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| 01-27-2025 05:50 PM |
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Baldspot
Special Teams

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(This post was last modified: 01-27-2025 06:43 PM by Baldspot.)
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| 01-27-2025 06:42 PM |
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jones682
1st String

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(01-27-2025 05:50 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote: Current Major FB construction--SH, MT, WKU, NMSU
Other FB constuction-- La Tech
Recently completed-- JAX
None at this time-- Liberty, FIU, UTEP
Planning stages? (No renderings)--UD, KSU, Mo St.
[Glad to be corrected if I've left out some FB construction or major announcement.]
This is not football related but KSU is currently building there baseball stadium.
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| 01-27-2025 09:32 PM |
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Mizzst04
Bench Warmer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
MO State AD said that Mo State will be spending millions updating technology and lighting for next season at Plaster Stadium. Not the fun kind of updating but apparently ESPN needs us to level up on some tech for them to do their job. Lights and Turf will most likely be the only visible updates for our first season.
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| 01-28-2025 10:00 AM |
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TOPSTRAIGHT
Hall of Famer

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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(01-28-2025 10:00 AM)Mizzst04 Wrote: MO State AD said that Mo State will be spending millions updating technology and lighting for next season at Plaster Stadium. Not the fun kind of updating but apparently ESPN needs us to level up on some tech for them to do their job. Lights and Turf will most likely be the only visible updates for our first season.
It's a start. The Bears have a long way to go regarding FB facilities. The Good News is all their OTHER sports venues are fantastic.
FIU (pressbox), Kennesaw, Mo St. and UD have improvements to make IMHO.
(This post was last modified: 01-28-2025 12:21 PM by TOPSTRAIGHT.)
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| 01-28-2025 12:20 PM |
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Ewglenn
Heisman

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Location: Murfreesboro
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(01-28-2025 12:20 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote: (01-28-2025 10:00 AM)Mizzst04 Wrote: MO State AD said that Mo State will be spending millions updating technology and lighting for next season at Plaster Stadium. Not the fun kind of updating but apparently ESPN needs us to level up on some tech for them to do their job. Lights and Turf will most likely be the only visible updates for our first season.
It's a start. The Bears have a long way to go regarding FB facilities. The Good News is all their OTHER sports venues are fantastic.
FIU (pressbox), Kennesaw, Mo St. and UD have improvements to make IMHO.
I made the trip to FIU last season and was surprised at how nice it was. They could use a legit press box to give it a college football stadium feel but other than that it is nice. No fans though so that takes away from it.
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| 01-28-2025 01:40 PM |
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Bearkat21
2nd String

Posts: 372
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RE: Facilities thread CUSA 4.0
(01-28-2025 01:40 PM)Ewglenn Wrote: (01-28-2025 12:20 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote: (01-28-2025 10:00 AM)Mizzst04 Wrote: MO State AD said that Mo State will be spending millions updating technology and lighting for next season at Plaster Stadium. Not the fun kind of updating but apparently ESPN needs us to level up on some tech for them to do their job. Lights and Turf will most likely be the only visible updates for our first season.
It's a start. The Bears have a long way to go regarding FB facilities. The Good News is all their OTHER sports venues are fantastic.
FIU (pressbox), Kennesaw, Mo St. and UD have improvements to make IMHO.
I made the trip to FIU last season and was surprised at how nice it was. They could use a legit press box to give it a college football stadium feel but other than that it is nice. No fans though so that takes away from it.
This was the same thought I had when we visited on their vice night. Great stadium but minimal fans.
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| 01-28-2025 02:34 PM |
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