(07-11-2016 11:52 AM)LUSportsFan Wrote:  

(07-10-2016 10:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(07-10-2016 10:04 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(07-10-2016 09:42 PM)PA-GAMECOCK Wrote:  

(07-10-2016 10:14 AM)bullet Wrote:  If they go like Idaho, they will end up like Idaho. They need to bite the bullet and do something like expand by upgrading half the stadium. That's considerably cheaper than doing the whole thing. They can add cheap seats in the end zone to get to 30k while leaving room for temporary expansion.

As an independent where is UMASS going to get the money to expand half the stadium. They are not in a conference like the B-12, B-10, or SEC where they are making at least $30 million a year. They are a in a heck of position then Idaho with 25k. Idaho only has seating for about 15k.

Nobody will invite them at 17k or 25k. AAC-UConn, Houston, SMU, Tulane and UCF all have built stadiums in the last 20 years. Temple is looking at it while playing in a pro stadium close to campus. USF is in a pro stadium close to campus. Cincinnati and ECU have done major renovations. Basically everyone but Navy, Memphis and Tulsa. Tulsa's seats 40k and the Liberty Bowl seats 62k.

You have some facts wrong here^ I take it that you haven't watched games at several of these places.

Cheers!

Tulsa's stadium capacity was reduced as part of a renovation in 2007-08 with an estimated cost of $20 million http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/tu...a2d4a.html. The stadium now has an official capacity of 30,000...not too far away from the 25K.

Quote:...The stadium renovation included new seating throughout the stadium, restrooms, concession areas, new press box with luxury suites and club level seating, and a new scoreboard on the south side of the stadium, among other amenities...

http://tulsahurricane.com/news/2015/6/4/...52438.aspx

The lowest capacity for AAC stadiums is 30,000, but there are several stadiums within the 25,000 capacity range in the CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt. (MAC is probably out since UMass didn't want full membership there.) The Mountain West also has a stadium around 25K, but UMass is probably outside of the geographic footprint for that conference.

UMass could be in the MAC now. Maybe in CUSA. But that's not where they want to go. They aren't going to get P5 teams to play them in Springfield and they aren't going to get the AAC to invite them.