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

[Earle]

I think there will be a great crowd. Hoping Tech fans come out in large numbers to fill most of it. I don't think the attendance record will be broken, though.

What is Tech's football attendance record?

[Cool Hand Clyde]

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.

Green space is feasible and useful. Your idea is ridiculous.

[Earle]

I am excited about this game, but I hope some aren't getting their hopes up too much for a huge SU contingency. Yes, they travel fairly well. ULL is a LOT closer than we are, though. Their band will take up a nice section and they should have a great crowd. The first game of the season and our new facility will get more Tech fans there, which is good. Any other time, I don't think Southern (or any FCS team) would draw a mega crowd.

Should be fun, though, and I expect much higher attendance than usual. Can't wait for football season!!!!!!!!

Believe me, weather cooperating, the SU contingency will be huge! (No fewer than 10,000 SU alums, students, and family, and no fewer 4,000 others, i.e., GSU fans, followers of SU band, people from surrounding parishes.) Half of your stadium capacity will be filled by non-traditional occupants.

[Champ967]

Green space is feasible and useful. Your idea is ridiculous.

oh yeah well YOUR MOM!

[Dawg06]

What is Tech's football attendance record?

The top 15 were all in Shreveport. The record in Ruston is 28,714 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1997.

Most Attended Louisiana Tech Football Games in Ruston/Shreveport
1: 53,779 vs. Northwestern State in 1987
2: 48,325 vs. Maryland in 1990 (Independence Bowl)
3: 43,279 vs. Miami (Fla.) in 2003
4: 41,567 vs. Northern Illinois in 2008 (Independence Bowl)
5: 40,453 vs. Texas A&M in 2012
6: 40,328 vs. Texas A&M in 1999
7: 36,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1980
8: 34,762 vs. Grambling State in 2010
9: 33,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1973
10: 31,391 vs. Oklahoma State in 2002
11: 31,054 vs. East Carolina in 1978 (Independence Bowl)
12: 31,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1969
13: 30,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1964
14: 29,469 vs. Baylor in 1996
15: 29,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1971
16: 28,714 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1997
17: 28,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1968
17: 28,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1967
19: 27,360 vs. Louisiana-Monroe in 1999
20: 27,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1972
20: 27,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1965
22: 26,496 vs. Northwestern State in 1975
23: 26,004 vs. Northwestern State in 2014
24: 26,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1974
25: 25,614 vs. Utah State in 2012
26: 25,224 vs. Mississippi State in 2008
27: 25,212 vs. Hawai'i in 2011
28: 25,006 vs. Northwestern State in 1970
29: 25,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1966
30: 24,975 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1987
31: 24,812 vs. California in 1997
32: 24,628 vs. Houston in 2011
33: 24,450 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1991
34: 24,200 vs. Northwestern State in 1976
35: 24,086 vs. Northwestern State in 1977
36: 24,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1961
37: 23,645 vs. UTSA in 2012
38: 23,575 vs. UCF in 1998
39: 23,500 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1989
39: 23,500 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1981
39: 23,500 vs. Northwestern State in 1959
42: 23,368 vs. Rice in 2001
43: 23,240 vs. Boise State in 2009
44: 23,228 vs. Rice in 2012
45: 23,122 vs. Navy in 2010
46: 22,505 vs. SMU in 2001
47: 22,467 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette in 2004
48: 22,344 vs. Southern Miss in 2010
49: 22,300 vs. Northwestern State in 1981
50: 22,200 vs. Northeast Louisiana in 1983
51: 22,135 vs. Hawai'i in 2007
52: 22,058 vs. McNeese State in 1974
53: 22,035 vs. Tulane in 2013
54: 22,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1962
54: 22,000 vs. Northwestern State in 1958

[Champ967]

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.

You make some salient points, and I agree that the circumstances are not the same. My point was only that I've often seen folks -- who had previously insisted that a given ugly old building had no possible further use -- demonstrated to be have been incorrect in their assessments.

We see that there is a demand for additional lodging in Ruston, and we know that Tech MUST discover new revenue streams in the near future. With that in mind, would you say its wiser for Tech to leverage its existing real assets into market opportunities with long term cashflow potential? Or to liquidate them for additional campus 'greenspace'?

[champion110]

You make some salient points, and I agree that the circumstances are not the same. My point was only that I've often seen folks -- who had previously insisted that a given ugly old building had no possible further use -- demonstrated to be have been incorrect in their assessments.

We see that there is a demand for additional lodging in Ruston, and we know that Tech MUST discover new revenue streams in the near future. With that in mind, would you say its wiser for Tech to leverage its existing real assets into market opportunities with long term cashflow potential? Or to liquidate them for additional campus 'greenspace'?

I have to agree with Champ967 to a point on this. Ruston DOES need a full service hotel. It doesn't have to be full service all the time. You can cut staff and only use certain space during the week, if needed. This is a prime spot to develop a mixed use space - hotel with conference rooms and full service on football weekends and certain other occasions. Might help us get some P5 teams in and would help our bid for a conference championship game. I think it would have been too expensive to make the two highrise dorms work for this (and I am a HUGE proponent of keeping historical buildings - I just don't consider those historical). Building something nice or enticing a partnership with Hilton, Marriott, etc... Would be a huge boom for Ruston. Run it as a regular Express Hotel, except for events. The main cost would be up front and you could keep costs down on staff and utilization of space.

I stayed at a nice hotel on the Cincinnati campus a while back. I think it was a Hilton, but can't remember. It was right on campus. They had their conference rooms used for meetings for the school and staff trainings, but I am sure they were closed down the other portion of the time. It was a full service - with room service. Of course, they had a medical school and, I am sure, it was used for families as needed.

If Tech could get creative, this could be done. Training space, football crowds, move in weekends for parents at the beginning of the year, tournaments, etc... Other times, shut down everything but the rooms and skeleton crew. Room service from the Tech Student Center - at the least.

[BRDawg81]

An additional benefit for the full service hotel with reduced staff during times of less need would be that the staffing for the full use times would most likely come from the students. This would give an additional income stream for some and could also open up opportunities for internship like assignments for business management majors. Now to convince the ones that need to get this done.

[champion110]

An additional benefit for the full service hotel with reduced staff during times of less need would be that the staffing for the full use times would most likely come from the students. This would give an additional income stream for some and could also open up opportunities for internship like assignments for business management majors. Now to convince the ones that need to get this done.

Agreed....... I think it would be great to have a private partner in this, as well.

[stodgdog]

Are we gonna start that again?? I am glad its only an hour and ten minutes from Baskin to Ruston.

Man, you are moving if you can get there in 70 minutes.

[stodgdog]

So you are saying we will pay them $350K in cash to play here? That's what "guarantee" implies.

I certainly don't know the contract terms but I don't see how Tech can afford that large a guarantee. I would think the most Tech would gross at the gate would be 600k

[stodgdog]

[QUOTE=Terence32;1495030][QUOTE=Bigdog13;1494901]

Not sure how Tech is rated above Boise, I don't thing Sagarin Rankings hold too much cred

I didn't know Sagarin had Tech above Boise, but Sagarin is a very good predictor.

[KSDAWG]

Man, you are moving if you can get there in 70 minutes.

Its 75 miles from my house in Winnsboro, 73 miles from my farm in Baskin. I usually make it between 1 hour and 10 to 1 hour and 15.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Parking garages coming.

Yes they are.

[PawDawg]

Believe me, weather cooperating, the SU contingency will be huge! (No fewer than 10,000 SU alums, students, and family, and no fewer 4,000 others, i.e., GSU fans, followers of SU band, people from surrounding parishes.) Half of your stadium capacity will be filled by non-traditional occupants.

We should take the lion share and move the game to Shreveport.