SEC Athletics Facilities Race

[jbcarol]

Matthew Harris ‏@MHarrisAdvocate ·14 hrs
Just offed my first skeeter of the season at Alex Box. And so it begins. from Baton Rouge, LA

[jbcarol]

Muschamp says indoor practice facility not a pressing need for Gators. Would know.

"Certainly the renovation of the O'Connell Center is really important. And I think we're going to redo our academic facility for the student athletes. I think those things are more important right now than an indoor practice facility."

[jbcarol]

Jay G. Tate ‏@JayGTate  20h
Just another day at the office for Keegan Thompson: pic.twitter.com/84Vernotag



Jay G. Tate ‏@JayGTate  5h
@TigerlandAU Clock is inoperable. They didn't want the time to be wrong, so they removed the hands.

[jbcarol]

Brandon Marcello ‏@bmarcello  1h
Chilly -- but dry -- night at Riverwalk Stadium, site of the Capital City Classic. Alabama-Auburn coming up at 7 pic.twitter.com/18XS7FOhRj


Home to the Montgomery Biscuits

[NoNC4Tubs]

Jay G. Tate ‏@JayGTate  20h
Just another day at the office for Keegan Thompson: pic.twitter.com/84Vernotag



Jay G. Tate ‏@JayGTate  5h
@TigerlandAU Clock is inoperable. They didn't want the time to be wrong, so they removed the hands.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day........

[jbcarol]

D.C. Reeves ‏@_DCReeves  Mar 7
The new right field plaza has changed the game for #Alabama, its students ... and opposing right fielders. Story (free) http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1617389 ...

[jbcarol]

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  23h
Few hundred cooler-carrying students turned away from 'Right Field Rager' section at Alabama baseball game (photos) http://ow.ly/umSgo

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  20h
FWIW, the complaining Alabama students left out of the RF seats still had free access to LF bleachers http://bit.ly/O3WHG2

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  3h
Alabama releases statement about new rules in right-field baseball seating http://ow.ly/unO39

[jbcarol]

MrSEC on new Ole Miss basketball facility and retaining/hiring a coach

The Tad Pad is finally set to be replaced, but the new venue will seat just 9,500 (disadvantage)...

[jbcarol]

Pod Katt ‏@valleyshook  6h
GIMME RT @McMurphyESPN: LSU selling about 100 lockers from football locker room b/w 96-13 "as is" for $3,950 each pic.twitter.com/LOFU8q7lSZ

[Inhogswetrust]

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  23h
Few hundred cooler-carrying students turned away from 'Right Field Rager' section at Alabama baseball game (photos) http://ow.ly/umSgo

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  20h
FWIW, the complaining Alabama students left out of the RF seats still had free access to LF bleachers http://bit.ly/O3WHG2

Michael Casagrande ‏@ByCasagrande  3h
Alabama releases statement about new rules in right-field baseball seating http://ow.ly/unO39

Outfield seating issues? Where have I heard that before?

[Inhogswetrust]

Pod Katt ‏@valleyshook  6h
GIMME RT @McMurphyESPN: LSU selling about 100 lockers from football locker room b/w 96-13 "as is" for $3,950 each pic.twitter.com/LOFU8q7lSZ

Send them to the county jail so their players will feel right at home..............................

[jbcarol]

Of course, all of this is subject to change/modifications:

[jbcarol]

The Rupp Arena renovation project update:

Kentucky Senate dropped $65 million in bond debt as part of a cutback in projects. That $65 milli was to go toward improving Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center, a project that carries an estimated $310 million price tag.

[jbcarol]

The Rupp Arena renovation project update:

Kentucky Senate dropped $65 million in bond debt as part of a cutback in projects. That $65 milli was to go toward improving Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center, a project that carries an estimated $310 million price tag.

Bill to raise hotel, motel tax for Rupp project faces an uphill battle, senators say

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/03/27/3165269/bill-to-raise-hotel-motel-tax.html

3 days left in the Legislative session.

[jbcarol]

The Rupp Arena renovation project update:

Kentucky Senate dropped $65 million in bond debt as part of a cutback in projects. That $65 milli was to go toward improving Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center, a project that carries an estimated $310 million price tag.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) -- State lawmakers failed to produce the 65-million dollars needed to renovate Rupp Arena.

As WKYT- TV reports, Mayor Jim Gray got right to the point yesterday when he told legislators how important he believes state funding is for the Rupp Arena renovation.

"If the General assembly in this session failed to give you a way forward, to keep moving this project along, what would be the results?" Gray said.

Legislators pressed Gray for details on other aspects of the financing plan, including how much the University of Kentucky would be putting toward the project. Gray said those details weren't public yet.

After meeting until the early morning hours today, lawmakers announced the $65M in state bonds Governor Steve Beshear had proposed in January are not included, though there is some money...

http://www.wdrb.com/story/25113228/state-budget-cuts-out-funds-for-rupp-arena-renovation

[jbcarol]

Emily Lane ‏@emilymlane ·22h
#LSU lakes restoration has storied history, passionate advocates @brnola http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/04/lsu_lakes_restoration_has_stor.html ...

The LSU lakes still reflect swaths of orange and pink from lingering sunsets. The paths abutting the shorelines still provide shade from trees with Spanish moss hanging like tinsel over its visitors. And pelicans still strike awe as they slow their flight to their daily respite at the mirror-like pools.

But during the upcoming summer months, the most activity Baton Rouge residents are likely to see -- and smell -- on the water's surface is the bellies of dead fish bobbing subtly like corks that might have been used in the past to help catch them. "It should be an area that's full of life," said David Plauche, a 58-year-old lifelong resident of the lakes area. "It's gotten worse over the years."

Rubbernecking travelers on Interstate 10 marvel at the beauty of the lakes -- the singular place in a college town within a commuter city where students in Greek-lettered T-shirts or college paraphernalia coexist with the city's longtime residents toting dog leashes or pushing strollers.

But the lakes in their current state are dying -- returning to the state of swampland from which they were originally formed.


In 2001,LSU, under direction of Chancellor Mark Emmert, looked into lakes restoration and concluded the landscape architect Cox's master plan needed to include dredging.

[jbcarol]

Ben Frederickson ‏@Ben_Fred ·1h
Stokely demolition likely to start in May; News Sentinel to commemorate building http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/apr/02/stokely-demolition-likely-to-start-in-may-news/ ...


Predecessor to Thompson-Boling Arena.

[jbcarol]

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/stadium-arena/facility-madness-2014-at-large-region.html

Get in there and help BWA win this tournament!

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner ‏@MikeBBonner ·3 hrs
Mississippi State's latest addition during the Davis Wade Stadium renovation | MSU football http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2014/04/02/mississippi-states-latest-addition-during-the-davis-wade-stadium-renovation/ ...

[jbcarol]

Matthew Harris ‏@MHarrisAdvocate ·1h
None with the first name Paige. RT @Dave_Matter: Alden says Mizzou is going to let fans name the new upper deck at Memorial Stadium. Ideas?

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman ·15 hrs
Latest glance at Kyle Field redo -- the NE corner: pic.twitter.com/XYtYYUYvrb

[jbcarol]

Joe Sonka ‏@joesonka ·27m
[KY Gov Steve] Beshear tells @KySportsRadio that Lexington deserves Rupp Arena funding, only fair after what govt spent on Louisville, Yum! Center. #kyga14

[The_Iceman]

Michael Bonner ‏@MikeBBonner ·3 hrs
Mississippi State's latest addition during the Davis Wade Stadium renovation | MSU football http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2014/04/02/mississippi-states-latest-addition-during-the-davis-wade-stadium-renovation/ ...

We need to get a light up sign on the outside of our jumbotron to light up at night.

[Inhogswetrust]

Emily Lane ‏@emilymlane ·22h
#LSU lakes restoration has storied history, passionate advocates @brnola http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/04/lsu_lakes_restoration_has_stor.html ...

The LSU lakes still reflect swaths of orange and pink from lingering sunsets. The paths abutting the shorelines still provide shade from trees with Spanish moss hanging like tinsel over its visitors. And pelicans still strike awe as they slow their flight to their daily respite at the mirror-like pools.

But during the upcoming summer months, the most activity Baton Rouge residents are likely to see -- and smell -- on the water's surface is the bellies of dead fish bobbing subtly like corks that might have been used in the past to help catch them. "It should be an area that's full of life," said David Plauche, a 58-year-old lifelong resident of the lakes area. "It's gotten worse over the years."

Rubbernecking travelers on Interstate 10 marvel at the beauty of the lakes -- the singular place in a college town within a commuter city where students in Greek-lettered T-shirts or college paraphernalia coexist with the city's longtime residents toting dog leashes or pushing strollers.

But the lakes in their current state are dying -- returning to the state of swampland from which they were originally formed.


In 2001,LSU, under direction of Chancellor Mark Emmert, looked into lakes restoration and concluded the landscape architect Cox's master plan needed to include dredging.

Emmert is good at dredging...................................... He's been dredging muck at the NCAA office for years now.

[jbcarol]

As part of his 2015 budget address, Mayor Jim Gray on Tuesday proposed that the city authorize $40 million in debt for a $310 million renovation of Rupp Arena and attached convention center. Gray said the Urban County Council could authorize the bonds this year but would not have to make debt payments until 2016. The payments would be about $2 million a year.

"Yes, this is a significant investment ... and it's the single best opportunity we have to create jobs — and a return on this investment," Gray told the council during his fourth budget address. He described it as "affordable" and said it "allows the city to continue to invest in all of the services we provide."

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/08/3186059/grays-2015-budget-proposal-asks.html

[jbcarol]

Razorback Baseball ‏@RazorbackBSB ·16 hrs
The Razorbacks are getting some work in at Alex Box Stadium...

[jbcarol]

Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG  Apr 11
My #MSState outfield setup award goes to the guy with the custom door on a storage shed. Tiki bar second place. pic.twitter.com/bNC37bCr5Q



MSU Baseball ‏@HailStateBB  18h
Tonight's attendance: 13,224. The seventh-largest crowd in the history of Dudy Noble Field. The largest Friday crowd in MSU history.

[NoNC4Tubs]

Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG  Apr 11
My #MSState outfield setup award goes to the guy with the custom door on a storage shed. Tiki bar second place. pic.twitter.com/bNC37bCr5Q



MSU Baseball ‏@HailStateBB  18h
Tonight's attendance: 13,224. The seventh-largest crowd in the history of Dudy Noble Field. The largest Friday crowd in MSU history.

Is this on campus? 

[jbcarol]

Is this on campus? 

Yes

[jbcarol]

MSU Baseball ‏@HailStateBB  58m
Here's an overhead look at the largest on-campus crowd in college baseball history - 15,586. #SBW2014 #HailState pic.twitter.com/UyYlUsx1Sh



Will Chandler ‏@willchandler2  3h
Never watched a game at Dudy Noble like this before. Thankful for the minitron. @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/X97kWIVPih

[jbcarol]

Kyle Niblett ‏@KyleNiblett ·17 hrs
Today's Attendance: 10,371. The total of 39,181 is a new @NCAACWS on-campus attendance record for a three-game series. Average of 13,060.

Ole Miss at Mississippi State baseball series.

[jbcarol]

As part of his 2015 budget address, Mayor Jim Gray on Tuesday proposed that the city authorize $40 million in debt for a $310 million renovation of Rupp Arena and attached convention center. Gray said the Urban County Council could authorize the bonds this year but would not have to make debt payments until 2016. The payments would be about $2 million a year.

"Yes, this is a significant investment ... and it's the single best opportunity we have to create jobs — and a return on this investment," Gray told the council during his fourth budget address. He described it as "affordable" and said it "allows the city to continue to invest in all of the services we provide."

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/08/3186059/grays-2015-budget-proposal-asks.html

The $65 million Rupp Arena renovation project was left out of the new state budget deal.

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/65-million-for-rupp-renovation-left-out-of-new-state-budget-deal

[jbcarol]

Dave Matter @Dave_Matter  ·  5h
Starting tour of the east side renovation of Memorial Stadium. Exec Assoc AD Tim Hickman: project on pace for completion in time for season

View from top row of new outdoor premium seating #Mizzou



View from the top row of new upper deck



Dave Matter @Dave_Matter  ·  5h
The new upper deck will contain 4,200 seats. Projected capacity for 2014 will be back around 71,000 range - similar to pre-2013 figure

[jbcarol]

Davis Wade Stadium reseating process is on-going
http://www.msubulldogclub.com/reseating

[jbcarol]

Jen Smith ‏@jenheraldleader ·20 hrs
UK sends out some "pardon our dust" tweets about spring game construction. Here is an update: http://ukfootball.bloginky.com/2014/04/25/game-day-operations-updates-for-blue-white/ ...

Also, the video and ribbon boards at the stadium will not be functional.



A&M did not have a spring game.

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner @MikeBBonner  ·  12h 
The sight here behind the Hump as the first responders from Louisville will stay on Starkville




When the facilities become staging and housing areas for relief workers during disasters.


Niel Stopczynski @NielStopczynski  ·  Apr 28 
Definitely watching debris from Louisville tornados fall onto Leo Seal Football Complex parking lot

[jbcarol]

Photo By TAMU/Handout

Here is a rendering of Kyle Field after it is renovated. The new and improved stadium is slated to seat 102,500, and Texas A&M officials are hoping it will be completed by August 2015.

[jbcarol]

Parrish Alford ‏@parrishalford May 1

#OleMiss coach Hugh Freeze is confident in the fund-raising plan for north end zone work. http://insideolemisssports.com/2014/05/01/freeze-confident-fund-raising-north-end-zone ...

When the Rebel Road Trip made its Tupelo stop a couple of weeks ago Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork said the school's capital campaign was roughly $10 million away from having the $120 million he hopes to secure before beginning work on the bowling in of the north end zone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Bjork said he's hopeful the money can be raised and that work can begin on the stadium after this season. If not, work would begin after the 2015 season.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze on Wednesday said he's confident in the approach of the UMAA Foundation team trying to secure the funds.

"We've made a lot of progress. I'm confident they have a great plan in place. They're working hard on that, and hopefully it will fall right in line. I know my strengths and weaknesses and rarely get involved in those discussions," Freeze said.

When Freeze took the job following the 2011 season he said the first priority was improving the indoor practice facility which has since been named the Manning Center.

"When I first got here I was very vocal that the first thing we needed to do was what we've done with the $15 million in renovations with the new locker room, the nutrition center, the weight room, team room and those things. That was the priority for me over the stadium."

With those enhancements in place it's time to focus on the stadium, Freeze said.

[jbcarol]

UGA FACILITIES ‏@UGAFACILITIES 
@FootballUGA has a nice new @FieldTurf yard to play in pic.twitter.com/HJK14Nrzhb

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman  23h
Certain day like today is what @Bill_Byrne and Rob Childress and others had in mind when adding berms to Olsen Field: pic.twitter.com/0s8Tn4tGWl

[jbcarol]

http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/9115207-123/joe-alleva-says-expansion-may

AD Joe Alleva says Tiger Stadium's current stadium to over 100,000 seats will likely be the last.

[jbcarol]

Rename Kyle after Manziel?

A&M regent Jim Schwertner says Johnny Manziel is a big reason for the $450M Kyle Field overhaul.


http://www.expressnews.com/sports/college_sports/aggies/article/A-M-Regent-Rename-Kyle-after-Manziel-5472822.php

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  8h

Former Texas A&M LB @onlyoneSP on 'House That Johnny Built': 'I'll never go to another game if they do that' http://tinyurl.com/mpdkcy5

A&M regent Jim Schwertner said earlier this week that he hopes Kyle field in College Station is renamed "Kyle Field: The House that Johnny Built."

Not everyone agrees.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said, per The Dallas Morning News, "I bet you make some press on that one."

Perhaps the sharpest criticism came from former Aggie linebacker Sean Porter, now with the Bengals, who said he would never go to another game if the name actually happens...

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman May 12

Getting a feel for how enclosed Kyle Field will be with the south end zone rising: pic.twitter.com/WhDq3MZUZb



Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman May 12

Kyle Field project manager Greg McClure: Should be adding grass to field in early August, home opener is Sept. 6 vs. Lamar.

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman May 12

A&M regent Jim Schwertner said he's dead serious about wanting Kyle named: Kyle Field: The House that Johnny Built.

[jbcarol]

Bo Mattingly ‏@SportsTalkwBo 3h

Former Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill on "The House that Johnny Built": It'd be like putting "The House that Houston Nutt Built" at Ark. A lot of ppl come thru programs.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  2h
Alabama closes out the old Sewell-Thomas Stadium with victory over Mississippi State...

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman  6h
Giving y'all a bit of an idea of what south end of Kyle Field will look like -- poking over top of McFerrin Center: pic.twitter.com/xyjNeTZ3oK



The very top of that steel structure is the new video board.

[jbcarol]

I love this rendering of the Rupp redesign in large part because it includes a guy in jean shorts for no explainable reason

The Rupp Arena redesign project likely took a turn for the worse today as a Bluegrass Poll showed that 75% of the state's population think that the state should not spend $80 million on the project. The question was asked to 1700 residents of Kentucky over the past weekend...

[jbcarol]

Thomas Goldkamp ‏@Goldkamp247 2h
Jeremy Foley: "Intent is to gut (O'Dome) & build new facility inside ... People will not recognize it when they go inside, that's the goal."

[jbcarol]

Keeping up with the Sabans:

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  May 19
A year after Alabama installs its locker-room waterfall, Ohio State to follow suit | http://AL.com  http://ow.ly/x14Rw