Monday Call In Show Synopsis

[norsemen]

Jamie Pollard was on for the first 30 minutes of the Monday call in show and shared some interesting tidbits on facilities:

1. After the football team vacates their current locker room and offices, the space will be remodeled and utilized by others. Women's softball and soccer offices will be moved there. Other office space will be made into an athlete "commons area" plus a cafeteria. The current football locker room will eventually be used by the visiting football team. Visitors will enter the field on the east side while ISU will enter via the west. This will mean teams crossing the field to get to their respective sidelines. Approximately 30% of college stadiums use this crossing arrangement with no problems.

2.The new golf practice facility located south of Ames on Highway 69 will be utilized by ISU athletes exclusively. To fit with the rural Iowa countryside, the driving bays will be inside a barn like structure and the putting/chipping facility inside a "grain bin".

3. The newly remodeled wrestling practice facility in Lied facility is compete. It is larger with a new cardio area, video equipment, and lounge.

4. Concern was voiced that "when we bowl in the south end zone", the ability to allow young fans into the game cheaply via the Junior Pass would be reduced. Pollard said that although far from a final decision, they had thought about designating the upper rows of the new south end zone seat for this same purpose as young fans need to be given priority to grow future fan support.

5. Football sound system settings have not been changed for the past few games. What they are thinking is the both the wind and temperature affect the volume and ability to be heard clearly. It continues to be a learning process.

 

[cybsball20]

I love driving by that new gold facility... it looks AMAZING

 

[Jeffreyisu]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

 

[alarson]

I didn't hear the show, but I find it interesting that both here and in some previous communications recently (the email from JP awhile back that was deleted for some reason by the mods, for example) that there seem to be more and more thought out details on the SEZ. Details that i'm not sure you waste your time getting into if you aren't getting ready to launch the plan. Hell, i remember not being able to get more than scarce details about things with the video board out of pollard before they officially got approval from the BOR to build it, but here Jamie is talking about what would possibly be done with certain rows in an as yet nonexistent south end zone project.

I get the feeling we might be close to an announcement.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

I didn't hear the show, but I find it interesting that both here and in some previous communications recently (the email from JP awhile back that was deleted for some reason by the mods, for example) that there seem to be more and more thought out details on the SEZ. Details that i'm not sure you waste your time getting into if you aren't getting ready to launch the plan. Hell, i remember not being able to get more than scarce details about things with the video board out of pollard before they officially got approval from the BOR to build it, but here Jamie is talking about what would possibly be done with certain rows in an as yet nonexistent south end zone project.

I get the feeling we might be close to an announcement.

My guess is that any announcement will be released in the offseason near when season ticket renewals and sales start up. That's the timing that makes the most sense to me. Hopefully it is in this offseason!

 

[HuxleyClone]

I wish w could have bowled in the NEZ to prevent prevailing winter winds. Jacobsen building is in the dang way.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

I didn't hear the show, but I find it interesting that both here and in some previous communications recently (the email from JP awhile back that was deleted for some reason by the mods, for example) that there seem to be more and more thought out details on the SEZ. Details that i'm not sure you waste your time getting into if you aren't getting ready to launch the plan. Hell, i remember not being able to get more than scarce details about things with the video board out of pollard before they officially got approval from the BOR to build it, but here Jamie is talking about what would possibly be done with certain rows in an as yet nonexistent south end zone project.

I get the feeling we might be close to an announcement.

I think the the OP of that was actually the one to delete it because he was worried that posting a private conversation would discourage JP from responding the way he has in the past. Just to clear the mods' names a bit.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Why does the team have to be on the east side? Is there any reason other than for a better view from the suites and camera?

 

[CtownCyclone]

Why does the team have to be on the east side? Is there any reason other than for a better view from the suites and camera?

I also caught the call-in show last night and JP indicated that for whatever reason, ISU back in the day decided to be on the east side (typically, the home team's bench is the same side as the press box). Over time, people have purchased tickets with the idea that they'd be behind ISU's bench and moving the team to the other sideline would result in a lot of unhappy ticket holders. Jamie likened it to "moving gravestones" so I'm pretty sure we'll stay on the East side of the stadium.

 

[Mr Janny]

I think the the OP of that was actually the one to delete it because he was worried that posting a private conversation would discourage JP from responding the way he has in the past. Just to clear the mods' names a bit.

Thank you. This is exactly what happened. The OP decided he/she wasn't comfortable with the thread being posted.

 

[CLONECONES]

4. Concern was voiced that "when we bowl in the south end zone", the ability to allow young fans into the game cheaply via the Junior Pass would be reduced. Pollard said that although far from a final decision, they had thought about designating the upper rows of the new south end zone seat for this same purpose as young fans need to be given priority to grow future fan support.

 

[MNCyGuy]

I also caught the call-in show last night and JP indicated that for whatever reason, ISU back in the day decided to be on the east side (typically, the home team's bench is the same side as the press box). Over time, people have purchased tickets with the idea that they'd be behind ISU's bench and moving the team to the other sideline would result in a lot of unhappy ticket holders. Jamie likened it to "moving gravestones" so I'm pretty sure we'll stay on the East side of the stadium.

That makes so much sense as to why they've never changed it. A friend of mine and I sometimes use his grandpa's tickets for games and he is an original JTS donor. The people in that section are pretty set in their ways.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Looks like they'll just need to build a better box and suites on the east side.

On a happier note, one of our hok friends (and ACTUAL iowa graduate) is coming to the game with us saturday morning because, and I quote word-for-word, "Ames looks way more fun than Iowa City for tailgating. People in Iowa City suck." One small victory at a time, boys.

 

[CtownCyclone]

I seem to remember some discussion a while back on the possibility of putting the visitor locker room under the new SEZ when it gets built. Then there would no longer be any crossing of teams.

 

[ruxCYtable]

I also caught the call-in show last night and JP indicated that for whatever reason, ISU back in the day decided to be on the east side (typically, the home team's bench is the same side as the press box). Over time, people have purchased tickets with the idea that they'd be behind ISU's bench and moving the team to the other sideline would result in a lot of unhappy ticket holders. Jamie likened it to "moving gravestones" so I'm pretty sure we'll stay on the East side of the stadium.

I remember being told when I was young that ISU chose the east side so the players would be in the warm sun when the weather turned cold, whereas the visitors would be in the cold shadow of the west stands.

 

[HandSanitizer]

4. Concern was voiced that "when we bowl in the south end zone", the ability to allow young fans into the game cheaply via the Junior Pass would be reduced. Pollard said that although far from a final decision, they had thought about designating the upper rows of the new south end zone seat for this same purpose as young fans need to be given priority to grow future fan support.

I think that #4 could actually help attendance numbers. You just have GA seating in the bleachers (just like Hilton does with Lil Cyclone Club Seating)
I talked to 2 people this weekend that went to their first ISU game ever. Both their thoughts was to NEVER ever sit on the hill again. They said it sucked. Cold, crowded and takes a toll on your ankles.
If they set the prices at $120 (or somewhere close to that) and allow 5-10,000 Tickets sold at that price you get people there paying for parking, Food and drinks etc.. Plus you get people hooked if we can provide a product..ISU knows what they are doing and will figure it out.

 

[Cybirdy]

4. Concern was voiced that "when we bowl in the south end zone", the ability to allow young fans into the game cheaply via the Junior Pass would be reduced. Pollard said that although far from a final decision, they had thought about designating the upper rows of the new south end zone seat for this same purpose as young fans need to be given priority to grow future fan support.
.

This has been one of my biggest concerns with the SEZ. We have been bringing our kids to games for 8 years and will have kids eligible for the Jr Cyclone Club for the next 18 years. This past weekend I only took my oldest due to the weather and timing. We sat in my Dad's season ticket seats and had the most obnoxious drunks behind us (who couldn't tell us where they got their tickets from). When we asked them to tone it down because we had a 9 yr old with us they told me "Well don't bring her to the game!" ****** me off quite a bit since last time I checked a football game should be a family affair, not a 21 and over drunk fest. There are over 5,000 members of the Jr Cyclone Club and there needs to be a family-friendly place for them to sit. My girls go to many sporting events and you bet seeing players on a regular basis makes an impression on them and helps solidify their desire to be Cyclones.

 

[IsUaClone2]

I remember being told when I was young that ISU chose the east side so the players would be in the warm sun when the weather turned cold, whereas the visitors would be in the cold shadow of the west stands.

I think I remember the team being on the east side back in the Clyde Williiams days as well. I could be wrong as there are a few fuzzy time periods in my college career.

I think that #4 could actually help attendance numbers. You just have GA seating in the bleachers (just like Hilton does with Lil Cyclone Club Seating)
I talked to 2 people this weekend that went to their first ISU game ever. Both their thoughts was to NEVER ever sit on the hill again. They said it sucked. Cold, crowded and takes a toll on your ankles.
If they set the prices at $120 (or somewhere close to that) and allow 5-10,000 Tickets sold at that price you get people there paying for parking, Food and drinks etc.. Plus you get people hooked if we can provide a product..

I think a section would be great as well but I'd put them on the bottom for safety reasons. I think they like seeing the players, band, and cheerleaders more than the plays anyway.

 

[CtownCyclone]

I remember being told when I was young that ISU chose the east side so the players would be in the warm sun when the weather turned cold, whereas the visitors would be in the cold shadow of the west stands.

Later on in the show, CPR made a comment to the effect of "it's nice to be in the sun sometimes!" when a different caller asked about switching sides. So I can see where this makes sense.

 

[HandSanitizer]

Part me hopes they move the entire student section to the south endzone. That would look pretty dang cool. But the only logistical thing would be the 3500 existing seats there and putting the students next to the visitors (which can be worked out)