Stadium Design ?

[4Q_iu]

I just totally threw that out there on a whim. However, this is a pretty big leap in resources.

No doubt there are JMU alumni, fans, etc that would LIKE to make that leap BUT I don't see that from happening.

VA is 'sitting' pretty with SEVERAL FCS schools Old Dominion, Bill & Mary, Richmond, JMU and Norfolk State.

At times, there's noise about George Mason adding a team (but that's a pipe dream...)

 

[IndyTreeFan]

This is the Berry Center Football Stadium in Houston Texas that supports all of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. This is an 11K seat stadium with a concourse level between the lower and upper deck. IMO this is a good model for ISU to follow except maybe add a few thousand more seats to go to 15K. The open end could be a grassy hill for general seating and the building at one end may be another building in the master plan. That could create a confined bowl feeling to contain noise. This is a beautiful stadium that is very practical and simple.

That would be perfect, with maybe another 4,000 seats added. If we built something like that, I'd put our stadium up against any other in the FCS.

Of course, we still need Daddy Warbucks to step up and plop $20M down to start it off!!!

 

[KBASSER]

Beautiful stadium for ISU to duplicate-with some added seating. Have the open endzone end with the scoreboard looking out toward the Wabash River.

 

[Bally #50]

Beautiful stadium for ISU to duplicate-with some added seating. Have the open endzone end with the scoreboard looking out toward the Wabash River.

In this same discussion we had a couple of months ago, the consensus thought they would like to see one of the end zones with a built-in bowl of grass only for "additional" seating that would cost very little and possibly add 2-3000 in capacity. I too, hope they integrate one open end into the banks of the Wabash but at least in the Master Plan, I believe it was not designed that way, although obviously nothing is etched in steel here. Same goes for a track integrated with the football stadium. I would be very much against that because the seats are much farther from the field. I say build it as the plan has it, two seperate fields.

 

[JustAskin]

in this same discussion we had a couple of months ago, the consensus thought they would like to see one of the end zones with a built-in bowl of grass only for "additional" seating that would cost very little and possibly add 2-3000 in capacity. I too, hope they integrate one open end into the banks of the wabash but at least in the master plan, i believe it was not designed that way, although obviously nothing is etched in steel here. Same goes for a track integrated with the football stadium. I would be very much against that because the seats are much farther from the field. I say build it as the plan has it, two seperate fields.

agree

 

[4Q_iu]

In this same discussion we had a couple of months ago, the consensus thought they would like to see one of the end zones with a built-in bowl of grass only for "additional" seating that would cost very little and possibly add 2-3000 in capacity. I too, hope they integrate one open end into the banks of the Wabash but at least in the Master Plan, I believe it was not designed that way, although obviously nothing is etched in steel here. Same goes for a track integrated with the football stadium. I would be very much against that because the seats are much farther from the field. I say build it as the plan has it, two seperate fields.

Yep -- the master plan has the football stadium running parallel to the soccer/track&field stadium; both are North/South in orientation.

Why not flip them; put the football stadium next to the river and spin it 90 degrees to an East/West orientation; open end to the Wabash?

 

[nwi stater]

I know...I know butttt. I still favor an enclosed field. It can be used year round, by many different groups in off season, concerts, conventions etc. The more events the more money brought in. And to think we would be the only university in Indiana with an indoor field....

Still trying..........

 

[bent20]

I know...I know butttt. I still favor an enclosed field. It can be used year round, by many different groups in off season, concerts, conventions etc. The more events the more money brought in. And to think we would be the only university in Indiana with an indoor field....

Still trying..........

I get what you're saying but prefer an outdoor stadium myself. I like the idea of it facing the river as well. With stadiums this small, the indoor ones end up looking like a large barn with bleechers on two sides.

 

[JustAskin]

i know...i know butttt. I still favor an enclosed field. It can be used year round, by many different groups in off season, concerts, conventions etc. The more events the more money brought in. And to think we would be the only university in indiana with an indoor field....

Still trying..........

REALLY FOR BENT 20
east and west stadiums that are open on one end or both pose a problem for later in the day games with the sun in someones face

 

[Bally #50]

Yep -- the master plan has the football stadium running parallel to the soccer/track&field stadium; both are North/South in orientation.

Why not flip them; put the football stadium next to the river and spin it 90 degrees to an East/West orientation; open end to the Wabash?

4Q, as I commented earlier, there is NOTHING stopping them from making changes. It's conceptual to begin with and I am sure that many feel the way we do. In fact, come to think of it, Ron told me the first time we talked directly on this possibility, his exact comments was to have the stadium overlooking the Banks of the Wabash. His biggest concern at the time, surprisingly was that the first estimate to build a necessary bridge (over US 41 west of Marks Field) was something like $750K if I am recalling that correctly. My guess, is our AD and Dr. B will do it correctly because their track record is doing just that, everything spot on. (well most things anyhow).

 

[JamesHat]

Not a fan of the open end towards the River. Open ends can be used as a facade with a large Marquee for identification.

 

[Bally #50]

My guess is that they will figure out what they want and we'll all love it. Trying to get 100's of people to agree on anything is generally pretty futile.

 

[IndianaState45]

Not a fan of the open end towards the River. Open ends can be used as a facade with a large Marquee for identification.

Couldn't we put a facade on either end? I think any architect worth a crap will incorporate the natural beauty of the river....also planting tons of sycamore trees along that river is an obvious must. I like the idea of the horseshoe facing the river. Or if we did N/S make the home side face the river....might actually be a better view up high. Lastly JamesHat makes a good point. We need a first class facade on the east.

 

[Bally #50]

IS45, that's what we need to hear. I have seen multiple huge stadiums that have done exactly that. Just figure out a way to blend in with the surroundings. Hell, RP might as well close down shop. We've got this whole thing figured out~

 

[treeman]

Wouldn't putting a football stadium close to a river a liability as far as sinking is concerned? i really don't know i'm just asking. but if you clear out the trees on the banks to make a park type setting it will make the ground weaker. the roots on the trees hold the banks together and if we clear those out to make a tailgate area or something of that nature i think that there would be minor changes in the banks that could drastically effect a football stadium. thats one reason why i think they are putting the track/soccer complex close to the river (less weight). just what i think, i may be right i may be wrong.

 

[hans1950]

I realize that all of this is dreaming out loud,and that's ok.I don't have any idea where the money is going to come from to make it happen.I'd love to see a new stadium close to campus and hopefully the success of the football team will help raise the level of contributions to the school.I don't know if there are any really wealthy alums who would like their name on a stadium or not so that's probably not an option.Over time maybe the master plan will be implemented,I don't expect to see it in my lifetime,hopefully 20 to 30 more years.At least there are people interested in planning for the future,however distant it might be.Still fun to talk about.

 

[Bally #50]

I realize that all of this is dreaming out loud,and that's ok.I don't have any idea where the money is going to come from to make it happen.I'd love to see a new stadium close to campus and hopefully the success of the football team will help raise the level of contributions to the school.I don't know if there are any really wealthy alums who would like their name on a stadium or not so that's probably not an option.Over time maybe the master plan will be implemented,I don't expect to see it in my lifetime,hopefully 20 to 30 more years.At least there are people interested in planning for the future,however distant it might be.Still fun to talk about.

You may well be right, but there ARE alums out there worth multi-millions and one I know personally that is worth hundreds of millions. It may be a dream but I am guessing that it really could happen and it may be closer than you think. Whether it would be one donor or more than one donor, it only takes a few to step up. Of course, only time will tell. It's fun thinking about it, that's for sure. I doubt that I have 20-30 years ahead of me so I am hoping for sooner, rather than later.

 

[IndianaState45]

Also with M.S having passed up it's useful life in just a few years....we'll have to build something. That stadium won't pass inspection forever. If that's the case where does state funding for infrastructure fit?

 

[sycamore51]

You may well be right, but there ARE alums out there worth multi-millions and one I know personally that is worth hundreds of millions. It may be a dream but I am guessing that it really could happen and it may be closer than you think. Whether it would be one donor or more than one donor, it only takes a few to step up. Of course, only time will tell. It's fun thinking about it, that's for sure. I doubt that I have 20-30 years ahead of me so I am hoping for sooner, rather than later.

I didn't know we knew each other

 

[4Q_iu]

4Q, as I commented earlier, there is NOTHING stopping them from making changes. It's conceptual to begin with and I am sure that many feel the way we do. In fact, come to think of it, Ron told me the first time we talked directly on this possibility, his exact comments was to have the stadium overlooking the Banks of the Wabash. His biggest concern at the time, surprisingly was that the first estimate to build a necessary bridge (over US 41 west of Marks Field) was something like $750K if I am recalling that correctly. My guess, is our AD and Dr. B will do it correctly because their track record is doing just that, everything spot on. (well most things anyhow).

agree nothing in the master plan is set in concrete; that's why its called a plan! :bigsmile:

I can see a bridge being of primary concern; that's a heck of a span; what at least 6 lanes of traffic? Where do you anchor either end for best/easiest use?
It'll be cheaper/ quicker than trying to build that traffic circle that has been discussed ( which would require a lot of thru traffic to be re-routed...) what are the liability costs involved, ADA requirements...

when all of the facilities are build west of 3rd st; they still have to be accessible AND it's best to make use of the exsisting parking on the east side; so access is a priority.

Can't see us ever having an enclosed stadium; how many conventions / concerts are currently NOT being held at State / Terre Haute because we're "lacking" an enclosed stadium?

That was the argument used in E'ville why they HAD to have the Ford Center... maybe their concert/convention hosting will increase...

From overall asethics; a horseshoe with the open end to the West is better than a N/S or horseshoe with the East end open...