BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

Ohio Football

Topic: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Topic: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Author

Message

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/23/2013 4:48:39 PM

Louisville fans also seem divided between those who feel it is time for a bigger stadium and those who point out they don't sell out every game as it is.
http://louisville.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=658&tid=166106173&mid=166106173&sid=923&style=2

I've seen crazier things happen.

Pataskala
General User

Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,363

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 11:15:22 AM

The difference is that they are moving to a better-respected conference than the one they''ve been in; it's hard to gin up excitement for a stadium expansion when you're not moving up and not selling out all the home games. They'll lose the Cincy rivalry (at least for now) but the prospect of picking up teams like Clemson, FSU and MiamiF on their home schedule has to make them think they'll start drawing more (Syracuse & Pitt will likely be on their ACC schedule, but they were on their Big Least schedule when they didn't have sell-outs, so don't expect a jump there). They should probably wait a year or two though to see what kind of attendance bump playing in the ACC gives them.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 11:31:44 AM

Pataskala wrote:

I don't think we will sell out every game this year, but I think we will sell out multiple games. I think we will sell out multiple games before gameday actually rolls around.

We've got Cincinnati and Kansas set to roll into Peden in a couple years. That isn't a new conference, but it is certainly an upgrade over our current home slate. Those are going to be highly anticipated games..

This is the often alluded to article on stadium expansion from a decade ago. Will we meet this standard this year? I think we will.
"Industry standards suggest adding more seats when a sports team's attendance consistently exceeds 80 percent of capacity."
http://www.ohio.edu/ohiotoday/winter00/departments/gandw/peden.html

I've seen crazier things happen.

PhiTau74
General User

Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Columbia, SC
Post Count: 457

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 3:06:33 PM

It makes no sense to increase the stadium when there are not enough hotel rooms in Athens to support people staying over. I have not been to Athens for over 10 years for homecoming because I'm no going to drive 20-50 miles in the evening to a hotel in Parkersburg or somewhere else. Many years ago I played the game of trying to book a year in advance and that's pretty stupid. Any more than an 5,000 sets would be a total waste. It's pretty much drive in for a day game and then drive home and that doesn't work unless you live live within 150 miles.

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 3:16:09 PM

PhiTau74 wrote:

We've got plenty of fans and alumni within 150 miles of Athens. Columbus is 73.5 miles per Google Maps and we now have a complete 4 lane highway straight there.

Lack of hotels are an issue. I mentioned that in this thread about an additional Athens hotel they are building.
http://www.bobcatattack.com/messageboard/topic.asp?FromPage=1&ForumPID=10&PID=115361

A lack of hotels doesn't change the fact that we are filling up Peden Stadium consistently NOW. Our fanbase can support a bigger stadium.

Personally, I'd like to see in in the BALLPARK of 40k. Some have said as high as 50k. Even if we only go to 30k that is still an expansion...

I've seen crazier things happen.

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 3:42:27 PM

Speaking of which, the Nelsonville Bypass will be complete for the Homecoming game this year. Odds it is a sellout?

https://woub.org/2013/08/20/nelsonville-bypass-open-oct-1

I've seen crazier things happen.

Pataskala
General User

Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,363

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 5:43:22 PM

I think we should max out at 35k for at least the next 15 years. Things are great now, but at some point Coach Solich will retire and what happens after that, who knows. I'd like to think that his success will mean that the next guy will be either another proven genius or at least an up-and-coming one. But coaching selections are always a gamble.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,212

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 6:25:57 PM

The Optimist wrote:

Speaking of which, the Nelsonville Bypass will be complete for the Homecoming game this year. Odds it is a sellout?

https://woub.org/2013/08/20/nelsonville-bypass-open-oct-1

The early line is 1 to 5.

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,394

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/24/2013 8:02:37 PM

Hell if we are going to go to 40, let's just go to 60, and make a play for joining the Big10

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/25/2013 2:12:52 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

The Optimist wrote:

Speaking of which, the Nelsonville Bypass will be complete for the Homecoming game this year. Odds it is a sellout?

https://woub.org/2013/08/20/nelsonville-bypass-open-oct-1

The early line is 1 to 5.

I don't really understand how the sports betting odds work... Does 1 to 5 mean I bet 100 to get back 120?

I'd take those odds if anyone is willing to offer it. I will donate all proceeds to the Peden Expansion fund.

I've seen crazier things happen.

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,394

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/25/2013 9:26:39 AM

The Optimist wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

The Optimist wrote:

Speaking of which, the Nelsonville Bypass will be complete for the Homecoming game this year. Odds it is a sellout?

https://woub.org/2013/08/20/nelsonville-bypass-open-oct-1

The early line is 1 to 5.

1:5 odds will pay you $.40 on $2.00 bet, essentially you risk $5 to win $1 A true bettor would not take this bet because the money earned is not worth the money played. So in your bet above you would risk $100 to earn $20

Last Edited: 8/25/2013 9:27:39 AM by BillyTheCat

Gallia Cat
General User

Member Since: 7/11/2010
Post Count: 938

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/25/2013 9:31:19 AM

PhiTau74 wrote:

Lack of hotel rooms didn't stop Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma State, WVU, etc. and it should not be used as an excuse to stop Ohio University.

The vast majority of fans drive in day of game and return home that night at those schools as well. Now that the Nelsonville bypass is nearing completion you are you will continue to see traffic volume increase and hotels springing up. Awesome news that a Fairfield Inn-Marriott is opening!

Think back 20 or so years to the completion of the Lancaster bypass and now the Nelsonville bypass. Ohio University's largest alumni base (greater Columbus) just got a lot closer to Athens. While technically not in miles but most definitely in time. What will be drive time from 71/70 downtown Columbus interchange? That use to be a good 2.5 hour trip with all the stop lights in Lancaster and Nelsonville. Now I am guessing it will be a 1.5 hour drive? There have even been upgrades in the Canal Winchester area adding exit ramps and removing lights.

Last Edited: 8/25/2013 9:46:00 AM by Gallia Cat

TWT
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,171

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/27/2013 6:25:12 PM

My tickets for the Louisville game were only 16 dollars so suffice to say they have no business expanding their stadium when its already at 55,000 seats. They've had games a few years ago with only 25,000 in the stands when losing. That is thing when talking about capacity is you've got to factor in off years and that midweek games are going to be a fixture for a program like Ohio. To be serious about the ACC or B1G its going to require a 50,000 seat stadium. I suppose Ohio State could pull a Notre Dame by placing there other sports in the ACC while playing an Independent schedule for football, then we could take their place in the Big Ten. Until OSU leaves the Big Ten we aren't getting into that conference and if they joined the ACC that would count us out of there too. Realistically Ohio is looking at staying in the MAC or moving possibly to the American. The average on campus stadium in the MAC seats 25,300. The smallest stadium in the AAC is 30,000 seats (Tulane & Tulsa). There is no reason to have a smaller than average MAC stadium and if the school is going to bother with expanding it may as well bring it to 30k (SRO) with an eye to the future. Some of the other numbers on here that people like to quote like 35,000 or 40,000 don't serve any purpose. They are neither here nor there. Its obvious though with the sellouts Peden needs to be larger and with better support facilities (concessions/bathrooms) just to keep in line with MAC stadium experience standards.

Central Michigan 30,255
Western Michigan 30,200
Eastern Michigan 30,200
Buffalo 29,013
Akron 27,000
Toledo 26,248
Miami 24,286
Ohio 24,000
Northern Illinois 24,000
Bowling Green 23,724
Ball State 22,500
Kent State 20,500
Massachusetts 17,000

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/27/2013 7:46:11 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

The Optimist wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

The Optimist wrote:

Speaking of which, the Nelsonville Bypass will be complete for the Homecoming game this year. Odds it is a sellout?

https://woub.org/2013/08/20/nelsonville-bypass-open-oct-1

The early line is 1 to 5.

I am not a true bettor. However, I do consider myself a true investor. Considering the risk here (1/100 chance this game doesn't sell out) I think a 20% return is quite fair.

I've seen crazier things happen.

Alanin502
General User

Member Since: 8/27/2013
Post Count: 6

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/27/2013 11:34:12 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

Hey guys, Louisville fan here. The only tickets that are $16.00 are the upper deck corners. Lower bowl tickets are $58.00 each. The 25,000 average the poster above spoke of was intentional to get Kragthorpe fired. It worked.

Regarding our stadium attendance, we actually do sell out or come darn near close to it. Usually game day notes on Friday will stipulate less than 500 or so tickets remain. Our problem is that while the games are sold out, we have a very high "no show" problem. It is a two fold problem. One is that UofL has sold it's soul to the corporations in Louisville and when the opponent is "less than stellar" those tickets will sit in some corporate office unused. The other factor for some of our no-shows is that there are a few hundred UK fans if not closer to 1-2,000 buy season tickets so that they guarantee themselves seats when they play at Louisville e/o year. Those same seats that have blue in them when UK comes to town historically sit empty the rest of the year.

Back when PJCS was at 42,000 we would average 39,000 or so but all the games would sell out. We expanded to 55,000 and we now average between 50-52,000 per game. I'm of the opinion that if we did indeed expand to 74,000 as the rumor is being discussed on our board, we would probably average 70,000 based on the historical trend. I guess it's a good problem to have but I sure wish our university would be proactive and determine the seats that historically stay empty and go after those corporations and UK fans and remove their renewal rights.

Last Edited: 8/27/2013 11:35:23 PM by Alanin502

perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/28/2013 12:21:10 AM

I'd like to see Peden rebuilt like Papa John's Stadium minus the upper deck, just the horseshoe part with the South end open. Seat back chairs scaled to around 35K.

we could get the Burrito Buggy to buy the naming rights, funding problem solved.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

mufanatehc
General User

Member Since: 7/21/2011
Post Count: 7

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/28/2013 5:15:59 PM

so basically a slightly smaller version of Marshall's stadium...

Beat Michigan
General User

Member Since: 8/15/2013
Location: Almost Heaven
Post Count: 245

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/28/2013 11:44:31 PM

Gallia Cat wrote:

PhiTau74 wrote:

Lack of hotel rooms didn't stop Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma State, WVU, etc. and it should not be used as an excuse to stop Ohio University.

The vast majority of fans drive in day of game and return home that night at those schools as well. Now that the Nelsonville bypass is nearing completion you are you will continue to see traffic volume increase and hotels springing up. Awesome news that a Fairfield Inn-Marriott is opening!

Think back 20 or so years to the completion of the Lancaster bypass and now the Nelsonville bypass. Ohio University's largest alumni base (greater Columbus) just got a lot closer to Athens. While technically not in miles but most definitely in time. What will be drive time from 71/70 downtown Columbus interchange? That use to be a good 2.5 hour trip with all the stop lights in Lancaster and Nelsonville. Now I am guessing it will be a 1.5 hour drive? There have even been upgrades in the Canal Winchester area adding exit ramps and removing lights.

WVU shrank capacity from 63,500 to 60,000.

Peden would be good at 30,000.. You could get those extra 6000 seats by connecting the two endzone seating areas or taking out victory hill and putting in aluminum stands. I say connect the two endzone stands. Victory Hill could still be used for general admission pushing crowds over 30,000. A new scoreboard/video board would be nice too while we are at it.

Deciduous Forest Cat
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Ohio
Post Count: 4,466

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 9:12:53 AM

Chris_PHS89 wrote:

Gallia Cat wrote:

PhiTau74 wrote:

Why connect the endzones? In a stadium this small, why add bad seats? We have plenty of room for good seats. knock down the endzones then significantly expand & renovate the student side

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 9:27:17 AM

I understand the point some of you make about not knowing where we will be after Solich and not wanting to get stuck with a stadium too large...

I don't think we should be expanding extremely conservatively just in case things fall off... I'd rather we expand like we intend to continue being successful. We can go higher than 30,000 without going overboard on optimism, IMO.

Last Edited: 8/29/2013 9:30:09 AM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

Beat Michigan
General User

Member Since: 8/15/2013
Location: Almost Heaven
Post Count: 245

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 12:56:32 PM

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Chris_PHS89 wrote:

Gallia Cat wrote:

PhiTau74 wrote:

Why connect the endzones? In a stadium this small, why add bad seats? We have plenty of room for good seats. knock down the endzones then significantly expand & renovate the student side

Are you saying demolish the EAST side and rebuild it?

That would work too.. but cost more money..

KyleWvr13
General User

Member Since: 11/9/2010
Location: Pottstown, PA
Post Count: 501

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 2:29:16 PM

I honestly don't care about an expansion. All I care about right now is getting a new Jumbotron. It's absolutely pathetic, even for MAC standards.

Last Edited: 8/29/2013 2:29:28 PM by KyleWvr13

perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 3:08:05 PM

this is a purely hypothetical, in a dreaam world, if money was no object, wish- would love to see Peden leveled and rebuilt in the style of Louisville's stadium before the expansion when it held 42K. The way the weight room is currently situated we can't put seats past the goal line which would trim a few thousand seats and get it below 40K. Of course the tower would be on the other side but the South endzone would remain opened.

maybe some day.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 3:12:49 PM

KyleWvr13 wrote:

I honestly don't care about an expansion. All I care about right now is getting a new Jumbotron. It's absolutely pathetic, even for MAC standards.

If an expansion/renovatiom is done right, I assume a jumbotron HAS to be part of the package.

That would be my hope... Bulldoze the corner sections. Build a straight section of end zone seating across from Victory Hill which would improve the quality of view for family packs, make the stadium look more cohessive and improve he noise/atmosphere. Bulldoze the student side and rebuild that with expanded seating. I've seen 2 decks.. Personally I'd like just 1 really big stand. But I won't complain with 2! Renovate tower side concourse. Leave Victory Hill the same with new big screen.

At least, that's what it is like in my dreams. Lots of bricks, also.

I've seen crazier things happen.

Alanin502
General User

Member Since: 8/27/2013
Post Count: 6

Status: Offline

RE: We're not the only ones divided on stadium expansion

Posted: 8/29/2013 3:41:03 PM

perimeterpost wrote:

Here is a pic of PJCS before expansion. I think UCONN did something similar

Another view with our baseball field which has since been expanded and Churchill Downs in the back ground:

Showing Replies:	1 - 25 of 28 Posts
Jump to Page:	1 \| 2 Next >

View Other 'Ohio Football' Topics

There are 717 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

717 Guests
0 Registered Users

There are no other users looking at this page.