Champions Plaza announced

Finally. A salute to some of Tech's notables other than Leon (he got his own statue) and Lambright (he got his own building.)

Thanks to A.L. Williams's nephew, Chris Richardson, for the major donation for the north end statue salute to Terry, Willie, Fred, Karl, Kim and Spoon.

BUT (you know i'd have one) . . . the visitors bleachers pictured behind the plaza in the artist's conception by the architect . . . really? AI couldn't improve your artwork any better and make the overall project more forward looking? ;-)

Finally. A salute to some of Tech's notables other than Leon (he got his own statue) and Lambright (he got his own building) or Coach Aillet (he got his own stadium).

Thanks to A.L. Williams's nephew, Chris Richardson, for the major donation for the north end statue salute to Terry, Willie, Fred, Karl, Kim and Spoon. OK. Aillet and Lambright statues are must and need to be amongst the other.

BUT (you know i'd have one) . . . the visitors bleachers pictured behind the plaza in the artist's conception by the architect . . . really? AI couldn't improve your artwork any better and make the overall project more forward looking? ;-)

Announces North Endzone Facility Plan - LA Tech Athletics (latechsports.com)

groundbreaking 18+ months after announcing / I know they've been raising the funds

Great! but the south EZ needs a frickin scoreboard, and big screen.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Great! but the south EZ needs a frickin scoreboard, and big screen.

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Wood said the project would begin during the offseason with the addition of a Daktronics 10-millimeter LED ribbon board along the facade of the Davison Athletics Complex (DAC) in the south end of Joe Aillet Stadium. Installed and operational by the start of the 2022 football season, it will serve as a secondary scoreboard while increasing revenue and branding opportunities throughout the game.

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Nice. Long overdue.

Please replace the sound system. It's beyond blown.

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Originally Posted by boxerdog

Please replace the sound system. It's beyond blown.

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AMEN and AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is GAUDAWFUL. Not to mention whoever runs it or programs it. High school stadiums have better systems.

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Originally Posted by boxerdog

Please replace the sound system. It's beyond blown.

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It's crazy we don't get things fixed. It's like we buy new and once it's goes to crap we just hang on to it until we one day upgrade it.

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Originally Posted by qng001

It's crazy we don't get things fixed. It's like we buy new and once it's goes to crap we just hang on to it until we one day upgrade it.

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I would rather listen to Nancy Bergeron freestyle rap than those woofers, it's uncomfortably embarrassing.

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Originally Posted by qng001

It's crazy we don't get things fixed. It's like we buy new and once it's goes to crap we just hang on to it until we one day upgrade it.

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That's kinda by design. There's alot of speciality equipment required for these Jumbotron and sound systems and they tend to discontinue producing replacement parts for them once a newer tech is introduced (which happens rather quickly). Ends up being cheaper to replace the whole thing than do the many needed smaller replacements and fixes.

It’s too bad that all of Tech’s professional hall of famers weren’t included… that’s so Tech to be incomplete in what they do.

Coach, National Champion, and Naismith Hall of Famer Leon Barmore????

What about the one constant through all of these years and sports and the most loyal of all, Dave Nitz?

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Originally Posted by Rama Jama

Coach, National Champion, and Naismith Hall of Famer Leon Barmore????

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He’s already got a statue in front of the TAC

https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize...=942&type=jpeghttps://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net...nderings_2.jpg



Meh. Not very impressive IMO. It looks very forgettable.


A better idea would be to bowl in the north endzone and include this into the structure in the center, like the Rotunda at Ohio State University. The athletic museum should also move from the Wyly Athletic Center and connect to it as well. Have a brick pathway called the Path of Pride leading up to/away from it towards Hide-a-way park. The statues of the biggest athletic alumni should line the pathway and bricks should contain the names of other Tech alums and their sports and achievements. This allows a clear way to add more statues and bricks for future athletes, coaches and other athletics related people. Finally it would be a much better route for the Walk of Pride and center point for tailgating activities.

Just close in the underbelly of the stadium like we did the other side... Then, build Champions Square. I do like the statues.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Meh. Not very impressive IMO. It looks very forgettable.


A better idea would be to bowl in the north endzone and include this into the structure in the center, like the Rotunda at Ohio State University. The athletic museum should also move from the Wyly Athletic Center and connect to it as well. Have a brick pathway called the Path of Pride leading up to/away from it towards Hide-a-way park. The statues of the biggest athletic alumni should line the pathway and bricks should contain the names of other Tech alums and their sports and achievements. This allows a clear way to add more statues and bricks for future athletes, coaches and other athletics related people. Finally it would be a much better route for the Walk of Pride and center point for tailgating activities.

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This is just Phase I of the North End Zone Project. http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/blob:...0-663cfeabaa1bhttps://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net...tands_View.jpg

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Originally Posted by sportdawg

This is just Phase I of the North End Zone Project. http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/blob:...0-663cfeabaa1bhttps://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net...tands_View.jpg

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That's not bowling in the stadium. That's plopping a building down. I hated it when it was announced as it removes the ability to connect both sides of the stadium. Connect the lower halves of the Joe to bowl in the stadium and have the building be the top half and it would be good. Then combine it with my ideas before.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

That's not bowling in the stadium. That's plopping a building down. I hated it when it was announced as it removes the ability to connect both sides of the stadium. Connect the lower halves of the Joe to bowl in the stadium and have the building be the top half and it would be good. Then combine it with my ideas before.

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I like your concept. It's actually been suggested several times before, but it's a matter of funding it all. Apparently, there is money to do this, but not to bowl in the NEZ.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

I like your concept. It's actually been suggested several times before, but it's a matter of funding it all. Apparently, there is money to do this, but not to bowl in the NEZ.

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I figured it's funding and if it is, then it's short-sighted IMO. We will lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium in the future if we put that building there. We already lost that opportunity with the south endzone. What return on investment are we getting out of that building by building it now then waiting to see if we can get funding to properly bowl in the stadium?

I am no engineer and I don't know how the infamous subterranean creek affects the NEZ but couldn't we at least do some cost-cutting engineering to still achieve a compromise? What if instead of bowling in the NEZ with concrete like the rest of stadium (I assume this is the expensive part), could we not build up a berm that overflow crowds could sit on and build the building a bit farther back and higher? Would this be cost-effective and doable? In the future if overflow crowds happen, then could it be converted to concrete, permanent seating?

Or what about some cheaper erector set style seating like our infamous wings? I just hate to lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium.

ETA: Also what will happen with the current video board in the NEZ? Can it be repurposed somewhere else like in the baseball stadium or used for announcements/advertising on the intersection of Alabama and Tech Drive?

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

I figured it's funding and if it is, then it's short-sighted IMO. We will lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium in the future if we put that building there. We already lost that opportunity with the south endzone. What return on investment are we getting out of that building by building it now then waiting to see if we can get funding to properly bowl in the stadium?

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I’m sorry but what return on investment are getting on anything we are doing?

We could play games at Ruston High and not sell it out.

I’m pulling for Cumbie but it seems like he has a ton of odds stacked against him.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Or what about some cheaper erector set style seating like our infamous wings? I just hate to lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium.

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No.

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Originally Posted by sportdawg

This is just Phase I of the North End Zone Project. http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/blob:...0-663cfeabaa1bhttps://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net...tands_View.jpg

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Just an fyi. There is an updated rendering of the project. It includes one large video board rather than two boards.

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

I am no engineer and I don't know how the infamous subterranean creek affects the NEZ but couldn't we at least do some cost-cutting engineering to still achieve a compromise? What if instead of bowling in the NEZ with concrete like the rest of stadium (I assume this is the expensive part), could we not build up a berm that overflow crowds could sit on and build the building a bit farther back and higher? Would this be cost-effective and doable? In the future if overflow crowds happen, then could it be converted to concrete, permanent seating?

Or what about some cheaper erector set style seating like our infamous wings? I just hate to lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium.

ETA: Also what will happen with the current video board in the NEZ? Can it be repurposed somewhere else like in the baseball stadium or used for announcements/advertising on the intersection of Alabama and Tech Drive?

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I understand where you're coming from, but the decision to build in the NEZ was made at least 5 years ago. They're not going back.

The final cost will be somewhere between $17 and $20 million. They've raised almost all of it.

At this point it's all about the final design. Will it be incredible, like the DAC, or sub par like the original rendering they released last year?

Also, it's becoming more and more difficult to find replacement parts for the old board. At a certain point it will be impossible, which will lead to the board having to be scrapped.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

I am no engineer and I don't know how the infamous subterranean creek affects the NEZ but couldn't we at least do some cost-cutting engineering to still achieve a compromise? What if instead of bowling in the NEZ with concrete like the rest of stadium (I assume this is the expensive part), could we not build up a berm that overflow crowds could sit on and build the building a bit farther back and higher? Would this be cost-effective and doable? In the future if overflow crowds happen, then could it be converted to concrete, permanent seating?

Or what about some cheaper erector set style seating like our infamous wings? I just hate to lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium.

ETA: Also what will happen with the current video board in the NEZ? Can it be repurposed somewhere else like in the baseball stadium or used for announcements/advertising on the intersection of Alabama and Tech Drive?

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Could be, perhaps, a hill of sorts. You could say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Or what about some cheaper erector set style seating like our infamous wings? I just hate to lose the opportunity to bowl in the stadium.

ETA: Also what will happen with the current video board in the NEZ? Can it be repurposed somewhere else like in the baseball stadium or used for announcements/advertising on the intersection of Alabama and Tech Drive?

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If you are gonna put in lower level seating, might as well go with the concrete form grandstands. You would have to pour concrete anyways for metal decking seating so might as well just go with something that looks better.

The current videoboard I'm guessing will be disassembled and recycled. I don't think its something that you can relocate and reuse. It would require lots of money to build out electrical, fiber, framing to just put in old panels and old internals... then hope everything fires up correctly (and it's not under warranty). I doubt Daktronics would recommend doing this.

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Originally Posted by qng001

If you are gonna put in lower level seating, might as well go with the concrete form grandstands. You would have to pour concrete anyways for metal decking seating so might as well just go with something that looks better.

The current videoboard I'm guessing will be disassembled and recycled. I don't think its something that you can relocate and reuse. It would require lots of money to build out electrical, fiber, framing to just put in old panels and old internals... then hope everything fires up correctly (and it's not under warranty). I doubt Daktronics would recommend doing this.

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It's the world we live in. We have disposable razors and disposable very expensive scoreboards.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

Just an fyi. There is an updated rendering of the project. It includes one large video board rather than two boards.

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well…I’ll be.
Someone listened.

And, speaking of statues, we got a Spoon, but no Lawrence, a Wade trophy winner.

And One: Janice Lawrence Braxton, Louisiana Tech (via @HighPostHoops)

https://highposthoops.com/2019/01/11...ouisiana-tech/

Great story about Janice Lawrence.

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Originally Posted by The Historian

Just an fyi. There is an updated rendering of the project. It includes one large video board rather than two boards.

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Where can this be found?

Check out my "20230422-ALWilliamsChampionsPlazaGroundbreaking" images using the following link:


https://tommorrisphotos.photoshelter...000NKX9F9o889A