[hoopsmalone]

info and pics of UCF's Brighthouse networks stadium, set to open in a couple of weeks for the game against texas.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... /708260336

[SuperJon]

The first was of a hurricane.

The 2nd didn't work.


Good try though.

[hoopsmalone]

now try it. For some reason,when I posted those first two, the links were broken up. Not sure why.

[SuperJon]

That one worked. It's big, and the locker room's nice. Other than that, I'm not impressed. It's very vanilla. No colors whatsoever, anywhere. No chairbacks, all bleachers.

[hoopsmalone]

ya, well, i think UCF'S main priority was to exit the decaying citrus bowl and get something up ASAP. Unofficial word says that the other features will be added on in following years. From what I hear, you really have to see the amenities up close and in person, around the facade and throughout the concourse, to gain an appreciation for the facility. They built a mini-community, a sportsbar/shopping/ tailgate strip, around the exterior of the stadium. The Athl. dept. was confined by working with limited space, as that campus has just become WAY too overcrowded in recent years. Many mid-90s to early 2000's graduates who were on our lotto stipend scholarship system called "bright futures" were diverted to UCF because UF and FSU were getting too crowded. Now, UCF has higher enrollment than fsu, and may be nearing UF's total. I guess the state will have to start sending the next wave to USF. Sooner or later, these campuses aren't going to have the space.

[hoopsmalone]

By the way, as for the bleachers comment, there are MANY college stadiums that don't offer chairbacks, including FSU and Tenn.

[thepostman]

I like the UCF stadium personally....I am not too big on flashy anyways....they have very nice facilities for the players there....and its a huge step up from the very ugly and very old Citrus Bowl...which really should be torn down for a new stadium...but they did just vote to renovate that stadium in hopes to land a BCS game down the road

[hoopsmalone]

postman, i agree with all of your comments, especially the ones regarding the citrus bowl. That thing has undergone more facelifts than joan rivers, and it still looks terrible. Did you hear the good news though? The Magic will be playing in a brand-new $450 million dollar arena and we'll also have a new performing arts center downtown.

[thepostman]

ps there are a few chairbacks right below the press box area...I don't know how many, looks to be around 1500

[PAmedic]

I know we'd love to have that kind of room.

plus this:

The facility will have a little bit of something for everyone. There will be 822 club seats and 24 luxury suites. There are 18 stadium gates and 10 ticket windows. And there will be 11 concession stands, various kiosks and 427 toilets, 104 urinals and 296 sinks in the 21 restrooms.

PS: I actually think our locker room is nicer.

[SuperJon]

I was just going by pictures. I didn't actually read the article.

I wonder if it looks better from the outside.

Sorry, I took a class on facility design so I'm kinda picky with how things look.

[PAmedic]

its really not bad.

and seats 45k.

Mr Williams, we'd like something like that- please

[thepostman]

I have seen quite a few pictures of it since I check the Orlando Sentinel/Florida Today almost daily and its really not a bad stadium at all, not the best in the world by any means...but for what UCF is it is very nice....and the Citrus Bowl is a dump and right in the middle of the ghetto with no parking and completely on the other side of the city from UCF....its good for the school and great for their program....I almost went to UCF, and really follow the program (all sports) quite a bit....

[hoopsmalone]

As a local sports reporter , I can tell you from a few off the record comments I've heard during some of my interviews for player profiles - UCF's new stadium really appeals to some of the big recruits around here. The main problem for UCF's program isn't the BIG 3 (UF,FSU & MIAMI) it's actually USF. USF is a very comparable program that lures the same athletes and located only about 80-90 mins away with a great coach and top-knotch facilities. The only knock (and some people may not consider this a flaw) is that they play at Raymond James, an NFL stadium, compared to UCF's TRUE home stadium.
I never considered UCF because I wanted a change of scenery for my college life, but i'm a strong advocate of supporting your local team. I hope to make it out there for a game or two this year- hopefully the opener vs. Texas (What better way to cristen your new venue than with a 40-point loss?

[thepostman]

the opener vs. Texas (What better way to cristen your new venue than with a 40-point loss?

my thoughts exactly...I know why they scheduled it that way, but they should've just gone with a mid level SEC team or something.....oh well

[hoopsmalone]

Forgive my poor memory, but aren't you from Titusville , postman? A former Terrier, Muhammed DeReese, is a freshman rb ther and should serve as a nice eventuall replacement for kevin smith.

[PeterParker]

its really not bad.

and seats 45k.

Mr Williams, we'd like something like that- please

Albeit with some dark red brick and some "columnal" accent-elements to fit in with the attempted architectural theme of the campus. Thanks, Mr. Williams.

[SuperJon]

I take it you have no other pictures on your computer. You post the same exact ones everytime stadium stuff comes up.

[thepostman]

Forgive my poor memory, but aren't you from Titusville , postman? A former Terrier, Muhammed DeReese, is a freshman rb ther and should serve as a nice eventuall replacement for kevin smith.

this would be true....my brother was actually pretty good friends with him...really, really nice kid....and simply a beast

[bigsmooth]

SJ a bit edgy???? relax brother

[bigsmooth]

in actuality it has club seats. here is the facts sheet on this stadium.

http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/brighthous ... gures.html

most stadiums i have been in the ACC/SEC and at penn state, it is mainly bleachers. UCF has wanted this for a long time and to get away from the ctirus bowl is great.

http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/view.gal?i ... er_gallery

[thepostman]

that part of campus has completely changed too....seeing pictures of it I can't believe it...the last time I have been on that campus it was all dirt...now they have the new convocation center and football stadium and 4 mid-rise dorms along with tons of shops....many people don't know this but UCF is the largest University in Florida....

[Innocent Bystander]

....and the Citrus Bowl is a dump and right in the middle of the ghetto with no parking and completely on the other side of the city from UCF....

I can attest to this. I was stationed in Orlando for 13 months when I was in the Navy. UCF used to give free admission to military members, so I went to all their home games during the 1990 season (including a game against Liberty). The stadium is definitely a dump and the neighborhood is worse. None of us that went to the games had a car so we would take a taxi. All their games were at night. One night, we called for a cab after the game and it never came. It was a pretty scary walk from the stadium to Church Street Station downtown.

[thepostman]

This is true man....my Dad was in the Navy as well, he had some training there and after some time in Japan we came back to Orlando and he was an instructor there...now that base is no more and has become a huge development and looks completely different

[PeterParker]

I take it you have no other pictures on your computer. You post the same exact ones everytime stadium stuff comes up.

Someone eat the last bowl of KIX this morning before you woke up, bro?


Well, as a matter of fact, my Commodore 64 only holds like three pictures...so I guess I uploaded the wrong ones, I meant to upload this one:




Please, Mr. Williams, build us one 'dem 'der wuns, pleeze.