Pollard on Facility Improvements

**WhoISthis** · 10-12-2010, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

I'm saying it ain't about attendance. That might be the excuse the regents would use to shoot it down if presented to them tomorrow, but if a donor stepped up, it wouldn't matter if there were 20,000 people there each game.

As it stands, if they bowled in the south endzone, and moved all the people from the hills into there, Jack Trice would look as empty (no more no less) than it does now.

Al, after investing as many posts as Go has into this issue, it is clear he is too emotionally attached to his stance to think clearly. There are going to be those that continue to equate enhancement with expansion. I can only imagine why.

Many athletic projects go in front of the BOR that have nothing to do with attendance, yet any discussion of stadium investment has been deemed dependent on attendance. For those that are so misinformed, perhaps we should refer to it as the JTS Reconfiguration Project.

**Stormin** · 10-12-2010, 05:08 AM

We have seriously needed a NEW sound system for a long time. The new sound system will enhance the game day atmosphere. Our present one really stinks. That is what needs to be done first.

Everyone wants to bowl in the south end zone eventually. But we definitely need to get more than 43,000 fans to every game. Let's fill what we have first.

**GoShow97** · 10-12-2010, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by WhoISthis

Al, after investing as many posts as Go has into this issue, it is clear he is too emotionally attached to his stance to think clearly. There are going to be those that continue to equate enhancement with expansion. I can only imagine why.

Many athletic projects go in front of the BOR that have nothing to do with attendance, yet any discussion of stadium investment has been deemed dependent on attendance. For those that are so misinformed, perhaps we should refer to it as the JTS Reconfiguration Project.

So both JP and the Regents are mis informed. The reality still remains that ISU does not pack the Jack on a regular enough basis to warrant a JTS renovation given the current budget constraints. Argue all you want otherwise, in the end it's pretty clear that the powers that be at ISU support this reasoning.

**jdoggivjc** · 10-12-2010, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by acrozier22

Is anyone else wondering why we need a new soccer complex? WTF?

Because the existing one was under several feet of water this year and for at least the second time during the existence of CF. Yes, women's soccer is far from ever being a revenue-generating sport, but at some point it becomes more cost-effective to build a new soccer stadium than to have to continuously fix flood damage every other year - repair money that can go elsewhere in the budget.

**BryceC** · 10-12-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by UNIGuy4Cy

The latter will never happen at ISU. As been state by several people, ISU fans find an excuse not to go to the games, absolutely pathetic.

Might want to check your history. We HAVE averaged 50k+ fans.

**Cloned4Life** · 10-12-2010, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by alarson

Because eventually when we bowl in the south end, its kind of dumb to make that whole section look behind them to see the board.

THIS.

I've been hoping like heck we weren't planning on putting a new video board on the south. You don't bowl in the south and then expect everyone to look to the south to see the scoreboard.

The Jacobson building looks so small and cheesy, hopefully a giant new scoreboard/video board structure will beef it up a bit.

**UNIGuy4Cy** · 10-12-2010, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Might want to check your history. We HAVE averaged 50k+ fans.

I would like to know when? And in the future without NU at home and what if the Iowa game goes bye bye, good luck on the 50k? Our fans are so bad they depend on rivals to fill up the stadium.

**TheHelgo** · 10-12-2010, 09:10 AM

after thinking about this, I will wait patiently to see the proposed renderings of the video board. I was REALLY hoping we would begin on the South Endzone very soon, but this could be a very nice interim step - if done right.

**BryceC** · 10-12-2010, 09:13 AM

In the 70s, when we won. Win and the fans will come, but that has always been the case. We don't have the world's best fans but we have a pretty dedicated and loyal fanbase. Do I wish they showed up more? Absolutely. Do I blame anybody for missing a 40 point drubbing? Absolutely not.

**CarolinaCy** · 10-12-2010, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Cloned4Life

THIS.

I've been hoping like heck we weren't planning on putting a new video board on the south. You don't bowl in the south and then expect everyone to look to the south to see the scoreboard.

The Jacobson building looks so small and cheesy, hopefully a giant new scoreboard/video board structure will beef it up a bit.

Or it might look even smaller and cheesier (is that a word?).

I know this is a pipe dream, but I was hoping that we could demolish the Jake and bowl in the North endzone, incorporating offices/other stuff in that structure. Something similar to what Indiana just did. Then we could just replace the video/score board in the south end and be done.

Like I said, not realistic given that the Jake is only 15 years old and tearing it down would increase the cost of the project. But if a new football building is being built next to the IPF, then what will still be in the Jake?

**CarolinaCy** · 10-12-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by GoShow97

So both JP and the Regents are mis informed. The reality still remains that ISU does not pack the Jack on a regular enough basis to warrant a JTS renovation given the current budget constraints. Argue all you want otherwise, in the end it's pretty clear that the powers that be at ISU support this reasoning.

And yet if the AD came out tomorrow and announced that private funds had been secured to pay for 100% of this project, it would probably begin contruction this fall or next. So it's not really about attendance at all, it's about having the money to pay for it. That money won't come from increased attendance, it will come from private donations. We could average 55k fans for the next 10 years and not generate enough additional revenue to pay for the south endzone project.

**Tornado man** · 10-12-2010, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by CarolinaCy

Or it might look even smaller and cheesier (is that a word?).

I know this is a pipe dream, but I was hoping that we could demolish the Jake and bowl in the North endzone, incorporating offices/other stuff in that structure. Something similar to what Indiana just did. Then we could just replace the video/score board in the south end and be done.

Amen. Yes, it is a pipe dream. The Jake needs to be torn down so we can bowl in the north. Replace it with something a little more majestic in the south end.
Yes, it is a pipe dream, I know.

**BillyClone** · 10-12-2010, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

In the 70s, when we won.

Actually, the years 1980, 1981, and 1982 each averaged over 50,000 with 1982 just under 52,000. 1983 and 1984 averaged just under 50,000 as well. So, in the five seasons of 1980-84, the average attendance was 50,240.

By comparison, five-year average attendance from 1994-98 was 37,590.

The last five full seasons, 2005-09, five-year average attendance was 47,202 (2007 season averaged 49,462).

**tazclone** · 10-12-2010, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by WhoISthis

The Olympic sports have great attendance, or offer any potential return on investment.

if you have those sports you have to support them. Ultimately, that means sometime, you will need to do facility upgrades. You just can't go 30+ years without doing anything and in the case of track, that is what we have done.
If you think the facility upgrades in those sports are anything more than a drop in the bucket, you are crazy. It is justifiable because the BOR is a gov't entity and the gov't is all about equality.

**tazclone** · 10-12-2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by dualforce

this is the message I was trying to relay...The south end zone is not planned to begin at a certain time. This project will depend upon how much our athletic department can make from the new big 12 television package (bidding/ negotiations start next year...) JP did not say the south end zone will never happen. He did say it is one of four facility improvements being talked about but does not have a definite start date. Too many factors influence when the south end zone can be constructed.

My interpretation is that the south end zone ranks 4th of the 4 projects. The first two (scoreboard/ sound and track/soccer complex) are being constructed this spring. It sounds as if more benefit can come from a football building being connected to the indoor facility (coaches offices, weight room, etc.). The south end zone and the football addition to the practice facility need funding.

I am guessing the south endzone will rely heavily on the new Big 12 TV contracts that will be renegotiated in 2016. with our current attendance, it makes financial sense to do video board, lockerroom/weight room upgrades, and non revenue upgrades. Then you wait for the new Big 12 TV contracts and they will help pave the way for a south endzone