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

[ULGrad@HOU]

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

Most people here aren't UH fans, it's either UT or A&M. Also, one season does not generate that kind of interest. It has to be sustained success. The casual fans are slower to get drawn into a program. There are a thousand reasons people can use to show that it can't be done.

[Turbine]

... 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.

After upper deck demolition ...

Couldn't a piling structure press box (without external upper deck seating) be built free and clear of lower deck seating with the foundation requiring only the concourse breezeway deck to be altered?

[Esqueleto]

Most people here aren't UH fans, it's either UT or A&M. Also, one season does not generate that kind of interest. It has to be sustained success. The casual fans are slower to get drawn into a program. There are a thousand reasons people can use to show that it can't be done.

And most people here now and in the future aren't UL fans, they are LSU fans.
50k in a 100k stadium is not an exciting environment. 25k in a 45k stadium is not an exciting environment. But, if you get 35k in a stadium designed to trap noise it will deliver every bit of excitement as a full 100k stadium. Fans will travel to experience it. Players will WANT to play in it. Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Alt. J, Phish, et all will want to jam in it. Consider the possibilities, people. This is something the city and parish should get behind and partner with the university.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

[ULGrad@HOU]

I would be floored if Dr. Maggard announced a stadium built outside of the existing structure, from scratch. I cannot see this happening. It would be cool, and it's fun to think and dream. I don't think Dr. Savoie would throw away the recent improvements though, that would not look good on him, it would be considered wasteful and he would get hammered for it. There is an engineering solution to our problem to upgrading Cajun Field. We don't have enough data to analyze it and come up with what the real options are. We can shotgun it and guess, like everything else on this forum. My guess is that it will be a multi year improvement starting with the upper deck demolition. I don't know the laws governing occupancy during remodeling a structure, but I'm sure there are provisions to be able to comply mixing the old and new codes until the construction is complete.

[CajunNation]

After upper deck demolition ...

Couldn't a piling structure press box (without external upper deck seating) be built free and clear of lower deck seating with the foundation requiring only the concourse breezeway deck to be altered?

This would be my hope as well, Turbine. It would allow for a much bigger press box/suite/restaurant/club complex to be built. That means more revenue.

If that is the route, they would almost certainly have to do a NEZ first to displace season ticket holders while construction is done and to recoup the seats lost with the new structure.

[ULGrad@HOU]

And most people here now and in the future aren't UL fans, they are LSU fans.
50k in a 100k stadium is not an exciting environment. 25k in a 45k stadium is not an exciting environment. But, if you get 35k in a stadium designed to trap noise it will deliver every bit of excitement as a full 100k stadium. Fans will travel to experience it. Players will WANT to play in it. Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Alt. J, Phish, et all will want to jam in it. Consider the possibilities, people. This is something the city and parish should get behind and partner with the university.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

Why even bring up 100k, and why is your example 25k in a 45k? So you expect 25k, and think that 25k in a 35k is the exciting environment you are looking for. We all have in common that we want a full stadium, no matter what the number is. We all got it, the smaller you go, the easier it is to fill up and create that sense of excitement. Again, it's what your expectation is, and where you want the program to be. Last year would have been just as bad in a 20k stadium as a 40k stadium. Who cares about that?

[CajunNation]

I would be floored if Dr. Maggard announced a stadium built outside of the existing structure, from scratch. I cannot see this happening. It would be cool, and it's fun to think and dream. I don't think Dr. Savoie would throw away the recent improvements though, that would not look good on him, it would be considered wasteful and he would get hammered for it. There is an engineering solution to our problem to upgrading Cajun Field. We don't have enough data to analyze it and come up with what the real options are. We can shotgun it and guess, like everything else on this forum. My guess is that it will be a multi year improvement starting with the upper deck demolition. I don't know the laws governing occupancy during remodeling a structure, but I'm sure there are provisions to be able to comply mixing the old and new codes until the construction is complete.

I agree. These code issues aren't new. They were known before the SEZ, and I highly doubt Dr. Savoie would have done that knowing we might have to build a new stadium in a few years. Only, I think they might start with a NEZ first, before they demo the upper deck.

They will do what they have to do to get the green light to do a piecemeal renovation.

[CajunNation]

....Last year would have been just as bad in a 20k stadium as a 40k stadium. Who cares about that?

...soccer fans.

[Esqueleto]

Why even bring up 100k, and why is your example 25k in a 45k? So you expect 25k, and think that 25k in a 35k is the exciting environment you are looking for. We all have in common that we want a full stadium, no matter what the number is. We all got it, the smaller you go, the easier it is to fill up and create that sense of excitement. Again, it's what your expectation is, and where you want the program to be. Last year would have been just as bad in a 20k stadium as a 40k stadium. Who cares about that?

My pont is there is no need to build something too big or do something with expansion in mind. Attendance figures are trending down everywhere. You have to build or renovate with atmosphere and comfort in mind. And if in the future there is a demand for 50k seats...wonderful! That just means our tickets are worth more than the paper they're printed on.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

[Esqueleto]

...soccer fans.

Soccer is the future. Deal with it or not, I don't care. But, mark my words or bookmark this post, soccer will be the most popular sport in America within 30 years or so. Its inevitable. The movement is already happening.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

[CajunVic]

Soccer is the future. Deal with it or not, I don't care. But, mark my words or bookmark this post, soccer will be the most popular sport in America within 30 years or so. Its inevitable. The movement is already happening.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

Wow, a potential second use and source of revenue for this facility.

[Turbine]

Soccer is the future. Deal with it or not, I don't care. But, mark my words or bookmark this post, soccer will be the most popular sport in America within 30 years or so. Its inevitable. The movement is already happening.

This is just my opinion.

Localyokel

Can regulation soccer fit without wall alterations?

Wiki "The field dimensions are within the range found optimal by FIFA: 110–120 yards long by 70–80 yards wide.

These soccer field dimensions are wider than the regulation American football field width of 53 1⁄3 yards."