JTS expansion

[psychlone99]

It appears that the previous JTS expansion thread has been closed, which is a shame as I think this an important discussion re: the future of Cyclone football.

I think the Clemson endzone example is a nice model, but I disagree with some on one point: I don't think we should pursue a similar renovation if there is no increase in capacity. I know some feel as if we won't be able to fill additional seats, but you needn't look any further than JTS for history lesson.

In my mind, we MUST shoot for a new permanent capacity of at least 60,000. It's a nice round number, and we all know that stadium capacity numbers are a veritable ******* match in big-time college football. Getting out of the 50s and into the 60s is critical in the facilities race, in my opinion.

As for the history lesson (and an old-timer can correct me if I'm wrong), I believe ISU's average attendance jumped 10K+ in the years after the Cyclones moved out of Clyde Williams, and that was sustained through some thin years under Donnie Duncan. In other words, there is something to the phrase "if you build it, they will come".

Pollard's original design wouldn't increase capacity by that much, but it would get us over 60K, and I don't think that is a number we should fear. We should build it and hope that on-the-field performance combined with the appeal of a new facilities gets buts in the seats.

 

[rebecacy]

It appears that the previous JTS expansion thread has been closed, which is a shame as I think this an important discussion re: the future of Cyclone football.

I think the Clemson endzone example is a nice model, but I disagree with some on one point: I don't think we should pursue a similar renovation if there is no increase in capacity. I know some feel as if we won't be able to fill additional seats, but you needn't look any further than JTS for history lesson.

In my mind, we MUST shoot for a new permanent capacity of at least 60,000. It's a nice round number, and we all know that stadium capacity numbers are a veritable ******* match in big-time college football. Getting out of the 50s and into the 60s is critical in the facilities race, in my opinion.

As for the history lesson (and an old-timer can correct me if I'm wrong), I believe ISU's average attendance jumped 10K+ in the years after the Cyclones moved out of Clyde Williams, and that was sustained through some thin years under Donnie Duncan. In other words, there is something to the phrase "if you build it, they will come".

Pollard's original design wouldn't increase capacity by that much, but it would get us over 60K, and I don't think that is a number we should fear. We should build it and hope that on-the-field performance combined with the appeal of a new facilities gets buts in the seats.

Not disagreeing but within a couple of years of moving into JTS, Earle Bruce fielded what are arguably the best ISU football teams ever. If we are going to expand, we should plan for success and go to 65-70k seating capacity. I think a key to revenue generation is a large Club Section that anyone can enter for a fee and consume alcohol.........booze makes big money.

 

[alarson]

Not disagreeing but within a couple of years of moving into JTS, Earle Bruce fielded what are arguably the best ISU football teams ever. If we are going to expand, we should plan for success and go to 65-70k seating capacity. I think a key to revenue generation is a large Club Section that anyone can enter for a fee and consume alcohol.........booze makes big money.

Thatd be an interesting idea.

 

[IcSyU]

It would take a MASSIVE expansion to get to 70,000. Kinnick barely holds that and they pack you in there like sardines. To get to 60,000 real seats right now, we'd need to find a way to add about 17,500 seats...a Hilton Coliseum and then more. That's a tall demand. 60,000 real seats would be a HUGE improvement over the 42,500 real seats we have now.

 

[alarson]

It would take a MASSIVE expansion to get to 70,000. Kinnick barely holds that and they pack you in there like sardines. To get to 60,000 real seats right now, we'd need to find a way to add about 17,500 seats...a Hilton Coliseum and then more. That's a tall demand. 60,000 real seats would be a HUGE improvement over the 42,500 real seats we have now.

I believe 60k would be SEZ with an upper deck.

 

[Cytom5]

some one write the check and it will be done.

 

[InCytful]

some one write the check and it will be done.

I thought Fox already did...

 

[cykadelic2]

It appears that the previous JTS expansion thread has been closed, which is a shame as I think this an important discussion re: the future of Cyclone football.

I think the Clemson endzone example is a nice model, but I disagree with some on one point: I don't think we should pursue a similar renovation if there is no increase in capacity. I know some feel as if we won't be able to fill additional seats, but you needn't look any further than JTS for history lesson.

In my mind, we MUST shoot for a new permanent capacity of at least 60,000. It's a nice round number, and we all know that stadium capacity numbers are a veritable ******* match in big-time college football. Getting out of the 50s and into the 60s is critical in the facilities race, in my opinion.

As for the history lesson (and an old-timer can correct me if I'm wrong), I believe ISU's average attendance jumped 10K+ in the years after the Cyclones moved out of Clyde Williams, and that was sustained through some thin years under Donnie Duncan. In other words, there is something to the phrase "if you build it, they will come".

Pollard's original design wouldn't increase capacity by that much, but it would get us over 60K, and I don't think that is a number we should fear. We should build it and hope that on-the-field performance combined with the appeal of a new facilities gets buts in the seats.

The primary focus needs to be renovation, not expansion, of JTS. Times have changed since the Earle Bruce days of peak season ticket sales and attendence. There are now too many other entertainment options and almost every game is now televised. Keep capacity in the 55K range and maximize revenues within that capacity constraint.

 

[jsmith86]

Well, if we sold beer at JTS, it certainly would let the band play the beer barrel polka a lot more, and as a former low brass player, I am certainly in favor of that.

 

[SvrWxCy]

I wouldn't mind an expansion/renovation that includes something similar to Clemson in the SEZ. You aren't adding an insane amount of additional seats, simply getting rid of the hillsides and making them purchase something to sit on and the 60k figure would suit us well I believe. The key thing with that would be to make some suites that are close-to top of the line and more importantly I think adding a feature similar to a Johnny's would be a large plus. Something to not only pull in additional donor dollars to get there, but to pour in some revenue once they are there is key in making it work for the program.

As far as where the money comes from, I think the new Fox deal and especially the 2012 TV deal will be a big factor in decided what is next. However, it would be great to see a donor make a large contribution to at least fund a portion of it (ie. the suites area or something similar to Johnny's).

 

[CONEClone]

If we sold beer that would pay for the south end zone!

I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't build your stadium to suit the normal crowd, you should build your stadium to suit your largest crowd. But, I don't have the money to tell Pollard what I want, so I'll trust that he knows what he's doing.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Here's an idea- sell beer, jack the price up $2 and let it be known that the $2 goes directly towards stadium improvements. I'd buy a couple of overpriced beers for that. Rather pay $10/beer for a worthwhile cause than $8/beer for just the drink.

 

[cayin]

It would take a MASSIVE expansion to get to 70,000. Kinnick barely holds that and they pack you in there like sardines. To get to 60,000 real seats right now, we'd need to find a way to add about 17,500 seats...a Hilton Coliseum and then more. That's a tall demand. 60,000 real seats would be a HUGE improvement over the 42,500 real seats we have now.

there is more than 42,500 seats in Jack Trice right now. I think that is just the number on the side decks. There is another few thousand seats in the south endzone.

 

[josh777]

I don't know how expanding to 60k can be justified when the stadium is only occasionally sold out as is.

 

[Al_4_State]

there is more than 42,500 seats in Jack Trice right now. I think that is just the number on the side decks. There is another few thousand seats in the south endzone.

The suites took out a lot of seating. That number is accurate. This is why there were games last year that pretty much full stands, some folks on the hills and attendance of ~43K.

60,000 would mean an upper level to the bowl. A lower bowl would be a little over 50,000. I think you build the lower bowl with the ability to add the upper.

It's almost impossible for ISU to average 60,000 fans/game with Iowa averaging 70,000. That's 130,000 Iowans at a college football game about 4 weekends a year. Out of 3,000,000, it seems tough. IMO if we built 60,000 we'd fill it up sometimes, but unless we got really really good, and Iowa got really bad, it would be hard to fill week in and week out.

 

[CyBobby]

some one write the check and it will be done.

Great er Grate post (just kiddin my friend, You and I both know that Nobody is Gonna Write the Check so to speak...


Just gonna be business as usual in ames and after fifty years of watching this train wreck its just ....

Business As Usual....


I sincerely wish that Jamie Pollard would ...well... PROVE ME WRONG.

 

[CYphyllis]

Here's an idea- sell beer, jack the price up $2 and let it be known that the $2 goes directly towards stadium improvements. I'd buy a couple of overpriced beers for that. Rather pay $10/beer for a worthwhile cause than $8/beer for just the drink.

And you sir, would be in the vast minority. I for one am not paying $10 for a draft beer in the middle of Iowa.

 

[Stormin]

The suites took out a lot of seating. That number is accurate. This is why there were games last year that pretty much full stands, some folks on the hills and attendance of ~43K.

60,000 would mean an upper level to the bowl. A lower bowl would be a little over 50,000. I think you build the lower bowl with the ability to add the upper.

It's almost impossible for ISU to average 60,000 fans/game with Iowa averaging 70,000. That's 130,000 Iowans at a college football game about 4 weekends a year. Out of 3,000,000, it seems tough. IMO if we built 60,000 we'd fill it up sometimes, but unless we got really really good, and Iowa got really bad, it would be hard to fill week in and week out.

The suites and club section didn't take out that much seating. Anyway, this is from cyclones.com.

Originally, the stadium had a capacity of 42,500, all on the sidelines. In 1976, end zone bleachers were constructed to increase capacity to more than 46,000. Standing room tickets, sold for each game, brought the capacity to more than 50,000. An all-time record crowd of 54,475 (in the previous configuration) watched the ISU vs. Nebraska game on Oct. 27, 1990.

Completion of the Jacobson Athletic Building and the addition of permanent bleachers in the south end zone, as well as hillside seating in each of the four corners in the stadium changed the capacity to 55,000. A record 56,795 watched the Iowa State-Northern Iowa game Sept. 8 2007.

As you can see, adding the permanent end zone bleachers added even more seats to the old configuration. We packed in about 2,300 more fans than previously. I would estimate it even with the seats and club section out at about 46,000 without hillsides.

 

[CarolinaCy]

The suites took out a lot of seating. That number is accurate. This is why there were games last year that pretty much full stands, some folks on the hills and attendance of ~43K.

60,000 would mean an upper level to the bowl. A lower bowl would be a little over 50,000. I think you build the lower bowl with the ability to add the upper.

It's almost impossible for ISU to average 60,000 fans/game with Iowa averaging 70,000. That's 130,000 Iowans at a college football game about 4 weekends a year. Out of 3,000,000, it seems tough. IMO if we built 60,000 we'd fill it up sometimes, but unless we got really really good, and Iowa got really bad, it would be hard to fill week in and week out.

Which you and I know doesn't really matter. The vast majority of stadiums around the country aren't full for every game anyway. If the AD can add enough seats to get us to 60,000 and find a way to pay for it, then it doesn't really matter if we fill it up.

The Clemson model (or similar) seems to be the best option to me. Lower bowl with some kind of premium seating at the top of that (suites, club section, box seats, etc.). Gets rid of the hillsides, provides revenue-generating seating, which helps to pay for the project.

 

[Al_4_State]

The suites and club section didn't take out that much seating. Anyway, this is from cyclones.com.



As you can see, adding the permanent end zone bleachers added even more seats to the old configuration. We packed in about 2,300 more fans than previously. I would estimate it even with the seats and club section out at about 46,000 without hillsides.

I think the 46,000 included bleachers in both endzones.