Our Jack Trice stadium

[bluestarcyclone]

I just pulled up the replay myself to see the espn coverage of the end of the game.

I'd really encourage those who were at the game to pull it up. It really is quite the thing to see the great environment our stadium has now, and how much it has improved since say... 2011 OSU

 

[SCarolinaCy]

The Olsen Bldg gets knocked down and a Performance Facility gets built in the parking lot between the Jacobsen Bldg and the Berg. Not sure what if anything goes where the Olsen Bldg was but they will have to put visitor dressing rooms somewhere. The NEZ lower level is rounded off and filled in with dirt but remains grass hilsides with a different slope. The concourse would extend over the entry of the Jacobsen Bldg where it merges with the current Olsen Bldg. JP has mentioned that you could "look down into" the Jacobsen Bldg from the concourse. I hope that the Jacobsen Bldg is tiered back matching the hillside thus creating some good sitelines in the corners. Put small stands in front of the Jacobsen Bldg for the band, above the 1st level suites (where the REG banners are) you build some suite type seating up to the second floor of the Jacobsen Bldg (similar to TTU's new endzone). Each team gets a true tunnel entry if that is done and also keeps access to the north exit remaining for utility and emergency vehicles. The SEZ balcony seats added 5,800 seats and since the angle is sharper in the NEZ, we could assume 300-500 fewer seats. Lets say 5,400 seats added in NEZ balcony. You would likely lose another 500 seats rounding off the NEZ hillsides so you really would only be adding 5,000 seats. If you added a new press tower (similar to the one at Arrowhead in KC would looks match well) you add another 500 seats. 5,400 new seats brings you to 66,900 and that is perfect for the next generation of Cyclones.

I would also consider moving the students to the NW corner so they could be closer to our players and not get in the path of the visiting squad when we storm the field but I like our students behind our players and near their exit so we can see celebrations.

Sketch?

 

[SCarolinaCy]

I never spotted who he was (I'm short - I can't see over people very well) but I'm guessing he was in my generation, because he was doing cheers from my high school days in the early 70s: "Nuts & Bolts, Nuts & Bolts - We...got...SCREWED..." He was cracking me up.

Needles, Needles,,,,,,,,,,

 

[cyclonedave25]

Yeah, I'm going to need to see some renderings of the NEZ. I don't care if its not going to happen for a decade, I just like to dream.

 

[2speedy1]

Yeah, I'm going to need to see some renderings of the NEZ. I don't care if its not going to happen for a decade, I just like to dream.

I gotta agree with this, it is always fun to dream what could be the future.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

I actually agree with your edit portion of the post. Across the board both in college and the pros ticket sales are struggling. It would be a terrible financial choice right now to add seating until it can be determined if that’s a continued trend or a blip. And It’s not like JTS only seats 30,000 and massively needs to expand. Gotta think long term with this, not short term, and filling out a 61k stadium vs a 65k stadium one or two times a year isn’t going to be worth it.

I could see additional capacity added but mainly just so that more of the higher-end could be catered to. The SEZ was a success in that regard, and the club section on the east side is completely sold out despite the results on the field. That demand will go up with more wins (especially as being relevant more often in october\november makes the heated areas that much more useful!) Maybe (as we did with the west side) we see the premium section between the decks extended full length on the east side? Then you offset some of those seating losses with NEZ seats. Those kinds of changes could pay for themselves a lot more quickly.

I would imagine you could sell more student season tickets as well, tbh. Isnt that section the same size as it was when ISU had quite a bit smaller enrollment? If you had more NEZ seats the student section could naturally expand into that NE corner, where we can't really expand that section now without pushing donors out of their seats.

 

[2speedy1]

I just pulled up the replay myself to see the espn coverage of the end of the game.

I'd really encourage those who were at the game to pull it up. It really is quite the thing to see the great environment our stadium has now, and how much it has improved since say... 2011 OSU

Here is your comparison

 

[FinalFourCy]

I actually agree with your edit portion of the post. Across the board both in college and the pros ticket sales are struggling. It would be a terrible financial choice right now to add seating until it can be determined if that’s a continued trend or a blip. And It’s not like JTS only seats 30,000 and massively needs to expand. Gotta think long term with this, not short term, and filling out a 61k stadium vs a 65k stadium one or two times a year isn’t going to be worth it.

This sounds familiar. Same rebuttals as with the SEZ discussion applies imo.

If we enhance the stadium by putting in seats in the NEZ and then your worst case possibility happens, the decision to go 65k rather than 61k is only a narrative of those with an agenda. Given the data we have, it would be more likely that a modest added capacity will be supported in another decade, with not an appreciably large risk or cost reduction from not adding it.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

This sounds familiar. Same rebuttals as with the SEZ discussion applies imo.

If we enhance the stadium by putting in seats in the NEZ and then your worst case possibility happens, the decision to go 65k rather than 61k is only a narrative of those with an agenda. Given the data we have, it would be more likely that a modest added capacity will be supported in another decade, with not an appreciably large risk or cost reduction from not adding it.

Worst case? That’s best case. How many games have we sold out this season?

 

[madguy30]

The stadium and atmosphere looked great. Not only energetic, but it just looked like a very positive experience to be there. I assume OSU/PSU got higher ratings but anyone tuned into ISU/TCU had to be impressed.

Getting rid of the return policy is a good idea...can't agree that selling beer necessarily puts more butts in the seats. I was at a Colorado game 3 weeks ago, where they sell beer in the stadium. A lot of people stayed in the beer garden and the stadium wasn't 'full' until about mid- 2nd quarter.

 

[2speedy1]

I think you have to also factor in that no matter what is done, you more than likely will be replacing the hillside tickets with actual seats. Right now that number is about 6200 seats, that are the lowest revenue generating seats in the stadium. While these seats a popular with families, they do not do much for the atmosphere, look, feel or revenue generation capabilities of the stadium. So as we saw with the SEZ, the overall increase capacity might not be as great as you would initially think depending on the design, but the revenue generation and the look and feel of the stadium would be greatly improved. A finished NEZ would greatly improve the atmosphere of Jack Trice Stadium. . I still say we are years away from it happening, but boy would it be awesome.
Fact of the matter is, no matter what they do I think it will include more club level seating, and possible more club levels in other areas, because they are the largest revenue generation areas for the stadium, as well as additional suite levels.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Worst case? That’s best case. How many games have we sold out this season?

How many did we sellout in 2004? You can base your decision on national trends and our current average, but that’s not the most relevant data to use. There are real demographic changes and fundamental reasons why our attendance trends are different and point towards continued growth.

The worst, but least likely case is attendance goes down, and even then there’s not much lost by going with a modest increase in capacity. The best case is it increases significantly from success forming a potent mix with demographic changes. The most likely is the slow, steady increase as there are more Iowa Staters.

Imo there’s not a lot of risk reduction going 61k rather than 65k. This isn’t about adding capacity just to add capacity. It’s more of if you’re already doing a NEZ, which replaces cheap hillsides with more revenue generating seats, do you spend a little extra to add some additional capacity to capture the gain in fans from going from 20k students in the ‘80s to 36k now (plus gains in metro area population)

 

[cyrocksmypants]

How many did we sellout in 2004? You can base your decision on national trends and averages, but that’s not the most relevant data to use. There are real demographic changes and fundamental reasons why our attendance trends are different and point towards continued growth.

The worst, but least likely case is attendance goes down, and even then there’s not much lost by going with a modest increase in capacity. The best case is it goes significantly from success forming a potent mix with demographic changes. The most likely is the slow, steady increase as there are more Iowa Staters.

Imo there’s not a lot of risk reduction going 61k rather than 65k. This isn’t about adding capacity just to add capacity. It’s more of if you’re already doing a NEZ, do you spend a little extra to add some additional capacity to capture the gains in fans from going from 20k students in the ‘80s to 36k now (plus gains in metro area population)

2004 was 13 years ago. I’m an old man and I was still in school in 2004. Times have changed. Ticket sales don’t lie.

 

[Tacoclone]

Saw this one thrown around a while back with an expanded pressbox and mirrored endzones.

 

[FinalFourCy]

2004 was 13 years ago. I’m an old man and I was still in school in 2004. Times have changed. Ticket sales don’t lie.

You think the NEZ is happening tomorrow?

Times have changed- exactly the point. Ticket sales in 2004 were a lot less than now, with very little winning in between. I’ll let you think about that for a moment. Ticket sales don’t lie, but they can easily fool old Cyclones.

Just like in the SEZ, adding a few thousand seats while enhancing the stadium shouldn’t even be a discussion. As long as it’s done in a cost-effective manner it’s simply the prudent thing to do.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

What an odd building to have in the endzone, for sure.

I don’t think integration would be needed to improve it. A modified version of what we used to have in the SEZ would be improvement.

If you saw the stadium before it was there, you'd appreciate it...different times. Try to picture just the two sidelines, and temporary seating in both end zones. I think it would be hard to do something around that building now, especially with the scoreboard and its supports, but who knows.

I know that is what was announced but I sat across from that section yesterday and then watching the replay of the game on TV I cant see where 5000 more fans would go. I knew it was obviously not at capacity thanks largely in part by the returned visitor allotment (the section you are complaining about) but even those areas obviously filled 3/4 full by game time. So I was thinking it looked more in the 58-59,000 range. I was really surprised by the 56,000 posted.

That's part of the beauty of those mobile tickets, they put all the empty seats on the West side, so the camera's don't see them. I sat on the East looking at the West and you could tell there were quite a few open over there, but still was a great crowd.

And like stated earlier by others, THE best Cyclone Power cheer I've ever heard. Was deafening. Great job by all. I'll have to go find it on the replay now! The only regret I have is having to leave at halftime to visit one of my best friends who had a surprise party for him in Kansas City. But I got to see the first half then watch/listen to the second half on the way to KC, and wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing my friends. But damn, what a day!

 

[cyrocksmypants]

You think the NEZ is happening tomorrow?

Times have changed- exactly the point. Ticket sales in 2004 were a lot less than now, with very little winning in between. I’ll let you think about that for a moment. Ticket sales don’t lie, but they can easily fool old Cyclones.

Just like in the SEZ, adding a few thousand seats while enhancing the stadium shouldn’t even be a discussion. As long as it’s done in a cost-effective manner it’s simply the prudent thing to do.

I’m not talking just Iowa State. I’m talking ticket sales for the sport as a whole. They peaked in 2008 and have been in a steady decline since (take a guess what started happening around 2008).

 

[Cardinal and Gold]

If you saw the stadium before it was there, you'd appreciate it...different times. Try to picture just the two sidelines, and temporary seating in both end zones. I think it would be hard to do something around that building now, especially with the scoreboard and its supports, but who knows.


That's part of the beauty of those mobile tickets, they put all the empty seats on the West side, so the camera's don't see them. I sat on the East looking at the West and you could tell there were quite a few open over there, but still was a great crowd.

And like stated earlier by others, THE best Cyclone Power cheer I've ever heard. Was deafening. Great job by all. I'll have to go find it on the replay now! The only regret I have is having to leave at halftime to visit one of my best friends who had a surprise party for him in Kansas City. But I got to see the first half then watch/listen to the second half on the way to KC, and wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing my friends. But damn, what a day!

If you are able to get that telecast of those chants, please share. Thanks

 

[Cardinal and Gold]

I’m not talking just Iowa State. I’m talking ticket sales for the sport as a whole. They peaked in 2008 and have been in a steady decline since (take a guess what started happening around 2008).

Thanks Obama

 

[2speedy1]

The only regret I have is having to leave at halftime to visit one of my best friends who had a surprise party for him in Kansas City. But I got to see the first half then watch/listen to the second half on the way to KC, and wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing my friends. But damn, what a day!

Man, I don't think I could have driven while listening to the game, I would have had an accident probably several times. Glad I was there for it.