Off campus stadiums....

[xgunnx]

Is there a correlation with attendance when stadiums are moved further away from campus? Is there a decrease in student attendance?

Has there been any studies or statistics compiled showing increased attendance or decrease?

I m just wondering about what the impact will be once Mountaineer Field is moved away from campus and the Hospitals.

Some positive things about the move. Easy access by interstate possibly less traffic congestion. Game day parking should improve.

Some possible negatives, businesses close to the current stadium may see a decrease in customers. Downtown will have a decrease in foot traffic before and after games.

Im sure there is a lot more pros and cons but overall I believe there are more positives then negatives concerning the building of a new football stadium/facilities.

It's something that will be needed in the future to keep up in the "arms race" that college athletics has become.

 

[Euell]

Is there a correlation with attendance when stadiums are moved further away from campus? Is there a decrease in student attendance?

Has there been any studies or statistics compiled showing increased attendance or decrease?

I m just wondering about what the impact will be once Mountaineer Field is moved away from campus and the Hospitals.

Some positive things about the move. Easy access by interstate possibly less traffic congestion. Game day parking should improve.

Some possible negatives, businesses close to the current stadium may see a decrease in customers. Downtown will have a decrease in foot traffic before and after games.

Im sure there is a lot more pros and cons but overall I believe there are more positives then negatives concerning the building of a new football stadium/facilities.

It's something that will be needed in the future to keep up in the "arms race" that college athletics has become.

Considering the millions they are sinking into current renovations, it is hard to believe they would be building a new stadium anytime soon.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Considering the millions they are sinking into current renovations, it is hard to believe they would be building a new stadium anytime soon.

The money they are spending now isn't a factor for any future plans.

 

[xgunnx]

The money they are spending now isn't a factor for any future plans.

I believe Euell was thinking I was meaning the near future. Which is not what I'm referring too when I say in the future a new Mountaineer Field will be needed. More like 10-15 years I could see a new State of the Art Football Stadium being constructed. The new Exit off of I-79 is in place. It was not built just for easy access to the shopping and Baseball Field. Its just the beginning of the infrastructure needed for a future New Football Stadium. But I'm only speculating.

 

[Orlaco]

I'm thinking there's another 15-20 years left in Mountaineer Field.

Still, I'm of the opinion that the fundraising should be started very soon. Without accepting huge debt it's going to take awhile to raise new stadium type money (plus construction inflation)

 

[Euell]

I believe Euell was thinking I was meaning the near future. Which is not what I'm referring too when I say in the future a new Mountaineer Field will be needed. More like 10-15 years I could see a new State of the Art Football Stadium being constructed. The new Exit off of I-79 is in place. It was not built just for easy access to the shopping and Baseball Field. Its just the beginning of the infrastructure needed for a future New Football Stadium. But I'm only speculating.

Gotcha.

 

[DelawarEER]

In my opinion it will make sense to invest in a new FB stadium sooner rather than later. It can be used as a recruiting piece coaches can use and will solve much of the problems Milan Puskar has (accessibility, parking, not aesthetically pleasing, limited expansion possibilities, etc.).

Moving students to the potential new stadium would have to be main concern. I truly think a stadium far away from Evansdale/Downtown campuses would be difficult for students to get to.

 

[Orlaco]

I truly think a stadium far away from Evansdale/Downtown campuses would be difficult for students to get to.

Laughable.

Do I really need to explain why ?

 

[DelawarEER]

Laughable.

Do I really need to explain why ?

Not asking you to explain why. How do you think you could solve that issue? If you think you have all the answers.

 

[Orlaco]

Not asking you to explain why. How do you think you could solve that issue? If you think you have all the answers.

I don't have answers to the student attendance issues.

I just know that moving the stadium (twenty or so years from now) isn't, or shouldn't be, a concern because of them.

Matter of fact....that HUGE city of Morgantown should start addressing public transportation AND why students don't even take advantage of current public transportation.

A Sheetz shuttle would certainly help...right ?

 

[DelawarEER]

I don't have answers to the student attendance issues.

I just know that moving the stadium (twenty or so years from now) isn't, or shouldn't be, a concern because of them.

Matter of fact....that HUGE city of Morgantown should start addressing public transportation AND why students don't even take advantage of current public transportation.

A Sheetz shuttle would certainly help...right ?

Agreed, some type of shuttle would be absolutely necessary for students. After all, they partly come to WVU for the athletic team experience as a fan and WVU needs to cater to that.

 

[Orlaco]

Agreed, some type of shuttle would be absolutely necessary for students. After all, they partly come to WVU for the athletic team experience as a fan and WVU needs to cater to that.

Hmmm.. ...the majority of students don't give two-shits about the 'athletic team experience'. They're actually already paying for it...and not taking advantage.

....but alcohol sales continue to rise.

 

[torontoeers]

Could the PRT not be expanded to go wherever? Perhaps not feasible ....just thinking out loud...or perhaps not thinking...

In saying this the newly halfway done renos look fantastic to my eyes...the stadium experience when complete will be far better imo...

 

[Woody in Helvetia]

Why is a new stadium necessary? The blue bloods in football all are using stadiums built in the 1920's. Off campus stadiums create fanbases and attendance like Miami and Pitt.

 

[GoWVU]

Why is a new stadium necessary? The blue bloods in football all are using stadiums built in the 1920's.

That point actually might be the strongest argument for a new stadium. If we do it right and do it first, it would be the one area of operating a program where we'd enjoy a competitive advantage over everyone else for a number of years until the imitators catch up.

 

[xgunnx]

Why is a new stadium necessary? The blue bloods in football all are using stadiums built in the 1920's. Off campus stadiums create fanbases and attendance like Miami and Pitt.

That's what I was thinking as well. But the growth of the area around and near the current Mountaineer Field is not slowing. The hospital complex keeps expanding and basically chocking off available game day parking. Within the next 15-20 years a new stadium will be needed. The practice facilities although fine right now need replaced eventually.

The current upgrades are nice but are only a stop gap measure IMO.

 

[xgunnx]

Could the PRT not be expanded to go wherever? Perhaps not feasible ....just thinking out loud...or perhaps not thinking...

In saying this the newly halfway done renos look fantastic to my eyes...the stadium experience when complete will be far better imo...

It would be interesting to have WVUs engineering department come up with a feasibility study or plan involving the PRT having a station location at the University Towne Center.

 

[xgunnx]

I don't have answers to the student attendance issues.

I just know that moving the stadium (twenty or so years from now) isn't, or shouldn't be, a concern because of them.

Matter of fact....that HUGE city of Morgantown should start addressing public transportation AND why students don't even take advantage of current public transportation.

A Sheetz shuttle would certainly help...right ?

You make a great point about Morgantowns failure to address the public transportation issues. To go a little further the Country itself needs to seriously look at the current infrastructure or lack there of.

 

[AllEers6]

Is there a correlation with attendance when stadiums are moved further away from campus? Is there a decrease in student attendance?

Has there been any studies or statistics compiled showing increased attendance or decrease?

I m just wondering about what the impact will be once Mountaineer Field is moved away from campus and the Hospitals.

Some positive things about the move. Easy access by interstate possibly less traffic congestion. Game day parking should improve.

Some possible negatives, businesses close to the current stadium may see a decrease in customers. Downtown will have a decrease in foot traffic before and after games.

Im sure there is a lot more pros and cons but overall I believe there are more positives then negatives concerning the building of a new football stadium/facilities.

It's something that will be needed in the future to keep up in the "arms race" that college athletics has become.

Reading the other thread on ESPN it appears TV will not be increasing in value (maybe going down), so with the WV State budget very tight, and with coal money in such flux it just seems a new football stadium is not even close to a topic for discussion.

 

[xgunnx]

Reading the other thread on ESPN it appears TV will not be increasing in value (maybe going down), so with the WV State budget very tight, and with coal money in such flux it just seems a new football stadium is not even close to a topic for discussion.

Then you can easily refrain from further comment on this topic and thread.

Off Topic:
Sadly the State of West Virginia's reliance on the coal severance tax is short sighted. Coal like many other natural resources are finite and not renewable. WV has always faced budget challenges in regards to its tax base. Unless the "good 'ol boys" in Charleston start thinking outside the box nothing will change.

 

[AllEers6]

Then you can easily refrain from further comment on this topic and thread.

Off Topic:
Sadly the State of West Virginia's reliance on the coal severance tax is short sighted. Coal like many other natural resources are finite and not renewable. WV has always faced budget challenges in regards to its tax base. Unless the "good 'ol boys" in Charleston start thinking outside the box nothing will change.

Yep 100 years of democratic control gives us a short sighted business culture

 

[Darth_VadEER]

I'm thinking there's another 15-20 years left in Mountaineer Field.

Still, I'm of the opinion that the fundraising should be started very soon. Without accepting huge debt it's going to take awhile to raise new stadium type money (plus construction inflation)

One thing is probably for sure, in 15-20 years the interest rates on their loans will be considerably higher. They should do it now, imo.

 

[dangerousdaneerfan]

Why is a new stadium necessary? The blue bloods in football all are using stadiums built in the 1920's. Off campus stadiums create fanbases and attendance like Miami and Pitt.

Very true. And with the current financial straight jacket the state is in right now, it would be a nonstarter.

 

[xWVU2010x]

Never understood the obsession with new football stadiums. It's a monstrosity that people sit in 7 times a year with little other practical use, why do we constantly tear down and rebuild new ones?

 

[dangerousdaneerfan]

Never understood the obsession with new football stadiums. It's a monstrosity that people sit in 7 times a year with little other practical use, why do we constantly tear down and rebuild new ones?

What would be nice would be to replace the coliseum and MPS and build an doomed stadium like the Carrier Dome.

 

[The Hunteeeeeer]

What would be nice would be to replace the coliseum and MPS and build an doomed stadium like the Carrier Dome.

That is the last thing I'd want to see.

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

What would be nice would be to replace the coliseum and MPS and build an doomed stadium like the Carrier Dome.

Apparently some feel we already have a "doomed" stadium.

Hey, just kidding!

The issue of student attendance is a bugaboo, some feel seating should be cut now. An off campus stadium will only be worse for student attendance.

I don't get why we don't gauge attendance in the student section with the pre-planned numbers and offer the unused seats to the public on game day.

 

[~IRWT~]

Just retrofit the current stadium and build below grade parking garages with street level retail and condos on that POS trailer park.