New stadium for Akron!!!

[BGSU33]

Wow! If this doesn't help Akron in football, nothing will. Take a look at this link with information and photos.

http://www.wkyc.com/akron/akron_fullstory.asp?id=24789

[CapitalFalcon]

Hmmm...The Sebo Student Athlete Center and J. Robert Sebo Stadium home of Doyt L. Perry field...I think that kind of has a nice ring to it don't you???

[Metz]

That does have a nice ring, but I wouldn't ask for anything else from Mr. Sebo! I'm sure you were joking about that Motown but yeah, that still would be nice But back to the topic of the thread, their new field looks pretty nice. I really don't like the fact that it's in a horse shoe shape and I'm sure I do not need to explain why. I do like the fact that it sits below street level though. It makes the stadium feel more enclosed. They better have a good drainage plan or that field will be 100% water when it rains around there (unless they plan on using it for swim meets as well).

[Class of 61]

For those of you who've never been to Michigan, their stadium is well under the ground level....remember how shocked I was the 1st time I went their (as a BG frosh, no less). Had never seen anything like it...at that time. Don't think that water per se would be a problem, since most new stadia have 1.some type artificial turf and 2. special drainage systems put in prior to construction of field area itself. 8)

[BGSUfanatUT]

man what a good year for MAC schools. BG gets the SAC, Akron a new whole stadium and MU(though for CCHA) gets a new hockey facility!

Lots of money being dropped into athletics recently, this is a good sign for the mid majors to start contending with the "big boys". Facilities was always one of the biggest gaps between the 2 levels of programs.

[BGSU33]

That's the thing with facilities, the work is never done, you must always keep building or improving or you will get left behind. At BG, we've been left behind because most of our facilities that already needed work were just left untouched. Now, we're starting to make the necessary moves and get the funding for what needs done. The football stadium is making progress, and once the SAC is built, it will be a huge lift to the stadium.

Anderson Arena has been in need of major work for many years. We have got to make it our next project at BG in terms of facilities improvement. We either need to renovate it or build the convocation center, but the place is in need of some major help and has been for years. I love AA dearly, but it's also sad to see the state it is in. Broken and split wooded seats (especially the bench seats), floor tiles coming apart, an ancient sound system, cramped locker rooms (you don't even want to see the visitor locker room), thrown together coaches offices, small seating capacity that keeps shrinking (now down to 4,700), a tiny concourse, one set of restrooms, very few concession stands, etc. The list goes on and on. Painting the multi-color columns inside orange and repairing the torn banners was nice, but not nearly enough.

[Metz]

For those of you who've never been to Michigan, their stadium is well under the ground level....remember how shocked I was the 1st time I went their (as a BG frosh, no less). Had never seen anything like it...at that time. Don't think that water per se would be a problem, since most new stadia have 1.some type artificial turf and 2. special drainage systems put in prior to construction of field area itself. 8)

My first time to The Big House was my frosh year here as well. I remember walking in and realizing I was about 80 some rows off the field and being like "Son of a, I gotta get down to row 17, that's a lot of steps!" Being that it was a Michigan-suckeys game, it took a good 5-10 minutes to get down to my seats because the place was just packed!

[BGBreeze]

Don't look for Akron to build the stadium anytime soon! They have been talking about a new stadium for years. Now they have a nice artist drawing but that's it. They just completed $200 million worth of renovations and new building at Akron so I don't see them building a $40-$60 million stadium.

[FormerFreddie]

Coupla things:

About the drainage issues: The Akron soccer field (very close by) had MAJOR drainage/flooding issues some years ago. The reason was that the area that is now the field used to be homes in the early part of the 20th century. WHen the homes were demolished to expand the campus, all the rubble and foundations were left where they were. The ground didn't "percolate" and allow the water to be absorbed. Once ground water got past the topsoil level, there was concrete and brick. Hence, a heavy rain brought standing water. The proposed stadium site is also in a neighborhood that used to be residential. We'll see how that goes.

Doesn't a stadium with only 20,000 capacity sound small, especially for being located in decent-sized city? I mean, Ypsilanit, Muncie, Athens and BG are small towns, but there's a serious population base in Akron. If they could ever get the community behind the team, it'd be outgrown very soon.

I took classes at Akron from 2001-2003 in pursuit of a 2nd degree, and saw the overhaul that the campus took in that time. I also don't see them plunking down big bucks for a new football facility.

[hammb]

For those of you who've never been to Michigan, their stadium is well under the ground level....remember how shocked I was the 1st time I went their (as a BG frosh, no less). Had never seen anything like it...at that time. Don't think that water per se would be a problem, since most new stadia have 1.some type artificial turf and 2. special drainage systems put in prior to construction of field area itself. 8)

My first time at the CrapHouse was in '00 for the BG game, I also was quite suprirsed at low the stadium sat below ground level.

FWIW, Ohio Stadium's turf sits about 18' lower than the water level of the Olentangy river that is running right outside the stadium. This is hardly unprecedented.

[BGSU33]

Mike Thomas, the recently newly hired AD at Akron, will get this project completed. Mark my words. I know him from when he work here as an assistant AD at Virginia and he's a major go-getter. Akron will have a new stadium in the near future.

[Falconfreak90]

Mike Thomas may get it done but I don't see anything happening with this for at least 6-8 years. The Rubber Bowl needs to be replaced, no doubt.
Akron has been discussing this for quite some time. I, for one, hope they get it done.

Akron will never get the community behind the team until the team actually does something. It's a shame cuz this could be a sleeping giant...I know, I live here. Unfortunately, the Zips live in OSU's shadow here in the Rubber City. Years ago, they used to pack the place. But the Zips have NEVER won a conf title in football....ever.

[Schadenfreude]

The small size surprised me, too. I would think they'd want 25,000 seats.

I wonder if there is an MLS tie-in being contemplated.

[redskins4ever]

Actually the Shoe does not sit 18 feet blow the water table of the Olentangy, that was the original conceived notion of planners when they went to renovate the stadium and where they ended up losing almost 10,000 seats. When they dug to the 18 ft dept it was nothing but mud as they were very close to the water table because the nearness of the river. I think the stadium is only 6-8 ft underground.

Who cares about a stadium being underground? I want to know how many fans will show up!

[Hail Peden]

Ohio's stadium, Don Peden sits underground. About 8-10 feet deep.