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

[MetryCajun]

We can't afford to add two men's sports and only one female sport due to gender equity. I do think that in the long term some of your predictions as far as sports popularity will likely come true. Lacrosse especially has potential as there is enough scoring to make it an enticing TV sport. That significant of a change is probably 20 years away however. Your point of only the Top 30 programs having major support in the future is one that bears attention. Just like the elimination of mid major at large bids is killing interest in college basketball, the focus on only the TV schools will eventually hurt football as well. Many in sports media are failing to realize one changing aspect in the sports world. That is people paying attention to only their own team or having something on TV on casually at home. That is why the early game NFL ratings are not down a lot while some of later games are seeing declining ratings. When the Saints game is over, people do other things now and the same thing happens in most NFL cities. As a result of all these issues, many here have agreed that a huge addition to our football stadium may not be in our best interests. I think those proposing bowling everything in are a small minority I like the 36000 soccer type stadium proposed by Cajun4Life. Great logic in his posts supporting his recommendation.

Great insight as always Mike. I know adding sports is incredibly difficult today and not likely in today’s environment. If I were running UL, I would look at the college sports people follow and are on TV. I personally love golf and tennis, but those are not of interest at the collegiate level . I would drop tennis and golf and add the sports I mentioned. Men’s Lacrosse is has a lot of ESPN coverage and continues to gain in popularity.

[Ragin9221]

So, instead of the chain gang, the yard line showing the first down would be illuminated so the player can make sure he gets the first down before he slides or runs out of bounds!
Brilliant illuminating turf Turbine!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lW3r8fL6yb4

[Turbine]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lW3r8fL6yb4

You can get a patent without a prototype but I can't wait to see one.

I thought of most of the the ones they mentioned since my post, but they didn't mention multiple sports with the flick of a switch.

[Ragin9221]

You can get a patent without a prototype but I can't wait to see one.

I thought of most of the the ones they mentioned since my post, but they didn't mention multiple sports with the flick of a switch.

I was just looking stuff up on it, and I think it could be used to change for multiple sports surfaces with a flick of a switch

[Ragin9221]

Bigger is definitely not better in our situation. Stadium size isn't going to drive new conference affiliation. It's all about market penetration and brand recognition.

Build a 36,000 seat stadium that takes its cues from the great euro soccer stadiums which amplifies the game day atmosphere by putting the fans right on top of the actions with great
site lines. Then have a canopy covering the seats to keep The sun and rain out while trapping crowd noise in.

All of a sudden you have an intimidating atmosphere and something that draws kids in. Y'all can keep bashing soccer, but they do it right. Gotta have the canopy to trap noise in.

The stadium doesn't even have to look like the modern euro stadiums (which I love), it could be constructed in a fashion that looks just like Russo Park. Same color canopy covering the stands. Brick the exterior and use the precast concrete sections just like baseball. Have the same layout as Kadir Has Stadium.

We would have one of the best stadiums in the country regardless of size if we did that.

Edit: If it could have the demensions that FIFA requires then maybe we could host The National Team. Then the American Owtlaws can show us how it's done.

This stadium in Turkey gets loud, and you can hear how loud it is in the stands could you imagine on the field! Check out the videos.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQiIHuCBJw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v-sso0HkSF8

Ok C4L you got me sold! That is about as loud as when I went to a Saints game last year against the Lions.

[Esqueleto]

This stadium in Turkey gets loud, and you can hear how loud it is in the stands could you imagine on the field! Check out the videos.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQiIHuCBJw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v-sso0HkSF8

Ok C4L you got me sold! That is about as loud as when I went to a Saints game last year against the Lions.

Something like this would be incredible for UL, Lafayette, and the entire region. We would jump to the head of the line for the next USL franchise, have less trouble attracting major musical acts, and the Louisiana brand would be front and center.

[Ragin9221]

Something like this would be incredible for UL, Lafayette, and the entire region. We would jump to the head of the line for the next USL franchise, have less trouble attracting major musical acts, and the Louisiana brand would be front and center.

Gotta have the Canopy to trap crowd noise all the way around!! What brings fans is atmosphere. Since every game is televised this stadium would provide that.

[Esqueleto]

Gotta have the Canopy to trap crowd noise all the way around!! What brings fans is atmosphere. Since every game is televised this stadium would provide that.

Exactly. Even when full, Cajun Field is very quiet. Sound just escapes.
The future of sporting events is comfort and atmosphere.

[Frenchie35]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lW3r8fL6yb4

Only play the games at night. No kick off before 7:00 PM.

[GeauxLouisiana]

All games at night other than when it is in the low 40's and windy by early evening. That happens often in November. I would go for all games at night until November 1.

First it’s too hot and then it’s too cold. Cajun fans are a fickle bunch. Put on big boy pants and get out to watch the Cajuns!

[Just1More]

Exactly. Even when full, Cajun Field is very quiet. Sound just escapes.
The future of sporting events is comfort and atmosphere.

The problem with Cajun Field and noise isn't that noise escapes... there's not been much to make noise about with the few that want to experience unattractive football. The past of sporting events has been about winning. And you can win on a mud pasture or the Lamborghini of stadiums. If comfort and atmosphere are paramount to the future sports fan... we need to forget about seating... and just spend our money on production equipment. We can be a pioneer in adding any number of audio choices (deafening crowd background noise adjusted by the same nitwit that adds audience laugh tracks to sitcoms, play by play / color commentators with voice overs in your choice of gender/race/accents, etc)... while we resign ourselves to the reality that there's never going to be stadium comforts equaling home comforts.

I take you modern soccer stadium proponents and raise you. I want a seat in this stadium that provides me with the following comfort and atmosphere:

1) Open seat in nice weather, with an automatic shade/rain guard that appears over me at my command - that does not impede the view of others around me.
2) A holographic menu screen that appears on my command that allows me to order and receive any food or beverage delivered from any local establishment via drone delivery - entering with other drones via a stadium portal - where an automated food/beverage tray receives, delivers through the seating structures - unpackages and serves it to me.
3) Seating ergonomics and comfort equal to a finely crafted sports car.
4) Seating mechanism for delivering a urinal tube - complete with privacy cover (so I don't have see anyone else's junk)
5) Built-in bullhorn with directional microphone (hands free) to allow amplification of my insane cheerfully gushing glee or my insane ranting/raving dissatisfaction - whichever is warranted.
6) Upon detection of glee or anger from me, another chair sensor directs a signal to a harness worn by the head coach - providing a proportional comforting back slap or a kick to the groin.
7) The before-mentioned hologram device also appears instantaneously and directs my view to the location of hot babes where it provides anticipatory messages and alerts to impending movements that might reveal additional skin and feminine features I like. I will have preset tuning that prevents unwanted interruption during specific sports activity... whereas the hologram will video record and provide "babe replays" during lulls in field athletic activity. While I am enjoying such delights, the hologram will also project an image over my face that has me appearing to look only at the activity on the field of play.
8) The before-mentioned hologram will also provide me instant replays of field officiating calls - where I will be given call reversal authority - and to keep games fair I will select a group of 4 others who pass my intense scrutiny at the start of every contest so as not to appear singularly bias. It is very likely these will be fellow members of Ragin Pagin.
9) My seat will stand me up for the playing of the national anthem - as will all seats in thus stadium - I will place my hand over my heart and sing the anthem - where myself and 100 other musically gifted people will be audio amplified and presented on the giant video board in a choreographed montage of patriotic faces with Old Glory as the background. Those that fight the seat mechanism requiring them to stand will be electrocuted by the seat and removed at halftime (providing ample time for others to reflect on the error in judgement).
10) When significant positive events occur on the field of play - regardless of how "outdated" my most excellent high fives are - I will send them universally to every other Cajun fan hologram and we will enthusiastically "High five!". At that very same moment, I will send to all visitors and non Cajun fans an image of Boomer on his piano playing RESPECT.

10 is enough for now. My actual "rendering" of the new "Cajun Field" has over 200 personalized fan seating features. My command center seat will have 37 additional options not accessible to others - one of which is the directing of nuclear warheads to countries I might get irritated with - but I am mature and responsible enough to disable that feature if I've had too much Whiskey.

Have no fear... everyone will like their new seat in my new stadium.

[Duckster]

There's so many ways to skin this cat, it's good to hear everything is in the table for review. Who'd have thought a brand new stadium would be bandied about? Assuming Cajun Field remains, then I'd advocate for the following:
1. Year One- Build an east upper deck with suites, club seating, room to expand as needed. Leave as much of the NEZ greenery in place, but monetize the remaining area with patio seating and/or corporate patio seating, bars/restaurants where maybe sell 2,000 tickets in that area.
2. Year Two- Tear down the existing west upper deck, rebuild with suites, club seating plus the press box, room to expand general admission seating if needed.

Stadium capacity might be about the same as now, but opportunities for enhancing the fan experience should be greater. There's a lot of folks these days who prefer not being tied down to a stadium seat, so they opt out of attending. We need a wider variety of 'seating ' opportunities with any stadium redo.