Anything new with Stadium Rennovation?

Egg Salad · Post by **Egg Salad** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:32 pm

BozoneCat wrote:
catatac wrote:Our skyboxes are quite a bit better than what UM has from what I've been told...
Easily true, MSU's are top-notch. But what about the amenities for the vast majority of the people in the stadium?

Like what?

info197176 · Post by **info197176** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:47 pm

Egg: What happened to your avatar..you know the one with the little guy "doing" a can of dew. I liked that!

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:54 pm

Egg Salad wrote:
BozoneCat wrote:
catatac wrote:Our skyboxes are quite a bit better than what UM has from what I've been told...
Easily true, MSU's are top-notch. But what about the amenities for the vast majority of the people in the stadium?
Like what?

Well first off, how about a stadium that brings you right on top of the action in an enclosed structure, creating a rowdy and loud atmosphere which makes it more fun for funs to yell and make noise. When you talk about amenities, I'm talking about significantly updating our horrible concession stands, creating a concourse filled with paraphanilia that makes you want to embrace all that is Montana State University football, making it easier to get to your seats by making the entrances more towards the top of the stands instead of at the bottom, creating a paved parking lot that doesn't turn into a sloppy mess when it rains (also makes it easier for clean-up crews), etc. I'm sure others have great ideas as well.

Egg Salad · Post by **Egg Salad** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:02 pm

info197176 wrote:Egg: What happened to your avatar..you know the one with the little guy "doing" a can of dew. I liked that!

Does this one work?

Egg Salad · Post by **Egg Salad** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:04 pm

BozoneCat wrote:
Egg Salad wrote:
BozoneCat wrote:
catatac wrote:Our skyboxes are quite a bit better than what UM has from what I've been told...
Easily true, MSU's are top-notch. But what about the amenities for the vast majority of the people in the stadium?
Like what?
Well first off, how about a stadium that brings you right on top of the action in an enclosed structure, creating a rowdy and loud atmosphere which makes it more fun for funs to yell and make noise. When you talk about amenities, I'm talking about significantly updating our horrible concession stands, creating a concourse filled with paraphanilia that makes you want to embrace all that is Montana State University football, making it easier to get to your seats by making the entrances more towards the top of the stands instead of at the bottom, creating a paved parking lot that doesn't turn into a sloppy mess when it rains (also makes it easier for clean-up crews), etc. I'm sure others have great ideas as well.

I see. I've never eaten the concessions there, and I don't plan to. They could spruce it up underneath, I guess. Not sure how they'd change where the entrances are in the stands though.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:04 pm

Egg Salad wrote:I see. I've never eaten the concessions there, and I don't plan to. They could spruce it up underneath, I guess. Not sure how they'd change where the entrances are in the stands though.

I don't eat the concessions inside the stadium either, and that is the point. They suck. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos. How freakin' generic can you get?! Let's get some local businesses (not crappy chains) to put up concessions that highlight Bozeman's and Montana's cultural offerings. Can you imagine how those huge turkey legs they sell at the Bite of Bozeman would go?

The stands will have the opportunity to be completely changed when they renovate the student side, because they are going to have to completely redo it. If the plans are for that side to mirror the alum side, the aluminum bleacher structure won't be strong enough to support it. They will have to pour some concrete and make it into something like we see on the current side, in which case they could completely revamp the concourse and where the entrances are.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:18 pm

I'm guessing the student side sky boxes would be structurally independent from the actual stands.

It would be nice if they could reconfigure so you enter at a mezzanine level and walk down to the lower seats, but that would probably entail completely removing the old stands and building new.

How about moving the stands back a little bit, excavating the field down about 10 feet and building a real bowl? They did that at stadiums like Ohio State and the LA Coliseum where they removed the tracks. Heck, MSU could sell the gravel to help pay for it.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:02 pm

BelgradeBobcat wrote:How about moving the stands back a little bit, excavating the field down about 10 feet and building a real bowl? They did that at stadiums like Ohio State and the LA Coliseum where they removed the tracks. Heck, MSU could sell the gravel to help pay for it.

I've thought the same thing myself, and I think it would be awesome. Of all the things I like about the structure of W-G, I think the best thing is the way the stands are literally right on top of the field. I think it is very intimidating for opposing teams, and I think it makes the fans feel more of a part of the action.

bcats · Post by **bcats** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:08 pm

Almost everyone here is making some great comments about Bobcat Stadium. I wish we had the money to put everyone's ideas in play. The new skyboxes is a no brainer and surely needs to be done first. When I worked in the ticket office back in 2000 we got requests and inquires about skyboxes constantly. This is when we were bad and the stdium was no where near the attendence figures we see now. Back then they were 5 year leases for $5000 I think. We never sold them we just directed them to another office where they were put on a waiting list. Skyboxes would fill immediately and in all likely hood practically pay for themselves. I don't know what the plans are or how they would look but surely they will get done soon. I got to see the skyboxes in the offseason in 2000 and let me tell you they are top notch facilities equiped with kitchenetts, TV's, indoor and outdoor seats. I also had the opportunity to visit a skybox in the Metrodome in Minneapolis and they have nothing on Bobcat Stadium.

If the boxes go on the student side will there also be a stadium club on that side?

I would also like to see the Horseshoe finished by replacing the bleachers in the Pepsi Zone with a solid cement structure with a permanent walkway connecting the stadium. That would give it more of a stadium feel creating a unified crowd. The way it is now fans have a sense of division in a way. I for one have never sat on the booster side of the stadium so I don't really have any idea what it is like over there. Someone earlier mentioned that it is kind of like a football field with bleachers. If it was a true horseshoe it would become a stadium with character. Then if there is still need for more boxes they can be added there.

An indoor practice field would certainly be nice and is probably needed for all sports. The reason it goes lower on my list is the fact that stadium modifications are used and seen by those who donate the dollars. The Fieldhouse is also available and I understand that it is overused but it has the indoor track field. It's not like it was just built for basketball. If they have the funds to do it then great but should it be priority over the Stadium then I don't know.

The city of Bozeman is also growing like never before. I think that the average house now is 350,000. A stadium with a little more grandeur could attract more fans and give the area a magnificent entertainment venue. My other question, and I don't want to sound like a democrat, but what about local taxes along with donations. Easy for me to say I live in Billings.

Cat in NC · Post by **Cat in NC** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:37 am

BozoneCat wrote:
Egg Salad wrote:
BozoneCat wrote:
catatac wrote:Our skyboxes are quite a bit better than what UM has from what I've been told...
Easily true, MSU's are top-notch. But what about the amenities for the vast majority of the people in the stadium?
Like what?
Well first off, how about a stadium that brings you right on top of the action in an enclosed structure, creating a rowdy and loud atmosphere which makes it more fun for funs to yell and make noise. When you talk about amenities, I'm talking about significantly updating our horrible concession stands, creating a concourse filled with paraphanilia that makes you want to embrace all that is Montana State University football, making it easier to get to your seats by making the entrances more towards the top of the stands instead of at the bottom, creating a paved parking lot that doesn't turn into a sloppy mess when it rains (also makes it easier for clean-up crews), etc. I'm sure others have great ideas as well.

Seems like a small thing, but even something as simple as paving would do wonders for the game-day atmosphere.

catsrback76 · Post by **catsrback76** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:48 am

BozoneCat wrote:
Egg Salad wrote:I see. I've never eaten the concessions there, and I don't plan to. They could spruce it up underneath, I guess. Not sure how they'd change where the entrances are in the stands though.
I don't eat the concessions inside the stadium either, and that is the point. They suck. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos. How freakin' generic can you get?! Let's get some local businesses (not crappy chains) to put up concessions that highlight Bozeman's and Montana's cultural offerings. Can you imagine how those huge turkey legs they sell at the Bite of Bozeman would go?

The stands will have the opportunity to be completely changed when they renovate the student side, because they are going to have to completely redo it. If the plans are for that side to mirror the alum side, the aluminum bleacher structure won't be strong enough to support it. They will have to pour some concrete and make it into something like we see on the current side, in which case they could completely revamp the concourse and where the entrances are.

Yes- WHY don't we have the Pickle Barrel selling world famous Cheesesteak's at the games?

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:23 am

catsrback76 wrote:
BozoneCat wrote:
Egg Salad wrote:I see. I've never eaten the concessions there, and I don't plan to. They could spruce it up underneath, I guess. Not sure how they'd change where the entrances are in the stands though.
I don't eat the concessions inside the stadium either, and that is the point. They suck. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos. How freakin' generic can you get?! Let's get some local businesses (not crappy chains) to put up concessions that highlight Bozeman's and Montana's cultural offerings. Can you imagine how those huge turkey legs they sell at the Bite of Bozeman would go?

The stands will have the opportunity to be completely changed when they renovate the student side, because they are going to have to completely redo it. If the plans are for that side to mirror the alum side, the aluminum bleacher structure won't be strong enough to support it. They will have to pour some concrete and make it into something like we see on the current side, in which case they could completely revamp the concourse and where the entrances are.
Yes- WHY don't we have the Pickle Barrel selling world famous Cheesesteak's at the games?

Mmmmmmmmm

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:15 am

Bay Area Cat wrote:Just for a quick compare/contrast ... I was at the Sac State game, so I got to buy tickets from a trailer, pee in a dark porta potty, and wait in line to buy a hot chocolate from one of two trailers selling it (for the entire stadium). Fortunately, my backpack didn't fall to the ground under the bleachers ... but it could have, because it is not a solid structure (like our endzone, but with a green mesh tarp over the outside).

MSU's stadium is simply awesome by comparison ... but I agree that we can and should make it better.

Except, I think, SAC is in the midst of about a $50MM athletic facilities improvement project. Which, when done, will be amongst the best in all of Division I.

GavinDonos · Post by **GavinDonos** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:32 am

It would take more than 50mil to make SAC's stadium one of the best in Div I. From what I hear most of the money will go to making a student athletic center and very little will go to the football stadium. In fact, I think their new play-clocks and scoreboard are about all the football side of things is going to get. Perhaps a locker room or two since they don't even have those.

Their new B-ball facility will be tops, tho, as that is where they think they can really expand their regional profile.

Post by **kmax** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:45 am

GavinDonos wrote:It would take more than 50mil to make SAC's stadium one of the best in Div I. From what I hear most of the money will go to making a student athletic center and very little will go to the football stadium. In fact, I think their new play-clocks and scoreboard are about all the football side of things is going to get. Perhaps a locker room or two since they don't even have those.

Their new B-ball facility will be tops, tho, as that is where they think they can really expand their regional profile.

They were talking about this during the TV broadcast. Actually, they are going to be reducing the seating capacity of the football statdium. They mentioned bringing the stands closer to the field also, do they have a track between the stands and field? If I remember right I think they said it did and they would be removing the track to bring the stands up onto the field. So it sounds like they are going to try and make it a better facility, but you are right the majority of funds are going to other projects.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:26 am

It would be strange if they removed the track, as that is the best part of their facility. It's where they had the Olympic Trials, and is a very nice (and expensive) surface. It would certainly make the football field better if they took it out (and started the whole football complex from scratch, actually), but I had always thought that they would be best served to just make the current football field a track-only complex and build a real football stadium elsewhere. As for the current football field ... outside of the grass itself, there is literally nothing that is worth saving. The entire facility is a temporary facility that needs to be razed and built from scratch.

Post by **kmax** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:56 am

Bay Area Cat wrote:It would be strange if they removed the track, as that is the best part of their facility. It's where they had the Olympic Trials, and is a very nice (and expensive) surface. It would certainly make the football field better if they took it out (and started the whole football complex from scratch, actually), but I had always thought that they would be best served to just make the current football field a track-only complex and build a real football stadium elsewhere. As for the current football field ... outside of the grass itself, there is literally nothing that is worth saving. The entire facility is a temporary facility that needs to be razed and built from scratch.

I could be wrong, just going off what I remembered hearing on the TV broadcast. I know for sure they said they would be cutting out seats to make it smaller, and I am pretty sure they said they would be moving things closer to the field. Not sure how they would do that while leaving the track.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:03 pm

GavinDonos wrote:It would take more than 50mil to make SAC's stadium one of the best in Div I. From what I hear most of the money will go to making a student athletic center and very little will go to the football stadium. In fact, I think their new play-clocks and scoreboard are about all the football side of things is going to get. Perhaps a locker room or two since they don't even have those.Their new B-ball facility will be tops, tho, as that is where they think they can really expand their regional profile.

Wow! That would be great..then the players wouldn't have to get undressed outside in a temporary structure to share the two (2) showers the team gets to use after a game...on, and did I mention the spectators who peek over the fence to look at the team after the game?

vike_king · Post by **vike_king** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:15 pm

catsrback76 wrote:
BozoneCat wrote:
Egg Salad wrote:I see. I've never eaten the concessions there, and I don't plan to. They could spruce it up underneath, I guess. Not sure how they'd change where the entrances are in the stands though.
I don't eat the concessions inside the stadium either, and that is the point. They suck. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos. How freakin' generic can you get?! Let's get some local businesses (not crappy chains) to put up concessions that highlight Bozeman's and Montana's cultural offerings. Can you imagine how those huge turkey legs they sell at the Bite of Bozeman would go?

The stands will have the opportunity to be completely changed when they renovate the student side, because they are going to have to completely redo it. If the plans are for that side to mirror the alum side, the aluminum bleacher structure won't be strong enough to support it. They will have to pour some concrete and make it into something like we see on the current side, in which case they could completely revamp the concourse and where the entrances are.
Yes- WHY don't we have the Pickle Barrel selling world famous Cheesesteak's at the games?

Best damn idea yet.......and what about going back to having an outdoor grill cookin up sausages like they used to. That smell would waft over the student section and a buch of coeds with the munchies (I don't know why) would stampede over to the grill and load up. Those dogs were great, not like those crappy boiled things they call brats.

BobcatBulldog · Post by **BobcatBulldog** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:21 pm

kmax wrote:
Bay Area Cat wrote:It would be strange if they removed the track, as that is the best part of their facility. It's where they had the Olympic Trials, and is a very nice (and expensive) surface. It would certainly make the football field better if they took it out (and started the whole football complex from scratch, actually), but I had always thought that they would be best served to just make the current football field a track-only complex and build a real football stadium elsewhere. As for the current football field ... outside of the grass itself, there is literally nothing that is worth saving. The entire facility is a temporary facility that needs to be razed and built from scratch.
I could be wrong, just going off what I remembered hearing on the TV broadcast. I know for sure they said they would be cutting out seats to make it smaller, and I am pretty sure they said they would be moving things closer to the field. Not sure how they would do that while leaving the track.

I remember them saying that the stadium was built for something else originally and that they were going to build the new one smaller and closer to the campus. I think