Digging has begun!

[zip37]

The west stands are in and the scoreboard is in and operating, AND READABLE on a sunny day. All the action this morn was on the south side. The pitch looks GREAT!

[Zip_ME87]

The west stands are in and the scoreboard is in and operating, AND READABLE on a sunny day. All the action this morn was on the south side. The pitch looks GREAT!

A couple of pics from yesterday.

[xu9697]

The west stands are in and the scoreboard is in and operating, AND READABLE on a sunny day. All the action this morn was on the south side. The pitch looks GREAT!

A couple of pics from yesterday.

Besides the lack of leaf changing colors, you captured a very "autumnal" day quite nicely. :-)

[ZachTheZip]

Stands at least partially up behind both goals now.

I think they managed to find a way to fit the whole stadium in and not have to tear down the tennis courts.

[soccerbirdie16]

Thanks for the pics!!

[akzipper]

Thanks for the pics. I can't believe how much they still have to do. I wish we could see the updated drawings because they seem to have changed a lot. I sure hope they keep our "awesome" pressbox there. It will really help give the stadium a big time feel! haha why they did not design the Infocision press box similar to the soccer one is beyond me....

[cms133@uakron.edu]

Stands at least partially up behind both goals now.

I think they managed to find a way to fit the whole stadium in and not have to tear down the tennis courts.

Dang it! I thought it would have looked nicer with them gone

[tbozeglav]

Stands at least partially up behind both goals now.

I think they managed to find a way to fit the whole stadium in and not have to tear down the tennis courts.

Dang it! I thought it would have looked nicer with them gone

i think this is more or less an end result of funds. As far as I am aware, the tennis courts are still due to be removed as part of the Coleman Commons project. Considering their current condition, I wouldn't expect it to be much longer before they get the axe.

[hudsonzip]

new drawing(scroll down to bottom)

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_..._CONTENT="]Plans

[ccoon44]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204965861

Has a picture of the new stadium plans. I must say, I like the older ones more.

[ZachTheZip]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204965861

Has a picture of the new stadium plans. I must say, I like the older ones more.

Looks scaled back, but easily expandable. Maybe we have to wait for the baseball stadium to be built before expanding any further. I like the east stands being raised on a platform by about 4 feet above the concrete Solves the problem of trying to see over the students.

[Buckzip]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204965861

Has a picture of the new stadium plans. I must say, I like the older ones more.

Not close to what was shown earlier. Looks pretty small still

[akzipper]

It looks like Dix Stadium or Youngstown State's stadium, our soccer team deserves better. Terrible, just terrible. Only reason this would be better is if they were going to expand the grandstand at the end of this season, which looks possible. I just don't see why they didn't make the upper bleacher section the same width as the chair-back section?

[RootforRoo44]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204965861

Has a picture of the new stadium plans. I must say, I like the older ones more.

ouch...not even close. It's too bad.

[ZachTheZip]

At least wait until you see it in person in two weeks.

[Zip_ME87]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204965861

Has a picture of the new stadium plans. I must say, I like the older ones more.

ouch...not even close. It's too bad.

From what I saw in person last Saturday, it looks great and appears to be easily expandable. There should be space to add more bleachers on the south side and, if the tennis courts are coming out, seating could eventually be added on the north side behind the team benches. To me, the #1 priority is the field. I hope that the turf has had time to take hold and that the drainage system works as planned. I don't ever want to see the Zips have to move any of their home games to an alternate field again.

BTW...I saw part of (tuned in late) a replay of Coach Porter's talk at the Akron [City Club (?)] last night on Time Warner (original date was late May 2010)...I'm totally ready for this season to start. GO ZIPS! Also, nice pick, by Coach Porter, of Spain as a definite possibility to win the 2010 World Cup. First team he mentioned when asked.

[tbozeglav]

Bleachers are the least of my worries... As long as they are expandable (which they clearly seem to be), Im good with it.

The priority list of things they needed to address with the soccer stadium:

1) Soccer pitch/drainage

2) Lighting

3) Increased bleacher seating

4) Indoor Plumbing Restrooms

As far as I am concerned, all the issue listed above have been fully addressed....

1) The drainage system should be able to handle a hurricane's worth of water

2) The lighting is now tv-spec, won't be leaning over, and won't have darkspots

3) there's a lot more bleacher seating, especially behind the goals where the AK-rowdies can make more noise

4) no more portable toilets.

Im happy with it.

[Zip_ME87]

Bleachers are the least of my worries... As long as they are expandable (which they clearly seem to be), Im good with it.

The priority list of things they needed to address with the soccer stadium:

1) Soccer pitch/drainage

2) Lighting

3) Increased bleacher seating

4) Indoor Plumbing Restrooms

As far as I am concerned, all the issue listed above have been fully addressed....

1) The drainage system should be able to handle a hurricane's worth of water

2) The lighting is now tv-spec, won't be leaning over, and won't have darkspots

3) there's a lot more bleacher seating, especially behind the goals where the AK-rowdies can make more noise

4) no more portable toilets.

Im happy with it.

It's awesome that there is room for the Rowdies behind the west goal this season. Bring on the Vuvuzelas!

[jberry1337]

Bleachers are the least of my worries... As long as they are expandable (which they clearly seem to be), Im good with it.

The priority list of things they needed to address with the soccer stadium:

1) Soccer pitch/drainage

2) Lighting

3) Increased bleacher seating

4) Indoor Plumbing Restrooms

As far as I am concerned, all the issue listed above have been fully addressed....

1) The drainage system should be able to handle a hurricane's worth of water

2) The lighting is now tv-spec, won't be leaning over, and won't have darkspots

3) there's a lot more bleacher seating, especially behind the goals where the AK-rowdies can make more noise

4) no more portable toilets.

Im happy with it.

It's awesome that there is room for the Rowdies behind the west goal this season. Bring on the Vuvuzelas!

Heck Yea! As long as we are still close enough to get flicked off by the visiting Goalkeeper, I will be happy with the new renovations!

I didn't know they were putting in restrooms, that will be a lot better than the parade to the union every half.

[72 Roo]

Folks let's add a little perspective here. It was only this summer that a major utility came through with enough money to put up a scaled back grandstand and facilities under it. Still that wasn't enough to put up the full 3,500 seat grandstand. Additions are planned for each end of the under-construction grandstand. Originally only phase one of the stadium project was to be completed this year. That was the new undersurface, grass, irrigation, drainage, utilities and fence.

We got far more than that and more is coming as the funds are pledged. So let's give some credit to the development office for getting us this far. Funds for athletic facilities are very hard to come by in this economy. Yet we are getting them. Just not as fast as you and I want.

We will have a better facility when the grandstand is expanded at each end. It will be in the top 10 in the country. It is feasible to see that in the 2011 season. So keep supporting the program. Bring your friends out and make the place an absolute madhouse for our opponents to visit.

[ZachTheZip]

A very good point. We weren't supposed to have any new stands this year, just a new field and drainage.

[Zip_ME87]

Folks let's add a little perspective here. It was only this summer that a major utility came through with enough money to put up a scaled back grandstand and facilities under it. Still that wasn't enough to put up the full 3,500 seat grandstand. Additions are planned for each end of the under-construction grandstand. Originally only phase one of the stadium project was to be completed this year. That was the new undersurface, grass, irrigation, drainage, utilities and fence.

We got far more than that and more is coming as the funds are pledged. So let's give some credit to the development office for getting us this far. Funds for athletic facilities are very hard to come by in this economy. Yet we are getting them. Just not as fast as you and I want.

We will have a better facility when the grandstand is expanded at each end. It will be in the top 10 in the country. It is feasible to see that in the 2011 season. So keep supporting the program. Bring your friends out and make the place an absolute madhouse for our opponents to visit.

Thanks 72 Roo. That's how I thought it was playing out, but didn't know for certain. I'm very happy with what we're getting this year. Last year I convinced a number of soccer fans at work to come to a game; they loved what they saw and kept coming back. They're also telling others about Akron soccer. Hopefully, we'll see a lot of games with large crowds.

[Zipsrifle]

Well, considering there are stands behind both goals and the main grandstand, I think the seating is there. Maybe instead of trying to have one big grandstand, they are shooting for the "Stadium" feel instead. Might give a different vibe?

[72 Roo]

Guys and Gals, don't think for a minute that we don't play a part in this. Akron soccer has risen from the depths of a maligned "small" school because you and I kept supporting the growth of the program. We have had great coaches, but that's not enough. The support for Akron soccer is superior and many Big 10/11 schools drool over the backing Akron has. I can tell you OSU is one. My source is a member of the OSU athletic administration dept and the coaching staff.

If we keep filling the stands we have, we will see more development. The demand you have created is not lost on TW and Dr. Porenza or the board of trustees. They know they have something that puts Akron in the elite of the country. Caleb will take this program to the perenial ranks of the top 5 in the country.

Last year I sat with six people. This year I have 20 buying season tickets. That is not due to me but rather a buddy who has done a super job in calling our friends and inviting them to join us. Let's keep it going.

One final note. the AK-Rowdies are super. God bless all of you. You set us apart. You are the envy of many D1 programs. Many D1 coaches know they must play us while they hate to play us because of our home atmosphere. It will only get better for us.

See you in Santa Barbara for the final four! It's great to be a Zip!

Coach I, give us something to believe in with the other football ... please!

[Zipsrifle]

The more I look at the pictures of the stadium in this thread, the more I like it. I really like the seating behind the goal. Even though we don't have one large grandstand, I think this seating will give us a distinct Home Field Advantage. BTW, did anyone else notice that on Google Maps they have FINALLY updated the area around campus? It can't be more than a few weeks old as the soccer field is ripped up.