Cajun Field 1971...

[CrazyCajun]

Are the bullpen areas and patio boxes down the lines staying the same?

Didn't show in the drawing I saw but I was told they would stay

[LaCajunsFan]

Primarily because the plans aren't finished. Preliminary numbers came in about 10% over budget. My understanding is Coach Robe & admin are determined to not cut any areas that would effect the fans. So as far as I know they are working through that issue. More money and/or cuts to reach the budget numbers.

They are trying to get the lights in before this season starts. The plan all along has been to start construction on the grandstands after this season ends and that seems to be on track.

I know we have all heard about the Tigue renovations for years but it's the real deal this time around.

Yes, first up is completing the lighting....then the major construction after next season.

But more importantly is that whole 10% thing: yes, all the money is there, minus the 10% over the budget. But that is exactly the whole point: why haven't they gone to us to try to capture that last bit??? You have fans that are practically begging to help out and be a part of this......and yet we hear nothing.

[KACajun]

Yes, first up is completing the lighting....then the major construction after next season.

But more importantly is that whole 10% thing: yes, all the money is there, minus the 10% over the budget. But that is exactly the whole point: why haven't they gone to us to try to capture that last bit??? You have fans that are practically begging to help out and be a part of this......and yet we hear nothing.

#silentphase

[duggie85]

Yes, first up is completing the lighting....then the major construction after next season.

But more importantly is that whole 10% thing: yes, all the money is there, minus the 10% over the budget. But that is exactly the whole point: why haven't they gone to us to try to capture that last bit??? You have fans that are practically begging to help out and be a part of this......and yet we hear nothing.

From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all the details are known?? The plans are drawn, schedule set, they need to 10% more.

[Cajun90]

From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all the details are known?? The plans are drawn, schedule set, they need to 10% more.

No-- prelim plans were drawn to the stage of getting bids done. Bids came in 10% over budget. Now they are considering how to handle that issue. It could be a change in design or it could be asking primary donors for more or more than likely a combo of both. There is no reason at this stage to go running out begging for money. Not everything is a conspiracy theory.

[LaCajunsFan]

Can someone who has seen the plans give us some highlights? Especially what makes it 'gorgeous?' Or how it differs from the conceptual drawings?

[HoustonCajun]

Wouldn't need to spend the $60-$75M to expand Cajun Field to 50,000 if we do what you suggest. I would suggest in addition to taking out the upper deck and bowling the NEZ (as a mirror to the SEZ with concessions), we build a new press box with suites on the West side and build suites over the East side which would eliminate the unfinished look. The stadium would look like a smaller version of the Michigan stadium. Build a façade around the stadium to give it a new look (like Houston did), and we can still build the West side structure of offices, store, etc. that is planned. That should reduce costs significantly and still give us a 40,000 seat stadium which is all we need at this time. Time for UL to go back to the drawing board on this.

Here are pictures of Michigan and Notre Dame stadiums. Michigan's stadium will give you an idea of what a bowled stadium (without an upper deck) with a press box and suites would look like at UL, only on a smaller scale. Notre Dame's stadium is a similar bowl that was enlarged by added seats to the upper levels without having to create an upper deck. UL could enlarge its stadium at a later date when needed in a similar way. In the meantime, we get the stadium enhanced in a much shorter timeframe and with much lower costs.

[Lexhead]

My ONLY thought on this is how much more difficult offseason training will be when a "set of stadium steps" looks like that. Good Lord.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Serious question. Why all the secrecy of the plan? There must be a reason that us 3,000 fans that go to most games have not seen the plan?

Reseating to follow. You may have to decide football or baseball.

[CajunEXPRESS]

No-- prelim plans were drawn to the stage of getting bids done. Bids came in 10% over budget. Now they are considering how to handle that issue. It could be a change in design or it could be asking primary donors for more or more than likely a combo of both. There is no reason at this stage to go running out begging for money. Not everything is a conspiracy theory.

Well better to beg than cut back the stadium. I think that was the posters point. Don't cut it back for pride.

[HoustonCajun]

Here is a picture of the UCF stadium which seats 45,000 and was built at a cost of $60M. UCF opened their stadium with Texas. This gives a better look at what Cajun Field would look like bowled as it is difficult to compare to a 100,000 seat stadium. A bowled Cajun Field would seat about 40,000 with suites. That would hold us for years until we needed to expand again (University of Houston just built a new 40,000 seat stadium). By not adding a new upper deck on the west side and a smaller upper deck on the east side, it would appear to save us millions in costs and greatly reduce the amount of money we would need to raise to start this project and get this completed on a shorter time line. A bowled stadium creates a much better game day atmosphere and gives the look of a big time stadium. Picture stepping into Cajun Field looking like this. Maybe UL needs to go back to the drawing board. Can't wait around another 5-10 years to build. We need to be ready when a conference realignment opportunity hits us. Once baseball is completed within the next 2 years, we will have new facilities in every sport, including renovations to the CajunDome, except football.

[cajun4life]

I would personally like two identical upper decks with about 5000 seats plus suites. The make the north ends one symmetrical and leave the grass too.

Bring capacity to roughly 45k and resemble the old Horseshoe.