So I started thinking. If we want to return full-time to the top of college baseball, we need Dudy Noble to be, without doubt, the best stadium in America. It is still really nice, but it is starting to show some of its age. What would you do to improve the stadium?
Dudy Noble Field...
- Thread starter msudogsrule01
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Can't wait for baseball season...its only 30 or so days away. I was at Dudy last year and you are right, it could use a face lift. Mainly just some touch ups here and there. I know bleachers help attendance for big games, but they sure are an eye sore this day in age. I think you should go with a maroon fence.
Nearly all the big time programs have been built without great stadiums. Look at some of the stadiums these big time programs built their reputation on. They are awful- Alex Box, Sarge Fry Field, Oregon State's stadium, Mckeethan Stadium, Hawkins Field. Bianco built the bulk of his program in a miniature DNF.
Great atmospheres help. But if you want to be big time, you have to show kids you can get them drafted high. That's what sells. A kid will go play in front of 15 people at Fullerton if he thinks Fullerton will get him drafted and to the show.
Great atmospheres help. But if you want to be big time, you have to show kids you can get them drafted high. That's what sells. A kid will go play in front of 15 people at Fullerton if he thinks Fullerton will get him drafted and to the show.
I would drop the grandstand down to field level, which would make the field a little smaller. Take away the bleachers. Tear off the walls on the sides of the grandstand and connect it to new chairbacks that run all the way to the foul lines. The newchairbacks that run to the foul lines would be shorter than the current bleachers since there would be seats added around the infield. There would also be new suites added on, and from what I understand, the current ones need to be redone anyway. Have one large roof around the grandstand, instead of three. Make all of the concrete structure more appealing to the eyes. Is this all possible? I have no idea. </p>
People at the games. The grandstands are hardly ever more than half full.
Get that stadium packed and it'll be one of the best places to play college baseball in the country.
Get that stadium packed and it'll be one of the best places to play college baseball in the country.
and is really simple is put tarps or covers over the bleachers on the first and third base side for every game other than "high attendance" games- like Super Bulldog Weekend, Ole Miss, and maybe LSU and Bama.
Make the grandstand seating available for everyone- the people in the bleachers end up there anyway. Use the "honor code" system- if a season ticket holder shows up and you are sitting in their seat, move. And the season ticket holders should be informed of the "honor code" and instructed to ask nicely. I don't think there would be any problems.
Back to the tarps- we could put things like Championships, retired numbers, Ole Miss sucks, Dana Moore is a *****....you get the idea.
I do think the new speaker system will help and I think it will be nice. Maybe an HD video board?
Also, we need to put in better luxury boxes and a new press box.
Make the grandstand seating available for everyone- the people in the bleachers end up there anyway. Use the "honor code" system- if a season ticket holder shows up and you are sitting in their seat, move. And the season ticket holders should be informed of the "honor code" and instructed to ask nicely. I don't think there would be any problems.
Back to the tarps- we could put things like Championships, retired numbers, Ole Miss sucks, Dana Moore is a *****....you get the idea.
I do think the new speaker system will help and I think it will be nice. Maybe an HD video board?
Also, we need to put in better luxury boxes and a new press box.
that having the best stadium would mean that we would win in Omaha. Heck, we've already proven that.
I think he's just saying that having a nice stadium shows that we care about baseball and want to be the best.
I do agree that putting player in MLB and getting them drafted high sells more than the stadium. Fortunately, we have a respectable record with that too- Papelbon is a guy that every kid that plays baseball knows, and I think Maholm playing with the Cubs will help because he will be in a larger market and get more exposure. Mitch Moreland is in line for the Rangers first base job, and now Adron Chambers is up as well. We also should find ways to utilized baseball players that are "friends of MSU" such as Oswalt and Marcus Thames.
Fullerton is not a great example- almost all of their players come from Los Angeles. Their region- like something like 20-50 miles- had a really abnormally high density of draftable MLB players. And they can't all sign pro, and they can't all go to USC or UCLA. So, Fullerton is a really attractive choice for them- and it's basically a baseball school since they have no football team. We at MSU have to recruit more nationally than they do, so something like facilities would mean more to us in recruiting vs a Fullerton where almost every ballpark is a dump vs the SEC where everyone has a nice stadium.
In fact, California is one place I would like to see us recruit in more. I think we can get some really good players from out there- maybe 1-2 a year realistically. And players like that are where our stadium and atmosphere really helps us out.
I think he's just saying that having a nice stadium shows that we care about baseball and want to be the best.
I do agree that putting player in MLB and getting them drafted high sells more than the stadium. Fortunately, we have a respectable record with that too- Papelbon is a guy that every kid that plays baseball knows, and I think Maholm playing with the Cubs will help because he will be in a larger market and get more exposure. Mitch Moreland is in line for the Rangers first base job, and now Adron Chambers is up as well. We also should find ways to utilized baseball players that are "friends of MSU" such as Oswalt and Marcus Thames.
Fullerton is not a great example- almost all of their players come from Los Angeles. Their region- like something like 20-50 miles- had a really abnormally high density of draftable MLB players. And they can't all sign pro, and they can't all go to USC or UCLA. So, Fullerton is a really attractive choice for them- and it's basically a baseball school since they have no football team. We at MSU have to recruit more nationally than they do, so something like facilities would mean more to us in recruiting vs a Fullerton where almost every ballpark is a dump vs the SEC where everyone has a nice stadium.
In fact, California is one place I would like to see us recruit in more. I think we can get some really good players from out there- maybe 1-2 a year realistically. And players like that are where our stadium and atmosphere really helps us out.
The first ingredient here is to put people back in the seats. The moderate level of success last season probably helped out some, but the attendance is still a shadow of it's former glory. Get the people back before we start talking about rebuilding Dudy Noble into a palace. As it sits, in it's current "aged" form, it is one of the 7-8 best college stadiums in the country. It just so happens that #1-4 also reside in the SEC, #1-3 in the west. The key ingredient we're missing? Number of people actually at games. Lsu, Arky, SC, and as much as it pains me to say, OM, don't much have this problem.
We need to come up with "something" different with the outfield for the students. I'm not suggesting any major changes with the lounges, etc... But, I've attended more than my share of college baseball games, and from the perspective of a recent student, this is one area that currently, OM absolutely kicks our tail. They allow anyone into right field for free...no tickets, bring your own cooler, not fenced in, no guard shack to walk past, NO questions asked. It makes for a fun, simple reason to go drink beer and socialize on a mid-week afternoon on a whim. This lends to major student support in right field for them, obviously, even if most of those there could care less about baseball. It quadruples student support compared to what we're currently putting in the outfield for equivalent games. Get the students interested, and everyone else will follow...IMO
We need to come up with "something" different with the outfield for the students. I'm not suggesting any major changes with the lounges, etc... But, I've attended more than my share of college baseball games, and from the perspective of a recent student, this is one area that currently, OM absolutely kicks our tail. They allow anyone into right field for free...no tickets, bring your own cooler, not fenced in, no guard shack to walk past, NO questions asked. It makes for a fun, simple reason to go drink beer and socialize on a mid-week afternoon on a whim. This lends to major student support in right field for them, obviously, even if most of those there could care less about baseball. It quadruples student support compared to what we're currently putting in the outfield for equivalent games. Get the students interested, and everyone else will follow...IMO
Compare the "face lifts" needed at Dudy Noble with the face lifts needed at Pete Taylor Park......
and that's how the LFL started, but of course, now we had to make money off of it somehow, and LT tried to do away with it.
And to your point, that's why we need to gear midweek games to the students- as well as the weekend games as well. We are doing better with the promotions, but the problem is we have the same promotion every week. And then there was a game I went to where they gave kids little baseball bats or something like that- but there was no menition of it anywhere on anything. We have to advertise stuff like that better because that was a good promotion that wasn't promoted.
But the thing about the LFL- unless things have changed- students do get in for free with their ID. So, really it's a matter of them having their own area- I know many of the frats have their own trailer, and that's great. Maybe some sort of bleachers like Wrigley? And I do think beer is a good idea- I think that's more of a campus issue though. But, have they ever been really strict about alcohol in the LFL? If you are beligerantly drunk, OK, yeah- but otherwise, no problem, right?
And to your point, that's why we need to gear midweek games to the students- as well as the weekend games as well. We are doing better with the promotions, but the problem is we have the same promotion every week. And then there was a game I went to where they gave kids little baseball bats or something like that- but there was no menition of it anywhere on anything. We have to advertise stuff like that better because that was a good promotion that wasn't promoted.
But the thing about the LFL- unless things have changed- students do get in for free with their ID. So, really it's a matter of them having their own area- I know many of the frats have their own trailer, and that's great. Maybe some sort of bleachers like Wrigley? And I do think beer is a good idea- I think that's more of a campus issue though. But, have they ever been really strict about alcohol in the LFL? If you are beligerantly drunk, OK, yeah- but otherwise, no problem, right?
But I think we would do it right where it would be pretty nice. Heck, LT's cheapo lounges look better than the double wides on top of the Pete. Scott would do better than LT.
But supplying alcohol to the lounges at State require advance preparation and effort. You don't show up with your id and a cooler at gametime or the 3rd inning and get into the lounges. In Oxford, that's exactly what you do. Only, you don't have to show ID, because there is no one out there to show id to. They just turn the other cheek on what's happening in right field, and it makes for a pretty amazing mid-week environment, nevermind how it gets on a big weekend. It really isn't much different than a tailgate scenario at either school, only you get to actually watch the game at the same time. IF they had to jump through the hoops that you do at Dudy Noble, their right field attendance would be cut in half(at least), because no one would go to the trouble. That's the point. It's easy.
I think your onto something with the bleachers idea though. I could see that working well in the scoreboard area...you just have to get some height compliance from the lounges in front of that area. We just need to rethink a few of LT's outdated policies out there. Amazing that we're seen how the "forward-thinking" has helped our football program, but it seems that on baseball, they are scared to death to change anything. I guess I understand to an extent...because there actually is alot of tradition, history, and "people that care" there worth preserving. It's alot like Cohen's "Carnegie Hall" line...the venue is only as good as the people willing to come see the performance...
I think your onto something with the bleachers idea though. I could see that working well in the scoreboard area...you just have to get some height compliance from the lounges in front of that area. We just need to rethink a few of LT's outdated policies out there. Amazing that we're seen how the "forward-thinking" has helped our football program, but it seems that on baseball, they are scared to death to change anything. I guess I understand to an extent...because there actually is alot of tradition, history, and "people that care" there worth preserving. It's alot like Cohen's "Carnegie Hall" line...the venue is only as good as the people willing to come see the performance...