ZZZips Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Downtown Akron football stadium moves forwardEric MansfieldPOSTED: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 5:51:25 PMUPDATED: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 8:26:40 PMAKRON -- University of Akron leaders have taken the next major step towards breaking ground on a $54 million stadium. Trustees voted Tuesday morning to hire Akron's Welty Building Company in partnership with the Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis to lead the project. Hunt has a long history of managing new stadium construction to include Cleveland Browns Stadium, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and Ford Field in Detroit. The group has also managed stadium projects on the campuses of LSU and Louisville.If all goes as planned, University leaders hope to break ground later this year and be ready for the 2009 college football season. The site would be at the corner of Exchange and College Streets on the south side of campus."The open field provides a beautiful window into our campus," said Ted Curtis, University Vice President. "It's a collegiate atmosphere and our goal is to have a stadium on the campus, not across town, and not near the campus, but on the campus. It's very important for the collegiate feel."Curtis said the project would include retail and commercial development to support up to 200 events per year. New dormitories, classroom space, and labs would also be part of the master plan.The football stadium would boast 25-30,000 seats, lodges, suites, and additional parking.For decades, the Zips football program has been confined to the aging Rubber Bowl, which students and fans have long complained is too far from campus and too old.Recently, the University constructed new practice fields and an indoor field house as part of a $300 million campus overhaul. The stadium, University leaders said, is the missing piece to the final project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZZZips Posted March 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Erie Mansfield videohttp://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=31932&bw= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyboy Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 in the video they showed. it looked like the ends had a small amount of seating, does anyone know if this is going to be a large scale high school stadium, or will the put a few thousand seats on the ends? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Erie Mansfield videohttp://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=31932&bw= That's great! Thanks for posting it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottditzen Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=64022My first impressions from those renderings are not positive. I sincerely hope the final design is nowhere near what was shown.I mean I'm ecstatic things are moving forward, I just wish fans and alumni could've had some kind of input in the design process. From the "open feel" language he used, it appears we're locked into a structure that screams Division I-AA. I am positive many many people would've gladly donated money if they thought their opinions at least meant something in all of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I just wish fans and alumni could've had some kind of input in the design process. Jesus Christ, if we had every wannabe student and fan architect chiming in with their two cents it would be the biggest cluster f*&k ever.Per the newscast, the people chosen to design and build the thing have excellent, proven track records in this field. The thing will be awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Yeah. We've gotta trust the trustees! These are intelligent men and women who will stretch the value of a dollar. They, as a group, have been visionary enough to construct the awe-inspiring new Student Union, the simply amazing student rec center and perhaps the nicest indoor fieldhouse in the nation. I don't think they're gonna fall back 20 years in their thinking on the new football stadium. These guys all know that all the projects which have come before are all well and good. But the new stadium is the centerpiece. The stadium project will be their legacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Looking at the drawing they showed on the newscast, it will be a highschool stadium aproximately half the size of the fieldhouse. I really hope that is just a concept drawing showing that they are planning to have more than just a stadium in that space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziptrumpet87 Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 from what I saw, it looked like they were using old renderings, so I'm sure there's more there than what they are showing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Does anyone know when we might get a peak at the new designs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UADavid Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 To bad the University stopped all repairs at the Rubber Bowl years ago. These next two years will be challenging. That must be the reason for such few home games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 To bad the University stopped all repairs at the Rubber Bowl years ago. These next two years will be challenging. That must be the reason for such few home games. I would believe that if they didn't have 20 high school football games there every year. I just think it is because the University won't stand up for themselves. They backed off when Indiana complained about playing here, and look how that worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip81 Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Article on front page of the Beacon:http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/education/16850089.htmArticle quotes Ted Curtis, vice president of capital planning and facilities, as the UA guy who will be working with the construction manager to "massage" the drawings and come up with something that might be affordable.Sounds like he's the guy to lobby for a bowl or horseshoe.Perhaps a few tasteful, constructive e-mails from ZipsNation may be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips88 Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I'm OK with an open-ended stadium for now given current interest/attendance levels. I would think they'll preserve the space they need at each end (or at least at one of the ends) to join the two sides when additional seating is needed. Build it for 25-30K without cutting corners on what is built now and make it more pleasing to the eye by filling in the end(s) down the road. I'm amazed at how nice all of the new buildings on campus are and I think we'll like the new stadium as well.I WOULD like to see dirt flying rather than later. Construction delays scare me and I want to be sitting in that thing for Kentucky in September 2009. Where's my shovel .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip81 Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I'll keep an open mind.Just as long as it's not small-time nor cheap-looking.I too will put faith in the track record of quality that the recent buildings on campus display. They really are top shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyboy Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 I will also keep an open mind, just as long as it doesnt end up looking like Youngstown States "Stadium" . That is nothing more then a HS stadium, heck when i was down in alabama 2 years ago, their HS stadiums were nicer then YSU's hopefully it is somthing that will go well with the new indoor arena whihc is top notch, an not some cheap stadium that they just threw up just to get one built on campus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Sounds like he's the guy to lobby for a bowl or horseshoe.To me, it will never be a "Horseshoe". It will be a "U" or be "Open Ended". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip81 Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Sounds like he's the guy to lobby for a bowl or horseshoe.To me, it will never be a "Horseshoe". It will be a "U" or be "Open Ended". I understand.Good point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodthts Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Ok guys, I too HOPE for a good design and a good feel to the stadium. I HOPE it is designed to blend into the campus and look like a 21st century, state of the art structure. One that attracts people far and near, one that creates awe-struck expressions to all who see it.BUT......All you people who say TRUST in the university, trust in the trustees, I say what gives you this HOPE? The new bldgs on campus do look phenomenal and are state of the art. But this is the Zips athletic dept we are talking about, not a science bldg or dorm. This department doesnt have the best track record in listening to its alumni and fans and considering its own students. All the "designs" i've viewed looked less than stellar. Look very Dix stadium-esque. I too HOPE for a nice final product, heck anything is better than the Condom Bowl. I'm hoping the designs are not set in stone as yet and that a truly symmetrical (clean) or mostly enclosed complex is considered. A design smaller in scale to UVA's stadium is much better, feels more like a PLACE TO BE and real vacation-type destination than any crap-arse design like DIX stadium or any of the other rinky-dink MAC stadiums.Hoping it is a complex that shines for 30 years and doesnt need "upgrades" in 5 years because it wanst designed to fit the needs of the school or the team.Just my 2 cents....Commence ranting..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip81 Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Well, if we don't trust them, what are our choices?I can't take a day off from work to demonstrate in front of Buchtel Hall....like it's going to do any good anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodthts Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Well, if we don't trust them, what are our choices?I can't take a day off from work to demonstrate in front of Buchtel Hall....like it's going to do any good anyway.good point...guess mine is that the Uof A is gonna do what they are gonna do. All this stuff bout "Oh, trust our beloved school" stuff is silly. Guess i agree with your point in that we really dont have a say in the matter.I DO NOT trust the school or the bureaucracy and politics of it all...BUT....there's nada i can do...I'm just hoping for a nice design that is very functional yet not lacking in feel or vibe. A design that DOES NOT look like a high school team's stadium. I remember when Jacobs Field opened. It FELT so great to be down there. It was a destination spot. People walked around with big eyes and open mouths....(and those werent the hookers on east 9th..haha)I want a design that make all us fans proud to be a Zip!NO BAND BOX structures or open ended/detached seating designs! Oh yeah, almost forgot.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziptrumpet87 Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 the only thing one could do to influence the design would be to step up with some big $$$. don't know about you, but I can't afford that kind of influence.my thoughts, if they just reproduced the current bowl (or slightly smaller) and added some design touches to update it and blend it into the other campus bldgs (brick?), newer scoreboards, lights on the outside rather than on the field, etc., that would be just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gozips19 Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 i'll share my thoughts here as i will try to bridge the gap. i am a grad of four years now and have been a season ticket holder ever since. i am still young enough to know a few people who attend the U (six year plan) but old enough to talk with the ak oldies at fund raising events. many of the people that post they are nervous about the new football stadium went to school when the jar was built (or earlier). now every time they attend a b ball game they have to look at that piece of crap facility and think "what if"? i understand why you are nervous and truly understand just how big a moment this is in the history of the school. but, for the younger kids, they have nothing to be worried about. in the past 7-10 years akron has transformed its university into a beautiful place to attend. everything they have built has been classy and has given the university a unique look. they have also built great fields for the sports program already in the field house and the new softball field. we do not know your pain in the past but we understand. if you just got to the U and are new to this board don't take things for granted and talk to an oldie to gain some perspective on how things were. for the oldies have faith, things will be great! remember that the athletic dept. has to work with the prez. and everything he's green lit has been exceptional! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip81 Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 I hope you're right 19.And yes, it is the JAR that is tainting my perspective on this.I was soooo disappointed the first time I walked into that place.It was hardly worth taking the parking lot and old fire station that used to be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zips DM Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Would anyone like to see the old gate/arch from the end of the rubber bowl make a comeback in the new stadium? (refurbished of course)Also, don't forget about the Marching band:-it'd be nice to have our own section, with no railings in the front, so we could get in and out easily.-maybe a band room, or at least some storage space built into the stadium a la OSU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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