(10-05-2023 09:41 AM)Dukes_Royals Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 08:10 AM)Xeonon Wrote:  You guys are really arguing about numbers. All that matters to me personally is if our stadium looks full and is loud. JMU had 26k last weekend, it definitely looked it too. Whether we have 18k or 26k our fans are into the game, that’s all that matters. We have done well in the FBS thus far attendance wise and it will only get better.

Actual butts in seats does matter more for schools like JMU and App State who are considering or currently expanding their stadiums. Don't want to add 10k seats if they won't be filled.

Bridgeforth won’t be expanded for at least another 5 years and that requires complete sellouts every game.

Unless the need is dire I wouldn't spend money expanding seating. I would expand the experience and charge a % increase on current seating (but not a huge price raise at once).

(10-05-2023 02:25 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Unless the need is dire I wouldn't spend money expanding seating. I would expand the experience and charge a % increase on current seating (but not a huge price raise at once).

This is the way. It's actually what Marshall is doing. We are in the process of actually removing seats, and hopefully renovating other areas for an improved overall experience.

As far as App State and the hill, I love it. We need more unique environments, not less. Its charming and unique.

(10-05-2023 02:32 PM)rileylives Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 02:25 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Unless the need is dire I wouldn't spend money expanding seating. I would expand the experience and charge a % increase on current seating (but not a huge price raise at once).

This is the way. It's actually what Marshall is doing. We are in the process of actually removing seats, and hopefully renovating other areas for an improved overall experience.

As far as App State and the hill, I love it. We need more unique environments, not less. Its charming and unique.

If they'd have designed the NEP to horseshoe the East and West stands we wouldn't have to have the conversation.

(10-05-2023 02:32 PM)rileylives Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 02:25 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Unless the need is dire I wouldn't spend money expanding seating. I would expand the experience and charge a % increase on current seating (but not a huge price raise at once).

This is the way. It's actually what Marshall is doing. We are in the process of actually removing seats, and hopefully renovating other areas for an improved overall experience.

As far as App State and the hill, I love it. We need more unique environments, not less. Its charming and unique.

We had a hill like that in the South end zone up until 1994 or 2000. I can't remember which expansion added seats in that end zone.

New drinking game:

Read an attendance thread on this board and take a shot every time you read "butts in seats."

(10-05-2023 02:25 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Unless the need is dire I wouldn't spend money expanding seating. I would expand the experience and charge a % increase on current seating (but not a huge price raise at once).

why not do both. At some point, Appy's fans are going to get tired of standing in a bunch on the hill because there is nowhere to sit.

impressive APP...admire how aggressive you are with adding seats, and delivering the goods. keep at it!

If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

(10-05-2023 05:05 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

We won't rebuild that side without additional capacity. It's primarily student seating today. The economics don't work without more seats to sell.

(10-05-2023 06:18 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 05:05 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

JMU won't rebuild that side without additional capacity. It's primarily student seating today. The economics don't work without more seats to sell.

That’s exactly right. Along with an upper-deck to expand seating capacity, the expansion plans will sandwich more VIP suites between the lower and upper areas.

JMU won’t be building JUST a lower replacement for the present (Godwin) side of BFS. Expansion will involve the whole enchilada.

(10-06-2023 03:33 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 06:18 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 05:05 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

JMU won't rebuild that side without additional capacity. It's primarily student seating today. The economics don't work without more seats to sell.

That’s exactly right. Along with an upper-deck to expand seating capacity, the expansion plans will sandwich more VIP suites between the lower and upper areas.

JMU won’t be building JUST a lower replacement for the present (Godwin) side of BFS. Expansion will involve the whole enchilada.

I don’t get why. Going from 25k to 45-50k doesn’t make sense to me. We are going to get 20k more fans because we’re selling out 25k games. I figured the lower bowl would be done first, which would definitely give us at least 5k more seats

JMU would max out at like 36-8k ....unless they add a thousand or so to replace the APC too (certainly a separate phase)

Looking back - we probably should have done the full lower bowl with the first expansion

(10-06-2023 05:00 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  JMU would max out at like 36-8k ....unless they add a thousand or so to replace the APC too (certainly a separate phase)

Looking back - we probably should have done the full lower bowl with the first expansion

Did anyone see La Tech’s horrific attendance last night? How embarrassing.

(10-06-2023 06:53 PM)Arrowhead Wrote:  

(10-06-2023 05:00 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  JMU would max out at like 36-8k ....unless they add a thousand or so to replace the APC too (certainly a separate phase)

Looking back - we probably should have done the full lower bowl with the first expansion

Did anyone see La Tech’s horrific attendance last night? How embarrassing.

Y'all should buy them out and takeover north Louisiana.

(10-06-2023 04:17 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  

(10-06-2023 03:33 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 06:18 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 05:05 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

JMU won't rebuild that side without additional capacity. It's primarily student seating today. The economics don't work without more seats to sell.

That’s exactly right. Along with an upper-deck to expand seating capacity, the expansion plans will sandwich more VIP suites between the lower and upper areas.

JMU won’t be building JUST a lower replacement for the present (Godwin) side of BFS. Expansion will involve the whole enchilada.

I don’t get why. Going from 25k to 45-50k doesn’t make sense to me. We are going to get 20k more fans because we’re selling out 25k games. I figured the lower bowl would be done first, which would definitely give us at least 5k more seats

Building the twin-side of the stadium (replacing the Godwin side) with an upper-deck won’t expand BFS to 45-50 thousand permanent seats. You’re probably looking at 38-40k seats, which has always been the master plan.

As for needing an extra 13-16k seats plus suites at JMU, yes, those seats and amenities will be needed and used…so long as JMU keeps winning. The ticket revenue from that extra seating capacity, sponsorship for suites, and income from concessions in a sold-out stadium of 40k will all be needed to support championship football expenses…expenses like paying ever increasing coaching salaries.

A completed BFS will also be a recruiting plus, and may enhance JMU’s opportunity to host (or pay for) a team from a top G5, or even a team from one of the so-called power conferences.

Somewhere in the confines of the AD’s office I can guarantee you that there is a draft plan(s) of how BFS is intended to be expanded…plans that were envisioned and developed at the time of the first major tear-down, rebuild and expansion completed 10-12 years ago. I don’t think those plans have changed, they’ll just be that much more expensive to implement given inflation and interest rates on the bonds needed to underwrite construction costs.

As has been stated (accurately) before, simply replacing the Godwin side of the stadium to complete a lower-bowl doesn’t increase seating capacity needed to pay for the project, and the logistics of first tearing-down and rebuilding just a lower level (without concern of a needed future upper-deck) would make the process of coming back on-site and trying to add an upper-deck a building nightmare.

JMU fans will have to be patient, the team/program continue to win and expand its national rep, but eventually BFS will be expanded into a fully-formed and completed facility of 38-40k as originally planned.

(10-07-2023 01:34 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-06-2023 04:17 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  

(10-06-2023 03:33 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 06:18 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-05-2023 05:05 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  If JMU DOES expand it needs to be finishing the lower bowl. An upper deck may never be needed, but if it every got to that point allow the lower bowl to be built upon.

JMU won't rebuild that side without additional capacity. It's primarily student seating today. The economics don't work without more seats to sell.

That’s exactly right. Along with an upper-deck to expand seating capacity, the expansion plans will sandwich more VIP suites between the lower and upper areas.

JMU won’t be building JUST a lower replacement for the present (Godwin) side of BFS. Expansion will involve the whole enchilada.

I don’t get why. Going from 25k to 45-50k doesn’t make sense to me. We are going to get 20k more fans because we’re selling out 25k games. I figured the lower bowl would be done first, which would definitely give us at least 5k more seats

Building the twin-side of the stadium (replacing the Godwin side) with an upper-deck won’t expand BFS to 45-50 thousand permanent seats. You’re probably looking at 38-40k seats, which has always been the master plan.

As for needing an extra 13-16k seats plus suites at JMU, yes, those seats and amenities will be needed and used…so long as JMU keeps winning. The ticket revenue from that extra seating capacity, sponsorship for suites, and income from concessions in a sold-out stadium of 40k will all be needed to support championship football expenses…expenses like paying ever increasing coaching salaries.

A completed BFS will also be a recruiting plus, and may enhance JMU’s opportunity to host (or pay for) a team from a top G5, or even a team from one of the so-called power conferences.

Somewhere in the confines of the AD’s office I can guarantee you that there is a draft plan(s) of how BFS is intended to be expanded…plans that were envisioned and developed at the time of the first major tear-down, rebuild and expansion completed 10-12 years ago. I don’t think those plans have changed, they’ll just be that much more expensive to implement given inflation and interest rates on the bonds needed to underwrite construction costs.

As has been stated (accurately) before, simply replacing the Godwin side of the stadium to complete a lower-bowl doesn’t increase seating capacity needed to pay for the project, and the logistics of first tearing-down and rebuilding just a lower level (without concern of a needed future upper-deck) would make the process of coming back on-site and trying to add an upper-deck a building nightmare.

JMU fans will have to be patient, the team/program continue to win and expand its national rep, but eventually BFS will be expanded into a fully-formed and completed facility of 38-40k as originally planned.

That all makes sense. I guess in my eyes I’d just rather them get the lower bowl done first and then have the ability to expand the upper deck when necessary. I really hate how lopsided it looks haha