Someone Has Finally Listened - Southern Univeristy Coming to Ruston in 2015

[jellidawg]

And that's exactly what they said about the abandoned derelict hideous eyesore dorm on the UArk campus on Fayetteville. Now it's a four-star hotel, booked up almost continuously. Both the university and the hotelier to whom they leased the building are making out like bandits.

So you're saying that a city of roughly 74,000 is comparable to Ruston? If Ruston had a population of 74,000 and comparable industry and commercial opportunities, I would tend to agree that a $20-$30M investment is not that bad of decision. You also have to realize that a private partner was brought onboard for the "Inn at Carnell Hall." Plus, with it only being three stories, retrofit is easier (and cheaper) than a high-rise structure. The restoration of Carnell Hall cost $6.9M in 2003, according to their website. I'm sure Tech would have gladly accepted a private partner's investment in a similar venture. Caruthers did stand empty for at least 3 years.

[jellidawg]

And that's exactly what they said about the abandoned derelict hideous eyesore dorm on the UArk campus on Fayetteville. It's too ugly, too old, too expensice, etc ... they all said.

Now it's a four-star hotel, booked up almost continuously. Both the university and the hotelier to whom they leased the building are making out like bandits. Alums pay out the wazzoo to stay on campus. And professional & academic conferences that wouldve gone to Fort Smith on Little Rock now held at UA.

Cottingham may be the best analogy to Carnell Hall.

[Captain Rowdy]

Glad our university is so fantastically wealthy that we can afford to let acres of land (ie. real property with market value) to sit idle.

Maybe we could also liquidate all the Foundation's assets and bury the cash in coffee cans.

Neilson and Caruthers combined only took up an acre of so. That entire area between Barnett Springs and the RR tracks , OTOH, is a little over 20. Plenty of room for the Bulldawg Hotel & Casino.

[dawg gone it]

I'd rather have a green space

Speaking of which, does anyone know what they're planning on doing with this? If nothing, they could at least add more parking since it's already a nightmare half the time to find a spot. Which really pisses me off considering they raised the price for parking tags this year

[Blue Dawg]

Speaking of which, does anyone know what they're planning on doing with this? If nothing, they could at least add more parking since it's already a nightmare half the time to find a spot. Which really pisses me off considering they raised the price for parking tags this year

Parking garages coming.

[svb002]

Parking garages coming.

Just wait and see the permit prices after they finish those. $450 at UNCC for the full year; luckily, I was a grad student and paid the two-day commuter rate.

[Blue Dawg]

Just wait and see the permit prices after they finish those. $450 at UNCC for the full year; luckily, I was a grad student and paid the two-day commuter rate.

UCF was pretty high also. Cost of doing business. We want more students, parking garages are pretty much a necessity.

[Dirtydawg]

The number is higher lol. jaguar Journal comes on Thursday nights 6-8pm 104.5 espn BR , you can catch it on the tunein app on your phone. Also the AD was on The Carlos Brown Show also, 910 am BR 10-12 am Saturday.

I think I might know you. Did you graduate from Redemptorist High back in 1984?

[Dirtydawg]

Well, I hope like hell we didn't pay TOO MUCH. At the end of the day, you're still an FCS school, and THERE IS a point of diminishing returns. When it comes to FCS schools, nobody cares whether you beat Southern Univ or Central Arkansas or Lamar. Come to think of it, I don't know why we don't just play Grambling in Ruston. That would probably sell out too.

Sort of like women's basketball, huh?

[Dawgpix]

Parking garages coming.

Concrete design was a specialty of our president's graduate studies.

[Dirtydawg]

I really hope someone can speak to all our business owners and help them realize that they can make their week in one day by staying open on game day. Price of doing business is to be open when people are off work and can shop. At Christmas this year, I went to a store in downtown to get something for my wife. It was December 22, and there was a sign in the window that stated they were closed and would reopen after the new year. I have not gone in yet because I am back a work since he holidays are over and can't get over there now during their hours.

Any business owner that you have to explain that to isn't smart enough to run a business.

Funny how times change. I remember about 14-15 years ago the people on this board were criticizing Ruston businesses for staying open for Tech games because that limited our attendance and didn't show support for the school. I'm not advocating them shutting down, just finding the humor in the contradictions.

[Dirtydawg]

I am a Southern alum who lives in Monroe. I also have studied at Louisiana Tech. When the news hit that Southern was coming to Northeast/North Central Louisiana, people at my place of employment were over-joyed. I want you to know that it will be a high honor and privilege for SU to play such a fine university as Louisiana Tech. The Jaguars will look forward to their first visit to Northeast/central Louisiana in many decades. And it is very true that Tech has offered Southern a guarantee of 350K. But there is something Tech athletic administrators know that many others do not; high demand events can be sold to the general public for a higher than normal/usual cost than non-high demand events. Since the SU game will be a high demand event, it would not surprise me if that game sold to the general public for $25, $27, or $30 dollars per ticket. Regular game tickets at SU are much higher than $20.00, so SU fans will consider your ticket prices to be appealing. But one thing is for sure: the SU game will sell out every seat and every temporary seat available at JAS. A good barometer for your attendance would be the SU/ULL games of 2009 and 2014. ULL fans offered almost identical comments as some of your fans are offering, but recanted those comments in later conversations. Our first visit to ULL drew 41, 357 fans, exceeding visits by Alabama, Texas A & M, and nearby McNeese State. Our second visit this past season saw more than 36,000 fans in attendance, albeit, during a driving rain storm. The largest football entourage to ever converge on Ruston will do so this fall on the first Saturday in September. The tailgating, the band, the traffic, the lines, the comraderie (sp), will be like nothing you have seen before in Ruston.

Be prepared to be surprised. If I'm not mistaken, we tried this with a "premium" game in the past and it didn't sell too well. While true football fans know what this game will mean, many in the area will refuse to attend this game for a higher price than usual. We would have to raise the entire season ticket prices just so it doesn't seem this game is getting preferential treatment or then some people won't attend (and won't regardless) because of the elephant in the thread that no one wants to talk about.

[Tech77]

I am not for raising ticket prices for this game. I hope we do have people standing everywhere.

[Dirtydawg]

That's a good idea. Maybe do like the Jerry Jones dome and have a designated standing room only section for $15.

I am not for raising ticket prices for this game. I hope we do have people standing everywhere.

[Dirtydawg]

How do you know they are not thriving? Speaking as a self employed business owner, I assume that if the Owner feels he can afford to shut it down he must be doing pretty well.

I know this, when i make the decision to shut down for holidays or vacation i could care less what business i may lose.

I need (and deserve) a break!

Who do you think you're kidding? We all know your wife carries your ass.