New stadium: soccer friendly? Expandable?

[LosAngelesZipFan]

On the heels of a great recruiting class ranking for Zip Soccer, I was wondering if the new stadium would be able to accomodate soccer if the situation called for it (such as a national championship game)--anyone know?Also, does anyone know if it is being built to be expandabe (I suppose anything is possible as demonstrated by the ugly retrofits of Ohio Stadium and Soldier Field, but was expandability a design requirement).

[g-mann17]

It was built to be expandable (intially to 50,000). As far as soccer friendly, haven't really heard anything on that. They do intend it to have other uses (band camp, band competitions, high school games). I was under the impression that the soccer field was on the verge of a major over-hall as well. Concession and restroom plaza, better press boxes, camera bays, and the stands improved to support 3-5000 fans. If you search there is a link in the soccer section that takes you the master plan.

[Zipgrad01]

How can you call Ohio Stadium's remodeling ugly? That is quite simply one of the most beautiful stadiums in the country bar none. Why do people on here always have to make a dig at OSU? There is no way on earth you can rip on their stadium!! That "ugly retrofit" cost $187 million dollars in 2000-2001. It would probably be close to $200 million today. We could build close to 4 of our stadiums for what their remodeling job cost. I think it is far from Ugly.

[Dr Z]

How can you call Ohio Stadium's remodeling ugly?

Not everyone agrees with you. There is no wrong or right in this situation, it is preference. I'm not a big fan of that stadium either.While you prefer cement, maybe someone else may find the brick and glass look more appealing.Just because you spend a lot of money on something doesn't make design better.

[zen]

SECTION 1. a. The field of play shall be rectangular, the width of whichshall not exceed the length.b. The width shall not be more than 80 yards [73.15m] nor less than 65yards [59.44m] and the length shall not be more than 120 yards[109.73m] nor less than 110 yards [100.58m]; however, fields of less thanminimal dimensions may be used by prior written mutual consent of thecompeting institutions. The optimum size is 75 yards [68.58m] by 120yards [109.73m]. Facilities constructed after September 1995 must be aminimum of 70 yards [64.01m] in width by 115 yards [105.15m] inlength.

tough to say without having a look at the designs of the new stadium, but the football field should be 54yards wide, so, it MIGHT be possible if you get creative with the sideline areas. Not my schtick, so I'm just shooting in the dark though. The length of the stadium field would be fine for soccer, but the width might be constrictive. However, I think I saw that it would have a synthetic turf which means you probably can't repaint it, so if it is perminently fixed, SOL

[Buckzip]

I thought we were building a new soccer stadium

[UA Fan]

Is the soccer nat'l championship played at a neutral site or one of the contenders' fields? I can't imagine a northern site like Akron being chosen because the weather is too dicey in the late fall. And with smaller crowds for soccer it seems a bit irrelevant to be concerned about playing in the new 25-30K stadium. And isn't soccer still preferred to be played on real grass rather than artificial surfaces?On the other hand, it will be perfect for those Div. I Massillon/McKinley/Garfield/St. Ignatious HS playoff games and maybe Div. III college (Mt. Union, etc.) as well. Heck, it will be much nicer than Fawcett so why not try to lure the HOF game a few miles up the road? And with band shows and possibly drum corps and potential concerts it should get plenty of gridiron-format use. I would especially like to see the student programming board arrange some kind of live music event(s) for May Day to make that a positive thing rather than a Spicertown arsonist/police-raids fiasco. Lots of possibilities here...

[Beanie 4 Heisman]

I'm sure they could use it for soccer event as well. If you ever watch soccer they have a few feet max from sidelines to the advertisemnts on the side of the field. The sidelines will be fairly large i would assume because it makes it easier for the teams to set up all of their equipment during the games. So im going to guess we could make the field 75 yards wide if need for a soccer tournament or a game. Here's a question though. Has anyone found out about lights at the stadium yet?

[skip-zip]

A college soccer game will never be played in a 30,000 football stadium in Akron. It won't ever be necessary. With all due respect to our good soccer program, a 5,000 seating capacity for Akron soccer games is PLENTY.Ohio Stadium is a crap hole. Even Suckeye fans I know admit it. It's old and out of date. They just continue to make lame attempts to try to keep up with Michigan by plugging new seating arrangements wherever they can fit them. It's a design and architectural disaster. But to them, it's all about "how many people can we fit in here".

[a-zip]

It would probably be close to $200 million today. We could build close to 4 of our stadiums for what their remodeling job cost. I think it is far from Ugly.

Thanks for helping me with the math, I was having a hard time with that one.

[GoZips]

Two quick hits.Lights. Check out the drawings closely. You will see light towers on the visitor's side.Lights are in the drawing of the home side all along the top of the structure. Well done.Ohio Stadium. Its neither truly ugly nor a shining example of a well designed stadium.Over all, its fairly nice. Nothing great, but not butt ugly either.The renovation that impressed me was Carter-Finely (hope I got that right) Stadium.The home of North Carolina State. That was easily the best college stadium I have ever been in. Over the years I have watched the Zips play in such places as Nebraska,Oregon State, New Mexico State, Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, all the MAC schoolsand a host of others. While never watching the Zips play there I have seen a fewgames at Aloha Stadium. Most noteable being Notre Dame beating the Rainbow Warriors on a last second field goal.

[Z.I.P.]

Well, GoZips, I missed out on that UH-ND game. I was at the Stan Sheriff Center watching UH Wahine basketball. But at the end of the game, we all ran into my friend, the FB video coordinator's office to watch the finish. Fun.With the Hawai'i Bowl having a future commitment for the seventh and eighth pick from the PacTen, there should be some open spots (how often does the Pac Ten get 8 bowl eligible teams?) for schools not otherwise covered. A possible make-up for that Michigan State fiasco.

[johnnyzip84]

A possible make-up for that Michigan State fiasco. 

By this, Z.I.P., I assume you mean the Spartans blowing that lead to UH, thus making the Zips the only bowl-eligible team NOT to go bowling in the 2004/5 season?

[Zipsrifle]

A possible make-up for that Michigan State fiasco.

By this, Z.I.P., I assume you mean the Spartans blowing that lead to UH, thus making the Zips the only bowl-eligible team NOT to go bowling in the 2004/5 season

I wouldn't blame MSU entirely, I think the Officiating had something to do with it as well.