Stadium renovation or construction plans down the road

[Warthog]

I would like to see an second (or expanded) highway exit north of town.

If you look at that old photo, unless I have the directions all mixed up, they are showing an exit there North of the stadium at Poe. But I could have that all mixed up. And if I am not mistaken, an additional exit north of Wooster has been in the ODOT plans for a while now, but they have said the exit would not be at Poe, but somewhere north of that.

[hammb]

.... concession stands need to be plentiful and serve quality food. (I can get a Montgomery Inn BBQ Sandwich at Yager). Why can't I get Polleye's stuffed breadsticks or a Tony Paco's hot dog at Doyt? We are in farm country.... how about an angus hamburger!

This past season they did bring in Baldy-Q to provide some BBQ off the south side of the stadium, and I personally think this was a fantastic move. Baldy-Q is freaking good, the best ribs I ate at the rib-off last year. I've eaten at pretty much all the local BBQ joints, and that (along with Deet's) is about as good as BBQ gets in NW Ohio. Major props to them for that. Sadly, I will admit I never partook in the eats...I'm so in the habit of never eating at the Doyt, I should have broken that habit to try and keep Baldy-Q there for future years, because that was a great idea.

That being said, I'm with you a billion percent on the food at BG games. This is one area where I've always felt we don't fully embrace what BG is. BG is filled with good, locally owned, eateries. How freaking awesome would it be to have a Mr. Spots stand at the Doyt or Stroh? How about Myle's pizza? Call So and have him set up gyros out there. BG has a long tradition of keeping big chain restaurants out and embracing local eats. So why in god's name are the choices at BG sporting events major chains like Papa John's pizza or generic catering crap from Gladieux or whoever runs the stands now? I really think this is something the university should have thought of with the Stroh and should think of if they ever build a new football stadium.

Metzger & I were talking about it the other day during the basketball game and a big problem with the athletic department is that they don't realize the industry that they're in. The fans that come to the games are the customers and they really should be bending over backwards to provide the best game day experience they can. Something is wrong when you can seem to get a more personal game day experience at the 115,000 seat Big House than what you do at the Doyt.

As for stadium designs I absolutely loved WMU's stadium. Obviously we don't have the natural terrain to build our stadium into a hill, but I would sure love to see an artificially created grassy hill in one of the endzones. Don't know why, just love being able to kick back on the grass to watch the game.

[hammb]

I would like to see an second (or expanded) highway exit north of town.

If you look at that old photo, unless I have the directions all mixed up, they are showing an exit there North of the stadium at Poe. But I could have that all mixed up. And if I am not mistaken, an additional exit north of Wooster has been in the ODOT plans for a while now, but they have said the exit would not be at Poe, but somewhere north of that.

I think you're correct on that old photo. I remember hearing a while back that ODOT wanted it on Newton Rd. Given that nothing has really grown up in that direction yet, I can't see that exit being a real high priority with so many other road projects going on...and some being put on indefinite hold until funding can be found.

[Falcon137]

So...nobody wants to build a completely new stadium? WTH is Tech83? This thread needs an architect's input...

Stop using Nippert as an example. Cincinnati is a major metropolitan area and can support that size of facility. So - Think Akron and Miami. Let's be creative and unique for BGSU and other mid-majors.

Nippert's capacity is only 35k. BG could do Nippert without the upper deck and have a capacity close to 30k. The stands are the side extremely steep and the students in the endzone create a pretty loud stadium, especially since they enclosed the other side.

UC's largest crowd at Nippert last year was 28,431 for a Thursday night game on ESPN against NC State.

They draw in the 40s when they play at Paul Brown.

I'm not saying build a Nippert replica, but, if you've seen a game there, it is a great place to watch college football. The problem for UC is they have no room to expand, it sucks getting to, parking is awful, they need to redo the concessions / restrooms and they have no room to add luxury boxes.

[Dayons_Den]

I agree that looking at Nippert is not the way.

Take a look at our cousins (not the kissing variety) in Bowling Green, KY. Their original stadium was built around the same time ours was and they recently remodeled it for an affordable $70million at a 22,000 seat capacity.

[Falcon137]

Wow, WKU's is really impressive.

[Globetrotter]

I agree that looking at Nippert is not the way.

Take a look at our cousins (not the kissing variety) in Bowling Green, KY. Their original stadium was built around the same time ours was and they recently remodeled it for an affordable $70million at a 22,000 seat capacity.

What are all those objects in the seats at WKU?

[footballguy51]

I agree that looking at Nippert is not the way.

Take a look at our cousins (not the kissing variety) in Bowling Green, KY. Their original stadium was built around the same time ours was and they recently remodeled it for an affordable $70million at a 22,000 seat capacity.

What are all those objects in the seats at WKU?

I think those are fans. I'm not absolutely positive, but I think they are.

[manager]

With academic buildings crying out for rehab/replacement the last thing BGSU needs to spend another dime on is the football stadium.

[Dayons_Den]

The red specs are removable seat backs presumably for season ticket holders. We used to have them at BG as well, they were black with orange LT falcon heads on them. I think at one time you might have been able to rent them. They are used on the flat, backless, metal bleachers.

[Globetrotter]

I agree that looking at Nippert is not the way.

Take a look at our cousins (not the kissing variety) in Bowling Green, KY. Their original stadium was built around the same time ours was and they recently remodeled it for an affordable $70million at a 22,000 seat capacity.

What are all those objects in the seats at WKU?

I think those are fans. I'm not absolutely positive, but I think they are.

Thats what I was getting at....tell me more about them. Are they at other stadiums?

[Flipper]

I think that creating an area for local food vendors to set up shop is great...it would be a step towards aligning the town with the University...although if the Sent-trib letters to the editor were any indication, a number of locals might prefer national chains being in the mix...

[Lord_Byron]

Thats what I was getting at....tell me more about them. Are they at other stadiums?

Yes, a lot of schools do it. Season ticket holders can pay extra to have chair backs installed.

Here's what it looks like at Florida:

[BGSU33]

Those images of WKU are exactly along the lines of what I was referring to about a double deck. A lot of people hear double deck and think huge capacity. That isn't the case cross the board. Schools like WKU and Akron have done very much along the lines of what I would love to see us do at BG. If we do what Kent State has done with that crappy little "grand stand" on the one side we will kill our stadium.

[Flipper]

Tech83...you can build a "tower" and not have it be all private boxes. My brother has seats in Michigan's new tower. They have a sort of inside common lounge on his level with specific, numbered outside seats.
If we built something like that under a shorter row of boxes for donors and the Pres...maybe even under the press row and then sold the game seats at a premium, I think it could work...kind of a club level. I'd pay a pretty heavy premium to keep my wife and Laurel from complaining about the cold all the time while I watched the game in peace.