Long on North End zone expansion

[Oklahawg]

Leave it to HV - we'll build the world's finest stadium.

I love reading threads like this.

[Hogpkins]

Here's the interview.

http://www.sportstalkwithbo.com/site/index.php

JL says the priorities are to enhance fan experience and convenience (i.e., fan retention and hopefully some growth).

Building elevators for fans to reach upper deck. Going to lower ticket prices of UD too.

Expanding parking -- he said they are buying property around Razorback to build parking.

The State is paying to expand Razorback and part of Maple to 4 lane to help traffic flow.

Improving sound system.

[ricepig]

During my time on campus the parking lot just north of the stadium was graveled and commonly known as the finger bowl.

Were there hitching posts?

[YtownHog]

Would it be possible to turn the entire north endzone to student section?  Then the other two sections normally for students would be better season tickets.  The band could sit in north endzone too and then their sound would blast straight ahead to the entire rest of the stadium. Just tossing around ideas..

[Hoggish1]

my first guess is ticket prices.  he knows it's borderline to sell out even a big game now, raising ticket prices won't make it any easier.

So, lower them. Duh...?

[Hoggish1]

The only drawback is that those high dollar seats do not have jumbotron view.  Since we took down the ugly bleachers in nosebleed south side just put another big screen up there.  MSU has two now.  It's going to be the new thing and we don't want to get left behind. 

I don't care how they do it, just fill in the damn N. side.  It's a stupid look as it is now.

Put that jumbotron on the top of the S. end zone and be done with it.

Then you can put another one top of the N. end zone.

[DoctorSusscrofa]

Hovercraft seats are coming soon.

[PonderinHog]

All club seats should be added in Little Rock...

[3kgthog]

A field level suite would be the worst view in the house.

[ricepig]

A field level suite would be the worst view in the house.

Yeah, I never understood those.

[Mike Irwin]

The top of the proposed North Endzone project is supposed to be a wide concourse much like the one at Baum Stadium only deeper from front to back. It would be a walkway from the west to east sides but would also be a place where you could stand and BS with your friends.

I hate sitting down to watch a game. That concourse would be a good feature for people that like to move around.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

Would it be possible to turn the entire north endzone to student section?  Then the other two sections normally for students would be better season tickets.  The band could sit in north endzone too and then their sound would blast straight ahead to the entire rest of the stadium. Just tossing around ideas..

Good point.  It would be much more effective visually on TV broadcasts if there students were moved to the NEZ and positioned as close as possible to the field.

[Hog_One_Stop]

We don't even fill what we have now

[Inhogswetrust]

Part of the problem may be disability compliance access.   I think we're skirting the bare minimum of handicap accessible seating, as it is,  so it might make sense in that light as well.

I have been intimately involved in ADA compliance issues and lead projects for that in the hotel industry.  When building new or adding on that's easy to do and money you would be spending anyway..........when retrofitting it isn't so easy or cheap.......ask Memphis about the Liberty Bowl, or me about hotels and restaurants or anyone else involved in building or maintenance of.

P.S. There is a belief that ALL and/or all types of service animals have to be allowed anywhere for the person using them. That isn't always the case.

[The_Iceman]

The top of the proposed North Endzone project is supposed to be a wide concourse much like the one at Baum Stadium only deeper from front to back. It would be a walkway from the west to east sides but would also be a place where you could stand and BS with your friends.

I hate sitting down to watch a game. That concourse would be a good feature for people that like to move around.

Would it also be a good place for the SEC Network to host their pre-game shows? The stadium as a backdrop would be neat.

[Inhogswetrust]

Yeah, probably was. It was a lovely gravel parking lot that went from the front of Barnhill to Meadow St, every football and basketball game we had to clear out.

I remember.

[Inhogswetrust]

Leave it to HV - we'll build the world's finest stadium.

I love reading threads like this.

I've been in quite a few but not all. It is pretty damn good and better the the majority of them on campuses across the country.

[The Marmot]

Skybox fans are not noisemakers.

You're hanging out in the wrong boxes.

[demonHOG1013]

There are only two domed stadiums built specifically for a college team that I know of. Neither of which roofs retract. Idaho's Kibbie dome and Syracuse's Carrier dome.

North Dakota St. plays in the Fargo Dome and Northern Iowa has their own dome.  Both are FCS schools. Played in both of them and they are both pretty loud. Pretty cool to see a smaller stadium be domed in.

[opineonswine]

Good point.  It would be much more effective visually on TV broadcasts if there students were moved to the NEZ and positioned as close as possible to the field.

I believe Mississippi does it that way. Good idea.

[Inhogswetrust]

North Dakota St. plays in the Fargo Dome and Northern Iowa has their own dome.  Both are FCS schools. Played in both of them and they are both pretty loud. Pretty cool to see a smaller stadium be domed in.

Thanks! I did not know about those.

[opineonswine]

We don't even fill what we have now

And another one doesn't get it.

[Inhogswetrust]

I believe Mississippi does it that way. Good idea.

IIRC they are in the southendzone but are planning to move to the north when they do their addition there.

[opineonswine]

IIRC they are in the southendzone but are planning to move to the north when they do their addition there.

Yes it's the south. I just meant students and band are in the EZ.

[ImHogginIt]

And another one doesn't get it.

Boggles the mind don't it ? 

[ricepig]

We don't even fill what we have now

We do suites and outdoor clubs seats, which is what would be built.

[The_Iceman]

We do suites and outdoor clubs seats, which is what would be built.

Exactly. While there is no demand for bleacher seats, the red chairback seats the luxury suites are in high demand. So why not build more? Especially luxury boxes, which bring in so much money.

[Tusks]

it would be nice if they could make enough money off suites in the NEZ to finish the outside of the west stands.  Maybe expand the chair backs to between the 40's.

I wish they wouldn't build the stadium around a big TV.  I think they should do what bama did and go with four, one in each corner of the stadium, and make them HD.  You can still make them pretty fricken big.

[Rooka]

I know this will probably be the most ignorant post of the thread, but when was the proposed timeframe of completing this?

[ricepig]

I know this will probably be the most ignorant post of the thread, but when was the proposed timeframe of completing this?

There isn't one to my knowledge. They issued a facilities wish list several years ago and have completed, or are in the progress of completing the majority of it, except for this. That's why most figure it's next on the list to be built.

[Tusks]

I think they will start it after the 15 season if the hogs win 9 or more.  Have it ready for 16 when bama comes back to town.

I know this will probably be the most ignorant post of the thread, but when was the proposed timeframe of completing this?

[opineonswine]

I know this will probably be the most ignorant post of the thread, but when was the proposed timeframe of completing this?

Not even close to the most ignorant.

SMOM I suppose.

[thirrdegreetusker]

If we could ever win consistently we would fill those seats, but every time we get something going our coach does something retarded, splits the fan base, falls off a bike or "smiles" we have been anywhere from very good to mediocre to horrible the past 14 years. When we become a annual winner and contender the butts will be in the seats.

That statement is logical, but dead wrong. RRS sold out in advance, for over 30 years, win, lose, or draw. Having a stadium too big means that sellouts only come when we have a winning team AND a name opponent. With the stadium a bit smaller, we sell out in advance, and have all that revenue in the bank by Labor Day.

Put luxury boxes in NEZ, remove the bleachers from top of SEZ, and if/when we have a long waiting list of prospective season ticket holders, expand.

[Pathogen]

Here's the interview.

http://www.sportstalkwithbo.com/site/index.php

JL says the priorities are to enhance fan experience and convenience (i.e., fan retention and hopefully some growth).

Building elevators for fans to reach upper deck. Going to lower ticket prices of UD too.

Expanding parking -- he said they are buying property around Razorback to build parking.

The State is paying to expand Razorback and part of Maple to 4 lane to help traffic flow.

Improving sound system.

He also mentioned:

-Looking into a way where fans on east side could get to the west side more easily and visa versa (via N. end zone?).
-Possibly adding additional "premium" seats of some sort

[Dr Swineglove]

So the news is there is no news...  Great.

[GuvHog]

Nah, they can sell suites and club seats in the North end zone, and if they need addition seating, add on top of that.

I've heard talk that they have been considering turning the east side indoor club seating area into luxury boxes but I don't know if it's true or not.

[VBMark]

Yeah, probably was. It was a lovely gravel parking lot that went from the front of Barnhill to Meadow St, every football and basketball game we had to clear out.

I think you are either misremembering or things changed a lot. I was at Fayettenam BEFORE those parking lots were closed and games were still at the Barn. The pit was then and is now the students' name for Lot 44. The gravel parking lot was never called the Pit by the majority on campus. Maybe it was just your frat.

Regardless, if you hear somebody on campus today refer to parking in the Pit, they mean Lot 44.

[ricepig]

I think you are either misremembering or things changed a lot. I was at Fayettenam BEFORE those parking lots were closed and games were still at the Barn. The pit was then and is now the students' name for Lot 44. The gravel parking lot was never called the Pit by the majority on campus. Maybe it was just your frat.

Regardless, if you hear somebody on campus today refer to parking in the Pit, they mean Lot 44.

Nope, I'm not misremembering(sp) anything, it's what everyone who lived on Stadium called it. I guess unless you poll the student body from the 70's, no one knows, lol.

[elksnort]

Chair back the whole stadium. Sell beer and wine.

[ricepig]

Chair back the whole stadium. Sell beer and wine.

Not going to happen, this isn't the NFL.

[Hogfaniam]

There are only two domed stadiums built specifically for a college team that I know of. Neither of which roofs retract. Idaho's Kibbie dome and Syracuse's Carrier dome.

Fargo dome.  Was to be a real dome, but changed.  Still totally indoors.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargodome

[Inhogswetrust]

We don't even fill what we have now

Have you ever been in movie theatre? Rarely full..........................

[thirrdegreetusker]

@SportsTalkBo: Long: North end zone project is a challenge b/c its not all about revenue or adding seats. It's about providing easier access for fans.

What does he mean by access?

vehicular and pedestrian

Where do we park the extra vehicles? How do fans get to the stadium from those parking places?

[Inhogswetrust]

Nope, I'm not misremembering(sp) anything, it's what everyone who lived on Stadium called it. I guess unless you poll the student body from the 70's, no one knows, lol.

Ummm I was there part of the 70's. My Pit was lot 44. Like I said though earlier no biggie either way.

[Inhogswetrust]

Fargo dome.  Was to be a real dome, but changed.  Still totally indoors.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargodome

Thanks. As I said I didn't know about it. It looks short.........Is part of it below ground level making it appear as such or do you know if the've had kicks or punts hit the roof inside?

[The Marmot]

Ummm I was there part of the 70's. My Pit was lot 44. Like I said though earlier no biggie either way.

I know people who refer to either or both lots as the Pit, frat and non-frat.

[The_Iceman]

Not going to happen, this isn't the NFL.

Why couldn't we chairback the whole lower bowl? I think it would really set our stadium apart.

[The_Iceman]

I know people who refer to either or both lots as the Pit, frat and non-frat.

To all current students, the Pit is in front of the North End Zone. (Lot 44)

[ricepig]

Ummm I was there part of the 70's. My Pit was lot 44. Like I said though earlier no biggie either way.

Ok, that's one vote for Lot 44, now only 11,999 more to poll, haha.

[ricepig]

To all current students, the Pit is in front of the North End Zone. (Lot 44)

Yes, correct, there hasn't been a parking lot in front of Barnhill since the Women's Center and HPER. As has been said numerous times, no biggie.