New Turf on Cajun Field

[California Cajun]

_ Does anyone remember the hedges in the back of the end zones? Against the concrete wall? For some reason I remember that as a kid. I think it would be cool if we could brick up more of the stadium and put some hedges around the field. I also thought if the practice field had a brick wall it would look great.

Just my thoughts, I truly love this University. _

I remember the hedges and was disappointed when they were scaled back, then eventually removed. I guess it was a maintenance headache the groundskeepers didn't want.

[Hammer58]

_
What if someone volunteered to cut the grass in the end zones prior to games? I see this as something that's not hard to do. _

I don't think it was that the grass isn't cut before the games, it is just the half-assed way they did it. I remember at fan day they cut it with a bushhog a day or two before the event (it had been pretty high up to that point) and then left the big clumps and piles of cut grass there. I remember some little kids running around there throwing the grass at each other. It did look pretty bad.

Once again the little details that they overlook. HOpefully Mr. Farmer will make sure this is not repeated as he has shown himself to be a detail oriented guy who is keen on the appearance of the stadium.

[CajunProud]

What about a swamp on the hill underneath the video scoreboard with a cypress trees and a couple of alligators? I'm sure it would cost a lot, but would look cool.

[CajunDreDog]

[LaGrid]

Why do the letters on LOUISIANA look lie they are overlapping?

[trd1282]

Fenroy is going to be ridiculous on this stuff. This being the first major renovation on Cajun field I can remember other than the scoreboard, I can only hope this points to larger aspirations. I personally hope that attendance can continue an upward trend, granted last season cannot happen again, so we can get more done. On campus, our conversations always tend to go in the direction of closing the bowl over the tunnel, but what about master-planning outside of the stadium? It is becoming quite difficult to organize activity off the paved surfaces, particularly towards Bertrand. I AM NOT proposing all grass be eliminated, that would be horrible, but a master plan initiative with the planting of more oak trees combined with a very calculated and organized parking/tailgating schemes would benefit the university. I am seeing the wheels in people's brains turning with the new brick entrances, but that stuff seems very improvisational. We have the best Architecture and Design program in the state, we can/should do something about that.

[RaisingCajun08]

_ Fenroy is going to be ridiculous on this stuff. This being the first major renovation on Cajun field I can remember other than the scoreboard, I can only hope this points to larger aspirations. I personally hope that attendance can continue an upward trend, granted last season cannot happen again, so we can get more done. On campus, our conversations always tend to go in the direction of closing the bowl over the tunnel, but what about master-planning outside of the stadium? It is becoming quite difficult to organize activity off the paved surfaces, particularly towards Bertrand. I AM NOT proposing all grass be eliminated, that would be horrible, but a master plan initiative with the planting of more oak trees combined with a very calculated and organized parking/tailgating schemes would benefit the university. I am seeing the wheels in people's brains turning with the new brick entrances, but that stuff seems very improvisational. We have the best Architecture and Design program in the state, we can/should do something about that. _

I have been saying for a few years now that I think we should add some "Open Air Boxes" similar to what they have at Middle on the student side of the stadium. I am sure the Architecture department could design something that is eye appealing and cost efficient.

The "Open Air Boxes" at Middle bring in a ton of money each year straight to the athletic program. They spend roughly $8,000 a year along with ~8 season tickets to purchase the boxes. These boxes have the feel of a suite that is open to the atmosphere of the stadium. Best of all you can BYOB.

If we can build 20 of these, each could easily bring in $10,000 a season. That is $200,000 that would go straight to athletics each year. To me, this needs to be a part of the "master plan".

[ATXCajun]

_ I kinda wonder if it would make it look like Disneyland or a miniature golf course if there was artificial turf in the bowl area. If something needs to be done to improve its looks, I'd rather see seating in the endzones than spending money trying to manipulate wasted space. Maybe a luxury area or athletic dorms overlooking the stadium, which might really excite recruits. Or creating a luxury area on the student side and seating in the endzones to get the seating capacity back to what it was before. In other words, something other than cosmetic that might serve a purpose one day.

What if someone volunteered to cut the grass in the end zones prior to games? I see this as something that's not hard to do. _

Perhaps with less time and resources spent on the field surface, we will see more time and resources spent on the endzones.

I watched ULM on ESPNHD last year (I think it was ULM). Their new surface looked great on TV. That's a plus. Seems to reflect some light rather than absorb it, brightening the video.

I'm excited about the idea and look forward to seeing it.

[Pirogue]

_ Does anyone remember the hedges in the back of the end zones? Against the concrete wall?

I remember a family of skunks living in those hedges in the early 1990s...

when the football action went bad, binoculars in the pressbox would scan them looking for little black and white tails...

[pman]

Anyone know the status of the new turf going down on Cajun Field. What is the brand name of the turf? When will construction begin?