ODU stadium

[EastHallApp]

A bit late on this I know, as I took a long weekend with the family and just came back from Va. Beach yesterday. But I wanted to mention it:

Seeing Foreman Field in person really put all our debates about what needs to be expanded/updated at KBS in perspective. Compared to ODU's stadium, Kidd Brewer is a palace. Obviously I knew it was small, but seating capacity is just the beginning. The concourses (such as they were) were lined with port-o-johns because there aren't enough restrooms there. I didn't see any concession stands, so they had to bring in food trucks (which, admittedly, is an excellent idea). There are no stairways on the ends of the stadium, so the people in those rows have to climb over the entire row of people whenever they come and go. And some of the back rows in other sections don't have easy stair access because of the stadium's funky shape.

Of course none of that applies to the new club level/luxury box section in the end zone. I didn't see the inside, but it did look nice from outside.

None of this is meant to trash ODU, as I know they needed a place to start and are looking to build new. I was just struck by the band-aid approach they're having to use.

[Saint3333]

Gillin was impressed with their endzone facility, sounds like he'd like to add something similar in the Owens endzone.

[appchicago]

Gillin was impressed with their endzone facility, sounds like he'd like to add something similar in the Owens endzone.

I thought that was pretty cool too. Great use of the endzone and it made the stadium look good on TV (not that that's the ultimate goal). I didn't realize how small the rest of the place was until Coach Satterfield's postgame interview.

[AppSC]

None of this is meant to trash ODU, as I know they needed a place to start and are looking to build new. I was just struck by the band-aid approach they're having to use.

Attended ODU for two years in the late 80s/early 90s before transferring to App. Lived roughly a block away from Foreman near the corner of Hampton Blvd/W 48th street.

We were lucky to have the Oyster Bowl played on campus, which was always like homecoming to us (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_Bowl) - even though it was mainly contested between middle of the road 1-AA teams like VMI.

Agree that Foreman Field is a dump, but if it hadn't been on campus, I doubt ODU would have a team now.

[ASUfan6971]

A parent of an ODU student said they are going to demolish their stadium and build a bigger one further down near the water.

[AppfaninCAALand]

I believe the new stadium on the Elizabeth River was shot down by the city, but I could be wrong. Their stadium was built back for the first time they had a football team in the 40s when they were William & Mary's satalite Norfolk junior campus. It hosted the Oyster Bowl in the 50s but hadn't hosted anything but field hockey until football was reborn less than ten years ago. I lived in Va Beach at the time, I remember they built the end zone building but nothing else expecting they would be in the CAA and not be as successful as they quickly became. If they knew they'd be were they are now, I suspect they would have torn down at least half of Foreman and rebuilt it, rather than the end zone complex.

[moehler]

3 years ago, its seem that a new, 36,000 seat stadium was all but a done deal, and it would be done by 2018, don't know what happen, but it definitely looks like the plans to build have been delayed.

[AppDawg]

During the broadcast Saturday, I seem to recall the announcers saying ODU would move into their new home for the 2017 season. Now, take that with a grain of salt given how sharp (lack there of) the tv announcers were.

[AppSC]

I believe the new stadium on the Elizabeth River was shot down by the city, but I could be wrong. Their stadium was built back for the first time they had a football team in the 40s when they were William & Mary's satalite Norfolk junior campus. It hosted the Oyster Bowl in the 50s but hadn't hosted anything but field hockey until football was reborn less than ten years ago. I lived in Va Beach at the time, I remember they built the end zone building but nothing else expecting they would be in the CAA and not be as successful as they quickly became. If they knew they'd be were they are now, I suspect they would have torn down at least half of Foreman and rebuilt it, rather than the end zone complex.

It was built in the 30s.

The Oyster Bowl was played at Foreman Field between 1948-1995.

[huskie3]

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/07/footbal ... g-odu-week
I know, it is from July but it does seem they have a plan for building.