Let's Not build a toy stadium

[Steve]

I have been active with this board for about 3 years now. One topic I have seen discussed frequently and with much controversy has been the construction and modification to the athletic facilities. This is obviously a matter of great importance to just about every fan of almost every sport.

We have seen in the past that different sports teams use the new stadium as a way to get fans to attend... the heat did it when they got the American Airlines Arena. I feel that the athletic department at FIU should do something similar...

I feel that the athletic department should start letting the fans know exactly what their plans are for a stadium as to start building hype for it. If the new facility is hyped enough, people will be hyped about everything that goes on in it. Everyone would see going to the opening game in the new stadium as an event, just as they saw the opening game of FIU football as an event.

[GPF14]

Interesting point, Steve. But I can't see that happening at FIU. For a stadium to attract interest to the non-sports fan (and that's the market you're going for when talking about the new stadiums that are being built all over the good ol' USA), there needs to be other features to attract them (like, the shops around the AAA). Can you see something like that at FIU? I can't. Not anytime soon, anyway. Come to think of it, most colleges don't really have that sort of thing. At least, not designed as part of the stadium. That's usually something you'd see in a pro facility (but if FIU can do that, more power baby).

What disturbs me about the stadium deal is that there really doesn't seem to be anything more than smoke and mirrors. No definite plans for what it will look like. Jesus, they don't even know where this new stadium is to be located; they're thinking of other options besides just tearing down the stands and building new ones. At least, that's what Mello said when he was interviewed by WRGP last week.

That, to me, makes NO d**n sense. That astroplay field on there costed over a 3/4 of a million dollars to install, and now they might move the stadium somewhere else. Apparently, Dade County has lots of resrtictions on this field, and that's why they're thinking of moving it. If that's the case, why spend the money in the first place? I suppose they'll move it , but even so, it's still retarted. The grass field that was there before probably would've done fine for 4-5 years, and it probably would've been a hell of a lot cheaper, too. At the least, you could've waited for a permanent stadium before dropping money on astroturf.

FYI, Mello also said that they're still looking for someone to buy the naming rights to the place, and that they're considering 'alternative' sources of funding (which, to me, means they're going to consider raise student fees AGAIN.) Pretty depressing.

And with all that, Mello claims there will be a stadium by 2008, if not sooner. I hope so, but it sounds to me like they really better get on the ball and start getting money. I do not like the sound of this.

[Steve]

you bring up a couple good points. Astroplay is a long term investment. The longer it is there, the cheaper it costs overall since it lasts longer and requires less maitinance than regular grass does. As for the quality of the field pre-astroplay, I can speak from my experiences.

That field had horrible drainage in the past. After a rain storm, the mud would be so deep you could loose a shoe in it. Aside from that, the grass quality was pretty good and could have lasted another year or two beyond the change to astroplay. I feel that the change to astroplay was a very good move. the field drains immediately and feels better than real grass to walk on, but not as fake as astroturf.

As a practice field, the stadium is great but as a stadium it leaves much to be desired. I know that the students are interested in the construction going on all over the campus. I see this when I speak with my peers. I know many want to know what is going on with the stadium since it has been so publicised that we need larger facilities for the move to 1-A.

Much like this board, once that large chunk of land was ripped up just west of the stadium, people became interested, thinking it may have something to do with the construction of a stadium. The interest is in the student body and they all go out and see the new buildings when they are built. In 1996, when the Wertheim Performing Arts Center opened, there was a concert in the routunda (the round thing between the music and drama sides) and the crowd spilled across the street.

With the construction of other public access buildings on campus, it is a pretty public event with a large turnout on the opening of that facility. It is to that extent that I believe that a new stadium would grant us a large crowd.

As for student fees raising, they are already set to be raised in the next couple years to better afford the costs of 1-A football. If the stadium situation is as disorganized and discouraging as you stated, then I agree that they need to get the ball rolling. I think secretly that sits in the back of each of our heads every time we deal with FIU.

The solution to this and many other issues with the stadium is to start letting everyone know what the status of a new stadium is. Put an end to all the concerns and worries and give the people an idea what will be happening. Sometimes just the idea of a new thing builds great hype.

USF's school of music has been advertising the construction of new facilities since at least 1998. New students go there just to be a part of the new facilities, despite the fact that it still has not been constructed. Similar hype is surrounding the art museum. I'll quit now before I make this post any longer though...