(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(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.

Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

We should at least have St. Arnold's.

I have not had to retreat to the Owl Club very often lately because the football has been better now than has been for most of the last 3 decades. There was one season in the early 1980s when the team did not win a single game. The Owl Club has mixed drinks but the Roost does not.

(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(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.

(02-06-2015 06:25 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(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.

Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

(02-06-2015 06:34 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:25 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(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.

Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

All those things you say about Valhalla hold equally true to Pub. Pub is the red-headed step child of on-campus bars to alumni, but it isn't without merit. Pub has a fantastic history to it, which rivals Valhalla (it used to be second only to the Astrodome in beer sales in Harris County), it is a great concept that allows undergrads to experience what running a business is really like, and it's beer is still pretty darn cheap.

I get the big appeal of Valhalla because you have few undergrads and it is outdoors, but Pub is wonderful place, and someone's gotta stand up for it.

The Pub opened April, 1974 as an alternative to having drive a couple of miles back from Kay's and having to worry about driving after drinking. Valhalla had opened around 1968. Pub beer sales dropped after the 21 drinking age was reinstated. BTW, Kay's still has a board of fading photos form 1974, but I am not there so I must not have been there the night they were taken.

(02-06-2015 06:50 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:34 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:25 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(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.

Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

All those things you say about Valhalla hold equally true to Pub. Pub is the red-headed step child of on-campus bars to alumni, but it isn't without merit. Pub has a fantastic history to it, which rivals Valhalla (it used to be second only to the Astrodome in beer sales in Harris County), it is a great concept that allows undergrads to experience what running a business is really like, and it's beer is still pretty darn cheap.

I get the big appeal of Valhalla because you have few undergrads and it is outdoors, but Pub is wonderful place, and someone's gotta stand up for it.

(02-06-2015 08:23 PM)75src Wrote:  The Pub opened April, 1974 as an alternative to having drive a couple of miles back from Kay's and having to worry about driving after drinking. Valhalla had opened around 1968. Pub beer sales dropped after the 21 drinking age was reinstated. BTW, Kay's still has a board of fading photos form 1974, but I am not there so I must not have been there the night they were taken.

(02-06-2015 06:50 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:34 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:25 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:19 PM)Antarius Wrote:  Valhalla.

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

Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

All those things you say about Valhalla hold equally true to Pub. Pub is the red-headed step child of on-campus bars to alumni, but it isn't without merit. Pub has a fantastic history to it, which rivals Valhalla (it used to be second only to the Astrodome in beer sales in Harris County), it is a great concept that allows undergrads to experience what running a business is really like, and it's beer is still pretty darn cheap.

I get the big appeal of Valhalla because you have few undergrads and it is outdoors, but Pub is wonderful place, and someone's gotta stand up for it.

Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

(02-06-2015 08:29 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:23 PM)75src Wrote:  The Pub opened April, 1974 as an alternative to having drive a couple of miles back from Kay's and having to worry about driving after drinking. Valhalla had opened around 1968. Pub beer sales dropped after the 21 drinking age was reinstated. BTW, Kay's still has a board of fading photos form 1974, but I am not there so I must not have been there the night they were taken.

(02-06-2015 06:50 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:34 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:25 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  Patently false. You need to head to Pub sometime, their beer selection has expanded significantly in the past few years and is actually pretty decent. Much, much more available than a few Budweiser products.

I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

All those things you say about Valhalla hold equally true to Pub. Pub is the red-headed step child of on-campus bars to alumni, but it isn't without merit. Pub has a fantastic history to it, which rivals Valhalla (it used to be second only to the Astrodome in beer sales in Harris County), it is a great concept that allows undergrads to experience what running a business is really like, and it's beer is still pretty darn cheap.

I get the big appeal of Valhalla because you have few undergrads and it is outdoors, but Pub is wonderful place, and someone's gotta stand up for it.

Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

It was 1975, because it was 20 years later when Pub was set on fire in 1995. I believe it was Hackerman who poured the first beer when it opened, and I think Gillis did the same after the reopening following the fire.

The worst thing for Pub was the change in drinking age, but it's managed to limp on since, and I hope it can continue to.

(02-06-2015 08:52 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:29 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:23 PM)75src Wrote:  The Pub opened April, 1974 as an alternative to having drive a couple of miles back from Kay's and having to worry about driving after drinking. Valhalla had opened around 1968. Pub beer sales dropped after the 21 drinking age was reinstated. BTW, Kay's still has a board of fading photos form 1974, but I am not there so I must not have been there the night they were taken.

(02-06-2015 06:50 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 06:34 PM)Antarius Wrote:  I'm also an alum, so the odds of me making it to Willys are pretty slim. Maybe over beer bike.

Regardless, Valhalla is awesome. Just by virtue of its concept, execution, history, selection and cheap beer.

All those things you say about Valhalla hold equally true to Pub. Pub is the red-headed step child of on-campus bars to alumni, but it isn't without merit. Pub has a fantastic history to it, which rivals Valhalla (it used to be second only to the Astrodome in beer sales in Harris County), it is a great concept that allows undergrads to experience what running a business is really like, and it's beer is still pretty darn cheap.

I get the big appeal of Valhalla because you have few undergrads and it is outdoors, but Pub is wonderful place, and someone's gotta stand up for it.

Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

It was 1975, because it was 20 years later when Pub was set on fire in 1995. I believe it was Hackerman who poured the first beer when it opened, and I think Gillis did the same after the reopening following the fire.

The worst thing for Pub was the change in drinking age, but it's managed to limp on since, and I hope it can continue to.

Sounds more like it. I'm pretty sure I was at opening night, and I couldn't have been if it was the Spring of '74.

Rice tweeted a picture of the tarp being removed from the north endzone in preparation of the Feb. 16th groundbreaking. My question is why the north endzone? I thought the new facility is on the south part of the stadium?

(02-06-2015 10:14 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice tweeted a picture of the tarp being removed from the north endzone in preparation of the Feb. 16th groundbreaking. My question is why the north endzone? I thought the new facility is on the south part of the stadium?

Nope. North.

http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-footbl/...14aab.html

(02-06-2015 10:14 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice tweeted a picture of the tarp being removed from the north endzone in preparation of the Feb. 16th groundbreaking. My question is why the north endzone? I thought the new facility is on the south part of the stadium?

So they would easily be able to access the grass practice field. The plans at the south end zone were from a former AD.

If the EZF is finished before football season starts, perhaps we hold an open house in conjunction with the Wagner game: a behind-the-scenes look at college football, even.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(02-07-2015 10:39 AM)Caelligh Wrote:  If the EZF is finished before football season starts, perhaps we hold an open house in conjunction with the Wagner game: a behind-the-scenes look at college football, even.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

The plan is to have it completed by the 2016 season.

(02-06-2015 08:52 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:29 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

It was 1975, because it was 20 years later when Pub was set on fire in 1995. I believe it was Hackerman who poured the first beer when it opened, and I think Gillis did the same after the reopening following the fire.

The worst thing for Pub was the change in drinking age, but it's managed to limp on since, and I hope it can continue to.

My memory is the same as Walt's. It opened in the fall of 1974, my freshman year (before I turned 18 in November).

(02-07-2015 07:37 PM)ABQowl Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:52 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:29 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

It was 1975, because it was 20 years later when Pub was set on fire in 1995. I believe it was Hackerman who poured the first beer when it opened, and I think Gillis did the same after the reopening following the fire.

The worst thing for Pub was the change in drinking age, but it's managed to limp on since, and I hope it can continue to.

My memory is the same as Walt's. It opened in the fall of 1974, my freshman year (before I turned 18 in November).

Unless Pub's website, Rice's Wikipedia page, and a fantastic essay on the history of Pub written for the History of Rice class that was given to our management team are all wrong, it opened in April, 1975.

Someone should ask Phildo!

(02-07-2015 08:16 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 07:37 PM)ABQowl Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:52 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 08:29 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Are you sure the Pub opened in April of '74, as I could have sworn it first opened half a year later, that Fall, after I had arrived on campus as a Freshman?

It was 1975, because it was 20 years later when Pub was set on fire in 1995. I believe it was Hackerman who poured the first beer when it opened, and I think Gillis did the same after the reopening following the fire.

My memory is the same as Walt's. It opened in the fall of 1974, my freshman year (before I turned 18 in November).

Unless Pub's website, Rice's Wikipedia page, and a fantastic essay on the history of Pub written for the History of Rice class that was given to our management team are all wrong, it opened in April, 1975.

Willy's Pub opened on April 11, 1975.

From the banner front-page article in the April 14, 1975, Thresher:

Quote:Pub opening attracts 1700

by EMILY COFFMAN

The long-awaited on-campus tavern, "Willy's Pub," opened with huge crowds, live music and much fanfare Friday at 7pm. President Norman Hackerman called it a "red letter day for the University" as he drew the first pitcher (it was Pabst) at the preopening party.

At least 1400 students arrived after the 7pm opening, and 300 invited guests were already on hand to help consume more than 24 kegs of beer. By the end of the night the Pub had sold all its stock of Miller and most of its Pabst.

Though the idea of a student pub has been around for years, it took only three months to complete after the final go-ahead was received. Ex-SA President Doug Appling was amazed the idea had progressed so much since his days at Rice. He felt the Pub would go a long way towards creating a "sense of university" on campus. ...

I was there when Willy's opened. It became the largest single seller of beer in Harris County after the Astrodome. The opening weekend they got a delivery that was expected to last until Monday. They had to get an emergency re delivery on Saturday morning. Because I was working at KTRU then, which at that time shared the basement with Willy's, I was in the pub every day it was open for about 3 months. It was a sensation.

RiceLad15 and Almadenmike, thanks for doing the research! After 40 years, my memory must be a little hazy--still my freshman year though, so at least I got that right. (hmmm...so where the heck was I drinking beer before April?)

One small thing I have found interesting: it seems that, at some point, "the Pub" begin to be known and referenced around campus simply as "Pub." E.g., "We are going to Pub tonight," or "Financial challenges continue to plague Pub," etc. I figure the thinking is that, because "Pub" is just short for "Willy's Pub," the article "the" is unnecessary. But it's my recollection that, as late as the mid-90s, people were still referring to is as "the Pub."