Stadium Design ?

[Westbadenboy]

OK -- like I'm going to have any influence on what ISU does build on campus ...............

But anyway, here's my two bits:

Size to begin with -- 15,000 seats -- easily expandable to 20,000 seats.
Put 10,000 seats on one side -- 5,000 on the other.

Press box / TV camera locations on the 5,000 seat side
Have the Press Box & camera areas raised above the seats leaving a "gap" so the extra 5,000 "new" seats can be added underneath so to speak in the future. The gap could be filled in with banners & signs until those new 5,000 seats are built. Televised games (even game "films" used for recruiting etc) would not be looking at the smaller side.

"Skyboxes" -- not too many (lets not kid ourselves here), but maybe a few on the 10,000 seat side

Give both sides a curved effect (bowl effect) -- Memorial Stadium is fine and I have some nice memories of it, but come on, the design could have been done by a Jr Hi drafting class -- it has no architectural flair whatsoever. Take away the Arch and you've got the Carmel High School stadium.

And who wants to sit in the upper regions of MS down near the goal lines ? So stair step both sides down as they curve so you have about as many rows of seats from 30 yd line to 30 yd line as MS has now, but fewer and fewer rows as you move toward the goal lines. Much classier look and much better seating views. Do the same thing on both sides of the new stadium leaving the room for expansion on the smaller side.

Have a nice area under or next to the stadium for fans to gather. Make the grounds dramatic, with cool lighting, emphasize our football (and athletic traditions) -- no more sterile Hulman Center (WHAT ! You want to put the NCAA runner up trophy or some Larry Bird pictures up -- no way !). Do permanment lights for night games -- not sure why MS lights have not been totally repaired and put to use recently -- much better chance for higher attendance with night games early in the season.

ISU has begun to really do some things nice -- lets do this stadium thing right.
:sycamores:

 

[TreeTop]

You're hired.



Seriously though, I think everything you said makes total sense and would be perfect.

 

[True Blue]

. Take away the Arch and you've got the Carmel High School stadium.

:sycamores:

I like the idea, but Carmel High School stadium is much nicer than Memorial Stadium! :bigsmile:

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Good stuff! About the right size, lots of good ideas. Although I might make it expandable (in phases) to 30,000. Only because you never actually have to build the seats, but if you do, you'll be money ahead to include them in the original design. And if you make it able to be done in phases, you could expand from 15 to 20K, then from 20 to 24, 24 to 28, etc...if you need it. Instead of going cheap and small, which ISU has been known to do, we might as well plan big...

Notre Dame Stadium's 1996-97 expansion was part of the original plans designed by Knute Rockne. So is the next expansion there - the addition of an upper deck taking capacity to 135,000. What a hoot, but he was thinking ahead.

 

[landrus13]

We can't even fill a stadium with 12,000, how are we gonna fill a stadium with 30,000? I want to know that answer.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Lots of good discussion in here --> http://www.sycamorepride.com/showthread.php?t=6261

I still really like what Elon did.

 

[TJames]

As for the question about the lights at Memorial Stadium.....

The lighting system needs to be completely redone. Those lights there now were installed in the late 1960s. Thus, the overall cost of such a project is the factor. If you've got the money, or know anybody who does, I'm sure Ron Prettyman would be happy to speak to you.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Pay attention, Landrus. I specifically said that you include them in the design when you build it so that you don't have to do a bunch of "re-desiging" if you ever need to add them. You don't have to build them all. Heck, you don't have to build any of them...

I really tried to answer that question in advance...

 

[TreeTop]

We can't even fill a stadium with 12,000, how are we gonna fill a stadium with 30,000? I want to know that answer.

He stated: "Only because you never actually have to build the seats, but if you do, you'll be money ahead to include them in the original design."

He's just thinking ahead...in thirty years, maybe we could fill a 30,000 seat stadium.

Probably not, but who freakin' knows!??!?!

 

[TreeTop]

Pay attention, Landrus. I specifically said that you include them in the design when you build it so that you don't have to do a bunch of "re-desiging" if you ever need to add them. You don't have to build them all. Heck, you don't have to build any of them...

I really tried to answer that question in advance...

Ooops....already answered.

 

[Sackalot]

I think you also have to recognize that MS is just not the best place to watch a football game. There are many football stadiums/fields that don't have a bad seat...Memorial has several bad seats as mentioned.

I do however, think that you have plan two things that are not mentioned. A specifically designed, well thought out student section! It has to be "special" and interesting. And you have to well designed and easily accessible restrooms and concessions...the restroom/concession stands at MS are pretty bad...I have seen worse, but then the IMS situation is different, they are trying to provide for 250,000 people not 6K-10K.

Lastly, I think that skyboxes are going to have to wait for 2nd or 3rd phases. I really like the idea of getting a few railroad cabooses, putting them on one end of the field (the open place that is mentioned would work) and make those the "skyboxes" for alumni/donors. Set it up so they can 'tailgate" have a good time during the game and before and there you go. Railroad cars and TH go together but you could use other concepts as well. I still like the "treehouse" idea...build 3-4 treehouses on one of the field and have some fun with it.

 

[Westbadenboy]

20,000 Seats ?

Just to clarify -- I picked 20,000 seats as the ultimate goal because that's what Memorial Stadium supposedly seated before they tore down the metal bleachers.

Also that is just a little above our all-time largest crowd in Terre Haute.

In my mind I was thinking that one end zone would feature your dressing rooms, maybe offices above it, and perhaps a Varsity Club room above that.

The other end zone could feature a raised grassy area to hang out on, but with enough room that bleachers could be set up to seat an addititonal 2000 -- 4000 if needed.

Finally, as "orginally" planned at Memorial Stadium, should the need ever arise that grassy endzone could be enclosed into some type of horseshoe effect (I saw a presentation on Terre Haute TV in the late '60's about building a concrete permanment - identical to what we have now - set of stands on the north side. And if needed Memorial Stadium could be expanded they said :sycamores:to 35,000 seats by enclosing the east endzone). Of course that plan was ridiculous -- especially given what occurred in the late 80's and early 90's to the program.

Doubtful, we'll ever need 30,000 seats anyway, but having the plans drawn up in advance in case would not be wrong. But you'd be looking at several, several years to get to the point of needing that kind of seating. By that time the plans would probably need extensive updating so ............

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Just to clarify -- I picked 20,000 seats as the ultimate goal because that's what Memorial Stadium supposedly seated before they tore down the metal bleachers.

Also that is just a little above our all-time largest crowd in Terre Haute.

In my mind I was thinking that one end zone would feature your dressing rooms, maybe offices above it, and perhaps a Varsity Club room above that.

The other end zone could feature a raised grassy area to hang out on, but with enough room that bleachers could be set up to seat an addititonal 2000 -- 4000 if needed.

Finally, as "orginally" planned at Memorial Stadium, should the need ever arise that grassy endzone could be enclosed into some type of horseshoe effect (I saw a presentation on Terre Haute TV in the late '60's about building a concrete permanment - identical to what we have now - set of stands on the north side. And if needed Memorial Stadium could be expanded they said :sycamores:to 35,000 seats by enclosing the east endzone). Of course that plan was ridiculous -- especially given what occurred in the late 80's and early 90's to the program.

Doubtful, we'll ever need 30,000 seats anyway, but having the plans drawn up in advance in case would not be wrong. But you'd be looking at several, several years to get to the point of needing that kind of seating. By that time the plans would probably need extensive updating so ............

Certainly didn't mean to knock anything you said. I thought all of your ideas were spot on, and if we got a stadium that exactly matched your vision, I'd be ecstatic!!! Love the idea about grassy areas for seating. That's a nice addition to the asthetic ambiance of the stadium that can also be used for cheap seating!!!

You did a great job!!!

 

[Eleven]

Love the idea about grassy areas for seating. That's a nice addition to the asthetic ambiance of the stadium that can also be used for cheap seating!!!

And it pays homage to our current "Grassy Hill" that we've all grown to despise! But this time, it would be done "right" and for a real reason.

 

[Westbadenboy]

Thanks

Thanks for the positive comments -- maybe I'll get a call from ISU with a "fat" contract included !

Actually, I'd just like to be sitting about 15 rows up on the "5,000" seat side of the new "Sycamore Park" campus stadium in early September, starring at 10,000 folks crammed into the opposite side, 4999 squeezed in on my side, watching some kids in ISU gear totally ignoring the game on the grassy end zone chasing each other, having just enjoyed a beer on the third level end zone Sycamore Varsity Club Skyroom during halftime (me -- not the kids), and glancing at a beautiful Video Scoreboard flashing the late 4th qtr score:

Indiana State 45

Ball State 10

*** How we let them score that touchdown I'll never understand.

 

[4Q_iu]

... In my mind I was thinking that one end zone would feature your dressing rooms, maybe offices above it, and perhaps a Varsity Club room above that.T

he other end zone could feature a raised grassy area to hang out on, but with enough room that bleachers could be set up to seat an addititonal 2000 -- 4000 if needed.

Doubtful, we'll ever need 30,000 seats anyway, but having the plans drawn up in advance in case would not be wrong. But you'd be looking at several, several years to get to the point of needing that kind of seating. By that time the plans would probably need extensive updating so ............

The end zone locker rooms/staff offices/donor suites is one of the more popular football stadium ideas in recent memory; a lot of the small FBS, bigger FCS schools are doing it.

the caboose idea that South Carolina has is great; not sure how well it would work at our level but worth investigating.

Initial seating for any new stadium should be a mimimum of our current seating, not more than 15K; if we get the design and engineering right now (for future growth), there shouldn't be an 'extensive updating' of plans -- hell, that's why you do it NOW.

Where are the 'bad' seats in memorial? Behind all of the support pillars? In the parking lot? It's been a couple of years since I made a home game but I remember MS having as many 'bad' seats as Hulman Center...

 

[nwi stater]

Well, as a OF and tradionalist, I like a "indoor" field. 15,000 to 20,000 cap. Can be used sun-rain-snow and many other functions. My kid went to Un. North Dakota and they used theirs for everthing. A course it's a bit nippy up der!!!!

 

[Sackalot]

The end zone locker rooms/staff offices/donor suites is one of the more popular football stadium ideas in recent memory; a lot of the small FBS, bigger FCS schools are doing it.

the caboose idea that South Carolina has is great; not sure how well it would work at our level but worth investigating.

Initial seating for any new stadium should be a mimimum of our current seating, not more than 15K; if we get the design and engineering right now (for future growth), there shouldn't be an 'extensive updating' of plans -- hell, that's why you do it NOW.

Where are the 'bad' seats in memorial? Behind all of the support pillars? In the parking lot? It's been a couple of years since I made a home game but I remember MS having as many 'bad' seats as Hulman Center...

I mean that, as mentioned it is "straight across" and you can't see anything at the opposite end of the field...also, they are all bad seats, because they are uncomfortable metal bleachers, but I can live with that. HC has several bad seats up top, but in the bottom level there is not a bad set nor in the first 15-20 rows of the upper level...but that is another topic. I simply meant that MS is not ideal, it is not the most fun to watch a game in there. We are not going to end up with a stadium seating 50-75-100K like the Swamp or the Big House or Death Valley or any other clever named stadium. But, if we build something I think it should have a curve to it. Go around the corner of the field so that you can see what is going on. That is all I meant. I either sit way up high at MS or I stand down by the field...sometimes I go across to the "hill" which I do not like at all...but do to talk with staff members I know at ISU.

 

[4Q_iu]

Well, as a OF and tradionalist, I like a "indoor" field. 15,000 to 20,000 cap. Can be used sun-rain-snow and many other functions. My kid went to Un. North Dakota and they used theirs for everthing. A course it's a bit nippy up der!!!!

What's "traditional" about playing on plastic under plastic?

If we were looking at replacing MS, HC AND Tilson Auditorium... maybe then a UND facility would be worth looking into but, football should be played on grass under open air! THAT's Tradition

 

[4Q_iu]

I mean that, as mentioned it is "straight across" and you can't see anything at the opposite end of the field...also, they are all bad seats, because they are uncomfortable metal bleachers, but I can live with that. HC has several bad seats up top, but in the bottom level there is not a bad set nor in the first 15-20 rows of the upper level...but that is another topic. I simply meant that MS is not ideal, it is not the most fun to watch a game in there. We are not going to end up with a stadium seating 50-75-100K like the Swamp or the Big House or Death Valley or any other clever named stadium. But, if we build something I think it should have a curve to it. Go around the corner of the field so that you can see what is going on. That is all I meant. I either sit way up high at MS or I stand down by the field...sometimes I go across to the "hill" which I do not like at all...but do to talk with staff members I know at ISU.

My definition of 'bad' seat is not being able to see period; not sitting in the top row or the far row; that's just football. Granted it's nicer to sit on between the 40s but there are only so many of those seats.

Not a fan of bleacher seating; maybe when I was younger but now, I prefer a seatback.

What I don't want to see is a repeat of MS's current seating; 50 rows on one side, 0 on the other. I'd rather see 25 and 25, with the press box and ideally suites on the homeside. IF we have the locker rooms, staff offices in an endzone with some seating, scoreboard above, that fine. It's pretty hard to design a 'stylish' football stadium; I'm just hoping they build something better than MS. Make it as symmetrical as possible