JTS Improvements - Want More

[WhoISthis]

This was my worry. It doesn't pop as much as I hoped on the TV crowd shots. I was really hoping for more of a bowled effect. It still looks like an open entrance, albeit, much cleaner and eye pleasing.

Better than nothing, and better in person than on TV.

Given what we were spending north of the stadium to add to the football complex, while doing work on NEZ/Olsen area, I would have guess we could have figured out a way to cost-effectively enhance the NEZ.

 

[cytor]

It looks very nice. The front is very welcoming now. Kudos to getting rid of the olson building.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Better than nothing, and better in person than on TV.

Given what we were spending north of the stadium to add to the football complex, while doing work on NEZ/Olsen area, I would have guess we could have figured out a way to cost-effectively enhance the NEZ.

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This is what CU built back in 2015. It was ~double the cost of our current project. They also have a nice sponsorship from UCHealth. I don't know what more we could've done without spending a ton more, and you know Pollard doesn't want to ever get rid of the hills.

 

[bozclone]

I thought the changes to the stadium looked awesome! Huge upgrade.

 

[WhoISthis]

University of Colorado Champions Center | Populous

Architecture Brand Activation Boulder, United States University of Colorado Nestled along the Flatirons and Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado campus is among the most scenic in America. While the setting acts as an ever-present selling point to recruits, CU’s athletic facilities had...

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This is what CU built back in 2015. It was ~double the cost of our current project. They also have a nice sponsorship from UCHealth. I don't know what more we could've done without spending a ton more, and you know Pollard doesn't want to ever get rid of the hills.

The hills have value in growing the local base, although so do cheap tickets in a better viewing experience imo. Never is a long time, but had we been doing nothing in the area, keep them.

Clemson's $68 million project is more of an example of what I am thinking of.

That area and land has some of the highest intrinsic value on campus/Ames if we make it that way. That is the foundation behind JP thinking the new Iowa State Center will work and has value (we are not going to foot all of that cost, or own/operate). That aspect rolled into this project gets you to the added cost imo. If unbundled and approached conventionally as just adding some seats in the NEZ, separate from adding the FB facility, separate from the tailgating/entertainment aspect, I agree with you. Imo, I don't think there was too much desire to get it done past what it was, due to the emotional attachment to the hills. I hope I am wrong, and this is just phase 1, and the entertainment district/ISC is very much coming to the NEZ to capitalize on the inherent value of those views, location, etc.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

The hills have value in growing the local base, although so do cheap tickets in a better viewing experience imo. Never is a long time, but had we been doing nothing in the area, keep them.

Clemson's $68 million project is more of an example of what I am thinking of.

That area and land has some of the highest intrinsic value on campus/Ames if we make it that way. That is the foundation behind JP thinking the new Iowa State Center will work and has value (we are not going to foot all of that cost, or own/operate). That aspect rolled into this project gets you to the added cost imo. If unbundled and approached conventionally as just adding some seats in the NEZ, separate from adding the FB facility, separate from the tailgating/entertainment aspect, I agree with you. Imo, I don't think there was too much desire to get it done past what it was, due to the emotional attachment to the hills. I hope I am wrong, and this is just phase 1, and the entertainment district/ISC is very much coming to the NEZ to capitalize on the inherent value of those views, location, etc.

I agree with what you are saying, but at this point, I don't think there will be much more done with JTS after the pedestrian bridge project is completed. Especially if we are stuck in the current Big 12 long term. We will need to pay off all the debt service for this and the SEZ, which is at least $10 million/year, as well as pay off the loan we took out for last year. If we take any kind of revenue hit over the next few years, we are ******. Nothing will get done, we will probably lose any successful coaches at that point, and we will be looking at life as a tier 2 athletic program. Anything that happens in regards to the ISC will need huge private investments. If Jamie can get a hotel built there, we may have something. I think until that happens, its just a concept.

 

[WhoISthis]

I agree with what you are saying, but at this point, I don't think there will be much more done with JTS after the pedestrian bridge project is completed. Especially if we are stuck in the current Big 12 long term. We will need to pay off all the debt service for this and the SEZ, which is at least $10 million/year, as well as pay off the loan we took out for last year. If we take any kind of revenue hit over the next few years, we are ******. Nothing will get done, we will probably lose any successful coaches at that point, and we will be looking at life as a tier 2 athletic program. Anything that happens in regards to the ISC will need huge private investments. If Jamie can get a hotel built there, we may have something. I think until that happens, its just a concept.

Largely agree with all this, which is why I am saying it should not have been viewed as conventional, funding of seats, funding of FB facility, etc.

Were the plans for the AD to fully (or mostly) finance the ISC/entertainment district? I didn't think that was the case, but maybe I was wrong. We need to shift more towards sponsor finance used by the corporate world in developing million dollar projects when cash is limited. Sure, we sell away some of the upside for a period of time (if not all in some cases), but that is ok imo. I'm sure others can speak at length and better on this, but conceptually, I believe an entity has cash and can monetize one of the most unique draws in Iowa. We don't, but that is what contracts are for.

I was very excited when the ISC was announced because it showed JP is not playing the old arms race game we cannot keep up with, and is monetizing the value of the real estate and inherent traffic flow. I realize this seems like day-dreaming, but there will be millions spent on campus on infrastructure , and millions more in Ames on commercial development. Shepherd (sponsor) that buildout to occur in that space.

 

[cy4state]

Semi fits.

 

[nrg4isu]

Semi fits.

This answers so many questions!

 

[BirdOfWar]

Semi fits.

This door is interesting. Also, are there gates in front of the ramps on the north side now or how is the stadium secure? I didn't notice anything that looked permanent last week.

 

[quadmann]

Semi fits.

Question: Does the visiting team's semi usually arrive before gameday? Or is this because tomorrow is going to be complete pandemonium?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Question: Does the visiting team's semi usually arrive before gameday? Or is this because tomorrow is going to be complete pandemonium?

Always Friday, if not Thursday.

 

[2speedy1]

Largely agree with all this, which is why I am saying it should not have been viewed as conventional, funding of seats, funding of FB facility, etc.

Were the plans for the AD to fully (or mostly) finance the ISC/entertainment district? I didn't think that was the case, but maybe I was wrong. We need to shift more towards sponsor finance used by the corporate world in developing million dollar projects when cash is limited. Sure, we sell away some of the upside for a period of time (if not all in some cases), but that is ok imo. I'm sure others can speak at length and better on this, but conceptually, I believe an entity has cash and can monetize one of the most unique draws in Iowa. We don't, but that is what contracts are for.

I was very excited when the ISC was announced because it showed JP is not playing the old arms race game we cannot keep up with, and is monetizing the value of the real estate and inherent traffic flow. I realize this seems like day-dreaming, but there will be millions spent on campus on infrastructure , and millions more in Ames on commercial development. Shepherd (sponsor) that buildout to occur in that space.

The way I understand it, the Pollard and Light district will be done in some form of a lease to a developer, in which there will be a contract as to what the development will be, then they developer will foot the bill and take the risk, but get the income from the development, while paying the University a yearly lease payment.

This takes the risk away from the University, while guaranteeing them a set payment schedule. This also means the University doesn't have to manage a district like this internally.

It also makes it possible on a much more accelerated timeline than if the University had to raise the capital themselves to develop this kind of project.

 

[Aclone]

Simple fact.

Since we’re about to be the marquee program of the new Big XII, just gonna have to bump up the stadium capacity to 80K.

Yes, we can upgrade luxury seating as well.

(Heading out for my Powerball ticket now. And if you don’t like the sign for “Aclone Third Deck”, don’t look at it!)

 

[quadmann]

Always Friday, if not Thursday.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Nor'MidWester]

Semi fits.

It's pretty dumb the opponents semi can probably be seen from the field. But whatever

 

[clonedude]

It's pretty dumb the opponents semi can probably be seen from the field. But whatever

Agree.... but we've never been very good when it comes to anything we've done with the NEZ.... so why start now?

Also.... does that trailer have Cyclone plates? Looks cardinal with gold numbers to me.

 

[JM4CY]

This door is interesting. Also, are there gates in front of the ramps on the north side now or how is the stadium secure? I didn't notice anything that looked permanent last week.

View attachment 89604

That b*tch is gonna need an armed guard

 

[NWICY]

Gal scanning tickets when asked how things were going…. Not good. Bright sun trying to see people’s phones, people with paper tickets, people not being able to find their tickets on their phone (BIL didn’t realize the UNI game was the only ticket he didn’t have in his Apple Wallet til he got to the front of the line) had to be really frustrating.

Was there actually any problem with the paper tickets?

 

[SECyclone]

It's pretty dumb the opponents semi can probably be seen from the field. But whatever

Gotta protect it from the trashy Iowa fans that try to steal their own teams stuff.