49 years of Doyt Perry Stadium

[Schadenfreude]

I wonder who the donor was. That's fabulous.

Perhaps someone can find the materials that were submitted to the board of trustees and post a link to them here?

[BGSU33]

This is exactly the kind of thing I wish alums, fans and season ticket holders could meet with BG's administration in some sort of informal meeting to throw out some ideas, concerns, suggestions or just brainstorm. Let's face it, many of us on here are the heartbeat of our programs in terms of those who truly care and are invested. We might not have millions to donate but we all have a general drive to see BG succeed with performances, facilities, coaches, administration, etc. Those things truly matter to me and I know I'm not alone here.

[BillyLP]

That was 2007...I would guess that the cost of steel and concrete has risen a lot because Orlando is building a 20,000 MLS stadium that broke ground a year ago for $110 million

Orlando's stadium includes a huge indoor complex and extensive offices attached too. It's an amazing facility, and the seating structure is actually exactly what I would love for BG to have. I think it would realistically take about $70 million to build a stadium that could be considered the best in the MAC, should we have to start from scratch.

[Bob the Builder]

I'll do the needed repairs for $4 million....so long as you're willing to live with a few cut corners here and there and please...for the love of God...don't ask any of my workers to provide proof that they're licensed, bonded or even here legally. Comprende?

Can we fix it?

We'll sure as hell try as long as the checks clear!

[zete]

Hard to justify a stadium as fair weather and apathetic as the fans (and students) in the immediate area are. The weeknight ESPN games attract around three - five thousand; less on a poor temp rain snow windy evening.
BG just does not draw enough people over the span of a season to justify anything over 5 million.
I wish we had 'em hanging from the rafters and knocking each other over to get in. But I do not see it anytime soon.

[BGSU33]

That was 2007...I would guess that the cost of steel and concrete has risen a lot because Orlando is building a 20,000 MLS stadium that broke ground a year ago for $110 million

Orlando's stadium includes a huge indoor complex and extensive offices attached too. It's an amazing facility, and the seating structure is actually exactly what I would love for BG to have. I think it would realistically take about $70 million to build a stadium that could be considered the best in the MAC, should we have to start from scratch.

I have been to UCF's stadium (I've actually been to 121 of the current 128 FBS stadiums across the country) and thought it was so-so. I would still take Akron's stadium in a heartbeat for BG over UCF's. As for stadiums from the state of Florida, something like FAU's would be awesome at BG. FAU and FIU both recently built/rebuilt new stadiums but FAU's is much better.

[MacGuy]

BG has to figure out what the future will be for football in the MAC. Not easy. Ten years from now will the P5 conferences have their own rules and scholarship limits? With fewer high school graduates in Ohio and internet education, will the student population continue to drop? All of these questions impact the size of a new or rebuilt stadium.

[zete]

BG has to figure out what the future will be for football in the MAC. Not easy. Ten years from now will the P5 conferences have their own rules and scholarship limits? With fewer high school graduates in Ohio and internet education, will the student population continue to drop? All of these questions impact the size of a new or rebuilt stadium.

The stadium is one way of showing off BGSU to prospective students, athletes, and parents. ie. Band Day, Parents Weekend, Little Sis and Bro weekend, HS football team day, etc. Most of these folks could careless about the game in front of them. Thus, the stadium does need to appear aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But if, as you are saying these numbers begin to drop, we may only need something like 10-15 thousand seating cap. to serve the purpose.
I for one thought the Stroh was build way too small, but I was wrong.

[Flipper]

The historic average attendance at the Doyt is right around 15k. They should probably keep the seating at that 20-25k range. Anything less says "FCS" and anything more is overkill.

[Falcon137]

The stadium is one way of showing off BGSU to prospective students, athletes, and parents. ie. Band Day, Parents Weekend, Little Sis and Bro weekend, HS football team day, etc. Most of these folks could careless about the game in front of them. Thus, the stadium does need to appear aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But if, as you are saying these numbers begin to drop, we may only need something like 10-15 thousand seating cap. to serve the purpose.

Lets just play on the practice field and everyone can bring their own chairs.

[zete]

The stadium is one way of showing off BGSU to prospective students, athletes, and parents. ie. Band Day, Parents Weekend, Little Sis and Bro weekend, HS football team day, etc. Most of these folks could careless about the game in front of them. Thus, the stadium does need to appear aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But if, as you are saying these numbers begin to drop, we may only need something like 10-15 thousand seating cap. to serve the purpose.

Lets just play on the practice field and everyone can bring their own chairs.

As far as that goes, our practice area is about as drab as it can be. I would take some of that 5 million and put some trees, flowering shrubs and perennials out that way.

[Flipper]

Yep..nothing gets a team ready to play more effectively than a flowering shrub

[zete]

Right, it would probably have about the same affect as the 15k that show up only to be seen leaving in mass mid-way through the third quarter more times than not. That really gets "a team ready to play" as the game progresses. Frankly, the whole setting leaves a lot to be desired and wo much of fan base we are just going to remain as we have -just floating along.
I wish there were thousands of folks, like the ones appearing on this site, having the passion to make more happen.

[apollo]

I agree on the point that you cannot dump 50+ million dollars into the stadium until you figure out where BG and the MAC sits in the national landscape for football. Personally I think the MAC in general wastes too much money of football as it is, but 5 years from now the P5 may have this thing out of control. It makes sense to wait a few years and evaluate where things are at nationally. Also if you are going to do a significant stadium renovation, the University is going to have to jump on board and invest the money. There aren't the donors out there to fund a $100 million renovation. I would take a look at any athletic facility that needs upgraded and do it all at once. Hockey, Baseball, Soccer, tennis etc...include more academic buildings. Have another big campaign and do it right once as opposed to 40 different campaigns that won't get done.
Like I said though the only way this gets done is if the University leads the way. BGSU needs to start upping their support for athletics if they are going to have both football and hockey.

[mscarn]

...if you are going to do a significant stadium renovation, the University is going to have to jump on board and invest the money. There aren't the donors out there to fund a $100 million renovation....Have another big campaign and do it right once as opposed to 40 different campaigns that won't get done.
Like I said though the only way this gets done is if the University leads the way. BGSU needs to start upping their support for athletics if they are going to have both football and hockey.

10,000% agree. The fact we had a donor was tremendous but you can't rely exclusively on them for projects of this magnitude. The university (President and BOT) has been asleep at the switch when it comes to athletics for decades. The Stroh only got done because of donors and if they think they can handle football in the same way then we should leave the MAC tomorrow. The leadership needs to step up and make a commitment, not nibble around the edges and fund more half-measures and "studies" ad infinitum.

Are the board meetings public? They need to hear our voice.