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

[Ragin9221]

I don't think you can do the upper deck without doing the west side as I think the current structure won't support new construction. JMO

We won’t have to do new construction, take down the entire upper deck, leave the support pillars, and build your press box, suites, clubhouse with the support beams that are already there? It would have to be a lot lighter than what it is holding up?

We can have support beams added to whatever we are building but the foundation is already there .

[CajunAmos]

We won’t have to do new construction, take down the entire upper deck, leave the support pillars, and build your press box, suites, clubhouse with the support beams that are already there? It would have to be a lot lighter than what it is holding up?

My concern was previous posts saying we had structural issues with the existing structure.

[Ragin9221]

My concern was previous posts saying we had structural issues with the existing structure.

The best option is probably to just redo everything to code, and just do whatever needs to be done on the west side

[CajunNation]

I don't think you can do the upper deck without doing the west side as I think the current structure won't support new construction. JMO

There may be ways to do a clubhouse structure with minimal effects on the foundation aspects of the lower structure. Whatever the Code Gods approve is what will be done. If they say nothing but a total demo, then we'll see a new stadium.

I'm just saying that we're talking about a new stadium like it's no big deal. This would be the single biggest expenditure in the history of the university. We won't do this unless we absolutely HAVE TO.

[Ragin9221]

I don’t know if there is a way to demolish the upper deck and leave the support beams up? Wouldn’t know how that would be done ?

[cajun_lannister]

There may be ways to do a clubhouse structure with minimal effects on the foundation aspects of the lower structure. Whatever the Code Gods approve is what will be done. If they say nothing but a total demo, then we'll see a new stadium.

I'm just saying that we're talking about a new stadium like it's no big deal. This would be the single biggest expenditure in the history of the university. We won't do this unless we absolutely HAVE TO.

This is where Learfield & Jim Harris will get involved. We need to secure some Big $$$ investors from Houston, Nola, Dallas & Atlanta to drop some cash in Tax-Free Bonds to fund the stadium.

[Cajun90]

My concern was previous posts saying we had structural issues with the existing structure.

And for some reason that keeps getting ignored. The other problem is that even if you managed to somehow work around the structural issues in the lower section you still have seating that is nearly 50 years old and completely out of tune with what fans expect today. Our admin is very aware of the "fan experience" and whatever gets done expect to see an emphasis on Loge boxes and club seating.

As I have stated a new stadium is probably not going to happen but it isn't off the table either. IF we are to renovate Cajun field here is the realistic scenario, in my opinion, for getting what we need in an affordable manner.

1. Leave the East side alone for the time being. This is primarily visitors and students. Not going to get much bang for your buck doing renovations in that area right away. Don't worry about the 51% rule. Plenty of ways to work around that issue.
2. Start demolition on the entire West side upper and lower sections the day after the last game of the season in December. This gives you a full 8-9 months of construction time.
3. Rebuild the West Side lower bowl with proper slope, walkways, aisle width and chair back seating throughout. I think demo and construction could be accomplished in this period. Provide a temporary press box for the next season. Cargo containers similar to what is used for offshore living quarters would easily fit the bill.
4. Play out your next season while doing what construction you can on the West side Suites, loge boxes, club seating and press box.
5. Go full bore again once the season is over and finalize construction on the West side upper deck.
6. East side rebuild could then be done similar to West side when and if there is enough demand to support the upgrades.

Our current stated capacity is 41,426. There are approximately 5,288 seats in the upper deck. So for one season you are going to probably be somewhere around 35,000 seats because you will also end up with fewer seats in the lower bowl section. I think we can live with that for a season.

The following year you add approximately 2,000 with the upper deck premium seats. Now if things go over like crazy you can still add around 4,800 seats to the North endzone. Based on the numbers from the original master plan mock ups your ultimate capacity limit ends up just north of 60K with East side renovations including an upper deck.

[Turbine]

Goodness our stadium looks awful

That's not during a game!!!

[CajunAmos]

And for some reason that keeps getting ignored. The other problem is that even if you managed to somehow work around the structural issues in the lower section you still have seating that is nearly 50 years old and completely out of tune with what fans expect today. Our admin is very aware of the "fan experience" and whatever gets done expect to see an emphasis on Loge boxes and club seating.

As I have stated a new stadium is probably not going to happen but it isn't off the table either. IF we are to renovate Cajun field here is the realistic scenario, in my opinion, for getting what we need in an affordable manner.

1. Leave the East side alone for the time being. This is primarily visitors and students. Not going to get much bang for your buck doing renovations in that area right away. Don't worry about the 51% rule. Plenty of ways to work around that issue.
2. Start demolition on the entire West side upper and lower sections the day after the last game of the season in December. This gives you a full 8-9 months of construction time.
3. Rebuild the West Side lower bowl with proper slope, walkways, aisle width and chair back seating throughout. I think demo and construction could be accomplished in this period. Provide a temporary press box for the next season. Cargo containers similar to what is used for offshore living quarters would easily fit the bill.
4. Play out your next season while doing what construction you can on the West side Suites, loge boxes, club seating and press box.
5. Go full bore again once the season is over and finalize construction on the West side upper deck.
6. East side rebuild could then be done similar to West side when and if there is enough demand to support the upgrades.

Our current stated capacity is 41,426. There are approximately 5,288 seats in the upper deck. So for one season you are going to probably be somewhere around 35,000 seats because you will also end up with fewer seats in the lower bowl section. I think we can live with that for a season.

The following year you add approximately 2,000 with the upper deck premium seats. Now if things go over like crazy you can still add around 4,800 seats to the North endzone. Based on the numbers from the original master plan mock ups your ultimate capacity limit ends up just north of 60K with East side renovations including an upper deck.

Makes sense to me. The only caveat would be if that construction costs near or more than the cost of a new stadium.

[CajunNation]

Makes sense to me. The only caveat would be if that construction costs near or more than the cost of a new stadium.

That's not the only issue.

Rebuilding the current Cajun Field avoids the hot mess that would be relocating parking/tailgating for sporting events, parking for academic purposes, and usage of the grounds by the city for festivals and such.

[VObserver]

That's not the only issue.

Rebuilding the current Cajun Field avoids the hot mess that would be relocating parking/tailgating for sporting events, parking for academic purposes, and usage of the grounds by the city for festivals and such.

Please let it interfere with the use of our facilities by non- university entities, none of which contribute a single dollar to UL athletics, and most of which put revenue producing activities there.

[Cajunjeb]

Improvement to CF or new football stadium will not guarantee butts in seats. Hud had a few winning seasons and the south end zone gets built, but still plenty of empty seats everywhere else.

Until the university figures out a way to get people who either choose to stay in the parking lot during games or stay home to watch the school 50 miles a way play, you could build it...and they won’t come. Oh... and you have to win... a lot.

I don’t like the analogy, but “lipstick on a pig”. Gotta keep working on the pig. Maybe the pig becomes the bull.