Sir Galahad Wrote:

Quote:Team affliation and rival hatred aside, the cost of construction materials have shot up in crazy fashion over the last 5-10 years.

UofL built Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for what is listed online as $63 million. That's the listed price, but I think it really ended up costing more than that. I can't remember the total I heard a while back though. We broke ground in 1996 IIRC and it was open to start the 1998 season. I don't even want to think about how much the identical stadium would cost today with the materials increases. I'm glad we got it built when we did.

Card, it would cost over $100MM for UL to build their stadium today and that does not include enviornmental work if the site needs to be cleaned up and trust me, anything USF builds will have some clean up issues. Constuction prices are starting to come down slightly over the past two years, but that is only because last years Hurricane season was a no show. China is still importing massive amounts of steel and other raw materials for building and they are driving up the costs for everyone else. My point to cyber is simple, build what you can today and you can always expand tomorrow. FSU is a perfect example of that, so is Florida Field, both started off as crappy little stadiums. cyber truely believes thay can just build a mini Raymond James at USF. I agree with Cuban, USF does not need an OCS today, but when they decide they want one, it won't be like Pappa Johns, unless USF has a Pappa John and last I checked, Chris Sullivan is not going to stroke that check.

IMO, the only way I see USF building something like UCiF's stadium is if the Glazers play hardball with USF in terms of a lease agreement and USF needs other options. We'll know more about this situation in a couple months as the next lease is being negotiated. Alternatively, if UCF's stadium venture is wildly successful USF may try emulate and improve on your model. Nothing wrong with that...it's not like your stadium is terrible. It's just that USF fans aspire for a more ambitious stadium plan.

GOL is fortunate that he has had these new facilities projects to lean back on b/c for the money and resources he is consuming he should be better than 12-24. At the end of the day that is all that matters.

How much more ambitious will USF want to be. UCF is building a nice 42,000 seat stadium. I know some people seem to care that it is metal instead of concrete?!?!?

I am not real sure that matters if you have butts in the seats.

Since according to a local Tampa newspaper USF averages 24,000 fans per game, if you get more "ambitious" than a 42,000 seat stadium most of your fans will be able to lay down on the bleachers.

CollegeCard Wrote:Team affliation and rival hatred aside, the cost of construction materials have shot up in crazy fashion over the last 5-10 years.

UofL built Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for what is listed online as $63 million. That's the listed price, but I think it really ended up costing more than that. I can't remember the total I heard a while back though. We broke ground in 1996 IIRC and it was open to start the 1998 season. I don't even want to think about how much the identical stadium would cost today with the materials increases. I'm glad we got it built when we did.

Don't forget also since the State of KY didn't give a dime to UL to help build Papa John's....part of the original cost was for all the clean-up of the former factory/rail yard that was on the site as well.

Fortuntely for UCF...the land they are using for their on-campus stadium was 2 practice fields..with basically zero prep before building started and zero dollars needed.

Many stadiums/arenas built over the past 10-15 years...sometimes the cost of land prep/clean-up...could eat up as much as 15%-20% of the entire cost of their projects.

Sir Galahad Wrote:

Quote:Team affliation and rival hatred aside, the cost of construction materials have shot up in crazy fashion over the last 5-10 years.

UofL built Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for what is listed online as $63 million. That's the listed price, but I think it really ended up costing more than that. I can't remember the total I heard a while back though. We broke ground in 1996 IIRC and it was open to start the 1998 season. I don't even want to think about how much the identical stadium would cost today with the materials increases. I'm glad we got it built when we did.

My point to cyber is simple, build what you can today and you can always expand tomorrow. FSU is a perfect example of that, so is Florida Field, both started off as crappy little stadiums.

Here's Doak Campbell Stadium at FSU on opening day:

http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c014204.jpg


[img]http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c014204.jpg[img]



Here's what it looks like today:

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/scho...ial-lg.jpg

Not bad.



[/img]

Quote:Nothing wrong with that...it's not like your stadium is terrible. It's just that USF fans aspire for a more ambitious stadium plan.

Well look for UCF to add a lot of private suites very soon.

Topcard91 Wrote:How much more ambitious will USF want to be. UCF is building a nice 42,000 seat stadium. I know some people seem to care that it is metal instead of concrete?!?!?

FYI...UCF's initial stadium phase will hold 45,000 fans on opening day vs Texas.

Current stadium is already planned to be expanded to 65,000 seats sometime in the future.

Sky Boxes & club seats, which sold-out over 1 year ago...will probably be the first part of any expansion project of the stadium (because of the high $$$$$ they bring in)...then hopefully, if need be after SEVERAL years of sellouts and high attendance (aka UL model), UCF won't expand TOO much too soon.