[bradyfan]

I'm just asking this because it seems as if Jerry Jr. is avoiding this in all of his, "campus transformation" messages. Last I heard was that when the stadium expansion was announced, it was to be completed within five years of that announcement. That was two years ago and I figured by now we would at least have a date as when to expect phase two to be finished. Any word on this? Does anyone else feel that the expansion might cost more than LU planned and it's not going to happen when they said it would? Just curious.

[BJWilliams]

I think the feeling has been that we would set off on each phase as needed. the next part is to add the second deck on the student side (if I remember the progression correctly). I think this might be something that our scribe in residence might better to be able to find out about though...although BYD is right, we have good crowds but we arent full to bursting as of yet so there isnt a hurry to set off on the next part of the expansion.

[jbock13]

It is pretty close to filling up however. The Baptist side actually had a pretty good showing yesterday.

I'd like to have it built soon but I know, nobody wants to be like Akron (have a big stadium and then nobody to show up in it).

[bradyfan]

I get what everyone is saying, however, wasn't the plan for the stadium to be used for outdoor concerts and such as well?

I'm also kind of thinking the game was packed yesterday considering the circumstances. We had so many crazy events going on that I was surprised to see that many students there yesterday. Next year the school is supposed to have 90,000 plus students including online students. Just seems to me that we'll keep growing our attendance if we keep getting more students.

[LUconn]

I'm all for expansion ASAP if by expansion you mean building the pergola in those concept photos. Unless we need the capacity to oblige some FBS regulation, I'd rather stay put until people are being forced to sit in the grass.

[Cider Jim]

On a 40th Anniversary Homecoming on a beatiful Saturday afternoon, we still only had 19,111 for a stadium that seats 19,200. That seems to say that we aren't quite ready for a phase 2 just yet.

[Sly Fox]

The Phase 2 decision may have nothing to do with needed seating capacity. Instead it might turn out to be a part of convincing potential conference suitors that we are a worthy addition.

[bradyfan]

The Phase 2 decision may have nothing to do with needed seating capacity. Instead it might turn out to be a part of convincing potential conference suitors that we are a worthy addition.

+1. I also feel that a large stadium can be used to influence recruits and by that I don't just mean football. Just regular students like seeing a large stadium like that.

[logic]

Not needed yet, but yes would be nice to have. Anyone remember the 3,000 seat Vines center expansion? I would love to see that happen. Would help with Convo and basketball of course. I would rather see a renovated vines than a new center we don't own.

[jbock13]

let's not go there. Keep the conference alignment discussion to the other threads please.

Having said that, yes Sly I agree.

[Purple Haize]

Not needed yet, but yes would be nice to have. Anyone remember the 3,000 seat Vines center expansion? I would love to see that happen. Would help with Convo and basketball of course. I would rather see a renovated vines than a new center we don't own.

I don't knowwho you are, but the REAL owner of this screen name would be PO'd to know you were posting this type of sensible talk!

[bradyfan]

Not needed yet, but yes would be nice to have. Anyone remember the 3,000 seat Vines center expansion? I would love to see that happen. Would help with Convo and basketball of course. I would rather see a renovated vines than a new center we don't own.

Agreed 100%. With as many big time speakers we're bringing in, I think this has to happen soon. You have to get to convo 10 minutes early if you don't want to stand.

[BJWilliams]

Not needed yet, but yes would be nice to have. Anyone remember the 3,000 seat Vines center expansion? I would love to see that happen. Would help with Convo and basketball of course. I would rather see a renovated vines than a new center we don't own.

Agreed 100%. With as many big time speakers we're bringing in, I think this has to happen soon. You have to get to convo 10 minutes early if you don't want to stand.

Or be sitting on the stairwells...

[goaliejake22]

I'm not sure if this is still the view of the chancellor, but this was asked about during the leadership training weekend when Jerry hosted questions, and he replied that we needed to fill what we have for a few years before bringing on the next phase. But who knows? Maybe all of this crazy conference stuff will override that view.

[jbock13]

Not needed yet, but yes would be nice to have. Anyone remember the 3,000 seat Vines center expansion? I would love to see that happen. Would help with Convo and basketball of course. I would rather see a renovated vines than a new center we don't own.

Agreed 100%. With as many big time speakers we're bringing in, I think this has to happen soon. You have to get to convo 10 minutes early if you don't want to stand.

Or be sitting on the stairwells...

Or you could sit in the commuter section... like I do... which has plenty of lush seating.

[jcmanson]

I say go ahead and build the next phase. That includes about 4,000 seats on the student side. That's easy to fill especially if we increase on campus enrollment from 12k to 20k in the next few years.

[goflames87]

I say go ahead and build the next phase. That includes about 4,000 seats on the student side. That's easy to fill especially if we increase on campus enrollment from 12k to 20k in the next few years.

I agree. We may not need phase 2 of the expansion at this moment, but we will be soon. I'd rather be ready for it sooner then later. Phases 2 and 3 will help with recruiting as well.

[LUGrad2000]

Could we fill the phase 2 seating with students now? If so, we might as well go ahead and build it.

[From the class of 09]

Could we fill the phase 2 seating with students now? If so, we might as well go ahead and build it.

the student seats on saturday weren't full

[soccer7]

The student section is full it just may not look like it some times because they are crammed in and standing in the aisles. Some students actually sit on the Baptist side too. I am more worried about getting towns people and alumni in the seats to fill the baptist side than filling the student side with the extra 4,ooo seats.

[Liberty22]

If you build it, they will come.

[alabama24]

If you build it, they will come.

Correction: If you win, they will come.

[ALAFlamesFan]

If you build it, they will come.

Correction: If you win, they will come.

Caveat: If you win the non-conference big name (relatively speaking) games and not just the games you are supposed to win, they will come.

But I think their is no harm in building the 2nd phase now. By the time it is ready I think our program will be ready to see it filled. A good post season run will do wonders for this discussion.

[jcmanson]

If you change conferences, they will come

[flamesfan30]

okay. we have close to 9,000 of us students at the games. that is around 100% attendance of all on-campus, non-commuter students. until we get more students, I think what we have now may actually be critical mass for students attending games. meaning, i dont care if we join the SEC and go undefeated, we will not get more than an extra 1,000 students at the games. some people just don't care about football, or being apart of campus events. that's why they a good portion (definitely not all) of students became commuters in the first place.