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Sycamore Sports District Vision
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Can't let me be excited for one second, can you? One second is generally all we get with this circus...
Ha! You’re alright. Plans look great! Nice to see them.
niklz62
The JSW Level
Ill take a picture of a plan over wondering if there is a plan.
Glad to see they have a vision but I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't say I'm disappointed they didn't mentioned a fundraising plan to be placed alongside it.
I also don't understand including the on-campus football stadium and a pretty major re-build of Memorial. They're essentially re-building Memorial based on the photos so what would be the point of doing that? It couldn't be too far off dollar wise from the on-campus build.
I also don't understand including the on-campus football stadium and a pretty major re-build of Memorial. They're essentially re-building Memorial based on the photos so what would be the point of doing that? It couldn't be too far off dollar wise from the on-campus build.
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I believe that is an "either/or" situation. I doubt they've really studied which direction they want to go, so they did renderings both ways. Kind of bush league, admittedly, sort of like not coming out with a plan to accomplish it. Pick one direction and go with it.
But if we ever did get these facilities, wow, what a transformation for our athletic program...
There’s been a plan for 10 years. It went nowhere (at least the on-campus stadium part).
For comparison, our peer in the MVC planned it, funded it, and built it...all in the matter of a few years:
https://pso.siu.edu/facility-improvements/completed/saluki-way.php
It can be done ISU fans!
I'm agreeing with you, but SIU is probably not a good example. They are dead-ass broke and have experienced major budget cuts. Not the best example on how to go about it.
niklz62
The JSW Level
They also got it right before the state accepted they were broke
I’m all ears on a better idea (short of a blank check from the legislature). SIU got millions from the city and millions in donations to do it. We have to have that same vision and work toward those same goals. SIU’s current woes are due, mostly, to a severe decrease in enrollment. And sure there’s still debt service on the bonds but that’s expected. A huge step in the right direction for ISU would be to have the city agree to chip in like Carbondale did for Saluki Way. The next big step would be to get the millions in private donations for this plan just like SIU did.
IMO the “way” SIU did it is a fine blueprint.
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I don't know if the town and gown relationship can be repaired to the point where TH would kick in a dime for this, but to get donors to throw money at this, the Foundation is going to have to get off their collective asses and get to work. And that means beating the bushes for donors, finding those 15-20,000 multimillionaires that we most likely have out there, getting creative like selling memorial bricks (did this for Lucas Oil Stadium), and many other strategies. The new Division of University Advancement, thus far, has been a big NOTHING. Clink and the coaches can only do so much. Professional fundraisers should handle the vast majority of this. And so far, they're AWOL...
Buckhorn
The Starter Level
Thinking "down the road" is a start, but I see multiple holes in this proposal. I'll mention two (2):
1. Our most successful program (Baseball) is being overlooked. Perhaps people NEVER saw Coach Warn's model in his Baseball office and think the CURRENT facility has all the "bells & whistles?" First of all, 1st Street needs to be "looped"/redirected West of the current soccer facility, thus providing ISU Baseball the opportunity to GROW. A grandstand w/ roof protection, a few "skyboxes" and 3rd base area bleacher seating is a must. The current seating layout is similar to ISU FB - a joke. Ever noticed the proximity of the electric utility poles behind home plate seating to 1st Street traffic? Tragedy in the making if a vehicle would shear a pole supporting a LIVE WIRE. I'd like to also see "family recreation pods" raised level & outside the outfield fence, with BQ grills. Remember, the TH Rex use this facility during the Summer. Think PROFESSIONAL in remodeling Warn Stadium. It's the BEST program ISU has now.
2. On-campus FB is a must. Again, 1st Street must be "looped" west of the track to facilitate a unified tract of property. What I'd REALLY like to see is a Hwy 41 running WEST of the Wabash River, thus providing optimum safety & aesthetics for the University. But that's BIG TIME thinking involving the federal govt, IN state govt, the City of TH & ISU, and based on the FAILED HC Project where we lost $37.5 million because Vigo/TH leaders couldn't collaborate, I don't see this as a possibility. Hell, how long did it take for 641 to get built...20 yrs?
Just a couple thoughts on the ISU Vision...
1. Our most successful program (Baseball) is being overlooked. Perhaps people NEVER saw Coach Warn's model in his Baseball office and think the CURRENT facility has all the "bells & whistles?" First of all, 1st Street needs to be "looped"/redirected West of the current soccer facility, thus providing ISU Baseball the opportunity to GROW. A grandstand w/ roof protection, a few "skyboxes" and 3rd base area bleacher seating is a must. The current seating layout is similar to ISU FB - a joke. Ever noticed the proximity of the electric utility poles behind home plate seating to 1st Street traffic? Tragedy in the making if a vehicle would shear a pole supporting a LIVE WIRE. I'd like to also see "family recreation pods" raised level & outside the outfield fence, with BQ grills. Remember, the TH Rex use this facility during the Summer. Think PROFESSIONAL in remodeling Warn Stadium. It's the BEST program ISU has now.
2. On-campus FB is a must. Again, 1st Street must be "looped" west of the track to facilitate a unified tract of property. What I'd REALLY like to see is a Hwy 41 running WEST of the Wabash River, thus providing optimum safety & aesthetics for the University. But that's BIG TIME thinking involving the federal govt, IN state govt, the City of TH & ISU, and based on the FAILED HC Project where we lost $37.5 million because Vigo/TH leaders couldn't collaborate, I don't see this as a possibility. Hell, how long did it take for 641 to get built...20 yrs?
Just a couple thoughts on the ISU Vision...
This is all really, really great ideas. As others have said, I hope we are working very quickly to put plans in place to begin fundraising for at least one of these projects. I'd love for the basketball practice facility to be at the top of the list, but the baseball/softball complex looks to be the most feasible (on paper) based on what is currently available to use.
Having a practice facility like that for the basketball team would be a game changer. It would help me forgive the lack of locker room improvements at the Hulman Center, too. It could also potentially revitalize the women's program.
Having a practice facility like that for the basketball team would be a game changer. It would help me forgive the lack of locker room improvements at the Hulman Center, too. It could also potentially revitalize the women's program.
Here’s another school getting it done...
https://406mtsports.com/college/big...bxpRvc8EZflHn000SWNu1J0QUSaI4WzxaxqydDFIZ5yqo
Wow. Their Master Plan was announced in 2017. Two years later they’ve raised 18 mil in donations and the first major phase will be done in less than 24 months. In CAN be done ISU. Let’s go!
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I like the plans... If I may just voice my opinion - not that it matters. Soccer field - I prefer a dedicated field... A dedicated soccer field would allow the football stadium seating to be moved about 20 feet closer to the football field on each side. A dedicated soccer field is not that expensive as long as sharing restrooms, concessions, locker room resources are possible. Look at the location next to the baseball field and proposed softball field - shared resources there. Also, look at the future former location of the softball field (current location, actually) - room for soccer field and parking garage there - share resources (concessions/restrooms/lockers) in the indoor track/field building which is next door. Forget the parking garage and just add the soccer field and ground parking lot there. Seating for soccer is minimal.
Has anyone seen a proposed location for a practice football field if the main stadium is moved toward the riverfront?
Has anyone seen a proposed location for a practice football field if the main stadium is moved toward the riverfront?
SycamoreinTexas
The All-American Level
Any update on any of this?
There won’t be any updates on this for years.
See post #26.