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For starters the State's Self-Insured Fund will pay $2.3 million. I suspect FEMA will end up covering the rest. If we get dollars to rebuild the stadium way it was built in 1967-68 (not precast or aluminum or a combination of both) but thick poured concrete I think it would bring $7 million to $10 million. Maybe more.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exes&Ohs
Really! Tech students pay almost nothing in students fees for athletics compared to most of our competitors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exes&Ohs
Even for projects on campus in the last 30 years like the Lambright Center expansion or Centennial Plaza we ask so little of our students that we have to "value engineer" a project down to get it completed because we didn't want to ask enough of our students to begin with.
Yet, to the credit of our alumni base a proposed student fee hasn't been turned down at Tech in at least 40 years. The only project I've been able to find since the 70s that got less than 60% support of our students was the Centennial Plaza project which came up for a vote in 1992.
Your post suggests the athletic department went to the Foundation and took out a loan as if it were a bank. The reality is the university simply used the Foundation to run the debt through rather than float bonds. Specifically because they intend to pay it off through fundraising efforts rather than use the revenue it's generating, which is going into the operating budget. Part of the press box debt will be paid off through the 125th anniversary fundraising project.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exes&Ohs
Tech is also in the process of raising funds for an academic support facility for athletics, which will run into 8 figures.
To their credit some of the heavy hitters have stepped to the plate in the past 10 years for at least 3 projects. But you're correct in that if ever Tech needed to come up with a visionary plan and sell it to alums it's now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exes&Ohs
Well said!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
I was gonna post, after last night, we should consider not rebuilding and just let baseball fade into oblivion. But, that is too easy of an out...which our team would muff up by tossing the ball into the concession stand. Anyway, baseball is not about winning...just ask Cub fans! It's about having a team so in the 7th inning you can sing, "it's root, root, root for the home team.." (or for the Dawgies) "if they don't win it's just more of the same!" Or something like that...
So, let's rebuild and all sing along in the bottom of the 7th!
Dream scenario:
10 feet of depth added to all fields. Raise the right field fence to the same height as left field. Extend grand stand at least to the outside edge of the dugouts. Extend seating back 2-3 rows at least all the way round. Build an enclose or at least covered bullpen down left field with permanent but open seating over it. (If not now, they should start fundraising now with intentions to do this in 8-10 years at most)
If that can be accomplished in current location, do it. If not, move to green space across the tracks.
You are correct in that our students pay almost nothing, if any, in student ATHLETIC fees. I was referring to the FACILITY ENHANCEMENT FEE the students voted upon themselves 4-5yrs ago of which about $650,000 annually is directed to paying off the bonds sold to allow construction of the end zone facility. I wonder if they would vote to add any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Historian
....and hire a coach that can lead us to a regional to host in our new & improved stadiumQuote:
Originally Posted by techman05
With insurance $2.3 another $7 to $8 from FEMA, we can bond out $10 million and build something really really nice...
Over 20 years that’s not a heavy debt service....
Hell bond out $20 million and due softball, tennis, soccer and track RIGHT also...
This isn’t rocket science
A story on the new baseball field they are building at Marshall. Hope the link works. https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/02/2...ject-unveiled/
I think funding the athletics academic center has been a thing lately. I guess I get the need for that, but not so much. To me, especially since the tornado changed our reality, we really need to complete/upgrade our fundamental athletics infrastructure. All of our sports deserve a quality field of play and the supporting facilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Baseball & softball need to be able to host NCAA regional & super-regional tournaments. Track & field and soccer each need a track/field of play with decent drainage, seating & locker room facilities. (Frankly, our track field is embarrassing and soccer isn't much better). I don't know enough about tennis' situation so will say they also deserve quality facilities.
I really hope our administration will come up with a bold initiative and give us a chance to step up and support it. This terrible tornado could be the trigger to a renaissance.
Tech needs a baseball stadium comparable to Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg and Reckling Park in Houston. Neither of those layouts would come close to fitting on the existing site.
Even if something close to those two parks could be shoe-horned into the current location, any future expansion would simply not be feasible.
Tech leadership needs to think to the future because this opportunity will not come around again.
"If it don't fit, don't force it. Just relax and let it go." - Kellee Patterson, 1977
While I like the atmosphere of the Love Shack, we're landlocked there. Take the opportunity to relocate it where we have land to expand it and make it a premier college ball park.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckK3
Yes Yes Yes Yes
This is exactly what we need to do. Even if we can't play home games next year... GET IT DONE! We have a great softball coach who is getting it done. There is no better opportunity than right now to completely have something new for baseball and softball... NO EXCUSES!!