(01-27-2015 01:50 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  What UCF is describing isn't that dissimilar from my suggestion of a reserved area with high top bar tables on the concourse and on the wall above the chair backs with charging stations for devices. Do it on the home side with a barrier and 'fee for access' (included for parents and reserved ticket holders) and upgraded amenities (like alcohol and wifi?) Do the same on the other except free (without amenities or PAYGO for wifi)

I love these kinds of ideas, although a sandy beach in premium seating is a little over the top for me. A sandy beach in a stadium? That won't last. I like The Roost a lot. I think the university could make some real money up there if three or four of those sections were covered and if some big fans were installed. Maybe some televisions?

On another note, will more luxury boxes be installed like the one in the southeast corner of the stadium last year? I think that concept would really work. It looks like it would be better than the R room or Stadium Club. Did any of you go in there last year?

(02-04-2015 06:46 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(01-27-2015 01:50 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  What UCF is describing isn't that dissimilar from my suggestion of a reserved area with high top bar tables on the concourse and on the wall above the chair backs with charging stations for devices. Do it on the home side with a barrier and 'fee for access' (included for parents and reserved ticket holders) and upgraded amenities (like alcohol and wifi?) Do the same on the other except free (without amenities or PAYGO for wifi)

I love these kinds of ideas, although a sandy beach in premium seating is a little over the top for me. A sandy beach in a stadium? That won't last. I like The Roost a lot. I think the university could make some real money up there if three or four of those sections were covered and if some big fans were installed. Maybe some televisions?

On another note, will more luxury boxes be installed like the one in the southeast corner of the stadium last year? I think that concept would really work. It looks like it would be better than the R room or Stadium Club. Did any of you go in there last year?

I agree with both of ya'll on your ideas. That's why I posted it in the first place. Make Rice Stadium a place to come spend the day watching football live or on TV. We have the room, and the Roost is a start to a full-blown sports bar. No reason we can't add this something like this to the extra room at HRS and pocket a bit of extra revenue.

Eventually we can charge premium pricing like UCF once it gets established, but initially, just get the crowds to come out. Heck you could almost do it on the entire East Upper deck if it got to be big, and still have plenty of room for other folks. UT and Aggie couldn't do it as well because of all their season tickets already sold. Think outside the box!

Say we run promotions to local Horns and Aggie fans to come have watch parties st HRS. No matter the start time of their games, they get admission to see a live Rice home game if they wish, and have a great hangout to watch their teams as well. Maybe some of them start getting more interested in Rice sports, as well. If they can watch UT and Aggie at Buffalo wild Wings, they can watch their games here, and give us the money. Definitely want to include some upgraded bathrooms with it like UCF did in their schematic (see diagram.)

Hooters is a'callin' JK! Pass it on!

(02-04-2015 06:58 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(02-04-2015 06:46 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(01-27-2015 01:50 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  What UCF is describing isn't that dissimilar from my suggestion of a reserved area with high top bar tables on the concourse and on the wall above the chair backs with charging stations for devices. Do it on the home side with a barrier and 'fee for access' (included for parents and reserved ticket holders) and upgraded amenities (like alcohol and wifi?) Do the same on the other except free (without amenities or PAYGO for wifi)

I love these kinds of ideas, although a sandy beach in premium seating is a little over the top for me. A sandy beach in a stadium? That won't last. I like The Roost a lot. I think the university could make some real money up there if three or four of those sections were covered and if some big fans were installed. Maybe some televisions?

On another note, will more luxury boxes be installed like the one in the southeast corner of the stadium last year? I think that concept would really work. It looks like it would be better than the R room or Stadium Club. Did any of you go in there last year?

I agree with both of ya'll on your ideas. That's why I posted it in the first place. Make Rice Stadium a place to come spend the day watching football live or on TV. We have the room, and the Roost is a start to a full-blown sports bar. No reason we can't add this something like this to the extra room at HRS and pocket a bit of extra revenue.

Eventually we can charge premium pricing like UCF once it gets established, but initially, just get the crowds to come out. Heck you could almost do it on the entire East Upper deck if it got to be big, and still have plenty of room for other folks. UT and Aggie couldn't do it as well because of all their season tickets already sold. Think outside the box!

Say we run promotions to local Horns and Aggie fans to come have watch parties st HRS. No matter the start time of their games, they get admission to see a live Rice home game if they wish, and have a great hangout to watch their teams as well. Maybe some of them start getting more interested in Rice sports, as well. If they can watch UT and Aggie at Buffalo wild Wings, they can watch their games here, and give us the money. Definitely want to include some upgraded bathrooms with it like UCF did in their schematic (see diagram.)

Hooters is a'callin' JK! Pass it on!

Maybe the Rice Administration & AD's office should look upon HRS as a "trophy" asset to be managed creatively for wider public use and return on investment -- like the building in The Rice Village that Rice just bought, as described in this Swamplot story linked in this morning's Rice Update. (Unless, that is, the comment to that article by "commonsense" is accurate.)

Bailiff just announced construction starts Feb 16.

(02-04-2015 07:43 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Maybe the Rice Administration & AD's office should look upon HRS as a "trophy" asset to be managed creatively for wider public use and return on investment -- like the building in The Rice Village that Rice just bought, as described in this Swamplot story linked in this morning's Rice Update. (Unless, that is, the comment to that article by "commonsense" is accurate.)

picture from the article you linked to:

(02-04-2015 06:58 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(02-04-2015 06:46 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(01-27-2015 01:50 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  What UCF is describing isn't that dissimilar from my suggestion of a reserved area with high top bar tables on the concourse and on the wall above the chair backs with charging stations for devices. Do it on the home side with a barrier and 'fee for access' (included for parents and reserved ticket holders) and upgraded amenities (like alcohol and wifi?) Do the same on the other except free (without amenities or PAYGO for wifi)

I love these kinds of ideas, although a sandy beach in premium seating is a little over the top for me. A sandy beach in a stadium? That won't last. I like The Roost a lot. I think the university could make some real money up there if three or four of those sections were covered and if some big fans were installed. Maybe some televisions?

On another note, will more luxury boxes be installed like the one in the southeast corner of the stadium last year? I think that concept would really work. It looks like it would be better than the R room or Stadium Club. Did any of you go in there last year?

I agree with both of ya'll on your ideas. That's why I posted it in the first place. Make Rice Stadium a place to come spend the day watching football live or on TV. We have the room, and the Roost is a start to a full-blown sports bar. No reason we can't add this something like this to the extra room at HRS and pocket a bit of extra revenue.

Eventually we can charge premium pricing like UCF once it gets established, but initially, just get the crowds to come out. Heck you could almost do it on the entire East Upper deck if it got to be big, and still have plenty of room for other folks. UT and Aggie couldn't do it as well because of all their season tickets already sold. Think outside the box!

Say we run promotions to local Horns and Aggie fans to come have watch parties st HRS. No matter the start time of their games, they get admission to see a live Rice home game if they wish, and have a great hangout to watch their teams as well. Maybe some of them start getting more interested in Rice sports, as well. If they can watch UT and Aggie at Buffalo wild Wings, they can watch their games here, and give us the money. Definitely want to include some upgraded bathrooms with it like UCF did in their schematic (see diagram.)

Hooters is a'callin' JK! Pass it on!

Agree completely. One of the biggest assets of Rice Stdium is all the space. So much could be done with it. The Roost could be a premium sports bar underneath and then shaded up top for those who want to watch live football. Bringing in Hooters would be icing on the cake. They really do need to think outside the box.

No Hooters. Seriously.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(02-05-2015 08:15 AM)Caelligh Wrote:  No Hooters. Seriously.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Yeah, I'm hoping that part is tongue in cheek....

I do wish we had a better bar to supplement the offerings of Prince's in the Roost.

I would love to see a Saint Arnold's or Buffalo Bayou booth, both Rice grad breweries, where they were serving a few of their beers on tap.

(01-16-2015 04:22 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  There must, at least, be a groundbreaking ceremony. If nothing else, leave it for halftime of the first home game. Fireworks ? How about some backhoes tearing schitt up during second half play while we watch the game? Do something.

I'd tailgate that.

(02-05-2015 09:36 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  I do wish we had a better bar to supplement the offerings of Prince's in the Roost.

I would love to see a Saint Arnold's or Buffalo Bayou booth, both Rice grad breweries, where they were serving a few of their beers on tap.

I don't think you're going to get any MAJOR ( National ... like HOOTERS ) vendor to come in and set up for six, three to four hour openings per year. Princes, Chick-filet and Papa John's schlep everything in and out on gameday. If Rice builds out a facility like a really nice Roost they can probably get the current vendors to continue the one-day thing as done at The Reck.

I'd be willing to bet the other stadia / fieldhouses with a major foodservice provider are open on many more occasions than just the college home game schedule. Prior to the Tudor rebuild, a local provider was in negotiation to put a bistro where the Traubner suite is located with the proviso they could be open as a restaurant during non-game times. Don't know how that negotiation went, but I do know the lack of service elevator, cold storage, plumbing etc were major negatives that cause the vendor to think twice about a permanent presence.

We'd be better served by creating a "food park" for the better food trucks on gameday.

If they ever expand/upgrade the roost, another option might to be to affiliate it with Willy's Pub. I do like the idea of making it Rice-affiliated, whether with a brewery that is owned, run, or founded by alums, or in some other way.

Also, I know some Rice alums are involved with vineyards and wineries. Rice should think about working with those alums for wine use at official functions. Promoting alums and alum-run businesses promotes the school itself, and builds ties between those alums and the school!

I really like the idea of turning the Roost into something like what UCF is doing (though I have no idea if the current stadium could support that kind of work from an architectural & engineering standpoint). Not making it a beach bar. But making it a real place to go to watch the game. Maybe with a beer bar serving Rice-affiliated beers and run by the Pub, a wine-bar serving Rice-affiliated wines, and a coffee-bar run by the Coffeshop employees. Make the entire space conditioned (instead of open-air) with an un-obstructed view of the field. Put in your other TV's for the sports-bar feel and give it some wireless (Plan Hambone). And have it open ~90 minutes before and after the Rice game to make it more inviting for folks who want to watch other games in a good atmosphere. And make it so folks in the bar area can order from the food trucks from an app with an employee who runs the food up when it is ready.

The food truck idea is phenomenol as well.

(02-05-2015 03:09 PM)mrbig Wrote:  But making it a real place to go to watch the game. Maybe with a beer bar serving Rice-affiliated beers and run by the Pub, a wine-bar serving Rice-affiliated wines, and a coffee-bar run by the Coffeshop employees. Make the entire space conditioned (instead of open-air) with an un-obstructed view of the field. Put in your other TV's for the sports-bar feel and give it some wireless (Plan Hambone). And have it open ~90 minutes before and after the Rice game to make it more inviting for folks who want to watch other games in a good atmosphere.

This is very close to what Virginia hosts at their alumni center on gameday, with a football chalk talk and some other non-football related lectures as well. We always go there, have a buffet lunch and some craft beers or Virginia wine, watch some other games, and then head to the stadium. Having it actually at HRC would make for a terrific game day alternative to the traditional parking lot tailgate.

(02-05-2015 05:05 PM)johncatworth Wrote:  

(02-05-2015 03:09 PM)mrbig Wrote:  But making it a real place to go to watch the game. Maybe with a beer bar serving Rice-affiliated beers and run by the Pub, a wine-bar serving Rice-affiliated wines, and a coffee-bar run by the Coffeshop employees. Make the entire space conditioned (instead of open-air) with an un-obstructed view of the field. Put in your other TV's for the sports-bar feel and give it some wireless (Plan Hambone). And have it open ~90 minutes before and after the Rice game to make it more inviting for folks who want to watch other games in a good atmosphere.

This is very close to what Virginia hosts at their alumni center on gameday, with a football chalk talk and some other non-football related lectures as well. We always go there, have a buffet lunch and some craft beers or Virginia wine, watch some other games, and then head to the stadium. Having it actually at HRC would make for a terrific game day alternative to the traditional parking lot tailgate.

I hear the registers ringing already.

(02-05-2015 03:09 PM)mrbig Wrote:  If they ever expand/upgrade the roost, another option might to be to affiliate it with Willy's Pub. I do like the idea of making it Rice-affiliated, whether with a brewery that is owned, run, or founded by alums, or in some other way.

Also, I know some Rice alums are involved with vineyards and wineries. Rice should think about working with those alums for wine use at official functions. Promoting alums and alum-run businesses promotes the school itself, and builds ties between those alums and the school!

I really like the idea of turning the Roost into something like what UCF is doing (though I have no idea if the current stadium could support that kind of work from an architectural & engineering standpoint). Not making it a beach bar. But making it a real place to go to watch the game. Maybe with a beer bar serving Rice-affiliated beers and run by the Pub, a wine-bar serving Rice-affiliated wines, and a coffee-bar run by the Coffeshop employees. Make the entire space conditioned (instead of open-air) with an un-obstructed view of the field. Put in your other TV's for the sports-bar feel and give it some wireless (Plan Hambone). And have it open ~90 minutes before and after the Rice game to make it more inviting for folks who want to watch other games in a good atmosphere. And make it so folks in the bar area can order from the food trucks from an app with an employee who runs the food up when it is ready.

The food truck idea is phenomenol as well.

Yes. Food.

And from Left Field....how about offering the NW corner of the stadium parking lot to build several bars/restaurants. They would have what every business in the Village craves...parking except on the six game days (and if we continue to draw the way we have they will still have parking). On game days fans could come and park for the game, walk to the bars and restaurants for pre-game dining or parties, walk to the game, and then if they wish do post game at the establishments. For the businesses they will lose some who don't want to battle game day but would make it up with the football crowd. The Rice coaches shows could be held there, maybe Rice student/faculty/staff discounts, and other tie-ins to the University and its sports program....heck you could even name one of them Bill Williams II or Ye Old College Inn II.

(02-05-2015 05:53 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  heck you could even name one of them Bill Williams II or Ye Old College Inn II.

Or Marquis III.

(02-05-2015 05:53 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  And from Left Field....how about offering the NW corner of the stadium parking lot to build several bars/restaurants. They would have what every business in the Village craves...parking except on the six game days (and if we continue to draw the way we have they will still have parking). On game days fans could come and park for the game, walk to the bars and restaurants for pre-game dining or parties, walk to the game, and then if they wish do post game at the establishments. For the businesses they will lose some who don't want to battle game day but would make it up with the football crowd. The Rice coaches shows could be held there, maybe Rice student/faculty/staff discounts, and other tie-ins to the University and its sports program....heck you could even name one of them Bill Williams II or Ye Old College Inn II.

And every one of those local chains we entice to the stadium will put an "advertisement" for Rice on the back of every menu or ad in their "list of locations".

Downtown
Galleria
Katy
Rice Stadium (Fri/Sat/Sun)
Woodlands
Clear Lake

The best food truck we could put in/near the stadium is the Tacos Tierra Caliente truck that parks at West Alabama ice house.

People would pay the $10 to get into the stadium for those tacos.

(02-05-2015 03:09 PM)mrbig Wrote:  If they ever expand/upgrade the roost, another option might to be to affiliate it with Willy's Pub. I do like the idea of making it Rice-affiliated, whether with a brewery that is owned, run, or founded by alums, or in some other way.

Valhalla.

Willy's basically offers the same mediocre beer as we currently have.