No doubting what the MAC's best stadium will be in 2009!

[BGSU33]

I know there is a link in the “other schools” forum about this, but I thought I’d put one here too for those that may not check over there. Today, Akron’s Board of Trustees approved the financing and construction on a brand new $55 million on-campus facility today. They will open it up in 2009 with a game vs Kentucky. This is major news for Akron and there is no doubt what facility will be the jewel of the MAC in two years. This stadium is going to have the rest of the conference playing catch-up for many years to come. Here are some links to the stadium, the first one has a gallery with several photos. Very impressive.

http://www.uakron.edu/stadium/stadiumView.php

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... ID=1146568

[BGSU33]

Aside from the Sebo Center and FieldTurf project at BG, here are some recent upgrades and construction projects I am aware of going on at other MAC schools:

NIU: Opened New Endzone Facility
http://www3.niu.edu/athletics/aapc/index.html
http://niuhuskies.cstv.com/genrel/073007aaa.html

Ball State: New Press Tower, New Endzone Structure, FieldTurf
http://admin.xosn.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?P ... R_CONTENT=

CMU: New Videoboards
http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle ... LID=925749

OU: Press Tower Overhaul
http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... 06aae.html

[JoeFalcon]

This is nice for them, but they need to worry about whether anyone will show up to see it. Coming off their first MAC championship in school history, they were only 9th in total attendence (BG was 4th). Because of their long histories of losing, the football fans of Northeast Ohio have ignored both Akron and Kent for decades. Not even a shiny new toy (which is still $9 million of private funds away) might be enough to get them away from watching the Evil Empire in front of the TV Saturday afternoons.

Between our indoor facility, the new scoreboard, the Sebo Center and the turf, we're more than keeping pace in terms of football facilities.

[Falconfreak90]

It will be a sweet stadium and Akron sorely needs it. The RB is almost 70 years old.

Mrs. Freak's company, Infocision, will have naming rights along with Summa. Personally, I like a "corporate free" name like, oh, Doyt Perry Stadium.

I agree with JoeFalcon that just because Akron gets a brand new stadium does not mean they will be the team to beat.

But, it is good for Akron. They have built some impressive facilities lately.

[BGSU33]

I personally think this is exactly what Akron needs to springboard itself forward. When you now look at Akron as a university, the key piece it’s missing is an on-campus stadium. I took some classes at Akron before I attended BG about ten years ago, and taking a walk on the Akron campus now compared to when I was a student then - it’s a day and night difference. They have totally transformed that campus. Adding this stadium to what they have already done is going to be huge. I have to tip my hat to that university as a whole. They took what many, including myself, considered a very nondescript, ugly, urban campus that few people would have ever considered as their “choice” university to attend and they have turned it into a pretty nice school that is continually improving itself every year. Before I went back to see the campus again recently for myself, I kept hearing people talking about how they liked Akron’s campus, about how nice the landscaping and buildings were, etc., and I was like, Akron??? Is there another University of Akron I am not aware of? Then I went back and saw the new buildings, the new landscaping, the rec center and field house, etc., and I have to agree. I personally still like the campuses of BG, OU & Miami a lot better, but Akron has made tremendous strides and this stadium is going to surpass the rest of the MAC facilities in two years. And you can mark my word, they will have an increase in attendance when it’s built and in use, no doubt about it.

[falconfan1999]

An upgrade to facilities by any MAC school can only help the conference as a whole! No matter what Akron does, we are still going to own them!

[Falconfreak90]

An upgrade to facilities by any MAC school can only help the conference as a whole! No matter what Akron does, we are still going to own them!

Unfortunately, it is Akron that has "owned" us in the last few years. BG only leads the all time series, 8-7 right now and the Zippies have won 4 of the last 5 against us. Time for that to change in '07.

GO FALCONS

[1987alum]

An upgrade to facilities by any MAC school can only help the conference as a whole! No matter what Akron does, we are still going to own them!

I hope you're right. We've lost, I believe, four of our last five games against the Zippers.

[JoeFalcon]

I Fear the Roo.

[Falconbadger]

The models of the new Akron facility are very impressive. I like the fact that they're aiming for a reasonable number of seats -- 30,000. One thing a facility like that has to be is a great recruiting tool. When a potential player visits campus and sees a facility like that, he'll get a "big time" college football impression. I think the improvements at the Doyt can also have that kind of effect for BG recruiting. It wasn't all that long ago when the majority of MAC facilities -- for football and basketball -- were almost glorified high school venues. I remember talking to a Falcon player back in the early '70s when Miami was still playing in their old stadium. He'd been recruited by both BG and Miami and said that the fact that the Doyt was so much more impressive a stadium than Miami's was a big factor in his choosing Bowling Green.

It's good to see some of these moves being made. I'm hoping to make it to a BG home game this year for the first time since something like 1978. I have been to three road games since (two at Wisconsin, one at Northern Illinois), but I'm looking forward to seeing how much the Doyt has changed.

[NWLB]

I said years ago the MAC couldn't match big schools in size and money, but could go for a Boutique approach, creating the best small facilities out there. That has really started to happen in recent years. Sure, we don't seat 40,000 to 100,000, but the facilities are so exceptional, you don't feel like you are at a lower rent program.

[Globetrotter]

I personally think this is exactly what Akron needs to springboard itself forward. When you now look at Akron as a university, the key piece it’s missing is an on-campus stadium. I took some classes at Akron before I attended BG about ten years ago, and taking a walk on the Akron campus now compared to when I was a student then - it’s a day and night difference. They have totally transformed that campus. Adding this stadium to what they have already done is going to be huge. I have to tip my hat to that university as a whole. They took what many, including myself, considered a very nondescript, ugly, urban campus that few people would have ever considered as their “choice” university to attend and they have turned it into a pretty nice school that is continually improving itself every year. Before I went back to see the campus again recently for myself, I kept hearing people talking about how they liked Akron’s campus, about how nice the landscaping and buildings were, etc., and I was like, Akron??? Is there another University of Akron I am not aware of? Then I went back and saw the new buildings, the new landscaping, the rec center and field house, etc., and I have to agree. I personally still like the campuses of BG, OU & Miami a lot better, but Akron has made tremendous strides and this stadium is going to surpass the rest of the MAC facilities in two years. And you can mark my word, they will have an increase in attendance when it’s built and in use, no doubt about it.

Agreed having it right in the middle of campus is very important.

[1987alum]

I said years ago the MAC couldn't match big schools in size and money, but could go for a Boutique approach, creating the best small facilities out there. That has really started to happen in recent years. Sure, we don't seat 40,000 to 100,000, but the facilities are so exceptional, you don't feel like you are at a lower rent program.

NWLB:

Agreed. As a great person once said, "Bigger isn't better. Better is better."

[BGSU33]

Another thing to note about the upgraded looks and changes going on with the new MAC facilities is, several MAC schools are going to grass hills/berms in an endzone for additional seating while also adding a landscaped look to the facility. I mentioned possibly doing something like this at BG a few years ago. Ohio put in a small hill in its south endzone a few years ago called Victory Hill where people also sit. Ball State is building one in its north endzone with a colonnade of bricks arched around the top of the berm. Also, Akron will be putting a grass berm in its north endzone of the new stadium they are building. EMU sort of already has this in its south endzone as well but with the track between it and the field and the lack of large crowds, I’ve never seen anyone sitting on it or using it.

[falconfan1]

I agree with the above sentiment- improvements at any MAC school helps the MAC as a whole. Akron has a few hurdles to get by to open play in 2009 in the new stadium. In any event, they will play there in 2010. Good for them.

JoeFalcon lists our improvements etc and says we are keeping pace and passing most in the MAC. He is 100% right and he left out the brand new lockerroom for football. It will be very, very nice and a huge upgrade in terms of preparation, player comfort and recruiting.

Go Falcons!