free food, free t-shirt, will be packed

I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

(10-25-2021 03:18 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 03:13 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  Speaking of mid week games we need to find the best way to maximize attendance from the students during these games when STH's and others may have a hard time making it. Not sure what best solution is.

If they are big time games, just do the same type of student promos/giveaways used for the playoffs when school is out of session.

They've got nowhere to go on a weekday, only issue is some may need to study that evening for tests, etc.

I can assure you as a former VT student who attended every Thursday home game we had during my time there... If you were into football at all, you went all out for weekday games regardless of whether you had an exam or early morning class!

(10-25-2021 03:13 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  Speaking of mid week games we need to find the best way to maximize attendance from the students during these games when STH's and others may have a hard time making it. Not sure what best solution is.

This is a good point and something we know will come up in the Sun Belt. Eventually JMU will have to take its medicine and play a Tuesday or Wednesday game
Perhaps JMU can sell a 5 game home package to season ticket holders and give them first option to buy the 6th game which is being played midweek.
After the deadline, open those seats up to everyone for purchase.
Even if you only get 12,000 fans for a Tuesday night, at least they will be in the closest seats and not spread out across the stadium. Better for home field advantage and better for engaging fans and getting them to come back.

one tues/weds and one thursday won't kill us.. you know how JMU shows up!

Taken from the SBC con board:

Football
41,426 - UL
38,227 - Marshall
36,000 - USM
30,406 - stAte
30,000 - TXST
30,000 - Troy
30,000 - App St
27,617 - ULM
25,450 - USA
25,000 - GS
24,877 - JMU
24,333 - GSU
22,480 - ODU
21,000 - CCU

Basketball
12,362 - UL
10,475 - stAte
10,041 - USA
10,000 - TXST
9,048 - Marshall
8,096 - USM
8,500 - JMU
8,472 - ODU
8,325 - App St
7,085 - ULM
6,000 - Troy
4,358 - GS
3,600 - CCU
3,200 - GSU


Bball seems just right, clearly not changing anytime soon, if ever.

Seems we are behind the curve on seating capacity at BFS - one benefit a lot of these SBC stadiums seem to have is the grassy-knoll areas that allow for great expansion for key games. We have some standing room in the corners but not really much to "flex". Would love to see some way to expand when needed, without massive investment - back to the rooftop idea for Plecker or Godwin

What would be more interesting is what those programs average for attendance. Some of the facilities are way oversized for what the programs draw.

(10-25-2021 03:33 PM)NH/JMU Saxkow Wrote:  I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

I think you posted your thought jokingly with tongue firmly in place. At least I hope you did.

The expansion to BFS was carefully designed to allow for a balanced, future expansion, and when completed, an on-campus stadium that seats 40k (plus or minus a couple seats) and that looks and functions holistically instead of the abomination that defines VT’s Lane. The future potential for BFS’ expansion is one of the best gifts the Rose Presidency left JMU. There will be no third and fourth decks on the Newman Lake side.

And honestly, why would you want to be 18-24 stories above the field? The top row of the existing upper-deck is already 132’ (13 stories) above the field. Seriously. Tearing down the Godwin side of BFS, allowing the new side to be closer to the field, completing a concourse that runs under the stands encircling the field, and providing more VIP boxes with superior and desirable views under a complimentary upper-deck is the only way to go.

It’s easy to get waaaaay ahead of ourselves in anticipation of the change of conferences. Until talk becomes a reality, however, dreams of BFS expansion is (in my best guesstimate) a good decade away…and that’s projecting continued success on the field. There’s about 10 years left on the original bonds used to build-out BFS, and until those bonds are retired and demand for tickets compel expansion, I don’t see more seats being added.

(10-25-2021 05:07 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What would be more interesting is what those programs average for attendance. Some of the facilities are way oversized for what the programs draw.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/07/...m-analysis

This information is a little dated, but gives a good feel for it. Top. 5 or 6 in SBC will have 20k plus fans. Probably App St is closer to 30k now, and Coastal may have improved with their recent success.

Once you get to 30-35k, you are looking at schools that are borderline P5 programs on this list.

(10-25-2021 05:19 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:07 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What would be more interesting is what those programs average for attendance. Some of the facilities are way oversized for what the programs draw.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/07/...m-analysis

This information is a little dated, but gives a good feel for it. Top. 5 or 6 in SBC will have 20k plus fans. Probably App St is closer to 30k now, and Coastal may have improved with their recent success.

Once you get to 30-35k, you are looking at schools that are borderline P5 programs on this list.

Coastal’s record crowd (as announced on TV this year) was around 18k. Coastal has a good ways to go before they’ll average 20k.

(10-25-2021 05:26 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:19 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:07 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What would be more interesting is what those programs average for attendance. Some of the facilities are way oversized for what the programs draw.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/07/...m-analysis

This information is a little dated, but gives a good feel for it. Top. 5 or 6 in SBC will have 20k plus fans. Probably App St is closer to 30k now, and Coastal may have improved with their recent success.

Once you get to 30-35k, you are looking at schools that are borderline P5 programs on this list.

Coastal’s record crowd (as announced on TV this year) was around 18k. Coastal has a good ways to go before they’ll average 20k.

Still massively better than CAA. JMU will be towards the upper end of the conference, but SBC are good peers attendance wise.

(10-25-2021 05:08 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 03:33 PM)NH/JMU Saxkow Wrote:  I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

I think you posted your thought jokingly with tongue firmly in place. At least I hope you did.

The expansion to BFS was carefully designed to allow for a balanced, future expansion, and when completed, an on-campus stadium that seats 40k (plus or minus a couple seats) and that looks and functions holistically instead of the abomination that defines VT’s Lane. The future potential for BFS’ expansion is one of the best gifts the Rose Presidency left JMU. There will be no third and fourth decks on the Newman Lake side.

And honestly, why would you want to be 18-24 stories above the field? The top row of the existing upper-deck is already 132’ (13 stories) above the field. Seriously. Tearing down the Godwin side of BFS, allowing the new side to be closer to the field, completing a concourse that runs under the stands encircling the field, and providing more VIP boxes with superior and desirable views under a complimentary upper-deck is the only way to go.

It’s easy to get waaaaay ahead of ourselves in anticipation of the change of conferences. Until talk becomes a reality, however, dreams of BFS expansion is (in my best guesstimate) a good decade away…and that’s projecting continued success on the field. There’s about 10 years left on the original bonds used to build-out BFS, and until those bonds are retired and demand for tickets compel expansion, I don’t see more seats being added.

(10-25-2021 05:27 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:26 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:19 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:07 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What would be more interesting is what those programs average for attendance. Some of the facilities are way oversized for what the programs draw.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/07/...m-analysis

This information is a little dated, but gives a good feel for it. Top. 5 or 6 in SBC will have 20k plus fans. Probably App St is closer to 30k now, and Coastal may have improved with their recent success.

Once you get to 30-35k, you are looking at schools that are borderline P5 programs on this list.

Coastal’s record crowd (as announced on TV this year) was around 18k. Coastal has a good ways to go before they’ll average 20k.

Still massively better than CAA. JMU will be towards the upper end of the conference, but SBC are good peers attendance wise.

If this conference move takes place, who will really care what the attendance numbers are in the CAA?

You are correct that CC has improved their attendance numbers given their recent success, however, it’s their stadium that needs expansion. It’s currently the smallest of all the SB facilities. End of year attendance numbers for CC will likely run less than 17k…not appreciably different than UD. Perhaps someone on this board has an insight to CC’s facility plans for FB, but the goal for all SB members should be to boast and fill stadia in the 30-40k range.

(10-25-2021 05:57 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 05:08 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 03:33 PM)NH/JMU Saxkow Wrote:  I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

I think you posted your thought jokingly with tongue firmly in place. At least I hope you did.

The expansion to BFS was carefully designed to allow for a balanced, future expansion, and when completed, an on-campus stadium that seats 40k (plus or minus a couple seats) and that looks and functions holistically instead of the abomination that defines VT’s Lane. The future potential for BFS’ expansion is one of the best gifts the Rose Presidency left JMU. There will be no third and fourth decks on the Newman Lake side.

And honestly, why would you want to be 18-24 stories above the field? The top row of the existing upper-deck is already 132’ (13 stories) above the field. Seriously. Tearing down the Godwin side of BFS, allowing the new side to be closer to the field, completing a concourse that runs under the stands encircling the field, and providing more VIP boxes with superior and desirable views under a complimentary upper-deck is the only way to go.

It’s easy to get waaaaay ahead of ourselves in anticipation of the change of conferences. Until talk becomes a reality, however, dreams of BFS expansion is (in my best guesstimate) a good decade away…and that’s projecting continued success on the field. There’s about 10 years left on the original bonds used to build-out BFS, and until those bonds are retired and demand for tickets compel expansion, I don’t see more seats being added.

(10-25-2021 03:13 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  Speaking of mid week games we need to find the best way to maximize attendance from the students during these games when STH's and others may have a hard time making it. Not sure what best solution is.

JMU has the luxury that a lot of programs do not have where the stadium is easily accessible for students on campus and in off-campus housing. No hour commute after the game and getting back early in the next morning.

Godwin is farther from the field than the parking deck was. Godwin isn’t going anywhere. It’s old but it’s not that old. It was built with taxpayer money and it’ll be around for a much longer time than a lot of us here.

Can we sign the SBC deal before we hire the general contractor for an expansion that is a decade away

(10-25-2021 03:33 PM)NH/JMU Saxkow Wrote:  I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

Hahahahaha yes this got me good

(10-25-2021 11:40 AM)2Buck Wrote:  All I know is there are going to be a lot of pissed off alumni/donors if our seating is 10,000 short for the first time we host UVa or Tech.

ODU seemed to manage in 2018 when they had 20,532 in the house

(10-25-2021 06:35 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 03:33 PM)NH/JMU Saxkow Wrote:  I say we go all-in on the lopsided look. Keep the visitor's side the same and build a third deck on the home side....and then a fourth...

Hahahahaha yes this got me good

Not as good as Longhorn

(10-25-2021 06:37 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 11:40 AM)2Buck Wrote:  All I know is there are going to be a lot of pissed off alumni/donors if our seating is 10,000 short for the first time we host UVa or Tech.

ODU seemed to manage in 2018 when they had 20,532 in the house

After bashing ODU constantly and holding them up as "we shouldn't go FBS, look at ODU"........... are we now citing them as a success when it suits us? just curious!