Stadium Updates

[Todd4State]

No, I didn't realize that about the parking passes. But I do know that they have people on golf carts that transport people who need assistance. Regardless, I could see how the inconvenience of that would discourage people from coming to the games.

About the imaginary hordes of people in the bleachers- maybe SBW if that? I do agree that it wasn't very many games. But, I don't think it's totally because of the season ticket holders taking up seats. I've said many, many times that the school should market the games better. I think that, the games being available on Maroon to the Max, the economy, and having three losing seasons contributed to that. I don't think the attendance is solely because people can't sit in the grandstand.

Personally, I didn't go to any midweek games in Starkville. I think I'm like a lot of people- I have to work and it's really tough for me to drive two hours to Starkville, watch them play Alcorn- a team that's not that great- then drive back and go back to work the next day in a haze. But, if I lived in Starkville or in a 20 mile radius I would probably go. But, that's why I don't buy season tickets- I know it's not feasible for me, and I know that me not being there doesn't help. Also, midweek games across the country are not huge draws for many of the same reasons that I mentioned above. That's why I've said that the school should market the midweek games and gear them towards the students- because they are there and many of them can go- I mean, it's Tuesday night in Starkville.

Also- here's what I'm thinking as far as the season ticket holders. If you are a season ticket holder, and you're actually going to the games, if they blew up Dudy-Noble and rebuilt it- those people are still going to buy season tickets. I don't have a problem with them at all. If you buy season tickets and you are showing up, you're doing what you are supposed to be doing. Those people are supporting the team. I have a problem with the people that buy them and don't show up and they only have them in case MSU makes a regional or because they were willed them and they keep it around because their grandfather willed them tickets and they haven't been to a game since Polk I. If they did rebuild Dudy-Noble and they wanted to reward those people that have been loyal to MSU and coming to the games by giving them better seats at the new stadium, I am all for that. I think that's the right thing to do.

Getting people to come to the games is going to take a lot more than eliminating these lifetime contracts. But there's no doubt that they are a problem, and it does discourage attendance because there are quite a few people that don't go to games because they think that they can't get a grandstand seat.

 

[Todd4State]

You print on the tickets something about being courteous and that the holder of the ticket holds the right to the seat.

If someone without a ticket refuses to move for someone with a valid ticket, all they have to do is go get an usher, and that should solve the problem.

Of course, I would be willing to bet that it wouldn't be a problem 99% of the time.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

and here is what I'd do.

Phase 1: Extend chairback seating all the way down the foul lines keeping it the same height as the existing bleachers. Build a covered deck with restrooms, concessions and picnic areas at the top of the seating area. Of course there would be restrooms and concessions beneath the seating area also.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">As Bruiser said, you will have to take to angle the seats towards the infield and remove ALL foul territory. I look at South Carolinas new stadium as an idea of how this can be done (Angle into a point and then increase height when you reach the line)</span>

<br style="font-weight: bold;">

Phase 2: Remodel the existing luxury suites by reducing the distance the roof overhangs the suites. It looks horrendous and out of place. I would also add suites to fill the gaps on either side of the press box or, build a deck with restrooms and concessions there like I would have down the foul lines.
<br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The luxury suites need to either be fixed or ideally torn down. They leak and have major problems from a horrible design. If I could plan the upgrade I would remove all the suites and remove the Press Box (in dire need of upgrading) and roof. It would be a fairly simpy construction job to do also as that was built separate. I would also remove the Outdated Lighting system which is not up to code. I would replace it with a new suites, club level, press box, and more suites all connected together. This would also tie together with a new entrance and facade on the backside much like is being done at Olsen Field at texas a&m</span><br style="font-weight: bold;">
Here is a photo of what Im explaining for a new facade in sort to cover up the supports under the grandstand.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eleborate </span>

<br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">More Simple (and thus why it was the proposed vs final shown above)</span>

<br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Or more along the lines of something of FSU</span>

<br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Either way the Hill will need to be dug out for a more accessable entrance and the road that goes to the back of the hump will need to be shifted and reduced (as I would make what is the road a Main Entrance walkway from where the vast majority park.) </span>

Phase 3: Move that God-awful big green metal wall in the outfield to the other side of the entrance road into the outfield and lower the big green monster in center back to it's height during the Clark, Palmeiro and Thigpen days.
<br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lowering the green monster could happen but the Big Green Metal Wall wont be moved back unless you want to make it even larger and loss some outfield spots. THANKS LARRY for BUILDING A DAMN WHITE BUILDING IN THE BATTERS EYE!!!!!</span>

 

[ScoobaDawg]

Texas A & M will replace their stadium with a new $24 million facility starting construction immediately after this season ends and set to open for the 2012 season.

From Tigerdroppings on 4/13/11

"You'd enjoy it before it gets torn down after the season. We have a $24 million stadium being built for 2012 season in the same place."

"Aggie Alley would be a good time for SEC baseball fans. It's behind the left field fence and full of BBQ, booze and a good time."

They arent actually tearing it down.. they are adding a facade, adding new buildings, and removing the bleachers. The main grandstand is staying but being changed some.

<span style="font-style: italic;">"To address the competitive needs of the baseball program, the 12</span><sup style="font-style: italic;">th<span style="font-style: italic;">
Man Foundation formed the Olsen Field committee, led by co-chairs Jerry
Cox and Steve Morris, in 2009. The committee held gatherings across the
state to inform potential donors about plans for a two-part renovation.
The $16 million first phase of that plan includes the construction of a
two-story student-athlete center housing a new locker room, player’s
lounge, coaches’ offices, training and weight facilities as well as club
seating, widening of the concourse, and new concession stands and
restrooms.</span><p style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic;">A secondary $8 million phase includes a
dramatic new exterior façade of the facility, removal of metal bleachers
and construction of grassy berm seating areas on both the first base
and third base sides. Additionally, construction of suites along the
top of the stadium and numerous fan and family amenities throughout the
ballpark will be added."</p>

 

[ScoobaDawg]

of the existing stadium and taper down toward the foul poles. This should add a sufficient number of new seats.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> I don't know what the distance is between the lines and the existing bleachers so you could possibly run out of space with the necessary angle to properly install the new seating.</span> However, I would think it could be worked out, even if they didn't extend all the way to the foul poles. Whatever it takes, it makes no sense to demolish what is there and start from scratch. Building a new facility at today's construction costs would probably be at least $30 million. And, unfortunately, whatever is done is going to be a number of years down the road, so costs will only escalate.

to the fence is about 10 feet, so to the stands is a little under 15. I spent too much of time in school looking at every little detail of how to fix this stadium. I walked it off a couple times but dont remember exactly anymore and cant find my notes.
The biggest problem with the grandstand is the angle down the lines. its a pretty aggressive angle that left little foul room. To increase the angle so that your seats are not angled towards center field you have to increase the height at a certain point and then wrap the seats around or else you would have seats in fair territory. As long as it doesn't turn into anything like the piece of crap at Bama where you are sitting on top of the outfielder and it starts building higher down the line behind 2nd base.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

And I will freely admit that I have an alterior motive here- and that's to get rid of the "lifetime contracts" for season tickets. You tear down the stadium, and the seats don't exist anymore.

According to an AD staffer, whatever is done at Dudy Noble, an extreme effort will be given to not alienate chairback license holders in any way.

This is one thing that changed. Ninja was seriously considering saying you lost your seat contract when we replace all the seats (as we did this past summer). Scott even mentioned it once in passing too.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

over the many years I have attended games, there have been some shall we say aged attendees in Chairbacks. I just wonder how many were passed down and some of the kids and grand kids just do not have the time or the interest to attend games like their parents or grand parents did. I do think it is time for a meeting of the base and AD to determine who is not attending at all any more, and as Todd has suggested who attends when it is convenient.

But in this day of dug out fields and open concourses above the stadium seating with stilted luxury suites ala Trustmark Park types, some consideration needs to be open minded enough to visit those ideas.

All of the CUSA coaches and ADs raved about Trustmark as a facility and the operations of it.

I do not like Swayze Field. We went to that series and those "added" on Chairbacks are too recessed. You are a city block from the field and the seats face the outfield. Rediculously designed just so they could have some open concourse and restrooms under the seats I guess, but they suck. They are significantly recessed from the main grandstand. What I do like about Swayze is the large lower box seating area.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> I think it is like 8 rows. I think our box seats are 4 rows. Then the outfield camera looks at a concrete wall at Dudy Nobleinstead of fans in the seats. We can improve on that.</span>

One of the parts of the re-doing the field that was discussed but obviously not implemented was to add field level seating ala South Carolina

 

[ScoobaDawg]

I pretty much summed it all up in those other posts but here is my post from a year and a half ago with a little more details and more photos.

http://sixpackspeak.yuku....read-below-#reply-175446