[jcmanson]

Bring your updates, photos, videos, etc. here as we officially re-open the Bill!

[army56mike]

Will be brining my family of 6 to our first game. Where can we go to join in on pre-game festivities, tail gates, etc? When do I need to be in line to get into the stadium for seating? We are all supposed to wear red correct?

[jcmanson]

Will be brining my family of 6 to our first game. Where can we go to join in on pre-game festivities, tail gates, etc? When do I need to be in line to get into the stadium for seating? We are all supposed to wear red correct?

Most of the tailgating is done on University Blvd right in front of the stadium and bookstore. You won't be able to miss it. Yes, we wear read. The gates open at 5pm. The earlier you get there the better, but I would say anytime by 6 would be fine to get a decent seat. But if you want the pick of the litter, I'd get there a few minutes before 5.

[army56mike]

What about parking?

[jcmanson]

You can park over by Doc's Diner, or by the Religion Hall, or by David's Place. Lots of options just depends on where you'd prefer.

[Kricket]

Here's a link with some information about the Stadium reopening. I'm sure many people have seen it since it's right on the website.

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=22296

[Kricket]

Interesting quote from Falwell about the stadium and the football program in the above article:

It is already helping to recruit the best football players and I believe it will be the catalyst that will take Liberty Flames football to the FBS (NCAA Division I-A) in years to come,

It's exciting to hear stuff like that about the football program. If you're a potential recruit it's got to be a selling point to hear such commitment from the chancellor of the university.

[jcmanson]

Yep no doubt. Barber also said:

We will build the next stage when we need it. Hopefully we will pack out all the seats this year.

[Kricket]

Yep no doubt. Barber also said:

We will build the next stage when we need it. Hopefully we will pack out all the seats this year.

I wonder how the decision of needing phase 2 would be made. What percentage of the seats would have to be filled and how long?

Do you think they don't want to build it up right away only to have a half full stadium, because it creates an illusion that not many people want to watch the games even if the attendance is better than ever, and vice versa, a full stadium allows people to imagine how many people would come to the game if the stadium was bigger? Or is it simply a revenue thing (more people coming means they can afford to build a bigger stadium)?

They could build all 3 phases and make a push to move to the FBS and hope an expanded audience fills the empty seats, assuming they can afford to expand at this time... Or am I getting off topic?

Either way, what I get from the quote is that filling the seats in the next few years may have a bigger impact on the program than it has ever had in it's past, and filling the seats starts tomorrow. Wish I could be there to see it.

[jcmanson]

With phase 1, we technically don’t need to build any more to make the jump.

[flamesfan30]

I firmly believe there is a direct correlation between building new dorms (which will happen this summer [per jerry jr during leadership week]) and a new upper deck for the student side. they will be done at the same time. also, as it is i think if the locals show up and fill their side, we (the students) will push the opener over capacity, like every single other football game played there the past 2 years. we stand in the isles. we stand on the fence. we sit in the grass. we squish together far more than is comfortable. we are early. we wear red. and we are loud. i understand building the other deck first as those are the paying customers, but we would definitely fill the deck this year if it were built on our side of the field, just saying.

[jcmanson]

Don’t forget the students are getting appx 1,000 new seats this year.

[Cider Jim]

With phase 1, we technically don’t need to build any more to make the jump.

Manson, when Marshall made the jump up to D1A, I thought the rules were two-fold:

1. you had to have a 30,000 seat stadium
2. you had to average 20,000 in attendance

Do those 2 rules not apply anymore?

[Sly Fox]

The stadium capacity issue was set aside and the attendance was averaging 15k in paid attendance in any two years of three years. Attendance will never be a problem for us unless the standards are raised significantly when the moratorium is lifted.

[Schfourteenteen]

With phase 1, we technically don’t need to build any more to make the jump.

Manson, when Marshall made the jump up to D1A, I thought the rules were two-fold:

1. you had to have a 30,000 seat stadium
2. you had to average 20,000 in attendance

Do those 2 rules not apply anymore?

I thought 15K attendance is one of the bars. I couldn't tell you any of the others. Eastern Michigan averages in the 6-7K range.

Sly also mentioned the possibility of a change in requirements for FBS entry.

[Schfourteenteen]

The stadium capacity issue was set aside and the attendance was averaging 15k in paid attendance in any two years of three years. Attendance will never be a problem for us unless the standards are raised significantly when the moratorium is lifted.

How picky are they about it being paid? Better raise those student prices to $1

[jcmanson]

It's paid or actual attendance.

[LUconn]

Do student activity fees count as a paid ticket? If so that's an automatic 12k every game, so I imagine probably not. It should.

[Kricket]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NC ... l_stadiums

according to this list (granted it's wikipedia) there are plenty of teams that aren't at a 30,000 capacity.

[From the class of 09]

Do you think they don't want to build it up right away only to have a half full stadium, because it creates an illusion that not many people want to watch the games even if the attendance is better than ever, and vice versa, a full stadium allows people to imagine how many people would come to the game if the stadium was bigger? Or is it simply a revenue thing (more people coming means they can afford to build a bigger stadium)?

If we sell out the majority of the games this year I could see them start phase 2 after the 2011 season. Revenue from tickets has nothing to do with expansion for us as they can't make much over $1mill from ticket sales. It's all about those boosters!!!

[thepostman]

Pre-game ticket sales are already more than double last year’s average home game, as fans are excited to enjoy their newly renovated home on Liberty Mountain.

This is an oddly written sentence. If that is the case that is a lot of tickets sold isn't it?

[Schfourteenteen]

Pre-game ticket sales are already more than double last year’s average home game, as fans are excited to enjoy their newly renovated home on Liberty Mountain.

This is an oddly written sentence. If that is the case that is a lot of tickets sold isn't it?

HA. And that's just sold tickets, not students.

[From the class of 09]

Pre-game ticket sales are already more than double last year’s average home game, as fans are excited to enjoy their newly renovated home on Liberty Mountain.

This is an oddly written sentence. If that is the case that is a lot of tickets sold isn't it?

Does "last year’s average home game" mean avg tickets sold (non-students) or avg attendance (with-students)???

[Sly Fox]

I believe it was referring to what typically is sold in advance for a game.

[jcmanson]

I believe it was referring to what typically is sold in advance for a game.

Yes. That could be 2,000 or 10,000 we don't know.