Could the Ragin’ Cajuns be getting a new football stadium?

[GeauxCajuns]

C4L, you are 100% correct. You are going to have fewer and fewer people attending football games in the future. In general, people are lazy and don't want to be uncomfortable. With every game in every living room, fatso Joe Blow is gonna be in his recliner, not sweating his balls off on the east side of Cajun dump.
UL needs to build something like this that can attract outdoor concerts, MLS exhibitions, and be the football palace of the G5. The people who think we will need a 55k seat stadium once we get an invite to join the big boys are out of their minds!

you shouldnt completely erase the possibility of it happening though

[Ragin9221]

South Alabama is building a new on campus stadium 72 million.

https://247sports.com/college/south-...izon-118668909

[CajunNation]

you shouldnt completely erase the possibility of it happening though

They have to do that. It is imperative for their dream of a soccer stadium.

[Turbine]

C4L, you are 100% correct. You are going to have fewer and fewer people attending football games in the future. In general, people are lazy and don't want to be uncomfortable. With every game in every living room, fatso Joe Blow is gonna be in his recliner, not sweating his balls off on the east side of Cajun dump.
UL needs to build something like this that can attract outdoor concerts, MLS exhibitions, and be the football palace of the G5. The people who think we will need a 55k seat stadium once we get an invite to join the big boys are out of their minds!

You should still be aiming for a percentage of the population.

Someday Acadiana's population will be 4 times what it is today.

If interest shrunk in half (not predicting) you are still looking at double the current attendance.

[CajunAmos]

If we bowl in Cajun Field fans would actually be closer to the field, we could add premium seating, suite, nice press box etc. and it would be easily expandable, and still hold 35k, with a hardened dug in concrete stadium.

Unless I'm mistaken, Helmut had mentioned that the current concrete can't pass current standards so I took that to mean we'd actually have to break it up, redo the foundation (that apparently has lots of issues), and build a whole new concrete structure to meet current space and aisle requirements. In addition, while doing this it would make sense to build the "building" and upper deck structure since you're tearing up the sideline anyway. I would imagine this would be pretty pricey.

[CajunNation]

I spoke to an Architect today and this is what he told me.

1)If you are making modifications to a building where the cost totals 50% or more of the cost of replacement you have to bring the entire structure up to current codes PROVIDED the Authority Having Jurisdiction over the project follows current codes. (Generally there are some exceptions to this however)

2) If the Authority Having Jurisdiction is the State of Louisiana then there regulatory authority is the State of Louisiana Facilities and Planning. They typically do not follow the fifty percent rule. HOWEVER, anything that is an addition to an existing building (like the SEZ or additions to Tiger Stadium) have to meet current codes ESPECIALLY Life Safety Code (NFPA 101 etc) and Handicapped accessibility . I am thinking the additions to Tiger stadium have separate means of egress because the means of egress for the older portion of the stadium did not meet code or capacity requirements for the additions. Similar situation for the SEZ for Cajun field. The SEZ project had to meet all requirements for Life Safety Code and Handicapped requirements and CURRENT BUILDING CODES. That's why the slope of the stadium in that section is different from the rest of the stadium.

Here comes the rub. Any renovation of Cajun Field (old section) is virtually impossible to bring to current codes because the stadium slope (and resulting step and aisle slope) and seat pitch requirements can't be met without total reconstruction. Big problem with aisle width and aisle handrails. Once concrete is in place it is not cast in stone but it's pretty damn close. The only thing that could possibly be done is to redo the press box and add some suites across the top.This could only be done provided somebody signs off on the supporting structure. This may or may not be a problem. We would pretty much have to leave the rest alone because that would involve total reconstruction which is not a viable option...

This is the latest word from the most knowledgeable person on this board regarding construction issues.

The only thing you may see done at Cajun Field is a renovated press box/suite and maybe a NEZ.

I'm thinking that if the building code limitations prove too restrictive in the size/scope of the pressbox/suite structure we can build, and given the 75 mill price tag on the new South Al stadium, Maggard just might go for a completely new stadium.

However, the problem of what to do with the bowl left from the old Cajun Field just might prove too much of an issue to deal with, and in that case, I can imagine political deals being done to garner permission to wave certain requirements in regards to the 51% rule that would allow the university to rebuild the current Cajun Field in a piecemeal fashion so that it is up to code.

[GeauxCajuns]

South Alabama is building a new on campus stadium 72 million.

https://247sports.com/college/south-...izon-118668909

i wouldnt trust that. didnt their indoor facility fall down during construction

[Ragin9221]

This is the latest word from the most knowledgeable person on this board regarding construction issues.

The only thing you may see done at Cajun Field is a renovated press box/suite and maybe a NEZ.

I'm thinking that if the building code limitations prove too restrictive in the size/scope of the pressbox/suite structure we can build, and given the 75 mill price tag on the new South Al stadium, Maggard just might go for a completely new stadium.

However, the problem of what to do with the bowl left from the old Cajun Field just might prove too much of an issue to deal with, and in that case, I can imagine political deals being done to garner permission to wave certain requirements in regards to the 51% rule that would allow the university to rebuild the current Cajun Field in a piecemeal fashion so that it is up to code.

This is just a joke, so don't think I am being serious, but been thinking ever since this thread got started.

[Frenchie35]

After reading Helmuts report and thoughts on what he knows about the idea of building new or renovating I see no other recourse than building new. If we go with renovation we will be stuck in the pass for years. Sure we may have a renovated press box and suites but little for the fans. That brand new structure will be for the big bucks pleasure only.

1)If you are making modifications to a building where the cost totals 50% or more of the cost of replacement you have to bring the entire structure up to current codes. Quote unquote.

This statement has me thinking.

What are we looking at, $50+ million for a renovation. If so that's 50% of a new structure by looking at the cost of other stadiums mentioned. This is what Maggard and the decision makers are pondering right now. I get the idea that most think we are to small to be thinking of NEW and wish to stay at 35K. That's thinking small. I know it takes money, but this community has money, so go out and get it before they send it all EAST. I want to look our opponents in the face and say, "welcome to the Swamp", while I'm still here.......JMO.

[Esqueleto]

You should still be aiming for a percentage of the population.

Someday Acadiana's population will be 4 times what it is today.

If interest shrunk in half (not predicting) you are still looking at double the current attendance.

Houston has about 5 million people, and UofH cant get 30k in their new 50k seat stadium after a top 20 season. Lets step out of fantasy land, people. Its time for The University of Louisiana and Lafayette to innovate, not recreate. Build something like C4L suggests and you will get your national recognition, Jack. It will be LOUD. It will be a place that will create buzz and a DEMAND for tickets. You know that caravan that heads across the basin every Saturday in the fall? Well, it would reverse course and head west. Think about the student section in such a stadium. Kids will WANT to be there.
This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

[CharlieK]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I can't imagine us being able to afford anything other than a piecemeal renovation of the current Cajun Field, with the pieces strategically done to avoid a trigger to bring the whole thing up to code.

Phase 1: Tear down old upper deck, build out NEZ. No way that's more than 51% of a new stadium

Phase2: Pressbox/suites. That's the sticky spot. Can that be done, without tearing out home side lower bowl, and be under the 51% number?

IF SO...then we will have a 35K-40K stadium, with all seats close, and a nice new pressbox and suite area.....

And it won't be an erector set monstrosity.

[CajunRebel]

you shouldnt completely erase the possibility of it happening though

Yeah, you should. You don't design stadiums for something that has a 1% chance of happening.