[PAmedic]

this is an old debate, but watching the UAB game the other night jogged my memory.

I believe its Legon Field that they call home- now seats @ 72k after being DOWNSIZED.

there must have been about 2500 people watching the UAB/UTEP game the other nite and I'm guessing the place is NEVER filled.

even watching the other game Thur nite last week- memory escapes me who it was- and noted another stadium over HALF empty.

all this to say, I'm thinking the 15k attendance req is garbage and we will have no issue being compliant with it. At least no more of an issue than any OTHER school. As long as it seats 25k easily enough, we'd be good for the foreseable future and actually may come close to filling it a couple times a season. That would be better than 60,000 empty seats, IMHO.

anybody else noticing these empty bleachers on midweek night games?

[bigsmooth]

i have noticed it...mainly in the MAC and C-USA games. last thurs was rutgers/louisville..it was packed. were you still on drugs then??

[PAmedic]

quite possibly on drugs

I think you're right- it WAS a MAC game- did Akron or someone play recently? It was them, Youngstown St or some Ohio team I think.

I'm drawing a mental blank right now- but when I was obsessing about this the other day there were at least 2 other games that came to mind. Now I can't remember any of them. Senility.

I'm also starting a thread about homer radio announcers- later tonite or tomorrow when I get a chance. Stay tuned

[flameshaw]

The 15K requirement applies only to paid attendance, not actual fannies in the seats. So, there are times when corporate sponsors pick up some tickets to get to 15K.

I do agree that we should look at a 25k or under stadium to begin with just to avoid the empty seat void. However, I also think the journey to 1A needs to be approached with caution. I would like to see us have a few years of consistent performance and attendance before making the big step. You have to remember, we are only one year away from having no one in our current stadium and a bad team record.

[Sly Fox]

There used to be a 30k seating capacity requirement for admission into I-A membership. I would think a stadium along those lines would be our ultimate goal in the 15-20 year plan.

[PAmedic]

Here's a shot found on ADRIAN'S site showing Kidd Brewer down at App.

Just a CONCEPT, but a nice way to put an upper deck on the Baptist side, and redo the press box at the same time. You still walk in from the existing level- but now have the capability of going UP another 30 to 40 rows as well as down. Given the layout of the 'Bill (already in a bowl) I'm thinking its quite feasable.

I'd guess this could potentially expand capacity by another 5-10k, and we could always do the student/visitor side in a few years to add another 5-10k if need be.

Its late, but by my count that puts us at 20k right away and 30k within a decade.

thoughts?

[flameshaw]

There are already arcitectial plans drawn to upsize the stadium and possibly add luxury boxes. I understand we already have commitments to fill 4 of those suites. No timetable is set however on pulling the trigger.

[LUconn]

and when there's no time table, you know it's gonna be a while.