Scott Farmer on The Great Scott Show

[HelmutVII]

So drive the pilings now, when we go to the Big XII we will need to double deck the two end zones. ; - )

Placing a foundation now for a future deck is not necessary. As the upper deck would probably be supported by a foundation located outside of the rim of the "bowl". Besides, how would they know what capacity they would need and where to place it. Any future addition can be handled as it comes.

[DaddyCajun]

HelmutVII, there are 2 choices on parts of the stadium, what is the choice on the upper deck being replaced or kept? If replaced it says the stadium would seat some 6000+ more fans. Also, it was once said that if the upper deck was replaced the new one would actually be closer to the field which would increase fan noise closer to the field of play and better view for all upper deck fans. What is the decision?

[moorecajun]

HelmutVII, there are 2 choices on parts of the stadium, what is the choice on the upper deck being replaced or kept? If replaced it says the stadium would seat some 6000+ more fans. Also, it was once said that if the upper deck was replaced the new one would actually be closer to the field which would increase fan noise closer to the field of play and better view for all upper deck fans. What is the decision?

I'm no helmut, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so here are my two observations here:

1. They have installed new bench backs in the lower section of the upper deck, alongside the existing chair back sections; that leads me to believe they have decided on Option 1, keep the existing upper deck up to a certain grid line.

2. T-Joe, while meeting with certain groups showing our future expansion plans, has expressed expanding to 65k, that is the amount we would have if going with Option 2, replacing the upper deck totally.

I personally like Option 2, but either will be so nice!

[ZoomZoom]

What seems to be forgotten (or maybe not feasible now), the student side was constructed to receive an upper deck.

[CajunEXPRESS]

What seems to be forgotten (or maybe not feasible now), the student side was constructed to receive an upper deck.

Not forgotten at all where do you think the 65K is coming from? That is a long, long way down the road, or maybe not so long.

[Geaux]

Large stadiums are somewhat a thing of the past. From the Oakland Raiders in the NFL to schools like Oregon, Stanford, Baylor and my personal favorite TCU have all opted to reduce seating from their previous stadium capacity to somewhere around 50k seats.

65k seats would be a stretch from UL, but I think 45k with 5k standing room/future expansion. This still creates a great
atmosphere and it creates a demand for
season tickets. Remember you want to fill at
least 70%(31k) of your stadium for every game,
which we are close to doing now in the god
awful SBC!

The television product has become the biggest competitor to actually getting fans into the stadium. We can create a great stadium atmosphere at 45k with all of the bells and whistles for fans like WiFi, huge HD screens and great audio. Most of the money will be made in suite sales, club and premium seating. I would love to see us complete the bowl and upper deck on the home side and eventually we can privately fund a second deck on the student side if we have a demand for tickets to bring us to 50k capacity.

You don't have to take my word for it, check out the links

TCU Stadium Tour (45k seating)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUL-OzP95eE
Baylor Stadium Tour (45k seating)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDFuNMVKHGo

[CajunT]

Large stadiums are somewhat a thing of the past. From the Oakland Raiders in the NFL to schools like Oregon, Stanford, Baylor and my personal favorite TCU have all opted to reduce seating from their previous stadium capacity to somewhere around 50k seats.

Not really, considering that UL's goal of 65,000 are off in a distance some years. Your example of TCU and Baylor are poor exapmples since both are private universities. UL is a public university that has long term student growth planned as well.

65k seats would be a stretch from UL, but I think 45k with 5k standing room/future expansion. This still creates a great atmosphere and it creates a demand for season tickets. Remember you want to fill at least 70%(31k) of your stadium for every game, which we are close to doing now in the god awful SBC!

Based upon what projection? Who knows how big this athletic program can grow in 10, 15 or 20 years. Your idea is based upon the small model, mostly private schools. I agree 45K will come first in the right conference, but you're building something here in Lafayette with potentially much large upside. Atmosphere, without wins and television converage does not equate to tickets demand. You must win first to improve your brand and the atmosphere is created along the way with the increase demand for your product from TV networks.

The television product has become the biggest competitor to actually getting fans into the stadium. We can create a great stadium atmosphere at 45k with all of the bells and whistles for fans like WiFi, huge HD screens and great audio. Most of the money will be made in suite sales, club and premium seating. I would love to see us complete the bowl and upper deck on the home side and eventually we can privately fund a second deck on the student side if we have a demand for tickets to bring us to 50k capacity.

Suite sales will help pay the debt, season ticket sales are what matter long term, not just attendance. Look at Texas, their season tickets sales income are the highest in NCAA Football $51 Mil. Winning and playing quality opponents in a good conference will help sell season tickets and increase your brand recognition. All the things you mentioned can be achieved in Lafayette, with our job market and university growth. We are not a private university located in Dallas with limited student growth.

You don't have to take my word for it check out the links

TCU Stadium Tour (45k seating)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUL-OzP95eE
Baylor Stadium Tour (45k seating)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDFuNMVKHGo

[DaddyCajun]

CajunT, send me a PM here on the backside of RP, on how we talked about fixing my subscription to LouisianaScout as soon as your able, good buddy.

[Geaux]

That's my point. If we are talking 20 years down the road with this being based on continued success and planning, we can build a very nice 45k-50k stadium and by that time we should be able to pay for expansion with the season ticket demand if it is needed.

And if you want to use public school examples, ask Virginia Tech,Tennessee and Penn St. if they every thought they would have problems selling out their stadiums 5 years ago? These were Top 10 teams in 2009! Winning is not guaranteed every season.

I am not thinking small....just making sense.

Penn St.
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefoo...cket_sale.html
Tennessee
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2...ticket-trends/
Virginia Tech
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/Hoki...z/-/index.html

2009 Postseason rankings
http://espn.go.com/college-football/...9/seasontype/3

[RedBug58]

That's my point. If we are talking 20 years down the road with this being based on continued success and planning, we can build a very nice 45k-50k stadium and by that time we should be able to pay for expansion with the season ticket demand if it is needed.

And if you want to use public school examples, ask Virginia Tech,Tennessee and Penn St. if they every thought they would have problems selling out their stadiums 5 years ago? These were Top 10 teams in 2009! Winning is not guaranteed every season.

I am not thinking small....just making sense.

Penn St.
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefoo...cket_sale.html
Tennessee
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2...ticket-trends/
Virginia Tech
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/Hoki...z/-/index.html

2009 Postseason rankings
http://espn.go.com/college-football/...9/seasontype/3

I'm sure that the stadium expansion will take care of itself over a period of time based many factors. But, at a minimum, if we complete the South End Zone and small section on the press box side; along with proposed club seats, box seats, loge seats, and the student side upper deck; this will put us at 48,547 (not including the grass in the north end zone.....which requires no construction by the way). So we can easily get to the 50K number without the expensive second decks in the end zones and still have the grass in the North End Zone for overflow. I know this will all take some time, but it is exciting to discuss. By the way, I think we will beat both Arkansas and Kansas State.