Western Kentucky University on Friday possibly took a small first step to significant athletic facility upgrades

$1.8 million for a football press box
15.3 million for an indoor practice facility for the football program

This will complete the overall upgrade of our Stadium.

The next phase would be the new upper deck and expanded club level that would add 20k, The new side of the stadium was designed for this addition. That would bring Houchens LT Smith Stadium to 43k.

This is great news, but where are we going to put an indoor practice facility?

I would think behind the stadium where the grass practice field is currently.

(04-30-2011 06:41 AM)GreekTopper Wrote:  I would think behind the stadium where the grass practice field is currently.

When and where was this announced? I believe there was a board of regents meeting this Friday, but was this discussed/approved then?

Linky?

Quote:- $9.5 million for completion of the university's track and field facility;
- $10.9 million for a baseball grandstand;
- $1.8 million for a football press box;
- $3.6 million for construction of lighted tennis courts;
- $15.3 million for an indoor practice facility for the football program;
- $11.5 million for an indoor facility to be used by the soccer and softball teams.

http://www.wbko.com/sports/headlines/WKU...ml?ref=549

These athletic items were small part of a 6 year capital construction plan that was approved by WKU's board of regents on Friday. This doesn't mean those items are a "done deal" yet, but the first step has been taken as mentioned by GreekTopper.

Prime -
Here is a link outlining what was approved on Friday. Glad to see we got our Doctorate of Physical Therapy approved since we know how much sUcK doesn't want WKU to offer doctorate level degrees.
http://wkuherald.com/news/article_132883...f6878.html

Excellent progress. Just stay the course. It's a marathon not a sprint.

[quote='topper1296' pid='6480168' dateline='1304181399']

Quote:Prime -
Here is a link outlining what was approved on Friday. Glad to see we got our Doctorate of Physical Therapy approved since we know how much sUcK doesn't want WKU to offer doctorate level degrees.
http://wkuherald.com/news/article_132883...f6878.html

Wow...now that is cool! I want to get a Doctorate in something from WKU--I'm just afraid doing in PT, I'd have to start from scratch. By the time I did all that, I'd probably be conferred in absentia.

(05-01-2011 02:56 PM)PrimeRate4WKU Wrote:  [quote='topper1296' pid='6480168' dateline='1304181399']

Quote:Prime -
Here is a link outlining what was approved on Friday. Glad to see we got our Doctorate of Physical Therapy approved since we know how much sUcK doesn't want WKU to offer doctorate level degrees.
http://wkuherald.com/news/article_132883...f6878.html

Wow...now that is cool! I want to get a Doctorate in something from WKU--I'm just afraid doing in PT, I'd have to start from scratch. By the time I did all that, I'd probably be conferred in absentia.

My daughter wants to go to WKU for PT/Sports Medicine while playing volleyball as a Topper. I am hoping she can do both in 2 years.

(04-29-2011 08:37 PM)GreekTopper Wrote:  The next phase would be the new upper deck and expanded club level that would add 20k, The new side of the stadium was designed for this addition. That would bring Houchens LT Smith Stadium to 43k.

I have to question the next stadium expansion nearly doubling the capacity...

Let's say WKU gets on an upswing and starts averaging close to a sellout a few seasons in a row. When you're averaging say 22k, is adding 20,000 seats really a prudent move? I'd imagine that season that you open the new expansion you make an attempt to bring in a nearby big name or well traveling program to put a nice number up to open the new expansion which will bump the average a bit, but the next season you come back to earth. Is that really what you want as a program? To average 22,000 in a stadium that seats 23,000 and then two seasons later average 25,000 in a stadium that seats 43,000?

(05-06-2011 12:01 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(04-29-2011 08:37 PM)GreekTopper Wrote:  The next phase would be the new upper deck and expanded club level that would add 20k, The new side of the stadium was designed for this addition. That would bring Houchens LT Smith Stadium to 43k.

I have to question the next stadium expansion nearly doubling the capacity...

Let's say WKU gets on an upswing and starts averaging close to a sellout a few seasons in a row. When you're averaging say 22k, is adding 20,000 seats really a prudent move? I'd imagine that season that you open the new expansion you make an attempt to bring in a nearby big name or well traveling program to put a nice number up to open the new expansion which will bump the average a bit, but the next season you come back to earth. Is that really what you want as a program? To average 22,000 in a stadium that seats 23,000 and then two seasons later average 25,000 in a stadium that seats 43,000?

The gamble of stadium expansion might be to encourage some schools to play in LT Smith rather than in Nashville. Such as Louisville, KY, Vandy, maybe even TN. Although Iowa State is supposed to be coming to WKU in a couple of years. Assuming they don't bail.

Just guessing.

(05-06-2011 12:42 PM)TopperTorpedo Wrote:  

(05-06-2011 12:01 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(04-29-2011 08:37 PM)GreekTopper Wrote:  The next phase would be the new upper deck and expanded club level that would add 20k, The new side of the stadium was designed for this addition. That would bring Houchens LT Smith Stadium to 43k.

I have to question the next stadium expansion nearly doubling the capacity...

Let's say WKU gets on an upswing and starts averaging close to a sellout a few seasons in a row. When you're averaging say 22k, is adding 20,000 seats really a prudent move? I'd imagine that season that you open the new expansion you make an attempt to bring in a nearby big name or well traveling program to put a nice number up to open the new expansion which will bump the average a bit, but the next season you come back to earth. Is that really what you want as a program? To average 22,000 in a stadium that seats 23,000 and then two seasons later average 25,000 in a stadium that seats 43,000?

The gamble of stadium expansion might be to encourage some schools to play in LT Smith rather than in Nashville. Such as Louisville, KY, Vandy, maybe even TN. Although Iowa State is supposed to be coming to WKU in a couple of years. Assuming they don't bail.

Just guessing.

Vandy at 43,000? Absolutely(they're playing at MT twice later this decade).

Louisville, Kentucky, or Tennessee at 43,000? Not a chance.

(05-06-2011 12:54 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Louisville, Kentucky, or Tennessee at 43,000? Not a chance.

I could see playing UK here at 43K.

They are playing us at Nashville and we get 60% of the gate. According to the press release that they put out UK's reasoning for the game was that it was a cheap alternative to a buy game. I personally don't think we will have more than 43,000 at the game in Nashville even with UK there (hope I'm wrong since we get 60% of the gate). Playing in a 43k LT Smith would save renting LP and would be a can't miss sell out. Who knows... maybe Louisville would want to take that deal too.

At any rate, I think that is way down the line.

Is there any time tables on these upgrades or was it just a conversation in a meeting.

(05-06-2011 05:25 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(05-06-2011 12:54 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Louisville, Kentucky, or Tennessee at 43,000? Not a chance.

I could see playing UK here at 43K.

They are playing us at Nashville and we get 60% of the gate. According to the press release that they put out UK's reasoning for the game was that it was a cheap alternative to a buy game. I personally don't think we will have more than 43,000 at the game in Nashville even with UK there (hope I'm wrong since we get 60% of the gate). Playing in a 43k LT Smith would save renting LP and would be a can't miss sell out. Who knows... maybe Louisville would want to take that deal too.

At any rate, I think that is way down the line.

Kentucky doesn't go on the road in OOC much period and the last time they played an OOC game in a stadium with less than 50,000 seats(other than Louisville prior to their stadium expansion) would be at Cincinnati in 1992.

Furthermore playing Kentucky at home with only 43,000 seats would be a bit of a nightmare for your administration trying to keep as much blue out of the stadium as possible. I'd imagine it would be a struggle to achieve anything better than 25,000 in red and the rest in blue.

(05-06-2011 12:54 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Vandy at 43,000? Absolutely(they're playing at MT twice later this decade).

Louisville, Kentucky, or Tennessee at 43,000? Not a chance.

Kuntucky played Loserville when Loserville's stadium sat 40k something. TN is probably a long stretch, I'm sure.