I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
Unless its part of a casino, i don't see how that gets off the drawing board. The goal is probably to get it on the drawing board with some $ being paid for a study to a politically connected consulting firm.
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
HBCUs can draw big crowds with non-conference Classics that turn the whole weekend into a party. Jackson State could host a MEAC/CIAA/SIAC/Tennessee State and make it an event, or they could be a neutral site for two teams. If the MEAC ever decided to withdraw from the FCS playoffs, a SWAC-MEAC champions game would be a logical fit there. And conceivably, they could go after an FBS bowl, because it's not as though most of them need more than a 35,000-seat stadium anyway.
There's probably some non-college sports opportunities that aren't coming to me offhand, as well.
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
One of the posters on Anygivensaturday (the FCS messageboard), mentioned that moving up (to presumably the Sun Belt) would not be of interest to them. The SWAC is a group of schools linked by a shared cultural identity. The alumni from these schools want to play each other not necessarily the Sun Belt / CUSA teams in the region.
The SWAC is known for putting on 'Classics' that hold larger crowds. Maybe Jackson wants to host one. In 2011, the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs Alabama A&M) had 66473. The top 5 classics were all north of 44,000 fans.
Right now, Jackson State plays in Veterans Memorial Stadium that holds 60,492. So this would actually be a smaller stadium.
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
One of the posters on Anygivensaturday (the FCS messageboard), mentioned that moving up (to presumably the Sun Belt) would not be of interest to them. The SWAC is a group of schools linked by a shared cultural identity. The alumni from these schools want to play each other not necessarily the Sun Belt / CUSA teams in the region.
The SWAC is known for putting on 'Classics' that hold larger crowds. Maybe Jackson wants to host one. In 2011, the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs Alabama A&M) had 66473. The top 5 classics were all north of 44,000 fans.
Right now, Jackson State plays in Veterans Memorial Stadium that holds 60,492. So this would actually be a smaller stadium.
I don't know the numbers recently, but for a long time, JSU led D-IAA in attendance and would sell-out or get near sell-outs for its annual game against Alcorn State. And since Alcorn's stadium was so small, Alcorn would even play its side of the home-and-home in Jackson at memorial stadium.
Not saying that this is a good idea for JSU, but not crazy for them to do and still remain I-AA.
And the City of Jackson may be interested in helping. For years and years, Jackson hosted the big Ole Miss home games (like Birmingham did for Alabama). They also hosted Southern Miss and Miss. State games, and also did other events like NFL-exhibition games at Memorial Stadium. I don't think they could ever get the Ole Miss games again, but they might be able to get some USM games with a better stadium. And might be able to go after some NCAA tournament early rounds or other big events.
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2013 03:48 PM by Duke Eagle.)
(02-27-2013 03:11 PM)Cyniclone Wrote: . Jackson State could host a MEAC/CIAA/SIAC/Tennessee State and make it an event, or they could be a neutral site for two teams.
Maybe Charlotte can chip in some money so we can get that **** out of our city. Everyone hates the CIAA tournament in Charlotte except the city. Hotels, restaurants, uptown workers, employees of bars and restaurants in uptown....all dread CIAA week.
I used to have some friends that worked in uptown bars and restaurants and they'd request that week off a year in advance. Many of the large companies in uptown will let their workers out early too so they can avoid the madness.
Yesterday was night 1 and we already have a memorable YouTube video:
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
There is something cool about programs wanting to stick with each other and keep a cultural thing going together.
It used to be a black thing, but is starting to seem like more.
Their facilities are starting to improve with this and Alabama State. Will be interesting to watch.
(02-27-2013 02:28 PM)Love and Honor Wrote: I guess I broke the news on the UNLV stadium, so here's another one for us. Jackson State of the SWAC is planning to build a 50,000 capacity dome to house their football and basketball teams, among the concerts and university events I presume. The project is planned to cost $200 million, funded by private donors, sponsorship sales, the Mississippi government, and the sale of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (and surrounding land).
I don't see them wanting to move up to FBS, the SWAC is an athletic and cultural fit for them. If they do, then this is a step in that direction I suppose.
I cant imagine that this program would make such a large investment in athletics to continue playing at their current level. Why would they ever need a 50,000 seat stadium to play the teams that they currently play. It seems to me that they are looking to move up at some time in the future. That would be a first conclusion of anyone who is looking at this and being uninformed of their plans.
One of the posters on Anygivensaturday (the FCS messageboard), mentioned that moving up (to presumably the Sun Belt) would not be of interest to them. The SWAC is a group of schools linked by a shared cultural identity. The alumni from these schools want to play each other not necessarily the Sun Belt / CUSA teams in the region.
The SWAC is known for putting on 'Classics' that hold larger crowds. Maybe Jackson wants to host one. In 2011, the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs Alabama A&M) had 66473. The top 5 classics were all north of 44,000 fans.
Right now, Jackson State plays in Veterans Memorial Stadium that holds 60,492. So this would actually be a smaller stadium.
I don't know the numbers recently, but for a long time, JSU led D-IAA in attendance and would sell-out or get near sell-outs for its annual game against Alcorn State. And since Alcorn's stadium was so small, Alcorn would even play its side of the home-and-home in Jackson at memorial stadium.
Not saying that this is a good idea for JSU, but not crazy for them to do and still remain I-AA.
And the City of Jackson may be interested in helping. For years and years, Jackson hosted the big Ole Miss home games (like Birmingham did for Alabama). They also hosted Southern Miss and Miss. State games, and also did other events like NFL-exhibition games at Memorial Stadium. I don't think they could ever get the Ole Miss games again, but they might be able to get some USM games with a better stadium. And might be able to go after some NCAA tournament early rounds or other big events.
I don't understand why we stopped playing at Veterans.
Can it really take any convention business away from New Orleans? There might be a market for facilities a tad smaller than the Superdome, but larger than the typical basketball arena.
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New Jackson State Dome?
![[Image: carrier-dome1.jpg]](http://collegevisits.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/carrier-dome1.jpg)