As expected, Stricklin says no time table on DNF renovations
- Thread starter Paperdog
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I am not at all surprised by that because at this point, what else can you say? I think we can be encouraged by the fact that world class professional consultants are involved at this point and it's not just AD talk... this was a very intentional focus group segment that I think generated some positive buzz by some of the things folks on message boards have been talking about... i.e., open concourses and getting rid of the bleachers. I was further encouraged by the fact that Cohen was VERY adamant about something being done to fix the bleachers.
What I was "more" not surprised about was how many people showed up to defend their lifetime seats. More than once, someone said something about wanting their name on their seat or wanting to keep their lifetime seat, etc. I wasn't a bit surprised by that. I was encouraged that some added a good bit to the overall vision of the new facility that wasn't just throwing some hunks of concrete down the baselines and calling it a day.
What I was "more" not surprised about was how many people showed up to defend their lifetime seats. More than once, someone said something about wanting their name on their seat or wanting to keep their lifetime seat, etc. I wasn't a bit surprised by that. I was encouraged that some added a good bit to the overall vision of the new facility that wasn't just throwing some hunks of concrete down the baselines and calling it a day.
That sucks but after seeing the architectural team, I am really encouraged that this will be done right. I would probably say there will be at least another year to 1.5 years of planning so it may be 2015 or maybe even 2016 before we start construction. Planning something this big and intricate is going to be a lengthy process, unless it's just thrown together which I don't think will happen(and hope it doesn't). I do hate we didn't start planning 2 years ago, but oh well.
It's incredible to me that you managed to turn anything that's happened tonight into a negative. Our fans never, EVER cease to amaze.
Announcements:
Janet Marie Smith - THE BEST baseball architect in the country and an MSU grad has been hired.. She built Camden Yards(known as the father of the modern MLB stadiums) -- renovated Fenway -- and is currently overseeing a $100mil renovation to Dodger Stadium.
Populous(formerly HOK Sport) - also hired. Designed 20 MLB stadiums as well as TD Ameritrade and countless NFL venues.
The primary architect currently employs 9 MSU grads(of 10 total working there) basically guaranteeing they all understand the allure of Dudy Noble to MSU fans.
Stricklin - "@HailStateBB deserves to have the very best facility in the country. Not kinda good, not up there w/the best. The very best."
"This is going to be done right."
Announcements:
Janet Marie Smith - THE BEST baseball architect in the country and an MSU grad has been hired.. She built Camden Yards(known as the father of the modern MLB stadiums) -- renovated Fenway -- and is currently overseeing a $100mil renovation to Dodger Stadium.
Populous(formerly HOK Sport) - also hired. Designed 20 MLB stadiums as well as TD Ameritrade and countless NFL venues.
The primary architect currently employs 9 MSU grads(of 10 total working there) basically guaranteeing they all understand the allure of Dudy Noble to MSU fans.
Stricklin - "@HailStateBB deserves to have the very best facility in the country. Not kinda good, not up there w/the best. The very best."
"This is going to be done right."
Yep all of this eased my mind in the biggest way. I definitely had my concerns before tonight.
Not an intentional hijack but just wait till next Spring when we reseat Davis Wade and Ma & Pa Kettle that have been driving over from Eupora for the last 30 years for football games donating $100/yr and they suddenly end up sitting in the upper level next to students
They always say that. Said that about closing in the north end zone too, and next thing I knew they were building it.
As an aside, Kellum said on the Bear radio broadcast that the north end zone at their stadium would be enclosed soon. I took that as an oblique dig at MSU. That was in between his complaints about officiating.
As an aside, Kellum said on the Bear radio broadcast that the north end zone at their stadium would be enclosed soon. I took that as an oblique dig at MSU. That was in between his complaints about officiating.
That's a whole different can of worms. They were shown a second endzone to match their current one in order to get them to raise the money for their new basketball arena. Now that they are close, they are going to build the arena so close to their stadium that it will be impossible to ever expand the west side of the Vaught -- and they have cut the nuts off the Vaught project in the process. There is NO timetable yet on their football stadium.
If I was an OM fan, I'd be pissed about this. Of course, they are likely to put on a united front online and tell us all is well...
Promised:
New Version:
All of this is awesome. Stricklin has quickly realized that the best thing to do for the betterment of our program is to start over, and he's hired all the right people to do it.
That's a whole different can of worms. They were shown a second endzone to match their current one in order to get them to raise the money for their new basketball arena. Now that they are close, they are going to build the arena so close to their stadium that it will be impossible to ever expand the west side of the Vaught -- and they have cut the nuts off the Vaught project in the process. There is NO timetable yet on their football stadium.
If I was an OM fan, I'd be pissed about this. Of course, they are likely to put on a united front online and tell us all is well...
Promised:
New Version:
I'd be pissed off too. That would be one of the goofiest looking stadiums I've ever seen from the outside. It has absolutely no continuity.
Finally someone gets it. From the janitorial staff, up to students, up to the President.... this is the mind set our entire university should have. In fact, its downright Biblical:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24
Clarification needed ...
I understood that this was a 'public meeting to hear fan input' and that there will be another one in Jackson. I was also under the impression that no one has been hired to do anything yet. Thought that Janet Marie agreed to consult, Populous was there to give their opinion and Wier+Boener also gave their input.
To me, this is fantastic news and the right way to move ahead. I applaud Stricklin's efforts.
I understood that this was a 'public meeting to hear fan input' and that there will be another one in Jackson. I was also under the impression that no one has been hired to do anything yet. Thought that Janet Marie agreed to consult, Populous was there to give their opinion and Wier+Boener also gave their input.
To me, this is fantastic news and the right way to move ahead. I applaud Stricklin's efforts.
They used the meeting to announce that Janet Marie and Populous have been hired as consulting architects and that W-B has been hired as the primary architect on the project. I'd actually heard the architect specifics that were in the works for a couple of weeks -- hence why my attitude toward "getting it done right" went from an overbearing demand to an optimistic "belief"...
None of the architects have "done anything" yet beyond basic conceptuals. There are several mockups allegedly out there -- and the one I saw was tremendous. However, they are waiting on us to give them a list of specific "demands" to really get started on the project. The only one that Stricklin has made clear exists at this time is to "be the best college baseball stadium in the country." Everything else is on the table.
Another thing that can be taken from the meeting last night -- Stricklin is now open to the idea of tearing down the grandstand and building anew if that's what it takes to make us the best. It's what needs to happen -- but last night was the first time I'd heard him actually consider the idea...
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Great news. There's no way we can have the best stadium in College baseball without starting over. That's what needs to done.
New Version:
I know most of the convo here is about football, but that arena reminds me of Coleman Coliseum, which is not my favorite arena in the SEC to watch a game. Nothing can be worse than Tad Smith, but for their sake I hope the inside of this new joint is better than Coleman.
The FB stadium in the first concept looks eerily like our plans for the future (some of which are already being built) except for the bricks on ours. And the second one looks awful ... no wonder they're not pleased.
And why would they put the basketball arena so close? It's not like they're squeezed for room there. And the design looks like a tinker toy thing ... lots of space but cheap.
I've been to Kentucky's and Ga Tech's FB stadiums, and both of them are bleachers on I-beams with aluminum floors ... very hollow sounding. I sure am glad we went the sturdy concrete route instead of something that looks and feels temporary. Of course, both schools have some well built seats ... I'm talking about the ones they did in their most recent expansions.
And why would they put the basketball arena so close? It's not like they're squeezed for room there. And the design looks like a tinker toy thing ... lots of space but cheap.
I've been to Kentucky's and Ga Tech's FB stadiums, and both of them are bleachers on I-beams with aluminum floors ... very hollow sounding. I sure am glad we went the sturdy concrete route instead of something that looks and feels temporary. Of course, both schools have some well built seats ... I'm talking about the ones they did in their most recent expansions.