(08-25-2010 10:28 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 09:26 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I found this quote with regard to expansion from ECU's Chancellor to be very enlightening. It confirms that expansion is motivated by tv markets.

Ballard: "The bad news is there is no question in my mind that TV revenues control everything. All the things that we can control, the eight or nine variables from facilities to performance to integrity and all those things, may account for 10 to 15 percent of any conference realignment.

If you can't bring new revenues to whoever might be looking at you, and unfortunately that has an awful lot to do with the number of TV sets and a little bit to do with the perceived recruiting area that you're in, then you're not going to be considered like univeristies in the bigger cities unfortunately. That does not ever help Greenville."

So if TV Market is the main driving force, then wouldn't Georgia State be a good candidate for the Sun Belt provided we can average over 15,000 fans per game?

The impression from your "Panther Talk" forum by some of you folks is that you don't want to be in the Sun Belt Conference, that you are above joining the SBC. Now all of sudden you're interested in the Sun Belt. Did things change since the loss you took from Lambuth, the NAIA powerhouse. Personally I say no to Georgia State.

delete

Those posts have been very much tongue in cheek due to the flak we've been getting from...well the universe the last 4 to 6 months. I think most of us hope to 1) move to FBS and 2) move to a conference that makes more geographic sense than the CAA.

We'll see what happens this December to March. The entire world could change.

(09-20-2010 03:14 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 10:28 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 09:26 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I found this quote with regard to expansion from ECU's Chancellor to be very enlightening. It confirms that expansion is motivated by tv markets.

Ballard: "The bad news is there is no question in my mind that TV revenues control everything. All the things that we can control, the eight or nine variables from facilities to performance to integrity and all those things, may account for 10 to 15 percent of any conference realignment.

If you can't bring new revenues to whoever might be looking at you, and unfortunately that has an awful lot to do with the number of TV sets and a little bit to do with the perceived recruiting area that you're in, then you're not going to be considered like univeristies in the bigger cities unfortunately. That does not ever help Greenville."

So if TV Market is the main driving force, then wouldn't Georgia State be a good candidate for the Sun Belt provided we can average over 15,000 fans per game?

The impression from your "Panther Talk" forum by some of you folks is that you don't want to be in the Sun Belt Conference, that you are above joining the SBC. Now all of sudden you're interested in the Sun Belt. Did things change since the loss you took from Lambuth, the NAIA powerhouse. Personally I say no to Georgia State.

Just saying, we have far more resources and we do not have $50-$60 million burning our pockets. They just do not fit the mold of the other schools looking to move up (UTSA, TX State, USA). Not saying that their world might not change in 10 to 15 years, but a LOT would have to change. We have 4 times their endowment and I can gurantee you if we did not have the Dome we wouldnt be talking FBS. It will also be interesting to see who they hire as HC. We're kind of full out of local legends.

(09-20-2010 02:53 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 12:26 PM)panama Wrote:  The problem with Kennessaw, and this is not a flame, is that they will most likely be an FCS staple for the foreseeable future. Lets be real. The only reasons that GSU is being talked about for FBS is size, (31k students, 180k alumni) , stadium (71,000 Georgia Dome less than 20 years old and recently renovated) and staff (New Prez, AD and HC all pushing football). Kennessaw State is a regional GA university (Western Suburbs) that does not even pull students from the EAST side of Atlanta Metro. Add to that the fact that their stadium is brand new but only seats 8300. I doubt you even look at anyone to move up to FBS if you have less than 30k seats. I looked online but was unable to find if their stadium was built to be expandable or if they would have to build another. Either way you're talking a lot of $$$ for a school with an endowment of $25 million. Like I keep saying, if the Dome was not 4 blocks from campus we would be in the same boat.

That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 11:16 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 09:29 AM)panama Wrote:  That was maybe in 1994. Things have changed. We have 31,400 students and are classified as a National Research University. We have outstanding Business, Law and Nursing programs. We are now the first choice for a lot of students. We received 12,000 applications for Fall 2010 and accpted only 3000. But I agree that the Sun Belt is most likely a poor fit.

If the Sun Belt needs new teams in the next few years, we'll certainly have options. I'm open-minded enough to say Ga State may grow into one of those options, but if it's far enough down the road than Kennesaw State may as well.
Academically Ga State would be a fine addition, although I would still be skeptical of claims that a large number of undergrads straight from high school who were accepted at Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State chose State. Nothing against the academic offerings at State, just the perception of what those other schools have to offer will get the draw.

(09-20-2010 03:14 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 10:28 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 09:26 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I found this quote with regard to expansion from ECU's Chancellor to be very enlightening. It confirms that expansion is motivated by tv markets.

Ballard: "The bad news is there is no question in my mind that TV revenues control everything. All the things that we can control, the eight or nine variables from facilities to performance to integrity and all those things, may account for 10 to 15 percent of any conference realignment.

If you can't bring new revenues to whoever might be looking at you, and unfortunately that has an awful lot to do with the number of TV sets and a little bit to do with the perceived recruiting area that you're in, then you're not going to be considered like univeristies in the bigger cities unfortunately. That does not ever help Greenville."

So if TV Market is the main driving force, then wouldn't Georgia State be a good candidate for the Sun Belt provided we can average over 15,000 fans per game?

The impression from your "Panther Talk" forum by some of you folks is that you don't want to be in the Sun Belt Conference, that you are above joining the SBC. Now all of sudden you're interested in the Sun Belt. Did things change since the loss you took from Lambuth, the NAIA powerhouse. Personally I say no to Georgia State.

______________________

Oh, yeah I read that flame by a SaintDK10 I was livid at his spewing remarks.

SaintDK10 posted:

*Originally posted by RoscoeUSA:
"Congrats, GSU, on a well-played game and a fair crowd to watch. Really looking forward to your trip to Mobile and the game with the USA Jaguars. Should be a lot of excitement. We played and beat Nicholls State (Southland Conference, FCS) 39-21 in front of 23,176 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Good luck along the way. IMO, GSU would be a good fit for the Sun Belt."

Good ole GSU boy, SaintDK10 "graciously" replied:

"Nicholls State got beat 60-10 by Jacksonville State last year. Need I say more?
"Oh, and I don't think Sun Belt is a good fit for GSU. C-USA and Big East are more along the line of what we'd fit best"

No arrogance showing here, right?

(09-20-2010 03:30 PM)panama Wrote:  Just saying, we have far more resources and we do not have $50-$60 million burning our pockets. They just do not fit the mold of the other schools looking to move up (UTSA, TX State, USA). Not saying that their world might not change in 10 to 15 years, but a LOT would have to change. We have 4 times their endowment and I can gurantee you if we did not have the Dome we wouldnt be talking FBS. It will also be interesting to see who they hire as HC. We're kind of full out of local legends.

(09-20-2010 02:53 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 12:26 PM)panama Wrote:  The problem with Kennessaw, and this is not a flame, is that they will most likely be an FCS staple for the foreseeable future. Lets be real. The only reasons that GSU is being talked about for FBS is size, (31k students, 180k alumni) , stadium (71,000 Georgia Dome less than 20 years old and recently renovated) and staff (New Prez, AD and HC all pushing football). Kennessaw State is a regional GA university (Western Suburbs) that does not even pull students from the EAST side of Atlanta Metro. Add to that the fact that their stadium is brand new but only seats 8300. I doubt you even look at anyone to move up to FBS if you have less than 30k seats. I looked online but was unable to find if their stadium was built to be expandable or if they would have to build another. Either way you're talking a lot of $$$ for a school with an endowment of $25 million. Like I keep saying, if the Dome was not 4 blocks from campus we would be in the same boat.

That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 11:16 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 09:29 AM)panama Wrote:  That was maybe in 1994. Things have changed. We have 31,400 students and are classified as a National Research University. We have outstanding Business, Law and Nursing programs. We are now the first choice for a lot of students. We received 12,000 applications for Fall 2010 and accpted only 3000. But I agree that the Sun Belt is most likely a poor fit.

If the Sun Belt needs new teams in the next few years, we'll certainly have options. I'm open-minded enough to say Ga State may grow into one of those options, but if it's far enough down the road than Kennesaw State may as well.
Academically Ga State would be a fine addition, although I would still be skeptical of claims that a large number of undergrads straight from high school who were accepted at Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State chose State. Nothing against the academic offerings at State, just the perception of what those other schools have to offer will get the draw.

Ga State's endowment is about $100 million? I would have thought larger. FYI, South Alabama's is about $250 million.

One of the areas where we need to play catch up. I think it was $130 million before the downtown. But still with number of MBA's and Lawyers we have graduated that are at Fortune 1000 companies here in town, that numer is ridicuously low. Football though is galvanizing people. In 23 years connected to GSU I have never seen as many alumns proudly displaying t-shirts and flags for GSU.

(09-20-2010 04:00 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 03:30 PM)panama Wrote:  Just saying, we have far more resources and we do not have $50-$60 million burning our pockets. They just do not fit the mold of the other schools looking to move up (UTSA, TX State, USA). Not saying that their world might not change in 10 to 15 years, but a LOT would have to change. We have 4 times their endowment and I can gurantee you if we did not have the Dome we wouldnt be talking FBS. It will also be interesting to see who they hire as HC. We're kind of full out of local legends.

(09-20-2010 02:53 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 12:26 PM)panama Wrote:  The problem with Kennessaw, and this is not a flame, is that they will most likely be an FCS staple for the foreseeable future. Lets be real. The only reasons that GSU is being talked about for FBS is size, (31k students, 180k alumni) , stadium (71,000 Georgia Dome less than 20 years old and recently renovated) and staff (New Prez, AD and HC all pushing football). Kennessaw State is a regional GA university (Western Suburbs) that does not even pull students from the EAST side of Atlanta Metro. Add to that the fact that their stadium is brand new but only seats 8300. I doubt you even look at anyone to move up to FBS if you have less than 30k seats. I looked online but was unable to find if their stadium was built to be expandable or if they would have to build another. Either way you're talking a lot of $$$ for a school with an endowment of $25 million. Like I keep saying, if the Dome was not 4 blocks from campus we would be in the same boat.

That was a reasonable and well-presented response and I think you're right in your comparison for the present day. As you know, though, football changes things. They may make huge strides in a short time if they attract the right kind of support.
BTW, I believe the KSU stadium is expandable but I'm not sure what the ultimate capacity may be.

(09-20-2010 11:16 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  If the Sun Belt needs new teams in the next few years, we'll certainly have options. I'm open-minded enough to say Ga State may grow into one of those options, but if it's far enough down the road than Kennesaw State may as well.
Academically Ga State would be a fine addition, although I would still be skeptical of claims that a large number of undergrads straight from high school who were accepted at Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State chose State. Nothing against the academic offerings at State, just the perception of what those other schools have to offer will get the draw.

Ga State's endowment is about $100 million? I would have thought larger. FYI, South Alabama's is about $250 million.

Like I said, we have had a trol problem for months so a lot of people are on edge about Ga Southern and USA fans. Hey its September. There is a lot of testosterone flowing.

(09-20-2010 03:57 PM)SidJag Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 03:14 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 10:28 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(08-25-2010 09:26 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I found this quote with regard to expansion from ECU's Chancellor to be very enlightening. It confirms that expansion is motivated by tv markets.

Ballard: "The bad news is there is no question in my mind that TV revenues control everything. All the things that we can control, the eight or nine variables from facilities to performance to integrity and all those things, may account for 10 to 15 percent of any conference realignment.

If you can't bring new revenues to whoever might be looking at you, and unfortunately that has an awful lot to do with the number of TV sets and a little bit to do with the perceived recruiting area that you're in, then you're not going to be considered like univeristies in the bigger cities unfortunately. That does not ever help Greenville."

So if TV Market is the main driving force, then wouldn't Georgia State be a good candidate for the Sun Belt provided we can average over 15,000 fans per game?

The impression from your "Panther Talk" forum by some of you folks is that you don't want to be in the Sun Belt Conference, that you are above joining the SBC. Now all of sudden you're interested in the Sun Belt. Did things change since the loss you took from Lambuth, the NAIA powerhouse. Personally I say no to Georgia State.

______________________

Oh, yeah I read that flame by a SaintDK10 I was livid at his spewing remarks.

SaintDK10 posted:

*Originally posted by RoscoeUSA:
"Congrats, GSU, on a well-played game and a fair crowd to watch. Really looking forward to your trip to Mobile and the game with the USA Jaguars. Should be a lot of excitement. We played and beat Nicholls State (Southland Conference, FCS) 39-21 in front of 23,176 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Good luck along the way. IMO, GSU would be a good fit for the Sun Belt."

Good ole GSU boy, SaintDK10 "graciously" replied:

"Nicholls State got beat 60-10 by Jacksonville State last year. Need I say more?
"Oh, and I don't think Sun Belt is a good fit for GSU. C-USA and Big East are more along the line of what we'd fit best"

No arrogance showing here, right?

My long studied opinion is that UTSA and GSU fans are terribly wrong when they cite their large community owned dome stadiums as a positive.

Those are huge negatives.

1. While you may get favorable early leases, those facilities are not going to run a lose money operation forever. Opening the doors of a dome is much more expensive than a public owned outdoor stadium and there is no cost savings playing day games.
2. They are atrocious for the college atmosphere. Minnesota has moved outdoor, Houston has moved outdoor. Tulane has studied it and just hasn't been able to do it on a permanent basis in part because of the politics involved in getting them to give up their old stadium to get the Superdome approved.
3. Even if you draw well (say 20,000) you still have more than 2/3rds of the building empty. That's bad for creating a game day experience, looks like crap on TV, and isn't appealing to recruits. Put that same crowd in a 30,000 seat stadium and if you have many bench seats people tend to spread out making it appear 80% full when its only 2/3rds full.
4. The biggest enemy of any football program is over-supply. If people know good tickets are easy to come by, they are less compelled to buy season tickets and less compelled to donate for ticket and parking priority.

I would much rather be an AD taking Texas State or South Alabama to FBS than be one taking UTSA or GSU to FBS because there are so few hurdles in comparison.

I have been to three home games and a spring game and I have to say you're way wrong on this. I was an outdoor purist but the treatment we have gotten from the GWCC Authority staff has been outstanding.

1) A public owned 70,000 seat stadium is a publicly owned 70,000 seat stadium when its less than 20 years old. Besides we are not getting a break on the lease. Unless $100k a game is a break.

2) With all due respect to Minnesotans, the Metrodome was is a multi-purpose hefty bag. The Georgia Dome is a state of the art football stadium with a roof. Ask any of the SEC teams that have played the SEC Championship or the various BCS teams that have played the Kickoff Classic or the Peach Bowl. It is a GREAT place to see a game.

3)We had 16k and some change against Jax State Saturday and the main quote from JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe was about the noise level. The Game was televised and I got at least too emails today from GT grads regarding how well we played because they saw the game on TV. have two other co-workers who went to the game and thoroughly enjoyed it.
4) I think we'll be fine. We have sold 5500 this year wit no basketball season ticket base to convert (unlike ODU last year). The world is spreading and we are getting daily press locally on TV and in the newspaper.

We could not have asked for a better facility. I cannot speak towards the Alamodome, but if you took a survey of the 60,000 who have attended games this season I suspect 90% would laugh at the suggestion of leaving the Dome.

(09-20-2010 04:55 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  My long studied opinion is that UTSA and GSU fans are terribly wrong when they cite their large community owned dome stadiums as a positive.


Those are huge negatives.

1. While you may get favorable early leases, those facilities are not going to run a lose money operation forever. Opening the doors of a dome is much more expensive than a public owned outdoor stadium and there is no cost savings playing day games.
2. They are atrocious for the college atmosphere. Minnesota has moved outdoor, Houston has moved outdoor. Tulane has studied it and just hasn't been able to do it on a permanent basis in part because of the politics involved in getting them to give up their old stadium to get the Superdome approved.
3. Even if you draw well (say 20,000) you still have more than 2/3rds of the building empty. That's bad for creating a game day experience, looks like crap on TV, and isn't appealing to recruits. Put that same crowd in a 30,000 seat stadium and if you have many bench seats people tend to spread out making it appear 80% full when its only 2/3rds full.
4. The biggest enemy of any football program is over-supply. If people know good tickets are easy to come by, they are less compelled to buy season tickets and less compelled to donate for ticket and parking priority.

I would much rather be an AD taking Texas State or South Alabama to FBS than be one taking UTSA or GSU to FBS because there are so few hurdles in comparison.

(09-20-2010 05:20 PM)panama Wrote:  3)We had 16k and some change against Jax State Saturday and the main quote from JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe was about the noise level. The Game was televised and I got at least too emails today from GT grads regarding how well we played because they saw the game on TV. have two other co-workers who went to the game and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got at least too emails to!

Sorry... had two do it..

Ha!

(09-20-2010 06:01 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 05:20 PM)panama Wrote:  3)We had 16k and some change against Jax State Saturday and the main quote from JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe was about the noise level. The Game was televised and I got at least too emails today from GT grads regarding how well we played because they saw the game on TV. have two other co-workers who went to the game and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got at least too emails to!

Sorry... had two do it..

(09-20-2010 06:06 PM)panama Wrote:  Ha!

(09-20-2010 06:01 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 05:20 PM)panama Wrote:  3)We had 16k and some change against Jax State Saturday and the main quote from JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe was about the noise level. The Game was televised and I got at least too emails today from GT grads regarding how well we played because they saw the game on TV. have two other co-workers who went to the game and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got at least too emails to!

Sorry... had two do it..

At least you didn't take it personally! Props to ya sir!

BTW, will you be coming to Mobile for the game on October 30?

No plans for anything except Tuscaloosa but you never know.

(09-20-2010 06:10 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 06:06 PM)panama Wrote:  Ha!

(09-20-2010 06:01 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 05:20 PM)panama Wrote:  3)We had 16k and some change against Jax State Saturday and the main quote from JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe was about the noise level. The Game was televised and I got at least too emails today from GT grads regarding how well we played because they saw the game on TV. have two other co-workers who went to the game and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got at least too emails to!

Sorry... had two do it..

At least you didn't take it personally! Props to ya sir!

BTW, will you be coming to Mobile for the game on October 30?

Oh my - the public stadium debate. You will have a lot of trouble building school spirit in a stadium that does not belong to the school. Just my opinion - but one with validity. SMU played at the Cotton Bowl for years and could not get anything going. No campus atmosphere, no tailgating, nothing. It was right up the road but it wasn't their stadium. NT tried Texas Stadium. Heck, we have all tried everything. A dome is absolutely terrible for small time football. You can already see the attendance starting to go down as the gimick wears off. Plus - when you have 70K seats, there is little to no incentive to ever buy season tickets. What do you ask your alumni to donate to? There has to be a focal point to point to... I know that some teams make it work - but in my opinion those teams are homeless. It is really difficult to call a stadium home when it isn't your home. When NT plays scrimmages - we do it in our own stadium.... and our fans can come to it. We have concerts and other events at the stadium. We have fireworks at the Fourth of July and we have parades that end there at Homecoming. It is a meeting place for the alumni and students to call home. It is very hard to build a connection with an alumni base when you are outsourcing your home. I think of leased out stadiums kind of the same way that University of Phoenix students think of (and don't get connected) to their leased out homes... plus you are losing a ton of money on concessions and parking. I guarantee you that you pay that $100K for the lights and the roof - the facility keeps EVERYTHING else. Tough to make any profit when you are relying on only the gate.

Ok, you win. My eyes deceive me.We suck.

(09-20-2010 06:55 PM)stebo Wrote:  Oh my - the public stadium debate. You will have a lot of trouble building school spirit in a stadium that does not belong to the school. Just my opinion - but one with validity. SMU played at the Cotton Bowl for years and could not get anything going. No campus atmosphere, no tailgating, nothing. It was right up the road but it wasn't their stadium. NT tried Texas Stadium. Heck, we have all tried everything. A dome is absolutely terrible for small time football. You can already see the attendance starting to go down as the gimick wears off. Plus - when you have 70K seats, there is little to no incentive to ever buy season tickets. What do you ask your alumni to donate to? There has to be a focal point to point to... I know that some teams make it work - but in my opinion those teams are homeless. It is really difficult to call a stadium home when it isn't your home. When NT plays scrimmages - we do it in our own stadium.... and our fans can come to it. We have concerts and other events at the stadium. We have fireworks at the Fourth of July and we have parades that end there at Homecoming. It is a meeting place for the alumni and students to call home. It is very hard to build a connection with an alumni base when you are outsourcing your home. I think of leased out stadiums kind of the same way that University of Phoenix students think of (and don't get connected) to their leased out homes... plus you are losing a ton of money on concessions and parking. I guarantee you that you pay that $100K for the lights and the roof - the facility keeps EVERYTHING else. Tough to make any profit when you are relying on only the gate.

(09-20-2010 09:24 PM)panama Wrote:  Ok, you win. My eyes deceive me.We suck.

(09-20-2010 06:55 PM)stebo Wrote:  Oh my - the public stadium debate. You will have a lot of trouble building school spirit in a stadium that does not belong to the school. Just my opinion - but one with validity. SMU played at the Cotton Bowl for years and could not get anything going. No campus atmosphere, no tailgating, nothing. It was right up the road but it wasn't their stadium. NT tried Texas Stadium. Heck, we have all tried everything. A dome is absolutely terrible for small time football. You can already see the attendance starting to go down as the gimick wears off. Plus - when you have 70K seats, there is little to no incentive to ever buy season tickets. What do you ask your alumni to donate to? There has to be a focal point to point to... I know that some teams make it work - but in my opinion those teams are homeless. It is really difficult to call a stadium home when it isn't your home. When NT plays scrimmages - we do it in our own stadium.... and our fans can come to it. We have concerts and other events at the stadium. We have fireworks at the Fourth of July and we have parades that end there at Homecoming. It is a meeting place for the alumni and students to call home. It is very hard to build a connection with an alumni base when you are outsourcing your home. I think of leased out stadiums kind of the same way that University of Phoenix students think of (and don't get connected) to their leased out homes... plus you are losing a ton of money on concessions and parking. I guarantee you that you pay that $100K for the lights and the roof - the facility keeps EVERYTHING else. Tough to make any profit when you are relying on only the gate.

Well that certainly helped my opinion of you.

I apologize. GSU is superior to every other program in Division I that has tried a similar path. Even contending for national titles Miami would close the upper deck except for Florida State. USC, which is literally across the street from the stadium and Georgia State are apparently the only ones to buck the trend... of course USC's attendance didn't seriously take off until UCLA moved to the Rose Bowl, the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders returned to Oakland.

Look, we have a great facility to play in that is 3 blocks from campus. The downtown business district and the Georgia World Congress Facility has welcomes us with open arms and has gone the extra mile to re-do the visitor locker room as our home lockerroom in Panther colors and logos. They re-do the whole stadium in Panther Blue for our games and I am not sure what else we could hope for. Based on our first 3 games none of the other area stadiums would be large enough for the crowds. We also do not have $50 to build a new stadium. I think it helps that we do not play in a decaying stadium like the Liberty Bowl, Legion Field or the Orange Bowl. I could choose to think that we will be Memphis in 10 years struggling to draw a crowd at the Liberty Bowl. Would rather think that we will be South Florida in Raymond James. It does help like I said that we are getting a support from downtown business grups who see the midtown impact of Georgia tech on 7 Saturdays a year. They want aa similar impact downtown. I really think we will be ok.

(09-21-2010 05:56 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 09:24 PM)panama Wrote:  Ok, you win. My eyes deceive me.We suck.

(09-20-2010 06:55 PM)stebo Wrote:  Oh my - the public stadium debate. You will have a lot of trouble building school spirit in a stadium that does not belong to the school. Just my opinion - but one with validity. SMU played at the Cotton Bowl for years and could not get anything going. No campus atmosphere, no tailgating, nothing. It was right up the road but it wasn't their stadium. NT tried Texas Stadium. Heck, we have all tried everything. A dome is absolutely terrible for small time football. You can already see the attendance starting to go down as the gimick wears off. Plus - when you have 70K seats, there is little to no incentive to ever buy season tickets. What do you ask your alumni to donate to? There has to be a focal point to point to... I know that some teams make it work - but in my opinion those teams are homeless. It is really difficult to call a stadium home when it isn't your home. When NT plays scrimmages - we do it in our own stadium.... and our fans can come to it. We have concerts and other events at the stadium. We have fireworks at the Fourth of July and we have parades that end there at Homecoming. It is a meeting place for the alumni and students to call home. It is very hard to build a connection with an alumni base when you are outsourcing your home. I think of leased out stadiums kind of the same way that University of Phoenix students think of (and don't get connected) to their leased out homes... plus you are losing a ton of money on concessions and parking. I guarantee you that you pay that $100K for the lights and the roof - the facility keeps EVERYTHING else. Tough to make any profit when you are relying on only the gate.

I would love to know what YOUR solution would be.

Well that certainly helped my opinion of you.

I apologize. GSU is superior to every other program in Division I that has tried a similar path. Even contending for national titles Miami would close the upper deck except for Florida State. USC, which is literally across the street from the stadium and Georgia State are apparently the only ones to buck the trend... of course USC's attendance didn't seriously take off until UCLA moved to the Rose Bowl, the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders returned to Oakland.

(09-20-2010 04:00 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  Ga State's endowment is about $100 million? I would have thought larger. FYI, South Alabama's is about $250 million.

Actually, according to what USA submitted in 2009 (2010 not out yet) to The Council for Aid to Education on the VSE report, USA is at $95,037,000 for 2009; in 2008 USA had $82,245,000.

Georgia State in 2009: $70,116,725

Sun Belt Endowments:

Arkansas State University (State University, AR)
$30,881,377
Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL)
$142,273,982
Florida International University (Miami, FL)
$82,505,478
Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
$48,165,265
Troy State University System (Troy, AL)
No Report
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
$38,727,664
University of Denver (Denver, CO)
$257,151,425
University of Louisiana, Lafayette (Lafayette, LA)
$92,242,955
University of Louisiana, Monroe (Monroe, LA)
$35,022,136
University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
$83,581,689
University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL)
$95,037,000
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY)
$95,424,000

Not sure why but NACUBO lists them twice.

http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research...Values.pdf

(09-21-2010 09:30 AM)galojah Wrote:  

(09-20-2010 04:00 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  Ga State's endowment is about $100 million? I would have thought larger. FYI, South Alabama's is about $250 million.

Actually, according to what USA submitted in 2009 (2010 not out yet) to The Council for Aid to Education on the VSE report, USA is at $95,037,000.

Sun Belt Endowments:

Arkansas State University (State University, AR)
$30,881,377
Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL)
$142,273,982
Florida International University (Miami, FL)
$82,505,478
Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
$48,165,265
Troy State University System (Troy, AL)
No Report
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
$38,727,664
University of Denver (Denver, CO)
$257,151,425
University of Louisiana, Lafayette (Lafayette, LA)
$92,242,955
University of Louisiana, Monroe (Monroe, LA)
$35,022,136
University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
$83,581,689
University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL)
$95,037,000
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY)
$95,424,000