Game Day Experience

[TG1996]

Re: merchandise tent, I'm guessing they thought most people enter on the west side so they would move it to the masses. Unfortunately, the tent was way too small to accommodate the crowds.

Another reason to open up an entry point in the south endzone.

[BGSU33]

Something REALLY needs to be done with the south endzone. There are a number of things we could do to improve the stadium and some of the issues mentioned by doing something with this area.

First off, we need some sort of decorative bricked plaza/walkway to connect the East & West sides. You can't walk between the two grandstands inside the stadium on the north side because of the Sebo, which is fine. But that means everyone must use the south side, however, when you walk on the south side you walk on grass - which is okay when it's not mud - or a slim strip of pavement while stepping over wires to the electric box. Which makes me wonder, has anyone from our administration walked between the two sides and noticed how poor this looks or can be at certain times of the year? Have they ever watched anyone try and navigate this area in a wheelchair or with a stroller? It's not easy or pretty, especially after rainfall. And for the love of God, don't take the cheap route and pave it like a service road. Do something decent looking like the brickwork at the main entrance at the Stroh Center by the Falcon statue.

Once that is done, and that it allows for an actual flow to and from both sides of the stadium now, we could utilize this area with accommodations such as some sort of permanent building structure to clean up all the temporary tents. It could feature a new concessions area (I posted the idea of a concession cove in another thread with a picture) that featured different options than those already available like some of you have mentioned. We could also have a place for an actual team store site instead of the tent we use, and we could also feature some sort of unique seating option like a party deck above the building with an elevated view of the field. Other MAC schools have done nice things with their open end zones, I'm not sure why we haven't yet. While I can't stand Kent State's overall stadium (the tiny East side "grandstand" is awful), the one thing I do like that they did is with their south endzone with their plaza (concessions, eating area, restrooms). Miami added a small seating section in their north end zone (Fieldhouse has since been built right behind it to close it in) and added a nicely designed plaza in the south end zone. Ohio put in a grass hillside in the south endzone and is about to break ground on a new academic for athletics building in the north end zone. Ball State added a small grass hillside with columns on the top of their north end zone. UT, UA, CMU and EMU all have concourses opposite their endzone buildings to walk on between the two sides.

[Flipper]

I think the University is following the Detroit Tiger "let it turn to s**t so no one can deny it needs to be fixed" strategy that they used with Tiger Stadium during the last five years or so there

[jpfalcon09]

I think the University is following the Detroit Tiger "let it turn to s**t so no one can deny it needs to be fixed" strategy that they used with Tiger Stadium during the last five years or so there

Quite honestly, they don't really have much other choice. The university has massive fundraising campaigns currently ongoing but they seem to be geared towards helping to pay for the new construction across campus. I don't believe we've heard any news from the feasibility study about refurbishing vs. new construction options, but obviously new construction is likely off the table with the Sebo being built. The best case scenario for the school is to let the Doyt get beyond the point of simply cosmetic repairs and have to rely on a total teardown and rebuild of the grandstands and concession areas, at least I believe that will be their intention to help drive another fundraising campaign.

[BGSU33]

One side note to all of this is, one thing I feel Greg Christopher did a much better job over Chris Kingston is, keeping us informed of facility projects and improvements. Like letting us know our needs, where things stand with projects, what we want to do, etc. Maybe it was because GC excelled more in this area (just speculating, not stating) but I remember several reports about plans and progress from GC and he'd even come right out and answer things directly in the Ask the AD segments. Shortly before GC left BG he had announced attention was now being turned to a substantial project with the Doyt with what seemed like a big announcement looming, but when he left, and as some of us expected, its seems we heard very little since. I feel like we knew more 5 years ago than we do now. I just feel we're less connected about the status of those things now. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like in the past under GC, we'd have announced something about the practice field project and we'd know it was coming. Instead of now where it seems someone sees a fence going up around the field and we all wonder why.

[factman]

Try asking Chris Kingston if it is that important to you! He is 1000 times more open to telling you what is happening and why and will even tell you the truth.

[factman]

double post

[Falcon137]

The entire athletic department and Falcon Club is much more open than they used to be. Factman, is right. If you see Kingston ask him, he will tell you whats going on.

[kdog27]

Try asking Chris Kingston if it is that important to you! He is 1000 times more open to telling you what is happening and why and will even tell you the truth.

Okay.

[kdog27]

Try asking Chris Kingston if it is that important to you! He is 1000 times more open to telling you what is happening and why and will even tell you the truth.

I said okay.

[BGSU33]

Try asking Chris Kingston if it is that important to you! He is 1000 times more open to telling you what is happening and why and will even tell you the truth.

I just might do that. But my point is more geared towards all the unknown about what's going on (or not going on for that matter) with our facility progress, whereas many other schools seem much more proactive and open about upcoming/future plans with press releases, announcements, fundraising, etc. Maybe we have none and that's why nothing is being said. But several years ago under GC we were being informed of the ongoing process at the time and appeared headed for the start of either a renovation or rebuild - likely by now. I can appreciate our AD responding if he's asked, but I guess I just wish if he has information that others in the Falcon Nation would also find very interesting, informative or valuable to know, that it wasn't kept under wraps unless we have to personally ask him one by one.

[footballguy51]

The main issue it isn't public is because there isn't a timeline right now, and that's a campus issue. I was a student on campus starting in 2002. I remember hearing in 2005 that Hanna, Moseley, and University Halls were going to be renovated soon. The board of trustees just last week approved the funds to do the renovation of University Hall.

There are drawings of the new/renovated football stadium. However, with the University still in the silent phase of their current fundraising campaign, they will not start a fundraising campaign for a football stadium. Last projections I heard were 5 years before major work would begin. However, the idea of the grand entrance into the stadium IS part of that plan.

[factman]

.........and the same applies to the baseball facility. Normally, these projects don't go public until a large seed gift is given or a certain % needed to finish it is met.
A lot of that was done before GC ever got to campus, on the Stroh etc, so all he had to do was finish fundraising and build it, while patting himself on the back!

[Falco_peregrinusana]

I thought the atmosphere was pretty terrific but the ticket sales was as slow as molasses. I am in line for general admission tickets for twenty minutes and there are eight people in front of me. It takes 5 minutes to purchase 4 general admission tickets with cash?? I thought that maybe by the time I got to the counter, I would need to buy tickets for the NEXT home game. How about a cash only line for general admission tickets????? Perhaps someone could pass this along...

[FalconTurf]

Dakich and possibly Larranaga had plans in hand of a new arena(s) that never happened. I have been told for years an alum from the late 60's heard Fitch was promised a new arena if he stayed. Fitch stated this in a coaching class. The winds blow hard but the changes are slow in BG.