Does the long-term plan for Godwin Hall (5-10 years) involve a retrofit or demolition? I would image trying to demo Godwin after an expansion of BFS (even if it is just the lower bowl) would be a challenge.

We are just coming off a large fundraising effort to build the AUBC. Trying to expand BFS within the next few years is just not realistic in my opinion (unfortunately)... unless a JMU grad wins the lotto and makes a sizable contribution!

However... next fall the AUBC opens with lots of fanfare and excitement. Next fall is also the 10th season in the remodeled BFS. Perhaps a campaign to raise funds to finish the lower bowl could be announced as part of the celebration of a decade in the new BFS and we are looking at expansion in 2025 or 2027... about the same time Godwin Hall crosses the 50 year mark...

(06-11-2019 01:04 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 12:52 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 12:50 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I doubt they shift volleyball to the bank. Volleyball has specialized flooring in an ideal situation. JMU has that flooring installed at Godwin.

The flooring may exist, but it isn't required. Understand your preference and viewpoint though.

WP I don't disagree. But yea JMU invested in a "state of the art" (Taraflex) floor some years ago. I don't think they intend for the AUB arena for Volleyball whatsoever. Probably also keeps that venue open for other purposes.

Fair enough. Doesn't make sense to me, but I trust you guys' insights. I certainly think the AUBC is a better option than building a 7-figure venue if/when Godwin is ever knocked down.

I admit I forgot about the volleyball court renovation. They wouldn't have taken the time to renovate it if they were just going to take it down years later.
With that being said, I think they definitely need to continue remodeling Godwin. It still needs a lot of work done. If Godwin is staying, then they need to figure out a way around it. The lower and upper deck can still be built with Godwin there, but having Godwin there definitely makes it a little more challenging that if it weren't there.

There is one single benefit to keeping the old side of the stadium: the visiting locker rooms. If we renovate, there will have to be a new visiting team locker room. No good.

(06-11-2019 01:11 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  There is one single benefit to keeping the old side of the stadium: the visiting locker rooms. If we renovate, there will have to be a new visiting team locker room. No good.

Couldn't you just build over it? That's what's been done at some other stadiums when renovating the stands. Maybe not.

Though, I would like to see Ty Webb (played by Chevy Chase) telling Bitchmond that "we have a pond out back that might be more fitting for you"...

(06-11-2019 01:16 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 01:11 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  There is one single benefit to keeping the old side of the stadium: the visiting locker rooms. If we renovate, there will have to be a new visiting team locker room. No good.

Couldn't you just build over it? That's what's been done at some other stadiums when renovating the stands. Maybe not.

Though, I would like to see Ty Webb (played by Chevy Chase) telling Bitchmond that "we have a pond out back that might be more fitting for you"...

I see what you're saying, but it seems like that would create more problems than solve. Also, if they didn't do that on the new side, I don't see why they would do that on the other side. If they are going to do it the right way (and they always do), they have to tear that side down and start fresh.

I don't see us expanding unless we can up our ability to raise funds. For the arena we were able to raise what? 12 million? Everyone has to remember that were were only able to do the arena since the funding was approved prior to the Cox Bill and therefore did not count towards our student fee ratio. If we were to expand we would have to privately raise the vast majority of the money to build to not raise student fees even further.

When we expanded Bridgeforth, we started construction before we had the funds. JMU will never do that again when it comes to athletics projects because we were left holding the cup for some pledges. Everything we want, be it an indoor practice facility, a new arena for <sport>, facility expansion, it'll all have to have fundraising first and the money will be in hand. You heard a lot of that with the Atlantic Union Bank concept.

Godwin isn’t coming down. BFS won’t be expanded until the bonds to pay for the last expansion are paid off...that’s roughly another 10 years...and/or some rich alum drops a large 7-figure check before then.

If I recall correctly, JMU hedged it’s bet and said the new convo wouldn’t start construction until they had $3 million in hand and $12 million pledged. Still counting on people to honor their word

(06-11-2019 11:55 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  If I recall correctly, JMU hedged it’s bet and said the new convo wouldn’t start construction until they had $3 million in hand and $12 million pledged. Still counting on people to honor their word

They did the pledges very differently with the Arena. With Bridgeforth people made pledges, but in at least some cases there was no contract involved. With the arena if you made a pledge there was a contract that laid out your responsibilities to pay, etc. Now would JMU sue someone to get that money who knows, but there is a lot more legal paperwork this time.

(05-31-2019 07:59 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(05-31-2019 07:12 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(05-31-2019 06:54 AM)JMUDunk Wrote:  Looks sharp!

+1

Coming together pretty well. I like the alternating shades every 5-yard intervals.

I am hopeful when they paint the endzones, they use a lighter shade of gold that will be brighter and look great with the purple background.

Love the way it looks out in Seattle at U-Dub (as has been previously posted by others in the thread)...

If the print here is correct, the "James Madison" text in the end zones will actually be white.

https://jmusports.com/news/2019/5/3/jame...-2019.aspx

My eyes are old, but looks gold to me. There is a time lapse photography video of the new field at jmusports.com available today. Endzone print looked gold to me on the quick snippet they showed, but I yield to others whose eyes are likely way better than mine.

https://www.whsv.com/content/sports/New-...62281.html
If you go to about 28 seconds into this video you can see better detail

The endzone 'JAMES MADISON' and sideline 'DUKES' are both in white text with a gold outline (opposite of what Washington did)

(06-25-2019 08:46 AM)jmufan2008 Wrote:  https://www.whsv.com/content/sports/New-...62281.html
If you go to about 28 seconds into this video you can see better detail

The endzone 'JAMES MADISON' and sideline 'DUKES' are both in white text with a gold outline (opposite of what Washington did)

Thanks. That is indeed a much better view and indeed white with gold outline as you described.

Maybe it's time I get a thicker pair of glasses...

Lookin so FINE

I swear I just heard Napoleon Dynamite's voice in that video.

All Hail Godwin Hall! I played the first game ever played there and Bruce Gibbens and I were the first to ever dive into the Savage Natatorium. It was for a special on it for Channel 12 in Richmond. Therefore, it should be declared a National Historic Building and protected!

(06-26-2019 08:13 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  All Hail Godwin Hall! I played the first game ever played there and Bruce Gibbens and I were the first to ever dive into the Savage Natatorium. It was for a special on it for Channel 12 in Richmond. Therefore, it should be declared a National Historic Building and protected!

We need that footage of a young BSKB diving on Channel 12!

(06-26-2019 08:13 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  All Hail Godwin Hall! I played the first game ever played there and Bruce Gibbens and I were the first to ever dive into the Savage Natatorium. It was for a special on it for Channel 12 in Richmond. Therefore, it should be declared a National Historic Building and protected!

BSKB24,
Did anyone ever refer to the arena itself as "Sinclair Gym" when you were playing ball? I remember being surprised to find out (back in the early 80s) that the gym had an official name. When I was in school it was just called Godwin in ads for concerts.

Channel 12 sounds a little high. Didn't TV dials only go to channel 13?

(06-26-2019 09:06 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(06-26-2019 08:13 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  All Hail Godwin Hall! I played the first game ever played there and Bruce Gibbens and I were the first to ever dive into the Savage Natatorium. It was for a special on it for Channel 12 in Richmond. Therefore, it should be declared a National Historic Building and protected!

BSKB24,
Did anyone ever refer to the arena itself as "Sinclair Gym" when you were playing ball? I remember being surprised to find out (back in the early 80s) that the gym had an official name. When I was in school it was just called Godwin in ads for concerts.

I have never heard it called Sinclair. At that age I missed a lot of details. Oh well!