Stadium renovation or construction plans down the road

[BGSU33]

I just watched the latest version of Ask the AD, and it sounds like we are going to start diving into plans for what to do about the football stadium. GC said we are going to have to either renovate Perry Stadium or build a new stadium all together.

Personally, I hope we opt for the latter, but that said, I say that with the understanding of keeping the Sebo Center and the new video board. In the last decade we have improved the stadium a great deal with a new endzone facility, playing surface, soon-to-be video board, etc. But the actual grandstands are exactly where I think we need to make the change. I would love to see us completely replace both grandstands and do them over with grandstands similar to what Akron has done - with two levels and a much higher pitch on the seats. If you look at our grandstands now, they slope way back much more than they climb up. Most new stadiums or additions are built with a steeper pitch to keep you closer and the stands more wrap around the field rather than drift away like we have now. It is very evident when you stand beyond the south side of the stadium and look towards it. But with that said, I do NOT want to see us lose a main grandstand and go with what Miami, Ball State or Kent State have, which is a grandstand with a smaller section across the field from it.

Another area we would be able to do if we build new is build a modern press box and facility such such as what Toledo, Central Michigan and Ohio have. I really hope we decide just to build new grandstands. We could remove the old ones we have and build them right in the same place while adding some of these new additions.

[footballguy51]

I vote for a horseshoe style grandstand. I'd love to close in the south endzone. If nothing else, I vote to not reduce the seating capacity we currently have. If nothing, I'd love to increase the capacity.

[BGDrew]

There's no point in increasing capacity at this time. We haven't sold out consistently since I can remember so that'd be an unneeded cost. Build something that would be easily expandable if need-be.

Don't build the church for Christmas and Easter.

[Falconfreak90]

I like the idea of building new grandstands on both sides of the stadium. No question the seating needs to be steeper.

[Falcon137]

I vote for a horseshoe style grandstand. I'd love to close in the south endzone. If nothing else, I vote to not reduce the seating capacity we currently have. If nothing, I'd love to increase the capacity.

I'd only be in favor of doing that if they reduced the seating on the east and west stands. I'd like something to Nippert Stadium, about 8-10k on each side and about a 5k seat student section in one of the endzones. Put 10 luxury boxes, a press box and Falcon Club area on one side.

If you enclosed the south endzone you would need to move the scoreboard, add another one or add a ribbon board to the Sebo center.

[kdog27]

Personally I do not like any college stadium that does not have seating in both end zones or at least have a hill that can be used as an overflow area. I was not a fan when they removed the end zone seating.

[Class of 61]

There's no point in increasing capacity at this time. We haven't sold out consistently since I can remember so that'd be an unneeded cost. Build something that would be easily expandable if need-be.

Don't build the church for Christmas and Easter.

Drew,
FWIW, the CURRENT stadium was allegedly built to be "expandable" (to around 40+K if I recall correctly)...Anderson Arena/Memorial Hall's North wall was plain concrete block to be "expandable" too. Obviously, we know what happened with these projects. This being the case, why COULDN't we add a 2nd deck to current stadium as the original plans indicated? As to making it the same size or smaller, hard to argue against your point of Non-"sellouts", but time for BG to commit to D-1 or not, IMHO.

[BGFan]

There's no point in increasing capacity at this time. We haven't sold out consistently since I can remember so that'd be an unneeded cost. Build something that would be easily expandable if need-be.

Don't build the church for Christmas and Easter.

Drew,
FWIW, the CURRENT stadium was allegedly built to be "expandable" (to around 40+K if I recall correctly)...Anderson Arena/Memorial Hall's North wall was plain concrete block to be "expandable" too. Obviously, we know what happened with these projects. This being the case, why COULDN't we add a 2nd deck to current stadium as the original plans indicated? As to making it the same size or smaller, hard to argue against your point of Non-"sellouts", but time for BG to commit to D-1 or not, IMHO.

I don't believe that the expandability of the stadium was in adding a second deck. It was designed to be configured into a complete bowl. I would be surprised if the superstructure of the stands could support a second deck.

[mjmorefield]

I vote for a horseshoe style grandstand. I'd love to close in the south endzone. If nothing else, I vote to not reduce the seating capacity we currently have. If nothing, I'd love to increase the capacity.

I'd only be in favor of doing that if they reduced the seating on the east and west stands. I'd like something to Nippert Stadium, about 8-10k on each side and about a 5k seat student section in one of the endzones. Put 10 luxury boxes, a press box and Falcon Club area on one side.

If you enclosed the south endzone you would need to move the scoreboard, add another one or add a ribbon board to the Sebo center.

Nippert is a beautiful stadium to see a game in. I remember them adding the second tier when they needed to expand seating. My wife's dorm was in Memorial (the brick building behind the endzone) she used to sneak me in when the weather was miserable and we'd watch the games from her bathroom window.

I'm all for building a new stadium if we can have it look like the bottom bowl of Nippert.

[mjmorefield]

There's no point in increasing capacity at this time. We haven't sold out consistently since I can remember so that'd be an unneeded cost. Build something that would be easily expandable if need-be.

Don't build the church for Christmas and Easter.

Drew,
FWIW, the CURRENT stadium was allegedly built to be "expandable" (to around 40+K if I recall correctly)...Anderson Arena/Memorial Hall's North wall was plain concrete block to be "expandable" too. Obviously, we know what happened with these projects. This being the case, why COULDN't we add a 2nd deck to current stadium as the original plans indicated? As to making it the same size or smaller, hard to argue against your point of Non-"sellouts", but time for BG to commit to D-1 or not, IMHO.

I don't believe that the expandability of the stadium was in adding a second deck. It was designed to be configured into a complete bowl. I would be surprised if the superstructure of the stands could support a second deck.

I thought I saw, and I cannot remember where, the original plans for The Doyt that included a second deck that was suspended by cables? am I way off on this one?

[factman]

You are correct! The original plans were in three stages, if I remember correctly. 2nd stage to bowl it in the the 3rd stage to add a second deck to both sides. The was also a "jetsons" like press box overhanging the field! Really wild looking.

[mjmorefield]

You are correct! The original plans were in three stages, if I remember correctly. 2nd stage to bowl it in the the 3rd stage to add a second deck to both sides. The was also a "jetsons" like press box overhanging the field! Really wild looking.

Where did I see the image and any idea where to dig an image up?

[Falcon Commander]

A VERY DIFFERENT DOYT
This original 1964 model depicts a much different stadium than what houses the Falcons today. The stadium was designed to be completely enclosed, and (judging from present capacity and design changes) may have held around 50,000 fans. A press box was suspended in mid-air by four arch-like pillars.

(from Ballparks.com)

[BGFan]

This link has information concerning the expandability of the stadium but none of the concept art that I've seen in the past. Looks like it was designed to be expanded to 60,0000 if needed. I seem to recall somebody mentioning that, at the time, there were plans to grow BGSU significantly (thus the design with expansion in mind). OSU, of course, took offense and the rest is history...

[Globetrotter]

I have seent hat pic as well, not sure where.