New Stadium

[Zippy989]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-fau...la-sports-front"...an FAU committee that examined proposals from three private teams for an Athletic Innovation Village of dorms, stores and a 40,000-seat domed football stadium that would also house basketball and concerts.""The idea is the dorms and stores could generate the dollars needed to finance construction of the stadium, with revenues reverting to the university once the debt is paid off.""FAU is following the lead of the University of Central Florida, which went through a similar process for its 10,000-seat convocation center for basketball and concerts, dorms and stores."

[MRasor0200]

I talked to Mike Thomas about a basketball/football stadium when he was still here. He said it wasn't ideal because the basketball seating wasn't as intimate as teams need for a true home-court advantage.

[RobC2]

I've heard this to be true in 'Cuse. Seating is too far back for a good basketball experience. Even further back than a Gund Arena sized arena. I think that UA's athletic facilities have been sooooooo far behind many other D-I universities that we might be taking a shortcut we'd regret at a later date in building a multi-purpose football/basketball arena. I say (who am I?) let's build a top-flight football stadium and in 10 years (?) build a top-flight basketball arena.I do like the idea of stores being encorporated into the design - especiall if one of the "stores" happens to be a Rockne's, Ruby Tuesday's, BW-3's or something of the sort. Also, a top-notch team shop would be appropriate, no?

[Zip Watcher]

I think that's a VERY important point that most of us are overlooking during our FB induced haze at the moment. Go check out the Convo at CSU for a game this year. Bring a friend.Hell, bring 8,000 friends, they'll all be able to find a seat.Even when the thing is full, it's an average home court as far as home court advantage goes.I'd much prefer a re-do to the Jar to eliminate the corner posts and bring the upper seating closer in, and maybe bring capacity up to about 7,500 or 8k. I know this is easier to write than to pull off, but I'd rather have a JAR that is full and is a crazy band box than a new gym that doesn't fill but for some big games against Can't State, Miami, OU and maybe BG.Let's get a new FB stadium built, and then take care of the JAR when the dust settles. Fact is, if the JAR is full (6k) of Zips fans .. it's a good homecourt advantage. It can be improved and be a great home venue. We don't need (and I don't want) a big cavernous BB arena.

[Quickzips]

Just throwing it out there but I know that one end of the FB stadium is gonna be left open from what I here. Why not leave that end open with the intentions to one day incorporate additional seating connected to a new bball stadium? Then say 10 years down the road you can add another 2-3K seats to the football stadium and put a top notch basketball arena up with them. Kind of a Gund (or Q as it is called now) Arena/Jacobs Field Gateway type setup only for basketball and Football and with a little UA flare. Just throwing it out there.

[Zippy989]

Guys.. I'm talking about the $$$$$ financing.. not the multi-use concept.....

[RobC2]

Then I think it's a good idea. Canal Park fronts Main Street (they encorporated the team shop & a restaurant into the stadium.) Supposedly the new UA football stadium is going to front Exchange Street. It's seems natural. Perhaps they can have a restaurant that fronts Exchange and overlooks the playing field?

[UADavid]

The JAR is one of the nicest high school gymnasiums I have had the pleasure of seeing. It's time for the University to build appropriate facilities for the basketball and football teams. If they are different facilities, the football stadium should proceed first to bring the program on campus. With the continued success of the football team, the basketball arena would soon follow.

[CPAZip]

You are wrong about the JAR being a nice high school gym. You are such a homer. The gym barely passes as a high school gym. Lower bowl are the only seats worth buying.

[UADavid]

I see that sarcasm has escaped you. That is my point, the JAR is an embarassment. We agree on that point! No homer here. :macc:

[Wally B]

I see that sarcasm has escaped you.  That is my point, the JAR is an embarassment.  We agree on that point!  No homer here. :macc:

Point 1 - Yes the JAR needs some improvements, but how is it so much worse than say Dukes tiny Cameron Indoor stadium? It's older, very cramped (knees in the backs of spectators in front of you), only has bleachers, and no video scoreboard....... Yet, the Devils are doing fine! Point 2 - This is a football post, what are your opinions about the new FOOTBALL stadium? Anyone see the Carolina/Bears game @ the new Soldier field? I liked the tiered seating in the endzone which puts the fans right on top of the game.

[Zipsrifle]

Anyone see the Carolina/Bears game @ the new Soldier field? I liked the tiered seating in the endzone which puts the fans right on top of the game.

I think my Brother-in-law put it best when he said: "It looks like a spaceship landed on top of Soldier Field".

[UADavid]

Point 2 - This is a football post, what are your opinions about the new FOOTBALL stadium?

Point 1 - Yes the JAR needs some improvements, but how is it so much worse than say Dukes tiny Cameron Indoor stadium? It's older, very cramped (knees in the backs of spectators in front of you), only has bleachers, and no video scoreboard....... Yet, the Devils are doing fine! 

If you read through all the posts you'll see that I addressed the Zips need for a new football stadium and basketball arena. I was responding to another post about my opinion of the JAR from the same original post. I believe the priority should be to put a new football stadium on campus and then address the basketball arena. "Tiny" Cameron Indoor Stadium seats 9314, similar to the original projected capacity (9500) of the JAR which is now 5500. People were physically smaller when those facilities were built. Go sit in a seat at Memorial Hall and see what you think. Let Duke worry about their own buildings, I'm talking about Akron's facilities. I still believe the JAR was inadequate when it was built and looks like a fancy high school gym. The video scoreboard is very nice but a more recent addition. The Rubber Bowl is too far from campus and too expensive to fix. If you've never been to Miami's football stadium it's worth a look and should be a blueprint for what we build here. Whatever is eventually built, I hope they leave provisions to enlarge or improve these new facilities so we can end up with buildings that are the envy of the league. :macc:

[RobC2]

Hey UA David,Good post. I'd just like to politely disagree with one aspect: I don't like Miami's football stadium. It's a typically generic MAC stadium - much like Can't State's. We need something original! Something asthetically beautiful! We need a stadium that is not only the envy of the MAC, but all America as well (not in size, but in style!) We need a throwback/retro stadium; ala Camden Yards or Canal Park. Baseball has seen the light in the design of their new retro stadiums. Football stadiums, however, still tend to be awfully cookie cutter / generic. We need to be inspired by Camden Yards in our new stadium design!

[scottditzen]

There is lots of cool, inspirational architecture in Akron. The place has a great history and the stadium should reflect that. I'm worried that they'll go in a different direction, and try too hard to match it with the field house or even student union. :macc:

[Zipsrifle]

I have to disagree about Miami's Football Stadium. I think it is a great facility. They started with something manageable and are slowly upgrading it. The new scoreboard and plaza look fabulous along with the new visitors side and if they were to enclose the open endzone, that would be a nice bowl. I was back at the Jar tonight for the first time in YEARS and I have to say, it looks like a glorified highschool gym. I was in Miami's BB arena for my Brother's Graduation and THAT place is a BB area.

[UADavid]

I too like the idea of a retro look with lots of brick, wrought iron, arches, etc. Some of these items can be added at a later date but the provisions to add these things I believe need to be part of the original design. Parking will be a key factor and they need to try to put parking on all sides of the stadium to ease with the congestion when exiting. No one will want to park at Polsky deck if they put the stadium behind the rec center. They should have room for groups to tailgate. I haven't given this too much thought but these are some ideas I hope they endorse.

[Zipsrifle]

I thought I heard sometime back that UA was going to start some redevelpment on the East side of Route 8. I would imagine that if that is the case, Exchange street just east of route 8 would become the tailgating lot. Any thoughts??? There is also the ONAT, but I think that lot would be too small. I can see having to pay to reserve a tailgate spot at the new stadium.

[fear the brown roo]

on the contrary, i think miami's stadium is the envy of the MAC. very nice scoreboard/jumbo tv, nice big concession area under the stands, incredible press box, nicely done brick and steel fencing around the stadium with plenty of space to move around. top top it off if i remember correctly,they had natural grass which is always prefered......as far as the JAR goes, i think copley or firestone high schools have similar basketball facilities. i have to admit though, i do kinda like the intimate atmosphere of it when it's packed for a Can't State game. where is all the money going to come from for these new facilities? how much more can tuition go up? i don't see too many big companies lining up at the moment to be zip corporate sponsors. sure, we have papa john's and airtran but goodyear and firestone are a financial mess. don't hold your breath for firestone field at goodyear yard anytime soon. :macc: