I know stadium expansion has been brought up over and over but it’s really reached critical mass and needs to be addressed.

Games have been legit sold out. I went to the stadium after getting off work last minute and couldn’t get tix. Watched at a bar instead.

That’s anecdotal I know but this season has only made us that more popular and we can expect attendance to increase. Add the potential for us with the new 12 team playoff and we can see even more growth. Furthermore, our in conference visiting fans will increase with new regional teams like Marshall and JMU.

So this conversation usually starts with everyone’s ideas which eventually leads to team (seats on miller hill) vs team (keep it grass) followed by the bean counter telling everyone to donate more money. We do need more money and Yosef club participation.

Has the idea ever been kicked around to have stadium drive end at the stadium so the east stands can use the space where the road is now. Just close that road and it could really expand the area inside security. You could even connect it to the Quinn Center. The Quinn could be rebuilt as an athletic training center down low with a dorm above it. I guess if the road needs to remain there it could be a tunnel under the stands.

Anyway it’s fun to imagine the possibilities and I love hearing ideas. Plus it helps pass the time until Saturday.

I'm pretty sure ending Stadium Dr would upset everyone that lives on the other side of that hill...I would imagine the city or county "owns" Stadium Dr and wouldn't be too interested in cutting off an avenue of travel. I would imagine there are also some laws preventing that being done...

Its an interesting idea though

I would add that expansion should hold off until the two new parking decks are finished.

I hope everyone here has donated to prior capital campaigns.

AppSt94 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:25 pm

I would add that expansion should hold off until the two new parking decks are finished.

I agree to an extent. We probably should hold if on construction until the parking decks are done. However, we had better be planning NOW for the eventuality. We need a plan, so that we don’t get caught flat footed like we did when we expanded the East Side and end up having to piece together something like we always have.

kornegaylw wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:23 pm

I'm pretty sure ending Stadium Dr would upset everyone that lives on the other side of that hill...I would imagine the city or county "owns" Stadium Dr and wouldn't be too interested in cutting off an avenue of travel. I would imagine there are also some laws preventing that being done...

Its an interesting idea though

Yeah, I’m not sure how that would work but judging from all the speed bumps they installed they’d probably like having less cut through traffic. That was my go to route getting to the old high school. I’m pretty sure the speed bumps were installed after my land speed record over that hill back in ‘93!

In Europe you see small roads as tunnels through larger structures all the time. If they can figure it out I’m sure we can too.

I agree that we need to get on the expansion bandwagon yesterday. Build it and they will come. We do not need to wait for the completion of parking decks, we had over 40k for Luke Combs and our UNC game and everyone found parking. I am curious who owns that road considering it cuts right through our campus but even if it were the town, surely any responsible town politician can recognize the large additional revenues that come into the town through increase attendance on game days. Every hotel room is booked, most decent vrbo/cabins are booked, stores and restaurants on King Street are crowded with shoppers and more importantly BUYERS. App State Football games are money makers for the town and greater attendance means greater amounts of money for the businesses in the town. It's a no brainer and I would think that could easily be accomplished. We need an actual seat count of 35k with a total capacity of around 45k (whether in actual seats or on a hill). Our program is on the upswing and our renewed natural rivals will only keep interest and attendance levels high. It is time we meet the demand with actual seats.

pop5app wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:33 pm

AppSt94 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:25 pm

I would add that expansion should hold off until the two new parking decks are finished.

I agree to an extent. We probably should hold if on construction until the parking decks are done. However, we had better be planning NOW for the eventuality. We need a plan, so that we don’t get caught flat footed like we did when we expanded the East Side and end up having to piece together something like we always have.

This isn’t meant to be sarcastic, but who is to say that these conversations and plans aren’t in the works?

West side and lower east side need to be totally rebuilt. Install permanent seating under NEZ club level (that looked so great on TV). Add seating to SEZ that can be expanded, possibly with visitor’s locker room underneath. That has to be changed. It’s so silly that the visiting team enters and exits on the home sideline.

AppSt94 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:41 pm

pop5app wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:33 pm

AppSt94 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:25 pm

I would add that expansion should hold off until the two new parking decks are finished.

I agree to an extent. We probably should hold if on construction until the parking decks are done. However, we had better be planning NOW for the eventuality. We need a plan, so that we don’t get caught flat footed like we did when we expanded the East Side and end up having to piece together something like we always have.

This isn’t meant to be sarcastic, but who is to say that these conversations and plans aren’t in the works?

It’s definitely in the works. Those in charge read this board regularly. So it’s just an opportunity to get ideas out there, and it’s fun.

Would it add much to install permanent seats under the north endzone and still leave a tunnel? I know they like having that open area for different reasons but a couple thousand seats there (band) and then permanent seats on the hill would do a good bit. I had asked about adding a third deck on the east side but even if that can be done how long would it take? We definitely cant have a chunk of seating down for a season. I agree that probably 35k in actual seating is where we are going.

As an aside I looked at the box scores for a couple of Jackson State games and if accurate they drew over 35k for both home games so far.

My idea would be to build field level suites into the south endzone hill with stands above where the concrete open-air concourse is now. I spent hours on this photoshop....

#TeamIDon'tCareAboutTheHillAtAll

It's getting to be10lbs of party in a 5lb bag

ArmantiWaterSafety wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:00 pm

My idea would be to build field level suites into the south endzone hill with stands above where the concrete open-air concourse is now. I spent hours on this photoshop....

#TeamIDon'tCareAboutTheHillAtAll

Not saying that looks bad but what they were looking at putting bleachers on the hill for the season; one of the desires was to keep the site lines from the concourse unobstructed.

ArmantiWaterSafety wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:00 pm

My idea would be to build field level suites into the south endzone hill with stands above where the concrete open-air concourse is now. I spent hours on this photoshop....

#TeamIDon'tCareAboutTheHillAtAll

See. It’s free App State porn like this that makes me love these stadium expansion threads! That’s a pro level post dude!

ArmantiWaterSafety wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:00 pm

My idea would be to build field level suites into the south endzone hill with stands above where the concrete open-air concourse is now. I spent hours on this photoshop....

#TeamIDon'tCareAboutTheHillAtAll

How much for a ticket behind the scoreboard?

If some BIG corporate donors had any sense and were up to speed they would be jumping in line to send some money our way......the HIDDEN GEM has been discovered. If this would happen and the stadium expanded properly with some solid planning then the university would not have to gouge the students, alumni and fan base and the program and attendance would explode.

I think I can speak for everyone here in saying...

Even if you'd bury yourself half in the ground on Miller Hill to thwart the bulldozers, everyone can appreciate the high-quality photoshop here. Armanti, your work has spoken to us.

AppSt94 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:05 pm

Not saying that looks bad but what they were looking at putting bleachers on the hill for the season; one of the desires was to keep the site lines from the concourse unobstructed.

Yeah I had read that, I just don't know how anybody is going to accomplish expansion without obstructing that sight line. I'm not really sure why that's a huge objective anyway, when I was a student I literally never saw that sight line, and now that I'm a season ticket holder on the west side, I very rarely venture that way. I could see if it was a major entrance to the stadium as it is an amazing view, but unless your seats are there you're not really seeing it, and if your seats are there it makes it a moot point. Who knows, maybe I'm missing something.

I’d say leave the hill for now, it doesn’t need any work and can hold overflow while they work on the east side concourse and adding a 3rd deck Then figure out what to do on the hill. And put seating back under the NEZ