[Hold My Own]

No I think that I read that they will convert that to academic use.

I like this idea more...

An Alumni Hall would be a good use of the current bookstore.

[BCXtreme]

No I think that I read that they will convert that to academic use.

I like this idea more...

An Alumni Hall would be a good use of the current bookstore.

Technically, I don't believe there has been any final word on the bookstore space either. Just that they will be converting it for "other purposes."

[PAmedic]

the dude that posted above you is pretty close to "the final word"

[Purple Haize]

the dude that posted above you is pretty close to "the final word"

J
When it comes to the a Master Plan, there really is no final word.....

[Hold My Own]

the dude that posted above you is pretty close to "the final word"

Haha don't let your man crush with me cloud your logic. I have pipedreams my man....pipedreams. I just hope we don't end up in a closet somewhere...but with these amazing buildings going up it would at least be a really really nice closet

[PAmedic]

I know a guy who recently came outta that closet

so there's room in there I'm guessing

[Purple Haize]

I know a guy who recently came outta that closet

so there's room in there I'm guessing

Not much. ATrain is sorta skinny

[ATrain]

I know a guy who recently came outta that closet

so there's room in there I'm guessing

Not much. ATrain is sorta skinny

Umm, thanks...I think

[jcmanson]

Duke & I spoke with Jeff Barber on some of the athletic facilities mentioned in the master plan.

Updated master plan calls for 4,500 seat arena, indoor football practice field
http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/upda ... ice-field/

[Purple Haize]

I like that smaller arena idea a lot. Long term when they decide to redo/replace the Vines center they have a site to play. Of course I'd like to see everything there but dream big!

[Flamesfanva]

So the students who are asked to stay for 4QF will be stuck with one concession stand and one restroom per until LU goes FBS? Not exactly a great way to reward the students who you want to show up and stay around. That side of the stadium sure looks no better than a high school stadium or worse depending on the high school. Of course the view from that side is better and gives you a more college game type atmosphere.

[Flamesfanva]

Maybe I missed it when I first read this article, but there are 3 PDF documents in the related documents section that show some views I have never seen before. The article has a date of October 9, with the PDF documents dated October 10.

[TH Spangler]

So the students who are asked to stay for 4QF will be stuck with one concession stand and one restroom per until LU goes FBS? Not exactly a great way to reward the students who you want to show up and stay around. That side of the stadium sure looks no better than a high school stadium or worse depending on the high school. Of course the view from that side is better and gives you a more college game type atmosphere.

19200 seats and 20,838 at homecoming? We have a Luxury Suite waiting list? Could use some more seats for graduation ceremonies?

Saw they plan to expand the hockey arena, creating 4000 seats.

GO FLAMES!

[jcmanson]

An artist's rendering of what the 4,500 seat sports arena would look like

[BCXtreme]

Maybe I missed it when I first read this article, but there are 3 PDF documents in the related documents section that show some views I have never seen before. The article has a date of October 9, with the PDF documents dated October 10.

You're correct, those are new additions to the article. Otherwise I would have seen them when I first read it. Nice find. Do note that the "Core Campus" map PDF is noticeably older than the Liberty Journal version, so the latter is probably correct whenever there are conflicts between the two. Also note that the new Circle buildings are a little different on the maps than on the renderings, and I would guess the maps are the more accurate.

So the students who are asked to stay for 4QF will be stuck with one concession stand and one restroom per until LU goes FBS? Not exactly a great way to reward the students who you want to show up and stay around. That side of the stadium sure looks no better than a high school stadium or worse depending on the high school. Of course the view from that side is better and gives you a more college game type atmosphere.

Remember, LU seems convinced that the FBS move is going to happen sooner than later. IMHO, Williams Stadium will max out and force them to move forward with expansion while still in FCS. But they're not going to say that yet. JB's comment of "we'll build it when we need it" (or something like that) is probably the most accurate timeline. "When we need it" could come at the FCS level, IMO.

[jcmanson]

How many times has the Bill been at capacity since we expanded to 19,200? I believe 3 times. We're talking about an additional 6,000 seats to take us to 25,000. No need to build that now when we've only hit 20k once. We'll get there, but it will just take time or an FBS jump, whichever comes first.

[jcmanson]

I also think the natatorium is huge news for the swimming team. Sounds like it will include a diving well also. I wonder how long before we add diving? Maybe we're waiting until we go FBS to help balance for Title IX?

[alabama24]

An artist's rendering of what the 4,500 seat sports arena would look like

Uhh... so no Doc's diner.

[ATrain]

I also think the natatorium is huge news for the swimming team. Sounds like it will include a diving well also. I wonder how long before we add diving? Maybe we're waiting until we go FBS to help balance for Title IX?

Actually I think there was a discussion about that in another thread:

https://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewto ... ng#p426415

[BJWilliams]

How many times has the Bill been at capacity since we expanded to 19,200? I believe 3 times. We're talking about an additional 6,000 seats to take us to 25,000. No need to build that now when we've only hit 20k once. We'll get there, but it will just take time or an FBS jump, whichever comes first.

Jon nailed it...there is zero reason to make that kind of an investment in the "student side" as of yet. NOW...if we make playoffs for a couple years and winning (outright) Big South championships and it drives the attendance way up then that can change the timeline significantly, but what we dont want is a 1/2-3/4 full student side just for the sake of having both sides look the same

[Purple Haize]

How many times has the Bill been at capacity since we expanded to 19,200? I believe 3 times. We're talking about an additional 6,000 seats to take us to 25,000. No need to build that now when we've only hit 20k once. We'll get there, but it will just take time or an FBS jump, whichever comes first.

Jon nailed it...there is zero reason to make that kind of an investment in the "student side" as of yet. NOW...if we make playoffs for a couple years and winning (outright) Big South championships and it drives the attendance way up then that can change the timeline significantly, but what we dont want is a 1/2-3/4 full student side just for the sake of having both sides look the same

It goes back to the earlier topic of taking care of the students you have on campus. They need to invest something in that side of the stadium

On a side note I really like the artists rendition of the new arena. And it's funny that we are NOW building a natatorium. Back when the LeHaye was being built there were heated arguments about the pool and the compromise was to build so it WOULDNT support those aspirations. My how times change

[Dr. Sheh]

Am I the only one who isn't huge on the new, smaller bball arena? I realize it will be used for things other than men's basketball, but as a long term home I'm not so sure. It will look nice according to the rendition, but to me it puts a ceiling on capacity and atmosphere, while being more in line with other Big South arenas (something that we might want to avoid). Now don't get me wrong, attendance at bball has been PITIFUL and it's been a long time since the Vines center rocked on a consistent basis. But at least the Vines Center gave us the opportunity to have a fantastic atmosphere, such as when we hosted Clemson. I know the article says the Vines Center will be used for big games, but I hope the Vines Center will be the permanent home of men's bball once/if we are consistent winners again. I feel we'll draw more than 4,500 consistently if we improve. And if we move FBS and get in a better conference, won't those games draw better than our current slate? Then again maybe it's just me and I'm crazy

What are everyone else's thoughts?

[ATrain]

Moving to FBS won't change our men's bball status. I doubt our student fanbase will get very excited if Troy, Georgia Southern, U-L-U-pick-em or Arkansas State come to town anymore than they do currently for Charleston Southern, Gardner Webb and UNC-Asheville.

Vines is a great venue for hosting larger games/teams like Clemson, Old Dominion, VA Tech, UVA, etc...but on most game nights it just looks quiet and empty. 4,500 also wouldn't be much smaller than most SunBelt arenas.

[jcmanson]

Barber explained the drain on the University of having to continually set up and take down the Vines for convo, concerts, etc. is a big factor in this new arena.

[BJWilliams]

I really don't see a problem with having a smaller arena. having been to men's basketball games for a nu?ber of years when I was on campus, the vines was a bit too big for that as well as volleyball.