Bobcat Stadium Expansion

[BobcatDad]

I know this topic has been broached before, but it's an overcast, dreary Easter Sunday here in California and I need to talk Bobcat football. Does anyone have some hard figures on what it would cost to replace those dangerous old (high school) bleachers in the end zone with permanent bleachers? I am aware that the university doesn't want to do any more improvements to the stadium until the current debt is reduced, but what about private donations from some deep pocket boosters or alums!! Anyone out there know of some doors we can knock on to make this happen? I know that there is trmendous wealth in Southern Montana and I think it is time that MSU's Bobcat stadium be brought up to par with it's (cough, cough) cousins to the West. How about it ........Is this a pipe dream or can this board get the ball rolling??!!!????

[Cat Grad]

Great topic. I would think we could haul truckloads of dirt to both endzones and turn both of them into something similar to Georgia Southern's family-friendly atmosphere For this year, I'd love to see temporary bleachers that'd seat double that place you mentioned (I think it's about a couple of hundred miles to the west? just off I-90 so their "college" graduates can find it Long term, I think we're going to have to tap the deep pockets near Big Sky. Some of the folks that've bought lots in Ski Yellowstone could easily buy all the private land in Montana--and everything Dennis Washington owns along with their tax write off Don't know what our fundraisers are waiting for; maybe they're from the midwest or another place not used to talking to the filthy rich

[gtapp]

There are several different plans and several phases for each plan. The simplist solution (plan) is to remove the bleachers and bowl in that end zone at about 1/2 to 2/3 of the height of the existing student section. That cost has been rumored to be about $850K to $1M. Phase two is to add two sections at the other end that connect the warming houses to the existing structure. I have not heard estimates on this but would guess it to be another $1M+. These are very simple structures but would get the job done. When you start talking about replacing the existing student section the costs are significant, especially if you add sky boxes and/or indoor concessions. There have been a lot of boosters complain (not me) about this plan because it would block the view of the mountains. Bozeman is being overrun by successful people looking for a simpler life. The money is in the valley but the difference between Missoula and Bozeman is that the people moving into Missoula have really gotten behind the griz. Thah has not been the case in Bozeman.

[BobcatDad]

C'mon folks .....we need to start thinking bigger here, not like some small town yokols. MSU is known for it's intellect and high academic standards. It's time to start networking. It is time to bring this town into the twenty-first -century!!!!!! Take a minute and view....... WWW.barkboard.com. (pull up the fan forum) Fresno State has the San Jauquin Valley involved in supporting its football program. The Green V association. They are pulling in tens of millions of dollars from the valley. You can't tell me that with a little effort we can't bring in a couple of million!!!!!!!

[Cat Grad]

Well, yes. Lew Burdette brought Jim Sweeney and what's his name that went to Miami and built a REAL program; he even had Sonny Lubick and Cliff Hysell down there for quite some time But---we've never done very well with this kind of riff-raff in Bozo Sam Jankovich could really get us moving, but he'd probably try to hire Dennis Erickson, and that would never sit very well with the city fathers in Bozo either Could you imagine Joe Tiller or Jerry Glanville showing up in town? What are you trying to do? Give us a reputation as a bunch of beer swilling, wild, football crazy people? We'd probably have to triple the security for every game!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're sophisticated now! When's the last time you've seen any Butte people in Bozo!