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Buzz is there will be an announcement August 1 @ Noon on campus.Full Blown Event :cheers: Administration, Trustees, Corporate Contributors, Alumni, Media, Band, Cheerleaders, and Zippy!
How'd you hear this "buzz?" The U hasn't announced anything have they? And will the public be welcome? The U has done their finest to keep us out of the loop thus far!
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An announcement is forthcoming next month. They are still tweaking the plans. Several of the athletic administrators were in Kansas City at the architects office 2 weeks ago going over the entire plan. They know how much this means to everyone and they are trying to make sure it gets done properly. They do not want it to end up like the JAR,

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Hate to burst people's bubble but I recently spoke with someone who is VERY close to this project. Specifically the property acquisition issues.At this point about 2/3 of the necessary properties are still to be acquired. There are still some property owners who appear as if they will put up a fight. The university can use eminent domain as an option if need be, as it is zoned as university area but they don't want it to come down to that. From the sounds of it opening this thing by 2009 is ambitious at best and a pipe dream at worst. 2010 is somewhat more reasonable but not by much.If you guys are looking for a groundbreaking ceremony, don't hold your breath.

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Hate to burst people's bubble but I recently spoke with someone who is VERY close to this project.  Specifically the property acquisition issues.At this point about 2/3 of the necessary properties are still to be acquired.  There are still some property owners who appear as if they will put up a fight.  The university can use eminent domain as an option if need be, as it is zoned as university area but they don't want it to come down to that.  From the sounds of it opening this thing by 2009 is ambitious at best and a pipe dream at worst.  2010 is somewhat more reasonable but not by much.If you guys are looking for a groundbreaking ceremony, don't hold your breath.
If property owners are "playing the game" to get the most they can, they will do it in the negotiation phase. Holding out is a part of the negotiation phase. If they allow this to proceed all the way to official eminent domain action, they stand to lose a lot. This thing will happen, don't worry. Unless you get a real buckaroo or idealist, they are probably just going through the motions, forcing the university to go through they process. They will settle before it gets too far, because as I said, they stand to loose a lot more if they don't negotiate a settlement and end up taking what the eminent domain action gives them.
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Update from Rasor's BlogSeems like UA is pretty reluctant to show the actual plans, but at least they gave out the details in it. 25,000 and only expandable to 30,000 is in the lower half of the MAC capacity-wise. It had better be the nicest damn stadium I have ever seen if we are spending that much $$$ but it only holds 25,000 including the presumed grass endzone seating.
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I have to say I'm amused by the lawsuit buisness. It could very well be the case that they are violating the law, but suing them won't make it public knowlege any earlier if Aug. 1st is indeed the date. I also wonder why Akron's most avid fans want to take money away from the university.....somehow this seems backwards. In the end, what is gained? I guess we would know the stadium design one month ahead of schedule. It won't get built any faster.

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Like I've said from the beginning....I'll be dissappointed if this stadium doesn't look 20-30 years into the future with its construction. If this doesn't happen, we'll end up with another Rhodes Arena. I'm just not seeing how a simple stadium, with 25,000 seats will meet the needs of the University or its fans as the school and its athletic programs continue to grow.It also still irks me to know that if we had put another 10 million dollars into the fieldhouse, we could have had an indoor domed football stadium.

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anyone have any idea of how large this will be.if it's only going to be 25k then we are going to be in the mac forever,and play most of our occ games on the road.im not saying that staying in the mac is bad.if the stadium is only 25 k no other conference will even look at us.im sure there is still going to be some shakeup in c-usa,and big east.plus the mac is going to have 13 teams for football; which make no sense.they mac can say what they want ,but they need to be 14,or 12 teams for football.

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With 25K seats, a bowl/horseshoe design doesn't seem likely. Would you want something reminiscent of the Rubber Bowl or something different to signify a new era? You make the call. I like the collegiate feel of a bowl (like Notre Dame) but I don't think we will need all the corner seating with its less optimal viewing angle...those would be good areas for plazas. To float another conspiracy theory, maybe the admin is trying not to overbuild/overspend for football because they may be already looking ahead to a hoops arena project sooner than later. I think they would be happy if we could sell out 25-30K seats on a regular basis. Tosu may not come here to play but we should be able to get an Indiana, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, etc. If we have better home revenue (which we will) we'll be less dependent on having to play as many payday road games.

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