(05-19-2022 02:31 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Listened to a joint interview with Stickland/Hardgrave and 2 other interviews with Veatch...

CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT
They were all pretty adamant that they are trying to get something done by 2025. They all mentioned conference alignment and positioning for big-time football for the future, etc. Big 12 was mentioned by name by Hardgrave, then he quickly said "or whoever" might come looking at us.

ON CAMPUS STADIUM
Veatch made a point to say the OCS was looked at very closely and very seriously. And he said - contrary to what many say here - that it is feasible. The problem is that additional land would have to be purchased and there would be demolition involved - both of which would approximately double the costs and would extend the timeline way past 2025. He made the point that in the end, with costs and timing - this is the best option. GP asked if Veatch wished one of his predecessors had done the OCS thing a decade ago, and Veatch laughed in basic agreement.

MISC
Veatch said that ideally, capacity would be in the low 40's. But with this project - due to current configuraton, the bowl game, possibility of future growth - capacity will be 50ish.

GP and Veatch (I think it was) talked concert venues a bit. They said one of the limiting factors to stadium concerts in Memphis (besides Nashville becoming a default stop on tour) is that equipment trucks have gotten bigger with bigger show setups these days. And they can no longer fit through the LBMS north tunnel with equipment for setup. This renovation will open that up, and will put us back in the game for at least consideration of the big shows.

Veatch talked a lot about the stadium "halo" - that area just outside of the concourses, but within stadium grounds. That is currently wasted space. The thought (I think) is to move the ticket gates out to the edge of the stadium footprint, then utilize the halo "inside" the stadium proper - for larger open concourses, concessions, game day experiences, etc.

...I think they seriously considered the OCS and it just couldn't work within these next few crucial years. So we are getting the next best thing. I'm on board.

[posting this in the LBS thread too]

Good stuff thanks -----he also said at the presser at around the 23:00 mark --that the university was not set on low 40K if they had built the OCS