Only add 5,000-7,000 seats?

[GhostOfJackie]

"The possibility of adding 5,000 to 7,000 additional seats “is a
realistic goal” in the future, Mississippi State athletics director Scott Stricklin says today."

Don't tell me we have been waiting a year on this, another 2 for design, then another 18 months to build, and 5-7K is all we will get. We could add permanent seating in the NEZ exactly the same size as the current bleacher seats and get to 5K. Wouldn't a more realistic goal be 12-15K to get us near 70K total? I'm just not for expanding at all if it's going to only add 5K.

If we are going to do this let's spend some money and do it right.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

12,000 permanent seats - 3,000 bleacher seats = 9,000 additional seats for 64,082 capacity.

 

[msumhsfan]

*</p>

 

[RobbieRandolph]

As little as 3 years ago Arkansas' stadium in Fayetteville generated more revenue per game than any other college stadium in the nation, and their capacity is only 76k.

The only reason we're expanding is to add suites and club level seats to generate revenue. 5k regular seats generate the same amount of revenue as roughly 800 club level seats, and the suites generate even more.

 

[Johnson85]

As little as 3 years ago Arkansas' stadium in Fayetteville generated more revenue per game than any other college stadium in the nation, and their capacity is only 76k.

The only reason we're expanding is to add suites and club level seats to generate revenue. 5k regular seats generate the same amount of revenue as roughly 800 club level seats, and the suites generate even more.

That's really what we need as much as/more than just additional seats. Can we realistically put in luxury suitsunder theupper deck?Orwouldthat be too difficult with the current structure already there?

 

[ckDOG]

Let's assume we can get it to 75k. What does it matter? We are in the SEC. 75k is nothing to brag about. Our focus should be on creating an expansion and updating the West side so that our amenities are top notch and our sky box/club level revenue is maxed. The final number doesn't matter as long as we have a 100% capacity environment that keeps the crowd noise close to the field. The players aren't counting fans, but they definitely are responding to the noise they can generate. We can achieve that with a modestly sized NEZ expansion that has a great suite/club level setup and maybe some perks for the players and coaches. If we still have a wait list because the stadium remains too small, jack up the price of tickets and see which fans want to be there the most.

I'm very familiar with the "if you build it they will come theory". However, I'm skeptical that it applies at capacities much greater than where we are at currently - even under the assumption that we build a successful program and start winning some games. The logistics of Starkville just don't make it convenient for game days. The total population of potential attending fans withing a 3 to 5 hours radius just isn't that large. A big chunk of the available population that could relatively easily get to Starkville on game day are Ole Miss, Alabama and Auburn fans. Once you take those out - there's just not a lot to market to and bank on attending in huge numbers every year.

 

[RobbieRandolph]

I think Loge boxes are probably somewhere near the top of the list of West side club options with a possible enclosed club level in the 200s

Both images below are from U of MN's new stadium. I can't recall if our Ath Dept check this place out on their tour 1 or 2 years ago, but if they haven't, they need to. It looks great.

Loge Boxes:

Enclosed club level seating:

 

[TX Mud Dawg]

Nebraska added several thousand seats a couple of years ago when they went from a I think 25 inch seat spacing to a 22 inch seat spacing. Not sure how many it would add at DWS but I'm sure it would be the cheapest way to add seats if we have to room to narrow the seats down. I know this would not go over well with the fans though but its an idea.

 

[BriantheDawg]

.

 

[Mr Meoff]

*

 

[Xenomorph]

Where do you expect me to put my 7 year old and 5 year old that I don't buy tickets for??

 

[slowpoke3]

the move that gets us those 5-7k seats also set us up toeasilystart the next expansion. Also, I'm a little skeptical about the demolition theory... if they were going to rebuild it, why couldn't they rebuild it identical to the east side and completely bowl it in? I think there might be some destruction involved, but the stands won't be completely removed... only added onto.

 

[fishwater99]

Look out for the RSS this fall....</p>

 

[patdog]

We'll be replacing 3,000 of the lowest revenue generating seats in the stadium with some of the highest revenue generating seats. It's not like this is the last expansion we're going to do. This will get us to about 63,000. Stricklin has publicly stated the the plan is to get to 75,000. But we can't just go there immediately because 1) the money isn't there yet and 2) if we did, we'd just have a lot of empty seats.

 

[BriantheDawg]

if that's not a great coach in the SEC, I don't know what is.

And since you obviously did not know this already, there is quite a small difference in what one thinks, and what one hears. This was the latter. And from a 'pretty good source'.

 

[vocaldawg7]

i completely agree with mirroring the east and west sides. that adds numerous premium seating and gives us more seating up top as well. the rendering that was leaked a few weeks ago showed this. it would nearly double our current premium seating (minues some space for pressbox and such).... so it would probably up boxes 60-75 percent and double club level seating. AND it isnt in the end zone. i would hate to pay that kind of money to sit in the end zone.

 

[rem101]

is that the students will probably get moved to the end zone under the new club level. Then we can sell what is now the student section, sections q-t or whatever it is, for the same price they sell those seats for on the west side. At approx 300 a seat (based on sections g and f), that's about 265 more per seat than a student would pay. Times about 7,000 or so that are in that part of the student section. 265 x 7000 = $1,855,000.

This is all assuming that they would move the students into the end zone of course.