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A few comments, in regard to stadium design...

* I understand yesterday's article is disappointing news, but we have not seen the final design and/or cost of Phase I yet. Let's let this thing play out, before we all jump off mid-rise.

* I know for a fact that the admin, board and construction department at ODU want the same things we want, but cost and schedule are a major challenge, as you would expect. They are trying to balance immediate need (safety, ADA compliance, etc.), wants (new scoreboard, etc.) and reality (cost and schedule).

* Construction costs are rising quickly at this time so a $55M spend last year is different from a $55M spend next year. This will affect the final product along with whatever fund raising can be accomplished by the time the project starts. In short, although we're closer today then yesterday, the final design and what's included in Phase I is still to be determined.

* "Erector set" with aluminum bleachers may seem like it will look cheap, but that's not necessarily the case, if done properly. I'm encouraged to read that there will be exterior brick used on the East and West sides at the very least. I suspect this will be in the form of precast concrete panels with thin-brick. They are cost effective, can be quickly installed and can be built off site, while demo is on-going - this is a great solution and will look nice (arches can be incorporated into the precast design). In fact, you will find most stadiums with similar facades use this method. Don't expect this this material to extend the full height of the stadium, however. It will most likely be used up to a certain height, in Phase I.

* An added benefit of aluminum, in lieu of concrete, is noise. 20K fans in an aluminum seating bowl will be much louder than 23K in an concrete structure with cushy seating.

* This will be a new facility, which we desperately need, and will be much more comfortable and enjoyable to watch a game.

* I too am disappointed that we may not be getting some "wants" and more than 20K seats in Phase I, but it's not the end of the world. If fundraising continues to increase, then we will get there a lot sooner.

So if i understand this right we will be spending 56 million on the new stadium to add no additional capacity and no additional luxury suites. That sounds like it adds no new revenue unless they take ticket prices up which would continue to decrease demand for tickets. If you think the reason demand for tickets has declined is the lack of amenities then why wouldn't you think a new stadium would increase demand and add additional capacity? At least add luxury suites which is where i have always heard the real money comes from.

(12-22-2017 10:28 AM)Cant Tame the Lion Wrote:  A few comments, in regard to stadium design...

* I understand yesterday's article is disappointing news, but we have not seen the final design and/or cost of Phase I yet. Let's let this thing play out, before we all jump off mid-rise.

* I know for a fact that the admin, board and construction department at ODU want the same things we want, but cost and schedule are a major challenge, as you would expect. They are trying to balance immediate need (safety, ADA compliance, etc.), wants (new scoreboard, etc.) and reality (cost and schedule).

* Construction costs are rising quickly at this time so a $55M spend last year is different from a $55M spend next year. This will affect the final product along with whatever fund raising can be accomplished by the time the project starts. In short, although we're closer today then yesterday, the final design and what's included in Phase I is still to be determined.

* "Erector set" with aluminum bleachers may seem like it will look cheap, but that's not necessarily the case, if done properly. I'm encouraged to read that there will be exterior brick used on the East and West sides at the very least. I suspect this will be in the form of precast concrete panels with thin-brick. They are cost effective, can be quickly installed and can be built off site, while demo is on-going - this is a great solution and will look nice (arches can be incorporated into the precast design). In fact, you will find most stadiums with similar facades use this method. Don't expect this this material to extend the full height of the stadium, however. It will most likely be used up to a certain height, in Phase I.

* An added benefit of aluminum, in lieu of concrete, is noise. 20K fans in an aluminum seating bowl will be much louder than 23K in an concrete structure with cushy seating.

* This will be a new facility, which we desperately need, and will be much more comfortable and enjoyable to watch a game.

* I too am disappointed that we may not be getting some "wants" and more than 20K seats in Phase I, but it's not the end of the world. If fundraising continues to increase, then we will get there a lot sooner.

I think most of us understand the financial constraints, they have just reached the point of "no thanks".

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(12-22-2017 10:33 AM)ODU804 Wrote:  So if i understand this right we will be spending 56 million on the new stadium to add no additional capacity and no additional luxury suites. That sounds like it adds no new revenue unless they take ticket prices up which would continue to decrease demand for tickets. If you think the reason demand for tickets has declined is the lack of amenities then why wouldn't you think a new stadium would increase demand and add additional capacity? At least add luxury suites which is where i have always heard the real money comes from.

In the article it said they are still considering the types of luxury seating to add, whether it be suites or loge seating or a combination. So I'm not sure where you got that from.

Another albeit optimistic thought is that there may be some strategy as to how this is rolling out... at some point, after expectations have been leveled, due to costs, then we may hear about corporate sponsors jumping on board to get us over the finish line with some "wants".

Dollar Tree (Scoreboard), Smithfield Foods (Fan Zone), Stihl (Student Tailgate Area), Norfolk Southern (Club Seating), etc. These are just examples of possibilities.

Rolling out corporate sponsors like this gives them as much PR as possible.

(12-22-2017 10:46 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(12-22-2017 10:33 AM)ODU804 Wrote:  So if i understand this right we will be spending 56 million on the new stadium to add no additional capacity and no additional luxury suites. That sounds like it adds no new revenue unless they take ticket prices up which would continue to decrease demand for tickets. If you think the reason demand for tickets has declined is the lack of amenities then why wouldn't you think a new stadium would increase demand and add additional capacity? At least add luxury suites which is where i have always heard the real money comes from.

In the article it said they are still considering the types of luxury seating to add, whether it be suites or loge seating or a combination. So I'm not sure where you got that from.

"ODU’s 2016 plan had called for the addition of some loge seats, but no additional luxury suites nor a club facility. DuBois said the nature of luxury seating is still being debated."

Debating the nature of luxury seating" is quite different from "they are still considering the types of luxury seating to add" as you've stated.

(12-22-2017 10:52 AM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  

(12-22-2017 10:46 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(12-22-2017 10:33 AM)ODU804 Wrote:  So if i understand this right we will be spending 56 million on the new stadium to add no additional capacity and no additional luxury suites. That sounds like it adds no new revenue unless they take ticket prices up which would continue to decrease demand for tickets. If you think the reason demand for tickets has declined is the lack of amenities then why wouldn't you think a new stadium would increase demand and add additional capacity? At least add luxury suites which is where i have always heard the real money comes from.

In the article it said they are still considering the types of luxury seating to add, whether it be suites or loge seating or a combination. So I'm not sure where you got that from.

"ODU’s 2016 plan had called for the addition of some loge seats, but no additional luxury suites nor a club facility. DuBois said the nature of luxury seating is still being debated."

Debating the nature of luxury seating" is quite different from "they are still considering the types of luxury seating to add" as you've stated.

Keep reading.


That tells me they haven't decided anything regarding luxury seating. And considering the lack of capacity change, it makes the decision to add luxury seating absolutely vital in phase 1.

(12-22-2017 10:28 AM)Cant Tame the Lion Wrote:  A few comments, in regard to stadium design...

Thank for you taking more time than I did in articulating that. I co-sign this post. =]

There’s no spinning this, this is a sht deal. The solution is simple, push it back until it can be done right.

Forman Field is not safe!!!! Cracks aplenty. The structure must be replaced.

If we're going to piece meal this, I almost would rather they just renovated the student section. New seating, add some bathrooms and new concessions there and throw up a new scoreboard on top of the game day building. Could probably do that for a fraction of what we're spending on this. We need students to love coming to games, so they keep coming back as alums.

I agree. This needs to be pushed back until it can be done right. There's no reason to tear down our existing stadium for an incremental upgrade. Wait until it can be done right, or do it in more phases. If you were to tear down the West side and rebuild it really nice, you'd have a bunch of people increasing their donations to get on that side. Then you probably have enough money after a few years to do the East side. All the while, you work on corporate sponsors to offset costs.

(12-22-2017 12:29 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  If we're going to piece meal this, I almost would rather they just renovated the student section. New seating, add some bathrooms and new concessions there and throw up a new scoreboard on top of the game day building. Could probably do that for a fraction of what we're spending on this. We need students to love coming to games, so they keep coming back as alums.

+1000

(12-22-2017 12:28 PM)ODUODUODU Wrote:  Forman Field is not safe!!!! Cracks aplenty. The structure must be replaced.

Do you really think they would continue to hold games there if it wasn’t safe? Of course it will get to that point, but I doubt if we wait another year or two. Things have to be done right the first time. It amazes me how complacent and lazy this is.

As much as I would love to see my school do this right, a small part of me is happy that it is happening like this. Our leadership is being exposed, as they should be. Hopefully if they bungle this thing enough we will seeking new leadership. But hey, hope all the folks that were willing to sell our hoops down the river for this are happy.

(12-21-2017 08:49 PM)cmett003 Wrote:  

(12-21-2017 07:57 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  HM reports that we'll get something like FAU stadium. FAU is 30k far from 20k. Took out 10k seats and the large pressbox this is what we get.

That looks like crap.

Lol. Remove those 2 corner Xs and you have Bridgeforth Stadium.

(12-21-2017 10:15 PM)GhentFan Wrote:  

(12-21-2017 03:35 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Anyone have the original article from years back with renderings of a 30k+ waterfront state of the art stadium? Ladies an gentlemen, Wood Selig. Overpromise and incrementally underdeliver. Let's just go back to the CAA and try to get basketball in the A10.

I don't remember seeing any drawings for a waterfront stadium. I do recall stuff that would have possible water views though.

No drawings but we got this gem,

LOL that video i forgot about that

a big empty body of water, THIS IS ODU FOOTBALL

sounds about right

The only thing I'll add right now is wouldn't you want to see the design before you melt down and fire everybody?

I haven't seen anything so I'm still on board. That 20k number is BS though.

(12-22-2017 01:14 PM)FearTheLion Wrote:  The only thing I'll add right now is wouldn't you want to see the design before you melt down and fire everybody?

I haven't seen anything so I'm still on board. That 20k number is BS though.

No, many people gave extra money on a progressively falser premise. That money needs to be returned. They can start over with this.

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