President Leath on SEZ and conference realignment

[ISUagger]

My frat just had the president over for dinner and we managed to ask some good questions. His take on the end zone was what most people on here were assuming. He was very proud of our attendance this year, but the project will still take awhile. He said some things need to happen. First off, our team needs to win more to assure this is a good investment. Also, we currently pay around six million a year to finance debt, and that number would double if the project went through. He wants that number around four million before we start. He also said if someone wanted to donate 15 million he could work something out.

On conference realignment, he said he is leaving tomorrow morning to meet with the other presidents. Two conference schools want more teams now. The other eight are waiting for the right school to come along. The current rumor of Virginia Tech and Clemson isn't true, but Leath said that they would like to add those schools.

Just thought you guys would find that interesting.

 

[Cycsk]

Thanks for reporting. It is cool to hear from the Prez.

 

[ISUagger]

Also, sorry about the mens basketball classification. Thought I would say that before some jerk decides to point it out.

 

[MJ271]

WHY IS THIS IN MEN'S BASKETBALL??????!!!!!!

 

[stevefrench]

Also, sorry about the mens basketball classification. Thought I would say that before some jerk decides to point it out.

now the nerds will just comment on how you're in a frat house instead...

 

[cyclonedave25]

My frat just had the president over for dinner and we managed to ask some good questions. His take on the end zone was what most people on here were assuming. He was very proud of our attendance this year, but the project will still take awhile. He said some things need to happen. First off, our team needs to win more to assure this is a good investment. Also, we currently pay around six million a year to finance debt, and that number would double if the project went through. He wants that number around four million before we start. He also said if someone wanted to donate 15 million he could work something out.

On conference realignment, he said he is leaving tomorrow morning to meet with the other presidents. Two conference schools want more teams now. The other eight are waiting for the right school to come along. The current rumor of Virginia Tech and Clemson isn't true, but Leath said that they would like to add those schools.

Just thought you guys would find that interesting.

I agree with everything except this.
If our team wins more, say 8-9 games instead of 6-7 games, the AD will be losing a ton of money on lost ticket revenue. Our stadium is packed with record setting numbers with 6 win seasons, just think if we start winning 8-9 games. And that point if they finally decide to build it, they will have lost millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The only thing that should be considered with the SEZ is money. Who cares how many games we win so long as people show up. Hell, if we were going 2-10 year in and out, but we still sold out our games it would make sense to expand, even though we sucked.

 

[MJ271]

I agree with everything except this.
If our team wins more, say 8-9 games instead of 6-7 games, the AD will be losing a ton of money on lost ticket revenue. Our stadium is packed with record setting numbers with 6 win seasons, just think if we start winning 8-9 games. And that point if they finally decide to build it, they will have lost millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The only thing that should be considered with the SEZ is money. Who cares how many games we win so long as people show up. Hell, if we were going 2-10 year in and out, but we still sold out our games it would make sense to expand, even though we sucked.

But at what point will people stop coming to games, if we keep winning the same amount of games every season. I know that I would still follow the team as much as physically possible, and support Rhoads and the team. But when will other people start not seeing 6 win seasons as overachieving, which it always will be

 

[GoSTATE71]

Except Iowa state will likely never be much of a winning program. We've only ever won 9 games like what, 3 times at most? The culture has changed around Iowa State football, but sadly I don't think we'll ever be more then a 7 win team and competitive in close losses. Now everyone call me the debbie downer, but we had the most talented team this year we've had in a long time and still had a losing record and got absolutely humiliated by a C-USA team in a mediocre bowl game. Crowd support and fan support are fantastic right now, and it will continue to be great, but these awesome crowds we have will start to diminish when people realize this team will always max out at 5-7 wins

 

[DistrictCyclone]

I agree with everything except this.
If our team wins more, say 8-9 games instead of 6-7 games, the AD will be losing a ton of money on lost ticket revenue. Our stadium is packed with record setting numbers with 6 win seasons, just think if we start winning 8-9 games. And that point if they finally decide to build it, they will have lost millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The only thing that should be considered with the SEZ is money. Who cares how many games we win so long as people show up. Hell, if we were going 2-10 year in and out, but we still sold out our games it would make sense to expand, even though we sucked.

No offense, but I'm sure they've got the staff and the data to know what's a feasible investment and what's not.

 

[cyclonedave25]

But at what point will people stop coming to games, if we keep winning the same amount of games every season. I know that I would still follow the team as much as physically possible, and support Rhoads and the team. But when will other people start not seeing 6 win seasons as overachieving, which it always will be

Good question.

No offense, but I'm sure they've got the staff and the data to know what's a feasible investment and what's not.

I realize that, and I'm pretty sure JP said the only thing holding them back is money. If somebody gave JP $20 million today for the SEZ, I doubt he'd say "thanks, but keep that money and lets wait until we can start winning 8 games every year".

 

[DistrictCyclone]

I realize that, and I'm pretty sure JP said the only thing holding them back is money. If somebody gave JP $20 million today for the SEZ, I doubt he'd say "thanks, but keep that money and lets wait until we can start winning 8 games every year".

Didn't the OP say that Leath would "work something out" if they got a $15m donation? Of course it changes the issue if someone else is footing the bill.

 

[CyCrazy]

I agree with everything except this.
If our team wins more, say 8-9 games instead of 6-7 games, the AD will be losing a ton of money on lost ticket revenue. Our stadium is packed with record setting numbers with 6 win seasons, just think if we start winning 8-9 games. And that point if they finally decide to build it, they will have lost millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The only thing that should be considered with the SEZ is money. Who cares how many games we win so long as people show up. Hell, if we were going 2-10 year in and out, but we still sold out our games it would make sense to expand, even though we sucked.

Disagree, if we went 2-10 every year people would not show up. I was a student when we had chances to go to the Big 12 title game and it was plenty empty.

 

[Cycsk]

Glad to hear that the Prez didn't avoid the issue. He seems like a standup guy.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

Disagree, if we went 2-10 every year people would not show up. I was a student when we had chances to go to the Big 12 title game and it was plenty empty.

That's known as the Van De Velde Effect.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Disagree, if we went 2-10 every year people would not show up. I was a student when we had chances to go to the Big 12 title game and it was plenty empty.

I was one of the few who were there and can back this up. Fans are fickle.

 

[Luth4Cy]

I understand waiting to prove that it's a good investment, but I think this should be an immediate thing once the money is there. This has been a dream since the 70s and we have the attendance to make it a reality. And even in the event that attendance gets worse, something should still be done to at least make it look like a Big 12 stadium.

 

[kilgore_trout]

Did he participate in the baby elephant walk?

 

[cyclonedave25]

Didn't the OP say that Leath would "work something out" if they got a $15m donation? Of course it changes the issue if someone else is footing the bill.

Yes, which brings me back to my original point that I agree with everything the Prez said, minus the fact that our team needs to win more games first. I think the "only" factor the SEZ isn't done yet is because of lack of money, not football wins.

Disagree, if we went 2-10 every year people would not show up. I was a student when we had chances to go to the Big 12 title game and it was plenty empty.

Correct, which is why I said, "If".

 

[huntt26]

But at what point will people stop coming to games, if we keep winning the same amount of games every season. I know that I would still follow the team as much as physically possible, and support Rhoads and the team. But when will other people start not seeing 6 win seasons as overachieving, which it always will be

I believe the fans will come out in force as long as ISU is getting to bowl games. Bowl games = success for fan's attitudes at this present time. With the disappointment after the Liberty Bowl, I'd say the new definition of success from most fans is not just getting to a bowl, but winning the bowl as well. If we have a couple non-bowl seasons, attendance will suffer. If we go to bowl games continually, fans will show up, looking for the potential 'next step.' Just my two cents.

 

[CyCy]

A $6 million debt service per year would require an additional 15,000 season tickets at $400 to break even. I'm sure there is some question on whether we can consistantly sell that many added tickets every year. A big donation would reduce that number.