Here we go!

[ASUPATCH]

If UNCC pulls another D3 Wesley college type loss the shiny luster of havig a new team will wear off in a hurry. See Georgia State.

[DoubleA]

I don't understand why we are in such a hurry to schedule UNCC for football. Although it makes sense to play them eventually, why not give UNCC a chance to establish the FB program and complete the second phase of their stadium. So we're going to their place first, to play a game in a 15,000 seat stadium?

[NWA49]

As others have said, UNCC better add a bunch of seats in the next 4 years. We could easily bring 15k+ fans if there is enough space for them. Can any of the 49er fans shed some light on expansion plans?

AD Has not released expansion plans, but stadium was designed to be able to build upper deck on each side with no demolition of current structures. We know there has to be a certain amount of expansion done because as it stands we won't have enough tickets to provide CUSA opponents per conference guidelines. It basically breaks down like this:

5,000 FSLs
7,500 Student Tickets
2,500 Visiting team, player families, sponsors, single season season tickets

Our students did not use their entire allotment every game this season so some of those were made available as single game tickets. I have a feeling that a game against App and they will use all of theirs.

Lights are going up this offseason and I suspect that next offseason will see an upper deck built on at least one side. By 2018 I am confident that the stadium size will be mid 20s to 30 - which will be fine for quite awhile.

As for playing at BOA, go investigate how expensive it is to rent the building. Any ticket money made would be handed right back in rent. Much better for each school from a funding point of view to play on campus. Unless you can get north of 55k to 60k it isn't worth it. Seeings how ACC and ECU have had trouble hitting those marks on some years it would be a very poor business choice for either of us to play there

[Gonzo]

If UNCC pulls another D3 Wesley college type loss the shiny luster of havig a new team will wear off in a hurry. See Georgia State.

It wore off in the middle of the season. But I would expect them to really turn when an established team of our caliber comes to town. This game really validates their program.

[JCline0429]

Unfortunately the first game will be in UNC-C's stadium in 2018.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University and Charlotte have agreed to a two-year football series beginning in 2018, the schools announced on Monday. The series begins on Sept. 8, 2018 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte and concludes on Sept. 7, 2019 in Boone.

The games will be the first between Appalachian State, which has established itself as one of North Carolina’s most successful college football programs and joins the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2014, and Charlotte, which played its inaugural football campaign in 2013 and joins the FBS ranks and Conference USA in 2015.

The home-and-home arrangement is the fourth that Appalachian State has established with non-conference FBS opponents. Appalachian also has two-game series set with C-USA’s Southern Miss (2014-15) and Old Dominion (2015-16) and Akron (2016-17) of the Mid-American Conference.

[AppState89]

I like this game and hope we can play a home and home every couple of years. No different than us wanting to play Wake Forest. Close for both fan base, plus I work with several 49 grads, including my BOSS!!! I've already starting talking smack.

[JTApps1]

As others have said, UNCC better add a bunch of seats in the next 4 years. We could easily bring 15k+ fans if there is enough space for them. Can any of the 49er fans shed some light on expansion plans?

AD Has not released expansion plans, but stadium was designed to be able to build upper deck on each side with no demolition of current structures. We know there has to be a certain amount of expansion done because as it stands we won't have enough tickets to provide CUSA opponents per conference guidelines. It basically breaks down like this:

5,000 FSLs
7,500 Student Tickets
2,500 Visiting team, player families, sponsors, single season season tickets

Our students did not use their entire allotment every game this season so some of those were made available as single game tickets. I have a feeling that a game against App and they will use all of theirs.

Lights are going up this offseason and I suspect that next offseason will see an upper deck built on at least one side. By 2018 I am confident that the stadium size will be mid 20s to 30 - which will be fine for quite awhile.

As for playing at BOA, go investigate how expensive it is to rent the building. Any ticket money made would be handed right back in rent. Much better for each school from a funding point of view to play on campus. Unless you can get north of 55k to 60k it isn't worth it. Seeings how ACC and ECU have had trouble hitting those marks on some years it would be a very poor business choice for either of us to play there

Thanks. I saw the drawings that listed capacity up to 40,000 but wasn't sure of the timeline.

To follow up on BOA, I know we looked at playing a game there 3 years ago and the Panthers wanted $3 Million for rent. So at $50 a ticket you need to sell 60,000 to cover rent alone. There are some possible options for getting a reduced rent, but there would need to be some help by influential people in Charlotte to make it happen.

[appalum2003]

Ridiculous that we're travelling down there first. Wow. Charlie... seriously?

[Maddog1956]

Ridiculous that we're travelling down there first. Wow. Charlie... seriously?

I don't care where it starts, Home or Away, just get it started. I'd kind of like to go to Charlotte and show them how it's done and beat them on their own field.

[ASUPATCH]

Thanks for the Merge

[hapapp]

I don't understand why we are in such a hurry to schedule UNCC for football. Although it makes sense to play them eventually, why not give UNCC a chance to establish the FB program and complete the second phase of their stadium. So we're going to their place first, to play a game in a 15,000 seat stadium?

You do realize that 2018 is 4 years away. That should give both teams time to acquaint themselves with the FBS. This has the potential to be a great series based on all that many have already said. It only makes sense for us find FBS games close to home. I like the ODU series and this one makes sense as well. Not sure why some of our fans want to get all "Carolina" about this game.

[huskie3]

Ridiculous that we're travelling down there first. Wow. Charlie... seriously?

Sometimes with scheduling you have to give a little to get what you want. I see nothing wrong with playing in Charlotte first.
I do hope there is no revenue sharing - let each keep their game revenue, only pay what travel you need to.

[rbarthle17]

I certainly hope there's more exciting scheduling news in the future than inking a glorified community college. The only upside is recruiting and putting the most delusional D-1 fan base in America in their place.

You better hope our boys can cash the checks your keyboard is writing.

[SayYesToTheRock]

I have no problem with a home and home against the 9ers,
I'm still just happy we have Southern Miss coming to the Rock.

Fans who claim Charlotte is beneath us:

If they really ARE: why are we talking trash? Did National Champion LSU talk trash to us in '05, when we were basically unheard of? Of course not.

Talking trash lowers our fanbase to a level we claim to be above.

[Rekdiver]

As I've said before if they do expand the stadium it will be a home game for us in Charlotte. We could bring 20k minimum

[App91]

These High and Mighty, better-than-them posters slay me. Might want to watch what you say. Remember last year? 4-8, losses to NCAT and Chas. Southern? Couple more years of that and 15k seats will do just fine. Wow, guys this is not the 2007 app state!

[ASUchipman]

I have been going to ASU games for close to 30 years now. I remember the days of sitting on the visitors side and there was no one over there. A lot of these people on the message board jumped on since the good years. I have seen crowds going from 28,000-30,000 to people leaving at half time last year. If we start a losing trend, which is entirely possible, our crowd will drop. UNCC is a new program and will experience growing pains. How lond did ASU fill the stands with 15,000 or less? A lot can change in four years. I look forward to playing them.

[asutrnr81]

I don't mind playing them, but I do think playing at BOA would be much better instead of Richardson stadium. We could pull 20-40k by ourselves.

Give it a year......$ talks!

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Not really related but kinda

http://www.theonion.com/articles/horrif ... n-r,35102/

[MAD Doctor]

I welcome the series, but also wonder about the delay. A regional rivalry would be great, and couldn't be worse than our 30 year dominance of Western. Four more years to get ready, opening the series at JRS, NO EXCUSES. See you in '18.