UL has big decision to make on Cajun Field renovation

[mxpxfr690]

Build a new stadium in Cajun field parking lot, tear down current field when done and build a parking tower. It might end up being around the same price and can be done all
At once with little inconvenience.

If you start from scratch I would build a dome type stadium so no one can blame the weather for not attending games. A mix like syracuse and the Vikings stadium on a smaller scale.

[CrazyCajun]

If you start from scratch I would build a dome type stadium so no one can blame the weather for not attending games. A mix like syracuse and the Vikings stadium on a smaller scale.

That’s major money when you start talking climate control..Tulane built yulman for 73 million. We can have something similar for around that. I think it’s better than throwing good money at bad with the structural issues we might face redoing current stadium.

[ultracajun]

If you start from scratch I would build a dome type stadium so no one can blame the weather for not attending games. A mix like syracuse and the Vikings stadium on a smaller scale.

Just add a sliding roof to the stadium we have now. Have it hang over the north parking lot during tailgating. Then when the game starts have it slide over the field so folks who what weather protection will have to come into the stadium.

[ManAboutTown]

If you start from scratch I would build a dome type stadium so no one can blame the weather for not attending games. A mix like syracuse and the Vikings stadium on a smaller scale.

Or we can just kick basketball out of the Cajundome and play in there.

[CajunVic]

Or we can just kick basketball out of the Cajundome and play in there.

WILDCATTERS revisited?

[Duckster]

No doubt renovation projects are unpredictable and renovating Cajun Field will be no different. As stated earlier in this thread any renovation effort should attempt to diversify how Cajun Field can be used besides for football games generating more revenues. Maybe work some academic and office space into the update to help tap into other State funding sources. Most of us already gave detailed feedback in the fan surveys. Am anxious to hear more definitive plan on new vision for the stadium.

[Ragin9221]

BMO field was built in 2006 for 63.9 million today it would be 75 million to build. This stadium seats about 30k expanded in 2016 to seat 40k. It is worth the build if we can get a MLS team to come to Lafayette.

[CajunRebel]

I think they have found that there are large voids below the concrete in the lower section due to poor maintenance of the joints in the concrete. It may be that they will have to replace that section of the stadium before anything else. I have noticed that the perimeter retaining wall has a significant tilt to the field in several locations. That is telling me that the lower bowl is sliding to the field. Saturday night I noticed that the concrete slab in the lower concourse is very uneven. More indication of foundation issues with the lower bowl. The upper deck is on a deep foundation so the foundation issues with the lower bowl should not affect the upper deck. If I was responsible for the structure I would be keeping a keen eye on the lower bowl and slab of the lower bowl. There is a reason why they have placed steel plates over the displaced joints of the concourse slab. Severe trip hazard there. I think they have placed the steel plates on the joints instead of replacing the slabs for fear of what they might find below it. Next game go to the lower bowl, find the joint at the fifty yard line and look down. Don't drop anything down that joint, you won't get it back.

If they have a structural engineer looking at it I am sure he feels that it is safe or it would have been condemned. I have done that a couple of times, owner wasn't happy but too bad.

I don’t want to give away specifics because I wasn’t explicitly given permission to, but I’ll say this. You are 100% right about all the issues you pointed out, but there are other issues you didn’t notice. The ENTIRE stadium has issues.

A structural engineer has indeed looked at the stadium and deemed it to be safe... but not before work was done to reinforce certain parts of the structure. The question is how much longer it will remain safe. We obviously don’t want to integrate a $30-40 million dollar addition into a structure if it isn’t structurally sound enough to last another decade.

[CajunVic]

. . . We obviously don't want to integrate a $30-40 million dollar addition into a structure if it isn't structurally sound enough to last another decade.

"another decade" is not close to long enough to merit spending any money of substance.

[Turbine]

I saw exposed rebar (with the concrete having fallen away) on the upper deck in 2002.

I can only imagine what I would find if I looked with a critical eye today.