(08-23-2017 03:26 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  half a dozen posts b!tching about a decal... basically a highway billboard. I'm mad about the TV crap but come on.

We should be thankful the sign does not have CAA stamped on it with bigger font than JMU.

Would have been cool to have an digital board. You could have it to promote game times, ticket specials, out of town scores during tailgating before the game...you could promote the NCs...and you could have paid for it with a few high end ads...static is cheaper I guesss!

(08-23-2017 03:09 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  hahah Navy..zing

I hate to pick on the admin today (they earn it..) but that sign is not designed correctly....

shouldn't "National champions" be centered under "JMU"?

then, from top left moving down...you start listing NC years... there would be room for 8

where are they placing the next one? above 2016? Cool...counter-clockwise from 4:00 .... seriously people - this was the same team that designed the new JMUSports.com I bet

I thought out my post word for word with what you wrote (even down to the 'hate to pick on the admin') with a slight exception. Throw the 2004 on one side of JMU and 2016 on the other. Build down one side at a time.

Ultimately though this looks best until the next NC. And if that next one happens to be this year, well it wouldn't be a significant cost to change the design (given our $44M budget). It will be effectively paid for my the additional ticket sales of playoff games anyway so I'm cool with it.

I've seen multiple people connected or close to the JMU Football program state something to the effect that if JMU sells out all games that it's a done deal that they will complete Bridgeforth. I'm not sure if this has any legs but I found it interesting.

Could it be possible- AAC visits JMU around the time of the feasibility study. Both conclude that JMU needs a new basketball arena- funded and broke ground, and that they should complete their football stadium - on the horizon...?

(08-06-2018 09:12 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I've seen multiple people connected or close to the JMU Football program state something to the effect that if JMU sells out all games that it's a done deal that they will complete Bridgeforth. I'm not sure if this has any legs but I found it interesting.

Could it be possible- AAC visits JMU around the time of the feasibility study. Both conclude that JMU needs a new basketball arena- funded and broke ground, and that they should complete their football stadium - on the horizon...?

I don't see why not. As much as the UB&Trust Center has been marketed for events other than basketball, there will be a few of those per year. The CAA isn't filling an 8,500 seat arena on a Tuesday night.

(08-06-2018 09:12 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I've seen multiple people connected or close to the JMU Football program state something to the effect that if JMU sells out all games that it's a done deal that they will complete Bridgeforth. I'm not sure if this has any legs but I found it interesting.

Could it be possible- AAC visits JMU around the time of the feasibility study. Both conclude that JMU needs a new basketball arena- funded and broke ground, and that they should complete their football stadium - on the horizon...?

I would say the only legs this has would be because University Administration staff has openly said things such as "future expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium could only occur if JMU is regularly selling out current capacity", as in JMU isn't expanding until there is the need to expand, as in JMU won't build the other side of the stadium just to make it symmetrical and have it looking sharp.

Deez Nut's two cents: We have a good thing going, but we're a long long way from construction talk.

All I know is you only have to look at the first couple pages on this thread in which many were saying (with authority, I might add) that as long as JMU is playing in the CAA we’ll never get close to 25,000 in attendance again.

Hmmm, they sounded so sure of themselves in their condemnation.

Not sure which comes first here the chicken (reworked visitors side of BFS) or the egg (better attendance creating more demand than supply), but I do hope - though not very optimistic - that these numbers will change in the future...

-Dec 5, 2015 vs Colgate: attendance = 15,045
-Dec 3, 2016 vs New Hampshire: attendance = 13,231
-Dec 9, 2016 vs Soft Doucheston: attendance = 15,646
-Dec 2, 2017 vs Stony Brook: attendance = 16,449
-Dec 8, 2017 vs Weber State: attendance = 13,490
-Dec 16, 2017 vs South Dakota State: attendance = 16,528

I realize we normally get better crowds during the regular season. I also realize we make a lot more money on the regular season games. Still, it is disappointing that during the most important postseason games we are consistently not even close to filling up BFS.

I don't think filling up BFS during playoff games in December is a prerequisite to revamping BFS. I do think when we see BFS filled to the brim for playoff games where it is difficult to get a ticket or create a sea of purple consistently taking over road game stadiums, our chances of becoming much more attractive to a conference like AAC is enhanced. And, when I say "consistently" taking over road game stadiums, I'm not talking about Richmond or Elon. I'm talking about at Norfolk State or Towson or Chattanooga. Of course, significant improvements in Men's Basketball is probably a bigger driver than anything (especially when the AAC is involved).

this^^^

Thinking back to the days pre-2011 and pre-BFS expansion part 1, we were talking about people paying hundreds for tickets, thousands of people being left stranded without tickets, talks of BIGGER temporary bleachers, over numerous games and numerous seasons.

Back then it wasn't "ESPN is here today and I can't get a ticket to see Richmond". We have had numerous "sellouts" since we expanded, but maybe count on one hand the number of times it's been 'butts-in-seats' sold out, no more than 4 or 5 in seven seasons (still awesome).

One more thing...

...let's remember that while Webster's defines "attendance" as follows...

1. the act or fact of attending something or someone
2. a. the persons or number of persons attending something
2. b. the number of times a person attends

...for some odd reason in this day of superior technology enabling efficient and accurate accounting of the number of people entering gates to an event, "attendance" is now defined by colleges and some professional teams as...

...number of tickets accounted for. "Accounted for" meaning sold or allotted (students, band, etc.)

I agree that we're not on the doorstep of expansion. Even another couple championships and seasons of averaging 23k wouldn't change that (IMO).

However, just to play devil's advocate...
1) No school bases anything off of how many tickets they sell in the playoffs. Guaranteed small crowd for every school and it's a heavily reduced revenue. Even selling it out would probably equal the revenue we get from our worst-attended regular season games
2) The admin also probably don't care about 'butts-in-seats' sold out. They care about tickets-sold sold out...which is where they make their money (well...concessions also, but I would imagine to a MUCH lesser degree). Other than optics and concessions dollars, I would think they just care about selling the tickets whether they're used or not.

Again, those are two small caveats in what I would consider larger reasons why it's not happening right now. Unless the utilities running between Bridgeforth and Godwin are in need of service as is, with all the other major projects going on right now, I would be surprised if the expansion happened before 2021 at the earliest.

I'm always mystified at how low attendance is for lots of things in the playoffs. I live in Denver, and during the NHL lockout (2013?), we had a minor league hockey team playing in the league finals (not AHL, but a level lower) and there were maybe 1500 people in a 10k seat arena. Regular season games had at least 3-4k each game. I can see Thanksgiving weekend being a problem, but quarters and semis should have plenty of people showing up on Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Is it the lack of far-in-advance marketing?

(08-07-2018 06:50 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(08-06-2018 09:12 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I've seen multiple people connected or close to the JMU Football program state something to the effect that if JMU sells out all games that it's a done deal that they will complete Bridgeforth. I'm not sure if this has any legs but I found it interesting.

Could it be possible- AAC visits JMU around the time of the feasibility study. Both conclude that JMU needs a new basketball arena- funded and broke ground, and that they should complete their football stadium - on the horizon...?

I would say the only legs this has would be because University Administration staff has openly said things such as "future expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium could only occur if JMU is regularly selling out current capacity", as in JMU isn't expanding until there is the need to expand, as in JMU won't build the other side of the stadium just to make it symmetrical and have it looking sharp.

Deez Nut's two cents: We have a good thing going, but we're a long long way from construction talk.

I don't think it's just about looking "sharp" or making it symmetrical. The amenities to single game, season ticket holders, and visiting fans on that side of the stadium are not very good. Neither are the facilities in the endzone and it would be nice for those fans to have the option to go to one of two sides of the stadium and not just one.

Anybody know the average visiting team attendance at BFS?

I doubt we are getting many visiting fans from fcs programs. This would not change with CUSA/MAC.

I think we could get 5,000 visiting on a Saturday (take that MAC) when the Bourne conference becomes real.

No need for stadium expansion until JMU goes FBS and then it is only needed if scheduling will bring attractive Games to Bridgeforth stadium.
By definition, FCS is cost containment football and an intentional decision to play at a lower level with reduced expense.

Of course JMU has thrown most cost containment out the window, but is still competing at a lower level.
The time has to be coming soon when a FBS move justifies all of the spending that is currently happening.

JMU recently committed to an additional ongoing $1 million annual expense for COA. It feels like a pot o’ gold has been unearthed from beneath Wilson Hall when the company line had been “money matters”

The old Carr Report indicated a new Convo was needed to be considered for a FBS football move. When construction is complete What will JMU athletics look like in 2020? All facilities in place, COA in place, sufficient budget in place

I would absolutely love to see the old side match the new. Unfortunately I think the plan is to build both the lower AND upper deck when the time comes Just finishing the lower part would not only add more seats but make the stadium look complete. The old side isn't getting any newer and will eventually need to be fixed.

(08-07-2018 07:12 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Not sure which comes first here the chicken (reworked visitors side of BFS) or the egg (better attendance creating more demand than supply), but I do hope - though not very optimistic - that these numbers will change in the future...

-Dec 5, 2015 vs Colgate: attendance = 15,045
-Dec 3, 2016 vs New Hampshire: attendance = 13,231
-Dec 9, 2016 vs Soft Doucheston: attendance = 15,646
-Dec 2, 2017 vs Stony Brook: attendance = 16,449
-Dec 8, 2017 vs Weber State: attendance = 13,490
-Dec 16, 2017 vs South Dakota State: attendance = 16,528

I realize we normally get better crowds during the regular season. I also realize we make a lot more money on the regular season games. Still, it is disappointing that during the most important postseason games we are consistently not even close to filling up BFS.

I don't think filling up BFS during playoff games in December is a prerequisite to revamping BFS. I do think when we see BFS filled to the brim for playoff games where it is difficult to get a ticket or create a sea of purple consistently taking over road game stadiums, our chances of becoming much more attractive to a conference like AAC is enhanced. And, when I say "consistently" taking over road game stadiums, I'm not talking about Richmond or Elon. I'm talking about at Norfolk State or Towson or Chattanooga. Of course, significant improvements in Men's Basketball is probably a bigger driver than anything (especially when the AAC is involved).

Yes, these numbers are disappointing, but these are your true fans. The noise/energy created by these fans are twice those of the 23000 regular season fans. The fans at playoff games are much more into it than those who just show up during the regular season.

(08-07-2018 12:43 PM)JMU83 Wrote:  

(08-07-2018 07:12 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Not sure which comes first here the chicken (reworked visitors side of BFS) or the egg (better attendance creating more demand than supply), but I do hope - though not very optimistic - that these numbers will change in the future...

-Dec 5, 2015 vs Colgate: attendance = 15,045
-Dec 3, 2016 vs New Hampshire: attendance = 13,231
-Dec 9, 2016 vs Soft Doucheston: attendance = 15,646
-Dec 2, 2017 vs Stony Brook: attendance = 16,449
-Dec 8, 2017 vs Weber State: attendance = 13,490
-Dec 16, 2017 vs South Dakota State: attendance = 16,528

I realize we normally get better crowds during the regular season. I also realize we make a lot more money on the regular season games. Still, it is disappointing that during the most important postseason games we are consistently not even close to filling up BFS.

I don't think filling up BFS during playoff games in December is a prerequisite to revamping BFS. I do think when we see BFS filled to the brim for playoff games where it is difficult to get a ticket or create a sea of purple consistently taking over road game stadiums, our chances of becoming much more attractive to a conference like AAC is enhanced. And, when I say "consistently" taking over road game stadiums, I'm not talking about Richmond or Elon. I'm talking about at Norfolk State or Towson or Chattanooga. Of course, significant improvements in Men's Basketball is probably a bigger driver than anything (especially when the AAC is involved).

Yes, these numbers are disappointing, but these are your true fans. The noise/energy created by these fans are twice those of the 23000 regular season fans. The fans at playoff games are much more into it than those who just show up during the regular season.

Completely agree. Doesn't show very well for JMU though. Has to be somewhat perplexing to our players and staff as well. Not that anybody is, but can't blame the students. They've done their part at playoff games. When you break down a 15K number, almost half of that is students. Which means (apparently) best we can do for home playoff games is about half of what we normally get for a regular season game in the rest (non-student sections) of BFS.

Maybe 2018 will be different/improved. We'll see...

If JMU is going to expand Bridgeforth, even if it is just completing the lower bowl on the Godwin side while putting in the support system for an eventual upper deck and suites, it would be in our best interests to do it while at the FCS level.

While at the FCS level 70% of our athletic budget (including construction of athletic facilities) can come from student fees. If we are transitioning to FBS, or once we are in FBS, that figure drops to 55% under the Cox bill (see ODU's struggles with their stadium expansion). The ability to fund a stadium expansion becomes much more difficult once/if we make the jump.

I thought I read somewhere along the way that if we just completed the lower bowl on the Godwin side it would only add around 5-6k seats. That might be a realistic expansion option to get BFS to just over 30k, make it look more like it is a "finished" stadium, and fund the largest part of the construction cost (support system for an upper deck) while still in FCS. Bumping up to 30k seats is more realistic for an FCS team that is making deep playoff runs every year than doing the full expansion to 40k while still in FCS.

(08-07-2018 01:26 PM)DRDukes Wrote:  If JMU is going to expand Bridgeforth, even if it is just completing the lower bowl on the Godwin side while putting in the support system for an eventual upper deck and suites, it would be in our best interests to do it while at the FCS level.

While at the FCS level 70% of our athletic budget (including construction of athletic facilities) can come from student fees. If we are transitioning to FBS, or once we are in FBS, that figure drops to 55% under the Cox bill (see ODU's struggles with their stadium expansion). The ability to fund a stadium expansion becomes much more difficult once/if we make the jump.

I thought I read somewhere along the way that if we just completed the lower bowl on the Godwin side it would only add around 5-6k seats. That might be a realistic expansion option to get BFS to just over 30k, make it look more like it is a "finished" stadium, and fund the largest part of the construction cost (support system for an upper deck) while still in FCS. Bumping up to 30k seats is more realistic for an FCS team that is making deep playoff runs every year than doing the full expansion to 40k while still in FCS.

It wouldn't be the capital expenditure that goes toward the student fee calculation but the annual debt service on the project. So unless you plan on waiting until it's paid off to move to FBS (the original Bridgeforth bond matures in 2030) or source other funding it's going to be an issue when you move to FBS regardless for meeting the laws requirement.