g-mann17

Ok skip, I will give you that I exaggerated a tad on the distance (it's really about a half mile, but I tended to show up late for games.) But that is because there is nothing to do around the Rubber Bowl (unless you count Rumors LOL)I really think that the parking situation is not going to be as bad as people think. The biggest question is how well the University and APD can co-operate to make game day a smooth ordeal. And if there are still some savvy entrepeneurs in the Akron area we should have a few places to eat/hang out before and after the games.

Parking wasn't that easy at the Rubber Bowl. There was ample parking and a Tail Gating area but it still wasn't the best. You had to walk close to a mile (if not farther sometimes) in the lower lots.With that said, there are tailgating areas, and staging areas that will be all around there. Whatever is left of Union St after the stadium is built will probably house a very festival like atmosphere as well as the entry plaza. There are 4 decks (4000 give or takes spaces) and 10,000 spots not more then a 10 minute walk from campus. Worst case scenario is that shuttles will have to run from the downtown parking decks. I also suspect that the University will use the Crown Plaza parking (it is also very like that the Crown Plaza will be linked with the Polymer Engineering Academic Center via a pedestrian bridge over the tracks) and the surrounding church parking (as the university does have a strong relationship with both the Greek Church and the Chapel).Yes you will be walking across campus to get to the stadium, but that is a good thing because it sells the University. For your other point about the JAR not being all that old, that doesn't matter if it doesn't fit the needs. I do agree that the JAR does need to have a few years of sell outs (other then the Can't State game) but it's quite the two edge sword. Need to sell out to get a new arena, need a new arena to get a 1 and 1 contract with a top tier school to cause a sell out. Because Akron vs YSU, Akron vs Oakland, and Akron vs Niagara are not standing room only games because most people don't even know who those schools (other then YSU) are.

I thought the same thing when I read that.

That is very unlikely to happen as a few million dollars was just recently pumped into fix the old fire station and credit union there and are now brand new law offices. Also that lot is particularly small. Ideally I would like to see a new arena built within the next 10-15 years. If that happens then more land is freed up. For instance the Central Hower land that the city currently owns will no longer be in use. That is one possibility. A second possibility is to connect all the athletic grounds. This means the area directly north of the the current softball field. Putting the new basketball arena southwest across Exchange from the new Football Stadium. That frees up the land where the JAR is currently for additional academic buildings, parking, or greens space for future expansion.

Well Northeast Ohio has longed for a real race track. Why not look at making the Rubber Bowl part of a grand stands for NASCAR Track? (Yes I know that is a ridiculous long shot.)

Isn't it BOTH? when you enter the stadium, the field appears to be below grade, right? From what I can tell from this one picture the field is going to be about 10-20 feet below street level. Which would create hill seating on both the north and south ends. This also would allow for easy seating expansion if needed in the future. It will be nice when the 1st rolls around and we can see more pictures and have an official announcement of plans.

When you say 27500 is that structured seating? Or is that if people are sitting on the endzone hills? Because it looks like it would be 27500 in west and east bleachers, and over 30,000 for "standing room only".Either way it would be ample seating. I just hope they utilize the potential grass seating.

It really is very impressive. I can't wait to see detail looking towards the east to see what the press box side of the stadium really looks like. I knew the university wouldn't disappoint us!!! As far as tailgating, that will be interesting. There are no large parking fields that I know of any where near there.

Well to get us off Youngstown and there favorite 1940's style past time of drowning penguins.Rasor just released his blog and stated that officials will be making an August 1st announcement. He also stated that a rendering would be made available to him and he should have it sometime today or tomorrow.Let the anticipation begin.

Well to add to that, while we are all aware of how the Zips came about (fashionable foot protection) I would like to point out that YSU came up with the Penguin during basketball season when a bunch of their players were to wussy to stand in the cold without moving for a little while. They flapped their arms about and someone said they looked like a bunch of penguins. So the name stuck, much to the chagrin of the town. Another interesting fact, YSU used live penguins as mascots. They managed to drown the first Pete the Penguin. All these facts and more when you read "Youngstown State University: Oral History Program: Youngstown College Football." and interview with Marilyn Chuey daughter of the first President of the Youngstown College (or YSU).

That has already been taken care of...look to the highest bidder...which IIRC, is either First Energy, Summa, or Infocision. While quite likely, I would hate to see the Zips playing football at something called Summa Field. I would hope that the University has enough Integrity to name the stadium after someone important to the history of the school. However; Summa Plaza at the north end of the stadium, that has concessions and a Kangaroo statue, does sound good. As does First Energy Walkway, that leads you from the Stiles Athletic Complex to "Gardener Field" works for me too.

Honestly I like that idea. That or we need to capture something from the Rubber Bowl and bring it to the new stadium. I really can't think of any significant architectural features of the Rubber Bowl. (I was thinking something similar to the terra cotta sculptures saved from the old Spicer Hall and implemented into the archway leading to the Rec center). Can anyone think of anything worth moving from the Rubber Bowl?Another question...What should the name of this new stadium be?

The game time was always 7pm, the 6pm start time was for the CPD vs the CFD charity flag football game.

Peyton Manning was the first draft pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, selected by Indianapolis, and started immediately for the team. Manning passed for 3,739 with 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He set five different NFL rookie records, including most touchdown passes in a season and was named to the NFL All-Rookie First Team. The Colts finished 3-13. Frye in 20 starts has 3454 yd 14 TD to 23 Int. and 275 yds rushing and 4 rushing TD (voted Pepsi Rookie of the week twice during the 2005 season) the Browns were a combined 10-22 over the 2 years and Frye was responsible for 5 of those wins (that throwing the haters the bone for the KC game that Frye technically one and Anderson lucked into). Winslow and Edwards were MIA during the end of the 2005 season when Frye began playing. So you tell me why Frye shouldn't be rated higher?And there you go a good "honest" comparison. Unlike the "Johnny Come Lately, What Have You Done For Me Today?" analysis that the bashers have been doing.

Ah yes I remember the ole "Go B!G" campaign they ran. Totally for their academics and the fact that they pulled a Toys B Us gimmick really shows how great their academics at the time must have been LOL. Yeah since it wasn't their football poster boy I suppose I didn't see that as an insult like I do when I see that horrible urine yellow billboard.I guess there just must be that much hate in me for the Golden Splashes.

While I have some of you on the topic of billboards....Has anyone seen a University of Akron billboard anywhere? Has anyone seen University of Akron marketing anywhere? (I did see something in the AAA magazine for season tickets)What is the deal with our current marketing "non" push?

Can someone please tell me how Can't State is able to get a billboard up within a 5 minute drive of campus?If you aren't familiar with what I am talking about take a drive up 77 North past Summit Lake.

First post so don't hate too much. But one thing that I have to agree with is that we need to build the fan base. One way we can do that is to right the editors of the Beacon and say we want to see the Zips on the front page of our newspaper every Sunday instead of the Buckeyes. No disrespect to any OSU fans, but seriously I have never understood why they garner more attention then the local Division one school. Oh yeah, because Northeast Ohio is just a bunch of dirty nut swingers. Instead of supporting the team they support the winner. But to get off my rant. We need to build excitement about the team. They do need to become more consistent. That would certainly help to get some press and fans. But we as true fans have to talk up the program and school whenever we can. We have to tell the Beacon we want coverage. And that that coverage is going to sell their paper. We have to try and convince local stations to carry these games. I would much rather flip on the CW and watch a carry over broadcast of the Akron Zips then some chopped to hell movie or fake wrestling (considering the horrible friday night lights game we have to play sometimes). The big thing will be the 2009 season. We need to have sell outs every home game. We need to get Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, MSU to come play ball in the new stadium. But we the fans are the ones that have to make the biggest difference.