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

[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.

[LaCajunsFan]

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 the most sense to me too. But I would add bowling most of the NEZ in year one....both to add seats for year two, and because the current configuration is so damn ugly.

And also agree that is assuming that the cost for all this is not too close to a brand new facility.

[Ragin9221]

Well there is a couple things we can do.

1. Bring the fans closer to the field.
2.’Provide luxury boxes, with premium seating between the 20’s on the upper deck
3. Provide a canopy that protects fans from the elements, and keeps in crowd noise to have an electric game day atmosphere.
4. Provide chair back seats between the 20’s on both east and west sides.
5. Provide easy access in and out of stadium ( be done because all a fan has to do is walk down to there seats with just a lower bowl with bathroom and concession stand facilities would be located throughout the entire bowl structure.
6. Winning Program
7. Better Compefition
8. Parking Tower
9. Provide Season Tickets to alumni up to 5 yrs after they graduate.
10. Get involved in the community and advertise when games are played
11. Make it hip and cool to go to the games.
12. Make it easy to get game day tickets


Plus more

If we did this I think it would entice people to come to the games to experience the atmosphere and comfort of our stadium.

[CajunNation]

Makes the most sense to me too. But I would add bowling most of the NEZ in year one....both to add seats for year two, and because the current configuration is so damn ugly.

And also agree that is assuming that the cost for all this is not too close to a brand new facility.

If C90 is correct, we probably will be able to demo the entire Home side and replace lower level seating before the next season starts. That would be minimal effects on seating capacity and season ticket relocation and a lot cheaper than doing a NEZ and a new West side.

The entire focus is on getting that new Home side complex up ASAP, with the most bling as possible, and in the most economical way possible.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Geaux]

If C90 is correct, we probably will be able to demo the entire Home side and replace lower level seating before the next season starts. That would be minimal effects on seating capacity and season ticket relocation and a lot cheaper than doing a NEZ and a new West side.

The entire focus is on getting that new Home side complex up ASAP, with the most bling as possible, and in the most economical way possible.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I would love to see what the atmosphere would be like when everyone has to sit in the lower bowl. For one year only, that could be a pretty loud horseshoe. Especially is we host the SBC championship game

[Cajun90]

If C90 is correct, we probably will be able to demo the entire Home side and replace lower level seating before the next season starts.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Just to be fair. That is an ambitious timeline and obviously in South Louisiana weather would play a big role. It would be a gamble and you are talking about having an extremely well planned out line of attack. You are literally talking about a year plus to just plan something like this and then running simultaneous crews to get it done. It has been done before though. Heck LSU did it with their additional seating capacity a few years back. The 49's built a billion+ dollar stadium in a little over two years.

[CajunNation]

Just to be fair. That is an ambitious timeline and obviously in South Louisiana weather would play a big role. It would be a gamble and you are talking about having an extremely well planned out line of attack. You are literally talking about a year plus to just plan something like this and then running simultaneous crews to get it done. It has been done before though. Heck LSU did it with their additional seating capacity a few years back. The 49's built a billion+ dollar stadium in a little over two years.

How long did it take for the SEZ? This would probably be of similar timing to do a Home side lower level.

[LaCajunsFan]

How long did it take for the SEZ? This would probably be of similar timing to do a Home side lower level.

Exactly what I was going to say: only real difference is that we would have to add time to demo the upper level....but that cant add that much more time.

The more I think about it, the more I agree that this is the route to go.

[Cajun90]

How long did it take for the SEZ? This would probably be of similar timing to do a Home side lower level.

Not sure of exact timing but it was completed between seasons. This job would be more substantial but as I noted you just run simultaneous crews. That is employed on many large scale projects. If the 49's can complete a 1.2 billion dollar stadium in approximately 26 months I think we can accomplish what I am talking about. Plan, Plan, Plan......it can be done.