http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footbal...-dave-hart

Rapid stadium expansion...

We'd be crazy to ever even consider it. We have a right sized stadium. The name of the game for us is updating not expansion.

College football ammunitions race doesn't end well in an era where the TV experience continues to get better and better and weekend road trips get less economical. Glad we have resisted the urge to get in the rat race the wrong way and have built the Yordon and CHessick organically and efficiently. Football success has been our donor cash cow...just think where we'd be without it.

(01-29-2013 09:09 AM)scottiep12 Wrote:  We'd be crazy to ever even consider it. We have a right sized stadium. The name of the game for us is updating not expansion.

College football ammunitions race doesn't end well in an era where the TV experience continues to get better and better and weekend road trips get less economical. Glad we have resisted the urge to get in the rat race the wrong way and have built the Yordon and CHessick organically and efficiently. Football success has been our donor cash cow...just think where we'd be without it.

Absolutely correct. The only time to consider expansion is when we sell out the majority of games...and there is a demand for tickets beyond that. Put the money into renovation, which is exactly what's planned.

If you read the article, the money wasn't spent on expansion(contraction actually) to upgrade to more premium seating...result...$130mm cost..combined with a bad streak of losing seasons...lowered attendance...etc..

The good thing about NIU is when we do well we don't have to worry about attendance fall-off, because the attendance was never there.

(01-29-2013 09:52 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  If you read the article, the money wasn't spent on expansion(contraction actually) to upgrade to more premium seating...result...$130mm cost..combined with a bad streak of losing seasons...lowered attendance...etc..

The good thing about NIU is when we do well we don't have to worry about attendance fall-off, because the attendance was never there.

LOL

I know what you meant but the sad thing is that NIU is doing well while the attendance has been falling off.

I doubt our renovation/premium seating project would go beyond $20mil.

Ball State's renovations a few years ago cost $13million. New press box with club seating and boxes. Exactly what NIU needs. That price also included additional renovations.

http://www.fieldturf.com/en/artificial-t...um-reopens

Quote:Ground Level

A new five-window ticket office at the main gate moves fans more efficiently into the stadium. Two new elevators have been installed to whisk visitors up into the media center.

Second Level

A total of 184 club seats on the second level of the media center are now available to season ticket holders, who are gold level members of the Cardinal Varsity Club. Fans will enjoy open air stadium chair seating and will have access to private restrooms and concessions.

Third Level

This glass-enclosed area features space for print, radio and television media as well as coaching booths. In addition to visiting and home athletic director suites, the red carpet has been rolled out for individuals and businesses that have leased three of the stadium's 14 entertainment suites - each supplied with university-catered food and a personal suite attendant.

Fourth Level

The red carpet treatment continues up to the top level, also enclosed by glass, and is home to the remaining 11 entertainment suites, including the president's suite.

That is sweet..I have never been to Ball State, but to hear about those renovations sounds exactly what NIU needs..

Couldn't find the price of the suites though...

Here is a good before and after image that would seem somewhat familiar to us.

(01-29-2013 10:33 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  That is sweet..I have never been to Ball State, but to hear about those renovations sounds exactly what NIU needs..

Couldn't find the price of the suites though...

Add the capability of enclosing at least half of those club seats and I agree.


Also I wonder if they included the Field Turf and Berm in that $13mil number. If so then we could shave another 2mil off that easy.

Also our West stands are much taller than the Ball State stands so that would add cost for us. I would also expect that making our bathrooms ADA compliant would cost more than it did for Ball State.

I'd be fine with getting it upgraded with a look similar to Ball State's.

As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

(01-29-2013 11:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

(01-29-2013 11:49 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

(01-29-2013 12:04 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:49 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

young man, you're blessed with a great sense of humor

(01-29-2013 02:25 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 12:04 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:49 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

young man, you're blessed with a great sense of humor

Thanks, but it was my mother who had the sense of humor. She had to look at me every day and realize that what she saw was her fault!

P.S. Thanks also for the age compliment, but I am not young. I am older than dirt. Plus I am dirtier.

(01-29-2013 02:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:25 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 12:04 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:49 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  As long as I get my own reinforced luxury seat, private bathroom, and concessions waitress, I'm fine with whatever they do.

Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

young man, you're blessed with a great sense of humor

Thanks, but it was my mother who had the sense of humor. She had to look at me every day and realize that what she saw was her fault!

P.S. Thanks also for the age compliment, but I am not young. I am older than dirt. Plus I am dirtier.

My definition of young: anyone under 50 yrs of age.......did I get it right?

(01-29-2013 09:02 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:25 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 12:04 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:49 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Would the private bathroom have a trough in it?

Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

young man, you're blessed with a great sense of humor

Thanks, but it was my mother who had the sense of humor. She had to look at me every day and realize that what she saw was her fault!

P.S. Thanks also for the age compliment, but I am not young. I am older than dirt. Plus I am dirtier.

My definition of young: anyone under 50 yrs of age.......did I get it right?

DF has hemorrhoids that are over 50.

(01-30-2013 08:24 AM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 09:02 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:25 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 12:04 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Without question! But, I want it plated in precious metal (I'm not fussy), and I want the inside of the crapper painted with the Toledo logo.

young man, you're blessed with a great sense of humor

Thanks, but it was my mother who had the sense of humor. She had to look at me every day and realize that what she saw was her fault!

P.S. Thanks also for the age compliment, but I am not young. I am older than dirt. Plus I am dirtier.

My definition of young: anyone under 50 yrs of age.......did I get it right?

DF has hemorrhoids that are over 50.

You got that right! I don't even remember my early 50s. I am getting close to retirement age, but I probably won't retire. I need the money to support the Huskies, and I like hanging out with the young girls. I can now do things to them and get away with it because of age and "failing eyesight". Young girls don't seem threatened by me....and that's their mistake. Ah, for some things it's great to be senile! However, unfortunately I now need to carry around a spare Viagra. I also need a Flomax to increase the flow from a trickle. Lastly, as insurance against Viagra failure, I always carry around a 240-volt pen!s pump. Hey, who said it's great to be senile?!

I would be willing to bet our press box is going to be more Toledo than Ball State.

(01-30-2013 12:58 PM)7 Wrote:  I would be willing to bet our press box is going to be more Toledo than Ball State.

More in size or in dollars? Toledo built theirs for $18mil in 1990.