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Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
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jmufbs Offline
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Post: #1
Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
Ok, hoping not to jinx the upcoming announcement...
Assuming it happens, were gonna need a bigger stadium- fan interest will not dwindle with a mix of quality regional G5 teams and the occasional P5 coming to town.
How far behind the FBS announcement is the release of fundraising for the expansion?
Have to believe drawings / plans are there to finish the other side, only question is do we go to 40 k or 50 k and add an upper deck to the end zone.
Fun stuff!
10-25-2021 10:38 AM
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fishingduke12 Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
I dont think we should go with a mirror image of the home stands since i'd be worried we'd have a ton of empty seats. Definitely need to update the away stands and finish the horsehoe on the lower portion. I'd rather a sellout 35k than a 50k stadium with 15k empty seats
10-25-2021 10:41 AM
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ShadyP Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 10:38 AM)jmufbs Wrote:  Ok, hoping not to jinx the upcoming announcement...
Assuming it happens, were gonna need a bigger stadium- fan interest will not dwindle with a mix of quality regional G5 teams and the occasional P5 coming to town.
How far behind the FBS announcement is the release of fundraising for the expansion?
Have to believe drawings / plans are there to finish the other side, only question is do we go to 40 k or 50 k and add an upper deck to the end zone.
Fun stuff!

I see absolutely no reason to rush expansion nor for it to be a priority. Long range plan sure, 10 years down the road, maybe.
10-25-2021 10:42 AM
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JMU2004 Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
I believe phase 1 for the old stands is to mirror the lower level and finish the bowl. I'm actually of the opinion that it will happen faster than anticipated, but that will have to depend on private fundraising.

Do we use the current old press box for anything? I know all A/V is done on the new side.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2021 10:45 AM by JMU2004.)
10-25-2021 10:43 AM
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boozeNammo Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 10:41 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  I dont think we should go with a mirror image of the home stands since i'd be worried we'd have a ton of empty seats. Definitely need to update the away stands and finish the horsehoe on the lower portion. I'd rather a sellout 35k than a 50k stadium with 15k empty seats

Yep. Agree. Lets start there. (been knocking on wood ever since reading the title of this thread)
10-25-2021 10:44 AM
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Duke Dawg Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
i believe there is complications due to Godwin and what's "underneath" the old stands

that is an expensive endeavour i believe
10-25-2021 10:47 AM
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JMad03 Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
Thankfully we don't NEED an expansion to go FBS. In fact, there are plenty of FBS schools with lower capacity than what we have.
ODU hosted VT with a smaller capacity, so that's optimistic for us.
But the old side is definitely an eyesore.
I think in order for an expansion to occur, we are going to have to be more than selling out every game on a regular basis. They have to be able to identify the revenue they are losing by not having enough seats.
We are getting close now, but need to do even more for that to happen. Nothing would be worse to the admin than expanding, having some losing seasons and having the place empty.
So for those that want an expansion, we need to be good right away.
10-25-2021 10:48 AM
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boozeNammo Offline
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RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
the 'old' natatorium, i.e. fungus laboratory?
10-25-2021 10:50 AM
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hburg Offline
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Post: #9
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
The visitor side needs to be completed. It is an eye sore. At least finish the lower bowl.
10-25-2021 10:53 AM
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boozeNammo Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
in this environment, we'd be lucky to see a mention of expansion/replacement of the Godwin side in the next 5 years. IMO, this is all moot point.
10-25-2021 10:56 AM
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bcp_jmu Offline
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RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
Lower bowl for sure..but i wonder if they cant just patch in the corners, demo the old press box, and add in 10 rows above... avoid driving pilons mostly, especially next to godwin where tons of comm cables are laid.

For some reason, id really enjoy seeing the scoreboard moved back a bit, and a thousand seats atop plecker
10-25-2021 10:58 AM
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Hart Foundation Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
I don't think there is any need to expand at this time. With Dynamic pricing, JMU can reduce demand if, if, if games like App State and ODU are going to sellout.
Maybe once JMU hosts a P5 game they can get a gauge on how many tickets they could sell if they had a bigger stadium and then start planning and fundraising.

just play the weak games on homecoming, parents weekend and have the good games on "off" weekends
10-25-2021 11:00 AM
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JMURocks Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 10:56 AM)boozeNammo Wrote:  in this environment, we'd be lucky to see a mention of expansion/replacement of the Godwin side in the next 5 years. IMO, this is all moot point.

Agree, seems unlikely to come up as a discussion until we've played one or two FBS seasons and are busting at the seems. Around 5 years I could see them starting to move on expansion.

In the short term, we will have plenty of other funding needs to transition, and once those are covered should get a permanent IPF building in place.
10-25-2021 11:00 AM
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KickItToScotty Offline
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Post: #14
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
I bet it won't take too long. When ODU, App State, Marshall, Coastal, GSU are regularly coming to town and it's not uncommon for one each year to be ranked and/or for us to be ranked I'm betting the need for more seats will be very obvious. Then the occasional P5 home game will make it even more obvious.

I can't wait for it to happen, it's always been a shame that our stadium is so great but that the live shot on TV, many angles for pictures, etc can make it look so bad.
10-25-2021 11:01 AM
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boozeNammo Offline
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Post: #15
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
Yes, the IPF... exactly my thoughts as well. Those can be built on relatively small monies and they are a heck of a recruiting tool.
10-25-2021 11:03 AM
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Deez Nuts Offline
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RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
we're a long way from a football stadium expansion IMO. We need to consistently sellout several years before shovels go in the ground. If we move to FBS there is a sh1t ton of other money that needs to be raised first. Assuming that actually comes through, and the crowds are still coming, then maybe there will be a capital improvement project at Bridgeforth Stadium.
10-25-2021 11:06 AM
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JMU2004 Offline
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Post: #17
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
Expect to hear about the Convo's fate soon. Too valuable of a location/space to just sit there basically unused.
10-25-2021 11:06 AM
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JMaddy Offline
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Post: #18
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 10:53 AM)hburg Wrote:  The visitor side needs to be completed. It is an eye sore. At least finish the lower bowl.

Agreed. It would be nice for the students to have all the amenities we have on the home side, plus the ability to walk the entire concourse would be an improvement.

I hope they do something like in Heinze Field Great Hall exhibit for Pitt and the Steelers with memorabilia and replica NCAA Natty trophies on display.
10-25-2021 11:06 AM
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ericsaid Offline
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Post: #19
RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 11:01 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  I bet it won't take too long. When ODU, App State, Marshall, Coastal, GSU are regularly coming to town and it's not uncommon for one each year to be ranked and/or for us to be ranked I'm betting the need for more seats will be very obvious. Then the occasional P5 home game will make it even more obvious.

I can't wait for it to happen, it's always been a shame that our stadium is so great but that the live shot on TV, many angles for pictures, etc can make it look so bad.

If App State, Louisiana, and Coastal win out the Sun Belt will have the most ranked teams of any G5 conference on Championship Weekend (December).

I think the primary driver for your demand against Louisoana, Coastal, Georgia State (GSU), and Georgia Southern (GS) will come from your own fans. Marshall may bring quite a few people but App State would straight up bring 25% of your total capacity if history is any indication.

I think you want a 25,000 seat stadium that you can sell out at 30,000 to 35,000 for shoulder to shoulder room on TV (recruiting) rather than have a 35,000 seat stadium that is well spaced and empty on the occasional TV game that people don't come for.

I look forward to getting up to Harrisonburg for the first game App travels there and I'm already nervous about the outcome, as per usual.

Good luck JM-Who fans....going to need to bring my own black and yellow (gold) streamers.
10-25-2021 11:08 AM
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jmu98 Offline
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RE: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion
(10-25-2021 10:53 AM)hburg Wrote:  The visitor side needs to be completed. It is an eye sore. At least finish the lower bowl.

Do you have 40-70 million sitting around?

These funds or most of them will need to be raised privately which we have not shown that we can do at that level.

Additionally, many donors including myself still have 2 more years on our commitment to our pledge for AUBC. As much as I would like to not sure the wife is going to add another donation when we are still paying the last one. Additionally, while I am proud of my donation they would need to find a few thousand of me to raise that kind of money.

I would say we need to get through the transition while at the same time reaching out to larger donors to see what their appetite is to fund and at what level. I would see it being 5 years or so before we are ready to build the other side.
10-25-2021 11:09 AM
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