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+------- Thread: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says (/thread-639616.html)
UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - WesternBlazer - 07-11-2013 12:14 PM
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/07/uab_football_stadium_not_a_top.html#incart_flyout_news
But that does not mean all hope for the stadium is dead.
Watts also says the university is in the process of developing a new strategic plan for its athletics program, and a key part of that will be increasing game attendance.
"My initial focus has been to increase the support and attendance of all of our student athletic events, and I think you'll see over the coming year a very intensive program to get our faculty and employees and students out to support our student athletes and our teams," he said.
"If we do that well, and we put together our strategic plan, then all of the other capital items will take care of themselves."
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - UAB Band Dad - 07-11-2013 12:30 PM
What else did you expect him to say? The on campus stadium is job one? He'd join Carol Garrison as an ex-president of UAB so fast your head would spin.
If this fund drive works, if it really reaches its goals, then there will be money available come the day. In the meantime, finding a way to put butts in seats, increasing attendance and interest, is the key to putting the BOT in a position where it gets extremely hard to say no.
That and PBJ is going to have to retire eventually.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - the_blazerman - 07-11-2013 12:30 PM
Or somehow not be on the board for some other reason.
UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Blazer85 - 07-11-2013 12:48 PM
Joe Shmoe UAT fan might actually donate to UABs capital campaign as long as they don't think the money is just going to fund a UAB stadium.
So for practical and political reasons, of course Watts doesn't want the press to turn this campaign into a football stadium funding issue. We want as many donors as possible and don't need to alienate anyone.
If someone wants to give money to UAB hospital and that alone then it's fine because that still potentially frees up other money for other projects we deem necessary with respect to athletics.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - BeliefBlazer - 07-11-2013 12:49 PM
The AL.com writers sure know how to get comments and page views.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - the_blazerman - 07-11-2013 12:52 PM
Yep. They also know how to skew actual facts.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Smaug - 07-11-2013 01:00 PM
(07-11-2013 12:30 PM)the_blazerman Wrote: Or somehow not be on the board for some other reason.
Looks like you're pinning your hopes on Eric Holder or a lightning bolt.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Smaug - 07-11-2013 01:05 PM
1. It should shock exactly no one that Watts was asked the question.
2. It should also shock exactly no one that he demurred.
3. The total cost of the stadium as presented represents about 6.5% of 1 billion.
I'm prepared to wait and see what happens.
UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Blazer85 - 07-11-2013 01:13 PM
Again, even indirectly this certainly helps UAB athletics. The nicer the campus (better classrooms, facilities, faculty), the easier it will be for UAB to recruit athletes and coaches. Also, the better we position ourselves financially overall, the better position we will be in for if/when there is another conference realignment.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Memphis Blazer - 07-11-2013 01:22 PM
You guys gotta give up on the stadium.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Smaug - 07-11-2013 01:28 PM
(07-11-2013 01:22 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: You guys gotta give up on the stadium.
Nope. I expect to live long enough to enjoy an overpriced, watered-down Coke as I watch my football team play on the south side.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - the_blazerman - 07-11-2013 01:32 PM
(07-11-2013 01:00 PM)Smaug Wrote:(07-11-2013 12:30 PM)the_blazerman Wrote: Or somehow not be on the board for some other reason.
Looks like you're pinning your hopes on Eric Holder or a lightning bolt.
No comment.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - BAMANBLAZERFAN - 07-11-2013 02:53 PM
As much as we want the OCS, there are still other things that would help improve our competitive position that are priorities and can be done with less funding. Our original hope was to include these facilities in the new OCS, but they may have to be built separately. Which of these needs has our President spoken about with encouragement?
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - BlazerPhil - 07-11-2013 03:57 PM
(07-11-2013 12:30 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: What else did you expect him to say? The on campus stadium is job one? He'd join Carol Garrison as an ex-president of UAB so fast your head would spin.
If this fund drive works, if it really reaches its goals, then there will be money available come the day. In the meantime, finding a way to put butts in seats, increasing attendance and interest, is the key to putting the BOT in a position where it gets extremely hard to say no.
That and PBJ is going to have to retire eventually.
I'm still hoping for some Shakspearean type tragedy with a strong sense of karma. But I'm devious like that. (cue the pinhead denouncing my wish for another human's death)
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - UAB Band Dad - 07-11-2013 04:15 PM
(07-11-2013 01:22 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: You guys gotta give up on the stadium.
Like hell we do.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Memphis Blazer - 07-11-2013 04:25 PM
Keep tilting at the windmills then. Its all a pipedream at this point.
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Matrix - 07-11-2013 04:41 PM
(07-11-2013 12:49 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote: The AL.com writers sure know how to get comments and page views.
& if you or I say something contrary to their venomous rants against UAB Football, then their crimson kool-aid drinking mod gods will ban you from posting there. Bunch of damn "walkers" is what they are!
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Matrix - 07-11-2013 04:42 PM
...sigh...
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Smaug - 07-11-2013 04:43 PM
(07-11-2013 04:25 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: Keep tilting at the windmills then. Its all a pipedream at this point.
"We do Birmingham a great disservice when we dream too little dreams."
--Joseph Francis Hennessey Aloysius Volker
RE: UAB football stadium 'not a top strategic priority,' Watts says - Memphis Blazer - 07-11-2013 04:49 PM
"Snap out of it!!!"
Cher. Moonstruck