Stadium Expansion News For East Side?

[Catsrgrood]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Obviously there’s a limit, I don’t want to see a 50k capacity stadium, but looking a little less than a packed house here and there is well worth the trade off of a bigger stadium.

Give me a 28-30k person stadium that sells out a few games a year and is 90% full for the other games vs a 22-24k person stadium that is sold out every game.

[coloradocat]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Obviously there’s a limit, I don’t want to see a 50k capacity stadium, but looking a little less than a packed house here and there is well worth the trade off of a bigger stadium.

Give me a 28-30k person stadium that sells out a few games a year and is 90% full for the other games vs a 22-24k person stadium that is sold out every game.

Yep, that's why I used the 20/22/25 examples. A 25K stadium would probably about 30K with SRO. We could probably build something to get us up to 35K if the legends are true but we'll never have/need a 50K stadium.

[Colter_Nuanez]

I have been waiting for @Colter_Nuanez to chime in with insider information, but he hasn’t. So, Colter, what do you know about this stadium expansion stuff? Spill the beans, dude!

I actually asked around and I have nothing for you as of right now...

[lutecat]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Exactly, no matter what you do there will be a significant number of empty seats during blowout games. And it might not look good but I'm fine with having some empty areas in the top corners of an expanded stadium when MSU plays Mercyhurst or Portland State if we have a bigger stadium that will still be packed with fans for Gold Rush, Homecoming, Cat/Griz, and big playoff games.

We dont sell out playoff games, FYI.

[Cataholic]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Exactly, no matter what you do there will be a significant number of empty seats during blowout games. And it might not look good but I'm fine with having some empty areas in the top corners of an expanded stadium when MSU plays Mercyhurst or Portland State if we have a bigger stadium that will still be packed with fans for Gold Rush, Homecoming, Cat/Griz, and big playoff games.

We dont sell out playoff games, FYI.

Nobody does.

[aucat]

Lots of comments here about providing enough student tickets. Well, that's great that MSU students support Bobcat football. However, student support for Bobcat men's and women's basketball is beyond pathetic. It is almost nonexistent. And that is a total mystery to me.

[St George]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

Include multiple alcohol gardens in the stadium and get rid of reentry. Plus give the tailgates an hour after the game before they have to take down and clean up.

[coloradocat]

Lots of comments here about providing enough student tickets. Well, that's great that MSU students support Bobcat football. However, student support for Bobcat men's and women's basketball is beyond pathetic. It is almost nonexistent. And that is a total mystery to me.

Montana is a football state, not a basketball state. Likewise, MSU is a football school, not a basketball school.

Beyond that, it seems like student support for basketball has increased as the quality of the teams has increased in recent years. Winning = fans. When the men's team is just ok for generations with a few blips of good teams that's going to hurt fan attendance when a built in culture doesn't already exist.

[aucat]

Lots of comments here about providing enough student tickets. Well, that's great that MSU students support Bobcat football. However, student support for Bobcat men's and women's basketball is beyond pathetic. It is almost nonexistent. And that is a total mystery to me.

Montana is a football state, not a basketball state. Likewise, MSU is a football school, not a basketball school.

Beyond that, it seems like student support for basketball has increased as the quality of the teams has increased in recent years. Winning = fans. When the men's team is just ok for generations with a few blips of good teams that's going to hurt fan attendance when a built in culture doesn't already exist.

Well, I know this is the football page not the basketball page, but if you look at attendance at high school basketball all throughout this state I would have to disagree with you that Montana doesn't care about basketball. IMO the students are just missing out. Look at the student attendance at schools throughout the nation. Heck, look at Grand Canyon U. Anyway, it's a mystery to me. But...back to football for now!

[MSU01]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Exactly, no matter what you do there will be a significant number of empty seats during blowout games. And it might not look good but I'm fine with having some empty areas in the top corners of an expanded stadium when MSU plays Mercyhurst or Portland State if we have a bigger stadium that will still be packed with fans for Gold Rush, Homecoming, Cat/Griz, and big playoff games.

We dont sell out playoff games, FYI.

They don't? Both the Idaho and South Dakota games last year had higher attendances than the official seating capacity of 17,777. Anyway, my original point wasn't that those games have been sell outs, just that if playing home quarterfinal and semifinal games continues to be a yearly expectation that they could continue to see increasing demand for those tickets that a larger stadium could support.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Lots of comments here about providing enough student tickets. Well, that's great that MSU students support Bobcat football. However, student support for Bobcat men's and women's basketball is beyond pathetic. It is almost nonexistent. And that is a total mystery to me.

When I was a student the men’s team was bad, and just not much fun to watch. There weren’t any local players, just isn’t the same.

Now as an adult with young kids I’d like to go, but the start times of most of the games make it difficult to pull off.

[St George]

I barely remember men's BB at MSU. But I remember the announcer. One players name stuck in my head, LeeeeeeeeeRoooooooy Morrrrrrrrennnnnooooooooooooooo.

[WalkOn79]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Exactly, no matter what you do there will be a significant number of empty seats during blowout games. And it might not look good but I'm fine with having some empty areas in the top corners of an expanded stadium when MSU plays Mercyhurst or Portland State if we have a bigger stadium that will still be packed with fans for Gold Rush, Homecoming, Cat/Griz, and big playoff games.

We dont sell out playoff games, FYI.

Did you go to the last two semi’s played in Bobcat Stadium? Looked pretty sold out to me both times.

[4KornerKat]

Just my 2 Cents worth

My son enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2016, he graduated in spring of 2020.
We have season tickets but during that time he bought student tickets. He got a student ticket for every home game during the 4 years. Sometimes he even bought a "buddy ticket" as it was allowed for a friend that was not an MSU student.

My point is that from his experience I believe that every student that really wants to attend football games can. Some of those that are attending for the social aspects of the game may be hit or miss.

Would be nice if most of them stuck around for the 2nd half.

That's not unique to students though, last Saturday at least half of the people who sit near us left for the tailgates late in the second quarter and never returned.

My answer to "how big should the expansion be" will always be that it should be dictated by the amount of money they have to spend. If they can afford to go big with it, then absolutely they should do that. Plan for the long-term because MSU won't be playing in the FCS and Big Sky Conference forever.

The downside to adding too many seats is that they look bad when they're empty. That's the only downside and we already have that in the second half of a majority games with the current capacity. Might as well spend as much money as you can raise. There can't be much of a difference between promoting a 20K vs 22K vs 25K seating capacity expansion. Anyone who's been to a game during the Vigen era knows we can sell more tickets.

Exactly, no matter what you do there will be a significant number of empty seats during blowout games. And it might not look good but I'm fine with having some empty areas in the top corners of an expanded stadium when MSU plays Mercyhurst or Portland State if we have a bigger stadium that will still be packed with fans for Gold Rush, Homecoming, Cat/Griz, and big playoff games.

We dont sell out playoff games, FYI.

Did you go to the last two semi’s played in Bobcat Stadium? Looked pretty sold out to me both times.

I believe regular season attendance is counted based on tickets sold and anyone else they can count to inflate the number. Playoff attendance is counted by people entering the gate. So same size crowd can be a sellout during season but be short in playoffs.

[WalkOn79]

We deflate the Playoff numbers to keep $ out of the NCAA's pockets.

[Catsrgrood]

From what I’ve always heard in the past, Regular season attendance includes absolutely every warm body inside the stadium, including players, refs, chain gang, concession workers, etc.
That’s how we’re able to get 4k+ above our seating capacity.

Playoff attendance is either actual tickets sold or people through the gate, I don’t remember which. But it doesn’t include all of those other people.

That’s why we can have a sold out playoff game and every seat is packed and the SRO hill packed but only hit 20k attendance or whatever our official number has been.

[MSU01]

From what I’ve always heard in the past, Regular season attendance includes absolutely every warm body inside the stadium, including players, refs, chain gang, concession workers, etc.
That’s how we’re able to get 4k+ above our seating capacity.

Playoff attendance is either actual tickets sold or people through the gate, I don’t remember which. But it doesn’t include all of those other people.

That’s why we can have a sold out playoff game and every seat is packed and the SRO hill packed but only hit 20k attendance or whatever our official number has been.

Correct, if a playoff attendance exceeds the stadium capacity you know it's a REAL sellout.

[St George]

From what I’ve always heard in the past, Regular season attendance includes absolutely every warm body inside the stadium, including players, refs, chain gang, concession workers, etc.
That’s how we’re able to get 4k+ above our seating capacity.

Playoff attendance is either actual tickets sold or people through the gate, I don’t remember which. But it doesn’t include all of those other people.

That’s why we can have a sold out playoff game and every seat is packed and the SRO hill packed but only hit 20k attendance or whatever our official number has been.

I have waited years for this explanation, thank you.

[catbooster]

The NCAA takes 85% of the gate, so schools do not count anyone they don't have to for the playoffs.

[TankerZack]

Lots of comments here about providing enough student tickets. Well, that's great that MSU students support Bobcat football. However, student support for Bobcat men's and women's basketball is beyond pathetic. It is almost nonexistent. And that is a total mystery to me.

Montana is a football state, not a basketball state. Likewise, MSU is a football school, not a basketball school.

Beyond that, it seems like student support for basketball has increased as the quality of the teams has increased in recent years. Winning = fans. When the men's team is just ok for generations with a few blips of good teams that's going to hurt fan attendance when a built in culture doesn't already exist.

Well, I know this is the football page not the basketball page, but if you look at attendance at high school basketball all throughout this state I would have to disagree with you that Montana doesn't care about basketball. IMO the students are just missing out. Look at the student attendance at schools throughout the nation. Heck, look at Grand Canyon U. Anyway, it's a mystery to me. But...back to football for now!

When's the last time a meaningful player from the state of Montana played for the cats and did anything? Talent differential is massive. I think the instate factor is massive