What is new at The Rock

[BambooRdApp]

I emailed Gillin about the water situation. I attempted to make it as constructive as possible. In the email, I inquired if the water refill stations were intentionally turned off or a malfunction so as to understand..I then offered up...if it was intentional, we need to do better. I communicated that I understand if you want regular paying fans to pay for water, I can understand that so concessions revenue increases. However, I do not understand how this can be done to the students. If like me when attended, my wife and I paid for our own college, we attended games, however, we did not spend at concessions or rarely did to save money. I also communicated that IMO opinion, we have the best student section in the state. As such, we need to give a simple amenity such as access to water.

Summed it up that if it was a malfunction, disregard email. If not, we need to do better.

[AppStateNews]

I emailed Gillin about the water situation. I attempted to make it as constructive as possible. In the email, I inquired if the water refill stations were intentionally turned off or a malfunction so as to understand..I then offered up...if it was intentional, we need to do better. I communicated that I understand if you want regular paying fans to pay for water, I can understand that so concessions revenue increases. However, I do not understand how this can be done to the students. If like me when attended, my wife and I paid for our own college, we attended games, however, we did not spend at concessions or rarely did to save money. I also communicated that IMO opinion, we have the best student section in the state. As such, we need to give a simple amenity such as access to water.

Summed it up that if it was a malfunction, disregard email. If not, we need to do better.

I can all but guarantee he's going to say it's a malfunction due to the flack they are getting, but I can also tell you it wasn't a coincidence

[BambooRdApp]

I emailed Gillin about the water situation. I attempted to make it as constructive as possible. In the email, I inquired if the water refill stations were intentionally turned off or a malfunction so as to understand..I then offered up...if it was intentional, we need to do better. I communicated that I understand if you want regular paying fans to pay for water, I can understand that so concessions revenue increases. However, I do not understand how this can be done to the students. If like me when attended, my wife and I paid for our own college, we attended games, however, we did not spend at concessions or rarely did to save money. I also communicated that IMO opinion, we have the best student section in the state. As such, we need to give a simple amenity such as access to water.

Summed it up that if it was a malfunction, disregard email. If not, we need to do better.

I can all but guarantee he's going to say it's a malfunction due to the flack they are getting, but I can also tell you it wasn't a coincidence

That may be true. But, if everyone on this board and fans outside this board provides constructive criticism...maybe it sparks a reaction. For paying fans, it is analogous to going to a movie theater. You pay movie theater prices...but cannot do this to students...and I could care less what other schools do (if they do not provide free water to students) if that is his response as well.

[BallantyneApp]

I emailed Gillin about the water situation. I attempted to make it as constructive as possible. In the email, I inquired if the water refill stations were intentionally turned off or a malfunction so as to understand..I then offered up...if it was intentional, we need to do better. I communicated that I understand if you want regular paying fans to pay for water, I can understand that so concessions revenue increases. However, I do not understand how this can be done to the students. If like me when attended, my wife and I paid for our own college, we attended games, however, we did not spend at concessions or rarely did to save money. I also communicated that IMO opinion, we have the best student section in the state. As such, we need to give a simple amenity such as access to water.

Summed it up that if it was a malfunction, disregard email. If not, we need to do better.

I can all but guarantee he's going to say it's a malfunction due to the flack they are getting, but I can also tell you it wasn't a coincidence

If they were intentionally turned off that’s barbarous. Disgusting behavior. We have the best student section around, who pay for literally half of the AD and we can’t give them free water? Absurd.

I know we have 6 saturdays to get in the majority of our revenue but sometimes you have to make the correct long term decision.

[appgrad95&97]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

[BambooRdApp]

He actually responded. Said not intentional and he heard about it after the game. He copied 3 other people on the email and said it would be rectified.

[311neers]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

[AppStateNews]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

So add more people to an already overwhelming East side? And what do you do to the 10k season tickets on the East Deck? Say "naw, we want more students using the East side concourse and in order to do that, we have to take your seats away that you've been playing $300+ a season for almost 10 years and screw any kind of relationships you've made up there."

Water situation is easily fixable. I would not be surprised if someone already lost their job for the refill stations being turned off..

[311neers]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

So add more people to an already overwhelming East side? And what do you do to the 10k season tickets on the East Deck? Say "naw, we want more students using the East side concourse and in order to do that, we have to take your seats away that you've been playing $300+ a season for almost 10 years and screw any kind of relationships you've made up there."

Water situation is easily fixable. I would not be surprised if someone already lost their job for the refill stations being turned off..

I know it’s Labor Day but try reading the above again.

[ASUFan4863]

Can the space behind Miller Hill be used for extra "essential" concessions? Water + Food only. It always looks like there is some unused area where the food trucks aren't near the east side. The new grab and go on the East side is okay. It would have been more effective with better planning. It looks like they put a drink machine, 3 tables and boxes out there the day before.

[AppStateNews]

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

So add more people to an already overwhelming East side? And what do you do to the 10k season tickets on the East Deck? Say "naw, we want more students using the East side concourse and in order to do that, we have to take your seats away that you've been playing $300+ a season for almost 10 years and screw any kind of relationships you've made up there."

Water situation is easily fixable. I would not be surprised if someone already lost their job for the refill stations being turned off..

I know it’s Labor Day but try reading the above again.

You literally said to take away the top deck of the east side and send more students that way... Nothing I rebutted with was inaccurate.

Perhaps you have to re-read your own post because it's not what you meant? I get you had a plan to put those season ticket holders somewhere, but those are not the seats they paid for. Your can't just nonchalantly move people just because. And the moving people just because thing is one reason the East Deck enhancements were released when they were -- so when that construction starts, it's not a surprise your seats will be impacted.

[appgrad2010]

Checking water fountains to ensure they are on and working should be on a long check list of things to check off before first home game of the season. Person over it should be physically going around and making sure items are in place and-or working.

[Tru2ASU]

Checking water fountains to ensure they are on and working should be on a long check list of things to check off before first home game of the season. Person over it should be physically going around and making sure items are in place and-or working.

It's as simple as putting a work order in to get them turned back on, if they do work. Like everything else, athletics thinks this stuff should happen for free, and the constant turnover in game ops and stadium ops is starting to show. Some of these people are working their first full time jobs, while the vets in these areas left for greener pastures. Some moved a few hours away and doubled their pay, doing the exact same job.

[WASU 93]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

So, it’s a good idea to give up my 30 yard line top row seats to sit in the end zone near field level at a bad angle?

The reason the East upper is sparsely populated on some game days is because it is aluminum bleachers in the direct sun. As I patiently walked to the West Side to refill my water bottles, I did notice that it’s 15-20 degrees cooler in the shade (The East does feel good in October and November, so there’s a trade off).

Those tickets were sold (that’s how we reached 36K), it’s just uncommon to see fans and families bail out by halftime seeking shade and water.

Fix the water issue (and concession issues), and you’ll see a few more but people in the seats for longer periods.

[appgrad95&97]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

You make a lot of good points. Taking the East side upper deck down seems almost necessary to fix the problem. You're NEZ bleacher idea also might work. Obviously you're plan would be a step in the direction of fixing things.

[AppStateNews]

Checking water fountains to ensure they are on and working should be on a long check list of things to check off before first home game of the season. Person over it should be physically going around and making sure items are in place and-or working.

It's as simple as putting a work order in to get them turned back on, if they do work. Like everything else, athletics thinks this stuff should happen for free, and the constant turnover in game ops and stadium ops is starting to show. Some of these people are working their first full time jobs, while the vets in these areas left for greener pastures. Some moved a few hours away and doubled their pay, doing the exact same job.

Drinking fountains have been off since COVID. Don't think they are coming back on.

It's the bottle refill stations that were the issue this week. While true we've lost people that were doing these things as part of their job, it should have never been a part of their job. We did hire a brand new stadium experience director for this season, and well, it seems he failed his first task -- miserably.

[AppStateNews]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

You make a lot of good points. Taking the East side upper deck down seems almost necessary to fix the problem. You're NEZ bleacher idea also might work. Obviously you're plan would be a step in the direction of fixing things.

Problem with the plan of using the NEZ bleachers is it absolutely DESTROYS the recruiting benefit of the new North End zone facility. One of the unique perks they preach is the visibility at all times. So, when players are lifting, they can see how hard the other position groups are doing their sprints and compete to be better. Also, just the openness, brightness, and homey feeling you get in there. With the bleachers, it looks like a prison inside. Also, that area is used and needed for practice.

I agree it looks better from the outside with the bleachers there. But, it is not feasible to keep the bleachers there. Roll away bleachers have been investigated, but doubt it happens any time soon.

[ASUFan4863]

Just looked at the stadium policies for UNC. They offer free water around the concourse and allow 2 empty bottles into the game. Seems like a no brainer policy change for us...

[Tru2ASU]

We've had different AD'S that handled this stuff that have left over the last few years. The stadium experience director is a position that just stated this year. But between all the AD'S and game ops managers and directors, it's hard to keep up with who is in charge of what, and the whole things needs a to be streamlined. Most stand around and watch the game.

[311neers]

Doug Gillin seems to get a lot of passes from fans but he deserves much more criticisms. I arrived early and bought my concessions then which helped but I saw the mess. I don’t think we need any more stadium expansion until we can figure out how to handle the amount of people we currently have.

That’s the problem though. They are allowing 7,000 people in over Capacity.

37k of a 30k stadium. Infrastructure and staffing isn’t there to support the extra 20-25%. Build more concessions/infrastructure or cut back some capacity.

This is a great point, but how? I can't imagine a way to expand the West side concourse to add anything. Expanding the East side concourse (a bit seems possible), but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. The need for more concessions/infrastructure so clear. But I ask sincerely, where would it go?

Hmmm scrape the 2nd deck bleachers (since you’re going to re-do that side anyway and that’s the most sparse of the crowds on gamedays). Keep the NEZ bleachers and offer them to the displaced season tix holders of the East side upper to help the capacity stay around 30k. Opens up the east side more without the columns/stairs/handicap ramps, lets the SEZ student overflow use those East concessions to free up the west side to west side only. More vendors in SEZ, more trucks, more staff. When you're ready to expand the East, you’ve already demo’d half of the problem. Or they could just stop letting the extra 20% in. The water should be an easy fix, just don’t trust many bureaucrats in charge to make easy decisions.

You make a lot of good points. Taking the East side upper deck down seems almost necessary to fix the problem. You're NEZ bleacher idea also might work. Obviously you're plan would be a step in the direction of fixing things.

I don’t think that my potential solution is an actual viable solution. It was more of just a conversation starter, some might like it, season tix holders up there won’t. Logistically, those columns and bleachers should be the first to go in terms of freeing up concourse and crowd space. The columns and stairs every 10’ just make it so difficult to get around. But, we can’t take away seats as News mentioned. I’m not sure what we do, the water has to be fixed, and more staff and concessions/vendors (probably in the SEZ is needed).

The crowds will probably die down a little as we get away from the opener and ECU home game, but not by much!