(06-29-2020 11:26 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:03 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:01 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 02:55 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:43 PM)Grungy Wrote:  How would landscaping fit in with Beer-Bike?

There is space for landscaping between the bubble and the bike track / pit area. And course there is also space for landscaping outside the track -- just as there is in the asphalt expanse east of the stadium as well. The choice to leave both sides of the stadium as fully paved as possible (even the parts that don't need to be) seems to be intentional and long-standing.

I still can’t believe we haven’t built a parking garage in west lot. Probably hard to get a donor to put their name on a garage but it would free up a ton of space and add much needed additional parking.

In theory, a parking garage should pay for itself in the long run -- and a private university would seem seem especially well-suited to play for the long run.

Why is it needed, particularly that far away from campus?

Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.

Those developments occurred in the East Lot, not the West one.


Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.
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(06-29-2020 12:28 PM)WRC1975 Wrote:  Those developments occurred in the East Lot, not the West one.


Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.

[/quote]

Well it’s known as “West Lot”. The one west of the stadium is Greenbriar lot.

(06-29-2020 12:45 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-29-2020 12:28 PM)WRC1975 Wrote:  Those developments occurred in the East Lot, not the West one.


Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.

Well it’s known as “West Lot”. The one west of the stadium is Greenbriar lot.
[/quote]

I stand corrected. You are right.

If the shuttle goes there, why does it matter how far it is? Also with the new additions in the lot East of the stadium (see what I did there) the campus is moving closer

It's probably a lot more practical to build it on the east side of the stadium (west lot?). The Greenbriar lot would then make an incredible green space/park/intramural field. It would complement the bubble nicely. Beer-bike could still be held over there, or just moved to the track stadium. Green space is scenic, and great for the environment. Only a couple hundred cars use Greenbriar for football anyway, and a parking garage would render it obsolete. This would also help to consolidate the tailgaters.

(06-29-2020 12:18 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-29-2020 11:26 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:03 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:01 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 02:55 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  There is space for landscaping between the bubble and the bike track / pit area. And course there is also space for landscaping outside the track -- just as there is in the asphalt expanse east of the stadium as well. The choice to leave both sides of the stadium as fully paved as possible (even the parts that don't need to be) seems to be intentional and long-standing.

I still can’t believe we haven’t built a parking garage in west lot. Probably hard to get a donor to put their name on a garage but it would free up a ton of space and add much needed additional parking.

In theory, a parking garage should pay for itself in the long run -- and a private university would seem seem especially well-suited to play for the long run.

Why is it needed, particularly that far away from campus?

Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.

I have had a discussion with an individual who designs parking garages, and he explained the inefficiency of such structures. If you don't want to make it a nightmare for those entering and exiting, there need to be multiple points of entrance/exit. This costs space. What about elevators, stairs - how many sets? The more of those, the less efficient. Ramps and driving areas also take up space. In order to make any kind of dent, the structure would have to be taller than Rice University would want - unless they attach it to the exterior of the stadium and attempt to "hide" its height that way.

(06-30-2020 10:02 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  unless they attach it to the exterior of the stadium and attempt to "hide" its height that way.

That could be a plus - a chance to walk from ones car to the stadium in the shade and/or sheltered from rain. I would pay extra for a space in that garage, and it might increase attendance.

(06-30-2020 10:53 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(06-30-2020 10:02 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  unless they attach it to the exterior of the stadium and attempt to "hide" its height that way.

That could be a plus - a chance to walk from ones car to the stadium in the shade and/or sheltered from rain. I would pay extra for a space in that garage, and it might increase attendance.

Plus it could act as an anchor for additional restrooms and concessions

(06-30-2020 10:02 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(06-29-2020 12:18 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(06-29-2020 11:26 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:03 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(06-28-2020 03:01 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  I still can’t believe we haven’t built a parking garage in west lot. Probably hard to get a donor to put their name on a garage but it would free up a ton of space and add much needed additional parking.

In theory, a parking garage should pay for itself in the long run -- and a private university would seem seem especially well-suited to play for the long run.

Why is it needed, particularly that far away from campus?

Well parking in west lot has slowly been developed into other things (tennis stadium, opera house, continuing studies) while the student body has grown. So we need more parking and a garage is a good way to do that.

I have had a discussion with an individual who designs parking garages, and he explained the inefficiency of such structures. If you don't want to make it a nightmare for those entering and exiting, there need to be multiple points of entrance/exit. This costs space. What about elevators, stairs - how many sets? The more of those, the less efficient. Ramps and driving areas also take up space. In order to make any kind of dent, the structure would have to be taller than Rice University would want - unless they attach it to the exterior of the stadium and attempt to "hide" its height that way.

This is true, but I have a very strong feeling that the east upper deck of Rice Stadium will be gone within the next five years, making it impossible to hide such a structure. Discussions I've had with the AD indicate to me that the stadium will be "right-sized" in the coming years. The most practical way of doing that is to first remove those seats that aren't being used...ever. That upper deck will be gone soon, and a parking garage would only block the view of the campus from the west deck.

There have been many many games that the East Upper has had less than 10 fans......

(06-30-2020 09:17 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  There have been many many games that the East Upper has had less than 10 fans......

The west deck and South endzone provide more than enough space for games against UH,Baylor, and Army. Let's face it, no programs any bigger than those will ever be coming to Rice Stadium. I'm pretty sure the east deck was closed for every game last season. I hope they do remove it. It's a depressing sight.

The east deck is a depressing sight because what's happening on the field is a depressing sight. If Rice were still being competitive with TexasU, aTm, and LSU, the east deck would be quite full. But you're never going to fill the upper deck to watch Rice lose to La Tech, Southern Miss, and Marshall.

It's the quality of the product that is the major problem.

(07-01-2020 05:59 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  The east deck is a depressing sight because what's happening on the field is a depressing sight. If Rice were still being competitive with TexasU, aTm, and LSU, the east deck would be quite full. But you're never going to fill the upper deck to watch Rice lose to La Tech, Southern Miss, and Marshall.

It's the quality of the product that is the major problem.

Yep. That's true.

You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

(07-01-2020 10:06 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

Not at all. We'll never be able to pay Texas and LSU enough money to play us in Rice Stadium. NRG is the only entity that makes those games possible, and it allows us to make $1.5 million ourself off the deal. It's a rare instance whereby our location in a big city plays to our advantage. If it weren't for NRG, our schedule would be weak every season, and our finances would take a major hit.
I'd personally like to see Rice Stadium downsized to accommodate the 22-30k fans that we can reasonably attract during good times. I'd remove the east deck and build a canopy over the lower east seating. I'd install seating in the endzones, because those are great seats as well. We're lucky to have an amazing stadium with incredible sightlines. There are no bad seats.

(07-01-2020 11:32 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 10:06 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

Not at all. We'll never be able to pay Texas and LSU enough money to play us in Rice Stadium. NRG is the only entity that makes those games possible, and it allows us to make $1.5 million ourself off the deal. It's a rare instance whereby our location in a big city plays to our advantage. If it weren't for NRG, our schedule would be weak every season, and our finances would take a major hit.
I'd personally like to see Rice Stadium downsized to accommodate the 22-30k fans that we can reasonably attract during good times. I'd remove the east deck and build a canopy over the lower east seating. I'd install seating in the endzones, because those are great seats as well. We're lucky to have an amazing stadium with incredible sightlines. There are no bad seats.

When we had endzone seating, those people would come and sit in my season tickets seats. Good to know they will be happy n the EZ.

I still want the direct access parking.

(07-01-2020 11:32 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 10:06 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

Not at all. We'll never be able to pay Texas and LSU enough money to play us in Rice Stadium. NRG is the only entity that makes those games possible, and it allows us to make $1.5 million ourself off the deal. It's a rare instance whereby our location in a big city plays to our advantage. If it weren't for NRG, our schedule would be weak every season, and our finances would take a major hit.
I'd personally like to see Rice Stadium downsized to accommodate the 22-30k fans that we can reasonably attract during good times. I'd remove the east deck and build a canopy over the lower east seating. I'd install seating in the endzones, because those are great seats as well. We're lucky to have an amazing stadium with incredible sightlines. There are no bad seats.

Didn't SMU host A&M at Ford Stadium a couple of years ago?

(07-01-2020 03:21 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 11:32 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 10:06 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

Not at all. We'll never be able to pay Texas and LSU enough money to play us in Rice Stadium. NRG is the only entity that makes those games possible, and it allows us to make $1.5 million ourself off the deal. It's a rare instance whereby our location in a big city plays to our advantage. If it weren't for NRG, our schedule would be weak every season, and our finances would take a major hit.
I'd personally like to see Rice Stadium downsized to accommodate the 22-30k fans that we can reasonably attract during good times. I'd remove the east deck and build a canopy over the lower east seating. I'd install seating in the endzones, because those are great seats as well. We're lucky to have an amazing stadium with incredible sightlines. There are no bad seats.

When we had endzone seating, those people would come and sit in my season tickets seats. Good to know they will be happy n the EZ.

I still want the direct access parking.

That's on the ushers. Endzone seating only needs to be available if there's demand. I can't imagine that being very often.
And at the end of the day, a parking garage is pie in the sky. The existing parking is more than adequate. The renovation of Rice Stadium comes first.

(07-01-2020 03:22 PM)Pimpa Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 11:32 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(07-01-2020 10:06 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  You guys make good points, but...isn't downsizing just going to lead to more games against big school teams being moved to NRG?

Not at all. We'll never be able to pay Texas and LSU enough money to play us in Rice Stadium. NRG is the only entity that makes those games possible, and it allows us to make $1.5 million ourself off the deal. It's a rare instance whereby our location in a big city plays to our advantage. If it weren't for NRG, our schedule would be weak every season, and our finances would take a major hit.
I'd personally like to see Rice Stadium downsized to accommodate the 22-30k fans that we can reasonably attract during good times. I'd remove the east deck and build a canopy over the lower east seating. I'd install seating in the endzones, because those are great seats as well. We're lucky to have an amazing stadium with incredible sightlines. There are no bad seats.

Didn't SMU host A&M at Ford Stadium a couple of years ago?

They did in 2014. It was a sellout with overflow fans seated on grass in the endzones. I don't know the compensation involved in attracting the Aggies to Ford, but it wasn't cheap. I doubt anything was left for SMU after the payout, and they may have actually lost money.