https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

Well they are the second best program in the Southland Bowling League.

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

Northwestern was on the verge of dropping out of the B1G because they could no longer compete. They had made plans to petition the Ivy League for membership. Then the BTN money came rolling in and their attitude changed and they have spent every penny they got on upgrades.


RE: softball
Clemson will field their first women's softball team next season.
Clemson dropped all of their swimming and diving programs several years ago after they decided not to invest in facilities replacements.

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

JR, Duke has money, lots and lots of money but only spent it on football when pressed by the ACC.
I think the folks at Vandy are just biding their time until they can get the type of settlement they want from the SEC before they make a move.

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

JR, it sounds like you are saying that Vanderbilt has its priorities where they should be, and that puts them in conflict with the SEC. Does that mean the rest of the SEC has its priorities in the wrong place?

(08-04-2018 11:32 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

JR, it sounds like you are saying that Vanderbilt has its priorities where they should be, and that puts them in conflict with the SEC. Does that mean the rest of the SEC has its priorities in the wrong place?

Yes and no. Yes their priority should be academics and yes the SEC's other schools should be doing more in that area with a least a % of their sports revenue. As to the rest of the schools their priorities are not necessarily in the wrong place as their sports have always been important and are helping their main campus academics grow already via recognition and student recruitment. And there we make so much that reinvesting a % of athletic revenue into the process as well could simply do so much more. But in football facilities Vanderbilt has not held up its end. They aren't hurting for revenue. But they put so little back into the main athletic revenue generator that I think they should consider not having football at all. In that regard they are holding the other schools back from earning more revenue by having a more competitive school with a larger venue in that slot.

I don't think they are in danger of having the SEC take any kind of formal action but I have to wonder if someday we wouldn't both benefit from having Vanderbilt become our first non football member. I forget the stadium capacity at their campus site but I believe it's 40,000 or less if I remember correctly and it hasn't seen an upgrade in the quality of the amenities in years and years. Like some of your ACC schools in part it is due to a space critical issue.

It's this more of case that Nashville's new MLS stadium on the fairgrounds site will also become the home of Vanderbilt football and the current stadium will be used for the hospital?

(08-04-2018 12:27 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  It's this more of case that Nashville's new MLS stadium on the fairgrounds site will also become the home of Vanderbilt football and the current stadium will be used for the hospital?

No, but every SEC school has maintained an on campus facility for which minimum standards have been required.

(08-04-2018 12:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 12:27 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  It's this more of case that Nashville's new MLS stadium on the fairgrounds site will also become the home of Vanderbilt football and the current stadium will be used for the hospital?

No, but every SEC school has maintained an on campus facility for which minimum standards have been required.

You can always kick Vandy out. We will take them.

(08-04-2018 02:00 PM)Statefan Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 12:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 12:27 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  It's this more of case that Nashville's new MLS stadium on the fairgrounds site will also become the home of Vanderbilt football and the current stadium will be used for the hospital?

No, but every SEC school has maintained an on campus facility for which minimum standards have been required.

You can always kick Vandy out. We will take them.

Yes. We can bring them in along with West Virginia and say that on average we improved the ACC's academics.

(08-04-2018 02:00 PM)Statefan Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 12:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 12:27 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  It's this more of case that Nashville's new MLS stadium on the fairgrounds site will also become the home of Vanderbilt football and the current stadium will be used for the hospital?

No, but every SEC school has maintained an on campus facility for which minimum standards have been required.

You can always kick Vandy out. We will take them.

I'd rather they not kick Vandy out. I can think of a couple of ACC schools who would rather be in the SEC that I wouldn't want to lose because an open slot became available.

(08-04-2018 11:46 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 11:32 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

JR, it sounds like you are saying that Vanderbilt has its priorities where they should be, and that puts them in conflict with the SEC. Does that mean the rest of the SEC has its priorities in the wrong place?

Yes and no. Yes their priority should be academics and yes the SEC's other schools should be doing more in that area with a least a % of their sports revenue. As to the rest of the schools their priorities are not necessarily in the wrong place as their sports have always been important and are helping their main campus academics grow already via recognition and student recruitment. And there we make so much that reinvesting a % of athletic revenue into the process as well could simply do so much more. But in football facilities Vanderbilt has not held up its end. They aren't hurting for revenue. But they put so little back into the main athletic revenue generator that I think they should consider not having football at all. In that regard they are holding the other schools back from earning more revenue by having a more competitive school with a larger venue in that slot.

I don't think they are in danger of having the SEC take any kind of formal action but I have to wonder if someday we wouldn't both benefit from having Vanderbilt become our first non football member. I forget the stadium capacity at their campus site but I believe it's 40,000 or less if I remember correctly and it hasn't seen an upgrade in the quality of the amenities in years and years. Like some of your ACC schools in part it is due to a space critical issue.

What we could do is add schools like Tulane and Rice, but do it as non-football members. Throw Vanderbilt in that fold as well and maybe find a 4th to equal the numbers.

I don't think these schools would drop football, but they could play an independent schedule and have scheduling agreements with the SEC football members. At least half their games could be against more level competition and they would most likely be better off.

That way, there would be more room to add valuable members from a revenue sport standpoint. Allow Vandy, Rice, and Tulane to have a share of revenue that doesn't include football money. Rice and Tulane would probably go up in revenue. Vandy would drop some, but they wouldn't have to spend as much on a failing program either.

(08-04-2018 11:32 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:39 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 02:00 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/...newsletter

Quote:Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

According to Vanderbilt financial reports, the university invested $308 million combined in capital projects and acquisitions in 2016 and 2017, but only $15 million were in athletics. That was mostly spent on a new $12 million baseball facility, which was capped by a $2.5 million donation from former player David Price.

There's good and bad in this. Vanderbilt's priorities are where they should be and that's a great thing. However, what the public may not know is that they have the most substandard football venue in the SEC where most venues exceed 80,000 capacity and where most schools travel really well utilizing regularly 10k or more travel tickets. We're happy that Vandy will have a great baseball venue. But truly they rake in a majority of their athletic revenue because of the product that the other 13 schools put on the field. If they continue to short change the amenities that are expected from our conference members one day it could become a legitimate bone of contention. Then I'd like to see them fill that new baseball stadium without SEC attenders.

Duke bit the bullet and upgraded. Northwestern has followed suit. It's time Vandy puts forth an earnest effort.

BTW: They are the only SEC school that fails to offer all of the required sports for conference play. They have women's bowling, but refused to field a women's softball team.

JR, it sounds like you are saying that Vanderbilt has its priorities where they should be, and that puts them in conflict with the SEC. Does that mean the rest of the SEC has its priorities in the wrong place?

Over the years, Kentucky's football program has been about the same as Vanderbilt's. Maybe the SEC should just jettison both of them and go back to 12 teams.

I believe that it is entirely possible that Vanderbilt will end up in the ACC.

(08-04-2018 03:30 PM)ken d Wrote:  Over the years, Kentucky's football program has been about the same as Vanderbilt's. Maybe the SEC should just jettison both of them and go back to 12 teams.

Both of you make lousy trolls. The issue is that the SEC has never asked anyone to leave. If Kentucky and/or Vanderbilt ever wanted to then it would be a different matter, but the Cats like being the roundball darlings of the SEC. And they like the revenue. Vanderbilt is tied more so by history I suppose than anything else.

(08-04-2018 03:41 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 03:30 PM)ken d Wrote:  Over the years, Kentucky's football program has been about the same as Vanderbilt's. Maybe the SEC should just jettison both of them and go back to 12 teams.

Both of you make lousy trolls. The issue is that the SEC has never asked anyone to leave. If Kentucky and/or Vanderbilt ever wanted to then it would be a different matter, but the Cats like being the roundball darlings of the SEC. And they like the revenue. Vanderbilt is tied more so by history I suppose than anything else.

Kentucky will always be the roundball darlings of the SEC.

(08-04-2018 03:41 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 03:30 PM)ken d Wrote:  Over the years, Kentucky's football program has been about the same as Vanderbilt's. Maybe the SEC should just jettison both of them and go back to 12 teams.

Both of you make lousy trolls. The issue is that the SEC has never asked anyone to leave. If Kentucky and/or Vanderbilt ever wanted to then it would be a different matter, but the Cats like being the roundball darlings of the SEC. And they like the revenue. Vanderbilt is tied more so by history I suppose than anything else.

To be honest, I suspect if Vanderbilt was as good as Kentucky in basketball, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.

I was actually warming to the idea of both schools moving to the ACC. If only because it would make Kaplony apoplectic.

(08-04-2018 05:34 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 03:41 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-04-2018 03:30 PM)ken d Wrote:  Over the years, Kentucky's football program has been about the same as Vanderbilt's. Maybe the SEC should just jettison both of them and go back to 12 teams.

Both of you make lousy trolls. The issue is that the SEC has never asked anyone to leave. If Kentucky and/or Vanderbilt ever wanted to then it would be a different matter, but the Cats like being the roundball darlings of the SEC. And they like the revenue. Vanderbilt is tied more so by history I suppose than anything else.

To be honest, I suspect if Vanderbilt was as good as Kentucky in basketball, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.

I was actually warming to the idea of both schools moving to the ACC. If only because it would make Kaplony apoplectic.

Well Vandy needs to be better at something. Maybe baseball will be it for the men. It would help if they had Softball. But the big issue here is a teensy stadium which lacks modern amenities.