LosAngelesZipFan

So, in other words, Summit County is going to put funding into an MLS stadium--domed stadium perhaps-- and probably not be able to support UA's stadium?! If I were a taxpayer in Summit Co. and this is the way this plays out, I would be PISSED! Look, having an MLS team is nice. Having a GREAT UNIVERSITY that attracts talented kids from all over the globe to do world-class things in a renovated and energized city center is a much better use of cash.

Glad a kid from Akron had a great game, but if there is no chance he is coming to UA why is it a topic for discussion here?

Also, have they done naming rights?

Thx for the update Hilltopper. Where/how can I donate?Please tell me they have considered all the options-- I would hate to think this has been rushed after all these years.

So that means no chance he could end up with the Zips. Too bad if that's the case. I think getting a couple of true blue chip recruits to seriously consider and eventually choose to stay home and build something great would really make all the difference in the world.

So here is my turn playing novice urban planner.Assuming the covered, multi-purpose facility is just too expensive, UA should build an open air, 25-30K stadium, expandable to 50-60, with an integrated parking structure. [side note: It is crazy to me that there is even a possibility that an MLS stadium might get constructed separately instead of these being joint projects-- that is just crazy and incredibly inefficient. How could the 5-7 home games UA will play there conflict? It is stupid beyond belief if these projects are not merged, IMHO!]2 location options:Option 1: Re-route Exchange to complete campus transformationThis is thinking way outside the box, but let's go for complete campus transformation. The closing of Buchtel Avenue (when I was at UA), should be mirrored on the other side of campus with the re-routing of Exchange Street. Currently Exchange bends at campus to meet downtown's grid-- let's just unbend it, extending straight behind Gallucci Hall. A very large campus area will be created, enough space for a stadium and other campus buildings. Really makes a true campus, and truly awesome, campus!Option2: Span the tracksThere was a lot of talk when I as at UA about 'spanning the tracks' to connect UA and downtown. The Polsky Building acquisition and business school where the results (for better or worse). This concept covers the railroad ditch with a beautiful, landscaped plaza on which the stadium is constructed (with parking deck under).

What's the latest on his status?

The Akron and Summit Co. should view this as the most significant re-development opportunity in its history. The U-- the students-- have now plowed $300 million into a total campus makeover. The city and county need to step up and, as part of the University Park initiative, kick in big time into the one enduring economic engine the area has. UA won't go away. It won't move out of town.The city helped make Canal Park happen. It needs to do the same here.I disagree that a new facility won't have immediate impact on almost every aspect of the program, just like the fieldhouse and other improvements. A 25,000 seat stadium on campus, the schedule as it stands with some solid home opponents, solid corporate support, good marketing, and of course a competitive and exciting team will result in consistent crowds of 18-22,000, with sellouts for big opponents and key rivals or bowl implications. I get that from an incremental 4-7,000 students per game and increased awareness coming from additional coverage.Another way to look at it...we got 10-12,000 to drive to Detroit. That happened only after the team officially became a winner by sneaking into the championship game and winning it in dramatic fashion. If 10-12,000 would go to Detroit, on the day after Christmas, then I don't think it is unreasonable to assume we could readily get 50% more than that at the Rubber Bowl assuming they have the same reasons to be excited and interested. Add in a new facility and better scheduling, assume 5 years of good teams, and it is really easy to get to a consistent crowd in the 20,000 range.UA has like 80,000-100,000 alums within a couple hour drive of campus. They just need a reason to be interested and excited...let's give em 3 or 4 and see what happens!

This is a not a bad schedule and I am really glad to see Indiana, Syracuse, and Kentucky at home. We had to do a 2 or 1 with Cincinnati? I'd say screw that and do a 2 for 1 with say Pitt or Northwestern or something. I wish we could get a west coast game (UCLA, Stanford, Cal or, if necessary, a home and home with San Jose).Gotta get rid of Florida Intl. no upside there at all. This schedule is definitely an upgrade from years past and will be a good test. Exciting!

MMMmmmmmm...music to my ears. An earlier post made the point that alot of NEOhio fans buying Akron tickets to a theoretical OSU-Akron game would come wearing Buckeye gear...but I'm telling you, a good chunk of NEOhio Buckeye fans could be won over. What would be really great is if Tressel and OSU became Akron's best recruiter (the way Woody was Notre Dame's best recruiter). Instead of Meechigan, other Big 10 or ND getting great talent that OSU can't offer scholarships to, how about if that talent gets directed to UA.

I encourage everyone to check out the link he references-- this is exactly the kind of facility that should be under discussion.

It's great and long overdue that OSU is keeping its non-conference opponent money in-state (remember the old policy under Woody was to never play an in-state school). It's a great payday for the Ohio MAC schools and, as much as it pains me to admit it, I'm sure a real thrill for Ohio players to play down there. I think Cincy DID get a huge boost by hosting OSU and getting a solid turnout and performance-- THEY GOT IN THE BIG EAST! Granted, The BE is a shaky BCS conference but it is still a BCS conference. And while the real prize for the BE was Bearcat basketball, the football team at least had the OSU game to point to as a demonstration of its potential. I agree TV is a huge draw for recruits, something that comes from consistent winning but also by skillful scheduling and marketing. I'm not sure what the TV will be for the BG-Wisconsin game, but guarantee you that there is a much better chance of that being an ESPN game by being at Cleveland Stadium.Akron needs to differentiate itself (its brand, for those fellow marketing geeks) from the other MAC schools. Winning, clearly, is the best way to do that. Facilities need to be there (an awful lot of mo' has been built by the changes to campus and the field house and hopefully impressive new stadium plans). But that will just keep us at parity with other solid MAC programs. The NEOhio media market is the largest in play in the MAC (assuming that E. Mich is a non-starter in Detroit with UM so close). The best thing that could happen to the MAC is to have UA really get traction and generate national interest and excitement. Simply put, UA needs to stake claim to Cleveland. Being acknowledged as the clear #2 to OSU in NEOhio would be a great start and platform to something bigger down the road, and a game at Browns stadium would help secure that IMO. But I LOVE the idea of having OSU be the first home game in a new Akron stadium-- THAT'S A BIG BIG IDEA--I would totally donate money to make that happen!!

I always feel like a loon when I write about scheduling OSU at Browns Stadium but I think it is a win-win for all. OSU gets a quasi home game and the same payoff. UA gets its most high profile game ever. UA needs to do something like this or we'll look like chumps. OSU is ideal because the game is already on the books but I think this could work with any top tier program. I don't think Wisconsin is a game I would choose to put there but it still works for BG.Makes me green with envy and simply pissed that we are not doing this.

Just read about BG playing a "home" game at Wisconsin at Browns Stadium next year. This SUCKZ! Big time. How could this happen? This is why I have been ranting about being audacious or just settling. Others, like BG, clearly are not just settling. Kudos to them for securing this (I am sure it was simply a matter of renting the place, not rocket science). This is a huge miss for UA-- BG gets an incredible recruiting tool in NEOhio. Cleveland canNOT be neutral territory if UA is to progress-- that should be our area and they are invading it and having a game there. A big turnout would really hurt UA. Does this bother anyone else?The only solution is to get UA-Ohio State scheduled there (get the '07 game moved). Guarantee OSU whatever they would make at home. Tressel is an alum and got his coaching start at UA...time to call in a favor.

This tidbit in Sunday's article on the Browns by Roger Brown:"A bowl official tells us the University of Akron made a huge impression by selling nearly 10,000 tickets for its recent Motor City Bowl appearance in Detroit. He said the Zips will be "favorably mentioned when [various bowl officials] have future discussions." In general, bowl officials love schools that can sell 8,000 or more tickets to their games."Awesome, except we really should get credit for selling more than 10,000 tickets, right? But hey, the fact that Brown went out of his way to credit UA is a great start, particularly in an article that had nothing to do with local colleges. Also, another tidbit in that same article:"Word is, struggling football programs Syracuse and Illinois plan to intensify their recruiting efforts in the Greater Cleveland area."These are exactly the reason why these teams should be willing to play UA at the Rubber Bowl. NEOhio is a great recruiting area and BCS teams are looking for ways to gain exposure. UA should totally leverage this interest to get quality, big name competition at home!

Oh, and though it is a total pain to have a bunch more bureaucrats and politicians involved, I think the new stadium has to be a joint project with Akron and Summit County. Ideally it uses another authority's underwriting capabilities-- students should not get stuck with this cost. To me this really does argue for the covered stadium concept ('domed' has such a negative connotation) that could be used for conventions and other events. Ideally, it would also replace the JAR though I know that makes the design more difficult. If you could figure out a design that could be configure for 30-40K for football (perhaps even adjustable somehow so that it could make smaller crowds not appear lost) but then be "curtained off" to seat 10K for basketball. Not sure if anything like that has been built, but that would be ideal to me.

Welcome Powerofx! I am a relative newcomer as well and am also a marketing guy. I enjoyed your post and, if you have read the BB a bit, you might have seen that I really interested in guaging the appetite for Zips supporters for aiming higher. I think you are spot on that a key here is aiming to be NEOhio's university, not just Akron's. I know this is heresy, but I think a really successful Akron football program, one that really was fulfilling its potential, would actually challenge Ohio State's dominance of NEOhio college football. Back in the '80s, UA played OSU in the NIT the same night the Cavs were playing at the old coliseum in Richfield. UA led at various points in the game and when the scores were announced, the Cavs crowd let out a big cheer. The home town team, competing at that level, will get the support of the home town. And make no mistake, Ohio State is a Cowlumbus school and program, one that only benefits Cowlumbus. So I say, aim high and don't settle. We need to be smart and methodical about this, but there is every possibility to get there. The first step is to not build too small a stadium-- and if the current thinking is a 20K stadium, I would be very disappointed. Bad signal to send. We need to capture the imagination of what is possible, not confirm our acceptance of second class citizen status.

We HAVE to schedule BCS teams, home or away, to keep progressing. Huge impact on recruiting. Huge impact on fan interest and excitement, particularly WHEN we pull the upset win (and we will do that). Given that we are going to do those games away for the pay day, I would much rather have some of those games at home. UA will draw crowds for big name teams-- and big name teams visiting will drive local media interest far more than playing OU or Eastern Michigan. A game against a BCS team, properly marketed, will draw 20K+. And if UA is on a multi-year roll and drawing 15K consistently for MAC games, I bet that game draws 30K.The point is that we need to have a game against BC-quality teams every year at home. Even if we get blown out, it is better than pounding Howard or Capital or something. But I don't think we get blown out in most cases. I think we are in the games, turning heads, changing minds, driving excitement and interest.

C'mon...no one else has heard this? I need answers!

I found this blog last week because I read a rumor that BC had been scheduled for a home game next year at UA. BC played at Ball State last season. Does anyone know anything about this?

Why are people so down on Frye?

The Toledo guy makes some good points, but I don't think it should limit our thinking. Please understand that for those of us hardy souls that have supported the Zips in various ways, these are extremely exciting times so forgive us for letting our enthusiasm run wild a bit. Toledo is a very solid program, certainly one of the top in the MAC. For one, I think UA should immediately emulate your scheduling. And I think it would be great for the MAC to get an Akron and Toledo rivalry going.If, and it is a HUGE if, Akron really got in gear and got NEOhio charged up and behind the program, the U would definitely out grow the MAC in a way Toledo has not been able to. That is what we are really aspiring to do, and you can't blame us from dreaming about it and possibly demonstrating the support that would need to be in place to make it a reality.None of this takes anything away from Toledo and the fine program that has been built there. I have now read a bunch of posts from Rocket fans essentially bad-mouthing Akron in one way or another. I think the seeds are there for a good rivalry, but I must say it is confusing why a Rocket fan would need to go out of there way to talk smack here...

Done deal for dorms incorporated? Really? That sounds super cool. Where will it be? How do we sign up to donate money?

Capt 'roo: EXCELLENT post. I love what you wrote about the commitment it has taken to get to this point. I really do hope that the momentum can be sustained and built upon. I keep posting things about this topic to get a feel for what fans committed to the Zips really want to see happen-- are they satisfied with occassionally contending for the MAC or do they want to build a program that is really growing and going some place?So here's my Zip Momentum Wish List:1) Announce the stadium with significant City of Akron and NEOhio corporate backing. Minimum 30,000. Big time press facilities and corporate boxes. Built to double in stages. [Location is another interesting thread to start...how about something that spans the tracks?]. Even better would be a football/basketball facility but I just don't think it is affordable. Stadium in place for 2010 season.2) Yearly home game against BCS schools. Start that now in the Rubber Bowl to build fan attendence momentum. We need a schedule that makes NEOhio "bandwagon" fans perk up their ears. We have got to establish the concept of "big time" football coming to NEOhio and not just existing in Cowlumbus. Hopefully these games get picked up on ESPN/2 but regardless it makes a statement. I remember Jim Dennison saying how exciting it would be to have Miami and BG playing in the Rubber Bowl, and I always thought it was such a joke to think those teams would really excite huge interest and attendance. If we are winning and contending in the MAC, we should be able to draw 15-20,000. If we are winning and contending in the MAC and bringing in Purdue-ish teams, we should be able to draw 25-30,000 consistently. 3) Continue the marketing momentum and expand to Cleveland. Stage an event of some sort in Cleveland that will get covered. Ideally, sell Ohio State on playing UA in Browns Stadium. This is not a pipe dream-- Cincinnati just did it a couple of seasons ago. For UA to really set its sites beyond the MAC some day, it has to "own" Cleveland and its media. Right now, the Zips barely register more coverage than John Carroll.4) National donor base. UA does have alumni all over the country (and world). None of my core group of friend/roomies from UA live in NEOhio. UA needs to find a way to activate that group. One way is by strategically scheduling football games in important recruiting areas. Another is to create a national alumni supporter group.

This may be the wrong forum to ask this, but does anyone else feel like the JAR needs to replaced sooner rather than later as well? I hated the JAR when I was at UA in starting in '85 and it had just opened. It is a great example of "reasonable" thinking in action!