Here we go!

[App91]

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.

I don't think it so much of a delay, FBS schedules are made for OOC games this far in advance regularly. I think once we get past the first 3 years you will see lots of announcements for games 4-5 yrs down the road

[Saint3333]

We are doing an excellent job getting home and home with G5 members. Much better than GSU so far.

[PBR1893-BEER-HAT-GUY]

i like it...generates a new rival since our old sc rivals are fading from memory...close for our faithful...charlotte/greensboro/winston have tons of app grads eager to drive a few miles...and best of all...we get to keep our footprint in the backdoor and up the backside of unc-c. it has the possibility of allowing charlotte area players a true fan base that is eager to travel and support a good team!

[wncapp78]

I think it's ok to play at UNCC first as they are still building a program. I feel like we get them at our place a year later and more established it's a better advantage for us.

[sonsofyosef]

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

A recent news story states BOA can be rented for $250K. In addition, as part of the Panthers' $87.5 M deal for stadium renovations, the team agrees to provide four rent-free dates a year for 10 years.

The story also states that the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are trying to find sports events, concerts and other events in need of tens of thousands of seats.

Read more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/03/ ... occer.html

[MAD Doctor]

I don't think it so much of a delay, FBS schedules are made for OOC games this far in advance regularly. I think once we get past the first 3 years you will see lots of announcements for games 4-5 yrs down the road

Understood, but considering the openings in our schedules, (and mutual games with Campbell), I can't help but believe this thing could have been worked out earlier, if one school had been willing.

Water under the bridge. We've got a lot to accomplish and to look forward to well before 2018. Go App!

[appmaj]

2018 & 2019, where is our 2014 schedule???

[TheMoody1]

2018 & 2019, where is our 2014 schedule???

I believe the Sun Belt will release the conference schedule on 3/1.

[Maddog1956]

A recent news story states BOA can be rented for $250K. In addition, as part of the Panthers' $87.5 M deal for stadium renovations, the team agrees to provide four rent-free dates a year for 10 years.

The story also states that the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are trying to find sports events, concerts and other events in need of tens of thousands of seats.

Read more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/03/ ... occer.html

An interesting article, it looks like the City did get something for their money.

The City would most likely want to use their free dates for events that would bring people from outside of Charlotte to stay overnight, however. An App vs UNCC game might bring a few but nothing like some other national or international events.

Plus that doesn't include security and cleanup which I think would be lots more than on campus.

But I think what might make it moot is that I think UNCC stadium will have more seats by then. I think one reason they waited for the matchup is so they would have more seating, knowing they would need it by then.

[HeffnerIV]

A recent news story states BOA can be rented for $250K. In addition, as part of the Panthers' $87.5 M deal for stadium renovations, the team agrees to provide four rent-free dates a year for 10 years.

The story also states that the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are trying to find sports events, concerts and other events in need of tens of thousands of seats.

Read more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/03/ ... occer.html

An interesting article, it looks like the City did get something for their money.

The City would most likely want to use their free dates for events that would bring people from outside of Charlotte to stay overnight, however. An App vs UNCC game might bring a few but nothing like some other national or international events.

Plus that doesn't include security and cleanup which I think would be lots more than on campus.

But I think what might make it moot is that I think UNCC stadium will have more seats by then. I think one reason they waited for the matchup is so they would have more seating, knowing they would need it by then.

I agree. Plus, if I'm them, I would be really hesitant to take my home game down the highway.

[ASUchipman]

At least one of the free dates is used for the Belk Bowl. They do not pay to get the stadium. Im not sure but the other is probably the ACC championship game. That knocks it down to two. They have had exibition soccer games in the past, and have one scheduled coming up. That is probably all the free dates.

[huskie3]

At least one of the free dates is used for the Belk Bowl. They do not pay to get the stadium. Im not sure but the other is probably the ACC championship game. That knocks it down to two. They have had exibition soccer games in the past, and have one scheduled coming up. That is probably all the free dates.

Didn't the article also mention the free dates were January thru June?

[Maddog1956]

At least one of the free dates is used for the Belk Bowl. They do not pay to get the stadium. Im not sure but the other is probably the ACC championship game. That knocks it down to two. They have had exibition soccer games in the past, and have one scheduled coming up. That is probably all the free dates.

Didn't the article also mention the free dates were January thru June?

I think they said this year because of construction, but I may be wrong. I don't know if they would be the case every year.

Also I think they might have a football team already playing there during football season, I think it referred to the Panthers or something like that. I doubt if they would want to risk having something happen on Saturday that would cause a problem Sunday unless it was an away game weekend.

I'm just guessing here!

[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

A recent news story states BOA can be rented for $250K. In addition, as part of the Panthers' $87.5 M deal for stadium renovations, the team agrees to provide four rent-free dates a year for 10 years.

The story also states that the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are trying to find sports events, concerts and other events in need of tens of thousands of seats.

Read more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/03/ ... occer.html

The rent free dates are what I was referring to when I said there are possible ways around it, but like I said it will take some wheeling and dealing to get it done. The purpose of those dates are to bring in events that will fill up hotels and restaurants. With both of our fan bases being local the economic impact on the city won't be all that large. Those dates do carry over year to year so if the city is unable to use them starting this year there may be a greater chance of getting one of those dates in the future. The $250,000 figure is misleading in that it only relates to renting the building. That figure doesn't include things such as security, game day staff, and clean up fees. The $3 Mil figure I mentioned covered all costs. Maybe by 2018 there will be enough of these rent free dates unused that we could move the game to BOA.

Chip- The ACC Championship is not included in the dates.

[goapps93]

2018 & 2019, where is our 2014 schedule???

2014 OOC schedule is set. Waiting for Sun Belt schedule.

Sat, Aug 30 at Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich. TBA

Sat, Sep 06 CAMPBELL BOONE, N.C. TBA

Sat, Sep 20 at Southern Miss at Hattiesburg, Miss. TBA

Sat, Oct 11 LIBERTY BOONE, N.C. TBA

[EastHallApp]

There's actually one positive to playing @Charlotte first - bringing our product to recruits in their backyard. It will be a great opportunity to appeal to Charlotte-area recruits, including those who might also be considering UNCC.

[Maddog1956]

There's actually one positive to playing @Charlotte first - bringing our product to recruits in their backyard. It will be a great opportunity to appeal to Charlotte-area recruits, including those who might also be considering UNCC.

I agree! The Charlotte area has some powerhouse HS football teams. I'm sure the best ones go to bigger programs, but we want to compete with UNCC for the second tier. Especially the ones that want to be within a couple hours from home but still not at home.

[Niner National]

A recent news story states BOA can be rented for $250K. In addition, as part of the Panthers' $87.5 M deal for stadium renovations, the team agrees to provide four rent-free dates a year for 10 years.

The story also states that the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are trying to find sports events, concerts and other events in need of tens of thousands of seats.

Read more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/03/ ... occer.html

An interesting article, it looks like the City did get something for their money.

The City would most likely want to use their free dates for events that would bring people from outside of Charlotte to stay overnight, however. An App vs UNCC game might bring a few but nothing like some other national or international events.

Plus that doesn't include security and cleanup which I think would be lots more than on campus.

But I think what might make it moot is that I think UNCC stadium will have more seats by then. I think one reason they waited for the matchup is so they would have more seating, knowing they would need it by then.

That is certainly a likely factor.

It could have also been the first years that schedules for both schools allowed it.

I'm very happy to be starting a series with App. I also hope we can work something out with Ga Southern. If JMU ever moves up, I'd love to have a regular series with them as well.

If we're not going to be competing for national championships, I at least want to have some OOC rivalries to get excited about with similar institutions. To me, those are move exciting than 90% of bowl games would be.

[EastHallApp]

I don't know when Charlotte's other OOC games were scheduled, but I have a hard time believing they precluded an earlier series vs. App considering this series has reportedly been in discussion for quite a while now. Also, UNCC has an opening in their 2015 schedule and two openings for 2017 (though one will probably be an FCS team I assume).

ETA: According to the links on this page, UNCC finalized the Eastern Michigan series last March, and Kansas State and Temple in fall 2012. Pretty sure App was already trying to schedule games with them by that point.


http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/conf-us ... -49ers.php

[ninermike]

The fact that there is some animosity between the two fan bases just makes this game more appealing, not less so.

I hate to break it to you but the animosity between the fan bases exists on a few message boards only. There might be 25 Charlotte fans that actually hate App and vice versa. Now if you count the number of Charlotte fans that hate Gonzo that''s easily in the hundreds.

I for one am really excited. I've got plenty of App alumni as friends and will enjoy some major tailgating at both venues.