The Bobcat Nation

Hey guys! Im just curious if anyone has heard anything new about stadium rennovations. I was searching in our forums and coudnt really find anything new on the topic. Have plans been scrapped or what? So anyone have anything worth noting?

I have heard (second hand) that the priorities are 1) Indoor practice facility (IDPF), 2) Field turf, 3) more sky boxes. If this is true and the price tag of the IDPF is what I have heard ($16M) then it will be awhile.

gtapp wrote:I have heard (second hand) that the priorities are 1) Indoor practice facility (IDPF), 2) Field turf, 3) more sky boxes. If this is true and the price tag of the IDPF is what I have heard ($16M) then it will be awhile.

how the hell do they expect to expand and grow the bobcat nation if they dont expand the seating/improve the quality of the stadium?

gtapp wrote:I have heard (second hand) that the priorities are 1) Indoor practice facility (IDPF), 2) Field turf, 3) more sky boxes. If this is true and the price tag of the IDPF is what I have heard ($16M) then it will be awhile.

This is something that i hadnt heard yet, but hey i guess i hadnt really heard a lot for quite some time so anything is new to me...haha. Interesting, I guess we will just have to see what exactly will happen.

Personally i hope they expand the seating a little only because i think it would make the field look a little fuller and more like a stadium, not just bleachers. Something like a bend around one of the sides would be fantastic IMO. This would not only make it look nicer, but maybe even attract more people due to the new additions. Just my thoughts on the matter.

Catfan2030 wrote:

gtapp wrote:I have heard (second hand) that the priorities are 1) Indoor practice facility (IDPF), 2) Field turf, 3) more sky boxes. If this is true and the price tag of the IDPF is what I have heard ($16M) then it will be awhile.

This is something that i hadnt heard yet, but hey i guess i hadnt really heard a lot for quite some time so anything is new to me...haha. Interesting, I guess we will just have to see what exactly will happen.

Personally i hope they expand the seating a little only because i think it would make the field look a little fuller and more like a stadium, not just bleachers. Something like a bend around one of the sides would be fantastic IMO. This would not only make it look nicer, but maybe even attract more people due to the new additions. Just my thoughts on the matter.

but those seem two realistic...

The indoor practice facility is a priority, as it will give us one unique recruiting opportunity over (among other teams) the U of M. I thought the Sky Boxes would be erected at the same time, since there is a waiting list that would not only finance the skybox bond indenture, but also generate revenue to fund future improvements.

I hope they don't expand the seating too much too fast. I would rather have 14,000 people in 14,000 seats than 15,000 people with 5,000 empty ones.

The suites are already paid for in essence by virtue of the people who have signed up for the new ones already plus, as said above, there is a long waiting list. Just need to get the Regent's approval on the project package described above. If all goes well, construction could start in the spring '07. The goal of the capital campaign is $20MM I believe.

Stay tuned. The quiet phase is nearing an end and the department will go public very soon. There is a booster board meeting the 27th of October, and my guess is this goes public soon after.

Blue and Gold wrote:The indoor practice facility is a priority, as it will give us one unique recruiting opportunity over (among other teams) the U of M.

***NO SMACK INTENDED***

You honestly think this will be an "advantage" over UM? UM has tradition and a pretty decent stadium.

Granted, the indoor facility would be nice, but I don't think it would be an advantage in recruiting over UM.

It all comes down to Kramer and Hauck, IMHO.

Have any of you looked at the weather in Montana this week? Its not November type cold, but its definatley brisk out there. An indoor practicce facility is a priority.

Regarding the stadium, a couple of thoughts. First isn't it weird that the "front" of the stadium (the booster side) faces wheat fields and not Kagy? Just an odd setup. Second, in comparison to Missoula, our game day atmophere in terms of tailgating is way better. I've had the opportunity to go to a couple of SEC games this year, and MSU's tailgating is a microcosm of thier massive RV's, all day BBQ's, and hell or high water (literall in the case of MSU's Homecoming) fun.

So I vote for indoor practice facility, bowl in the east endzone (it just looks rickety), then build skyboxes. People in skyboxes don't make noise on 3rd down.

Billings_Griz wrote:

Blue and Gold wrote:The indoor practice facility is a priority, as it will give us one unique recruiting opportunity over (among other teams) the U of M.

***NO SMACK INTENDED***

You honestly think this will be an "advantage" over UM? UM has tradition and a pretty decent stadium.

Granted, the indoor facility would be nice, but I don't think it would be an advantage in recruiting over UM.

It all comes down to Kramer and Hauck, IMHO.

It seriously will help... you cant even deny that. Any kid sitting on the fence will look at that practice facility and be wowed! I-AA team with a practice facility would be a very very big deal

gtapp wrote:I have heard (second hand) that the priorities are 1) Indoor practice facility (IDPF), 2) Field turf, 3) more sky boxes. If this is true and the price tag of the IDPF is what I have heard ($16M) then it will be awhile.

If that is the case then they need to start on small pieces of it at a time. The longer they wait, the more money that is required to build it (goes up every year).

Where are we on our current status with the last stadium expansion/debt? Does anyone know?

So a kid that practiced all week long indoors has NO advantage at home in a game played outside in Montana in November??? If you're spending $$$ for upgrades, I'd like to see bowl seating on the east end, I think that would be more of an advantage to MSU. MSU fans are loud, that place would be rockin'.




Not that you have many home games in November. (ok, that was uncalled for )

Billings_Griz wrote:

Blue and Gold wrote:The indoor practice facility is a priority, as it will give us one unique recruiting opportunity over (among other teams) the U of M.

***NO SMACK INTENDED***

You honestly think this will be an "advantage" over UM? UM has tradition and a pretty decent stadium.

Granted, the indoor facility would be nice, but I don't think it would be an advantage in recruiting over UM.

It all comes down to Kramer and Hauck, IMHO.

Billings Griz: Blue and Gold didn't say "advantage" he said "one unique recruiting opportunity." You Griz fans are so defensive, you read things that aren't even there. Get ahold of yourselves someday please.

Yes, it would be "unique" in that MSU has one and no one else, including UM, has an indoor practice facility. That'd pretty much be the definition of unique.

Billings_Griz wrote:So a kid that practiced all week long indoors has NO advantage at home in a game played outside in Montana in November??? If you're spending $$$ for upgrades, I'd like to see bowl seating on the east end, I think that would be more of an advantage to MSU. MSU fans are loud, that place would be rockin'.




Not that you have many home games in November. (ok, that was uncalled for )

This facility would bring about a spring ball that has more consistency and quality rather than one stretched out over 2 months because of weather. Also, would you rather get some high level practices in for your team with an indoor stadium in the middle of November... or would you rather have some lower quality, shorter practices because of weather?

Besides this, the track team could use the facility, the golf team could use it, same for tennis. Plus it would free up huge amounts of space in the fieldhouse for other sports locker rooms as well.

Indoor practice facility is more than just a quanset hut over a football practice field. It would be a huge addition to the entire MSU athletic department.... HUGE ADDITION!!!!

The Griz cant get this type of facility in Missoula without taking away their tailgate area for football games, and that aint happening, so they are doing their best to poo-poo the idea of MSU getting one.

Billings_Griz wrote:So a kid that practiced all week long indoors has NO advantage at home in a game played outside in Montana in November??? If you're spending $$$ for upgrades, I'd like to see bowl seating on the east end, I think that would be more of an advantage to MSU. MSU fans are loud, that place would be rockin'.

Cat Fans are loud!?!?! You better go watch a game at Wa-Griz so you can see what loud really is!!!!

Billings_Griz wrote:So a kid that practiced all week long indoors has NO advantage at home in a game played outside in Montana in November??? If you're spending $$$ for upgrades, I'd like to see bowl seating on the east end, I think that would be more of an advantage to MSU. MSU fans are loud, that place would be rockin'.




Not that you have many home games in November. (ok, that was uncalled for )

I would think the coaches would be smart enough for bad weather games to get the players out on the mud/snow/cold during the week to acclimate the players. The coaches aren't stupid! This would be a huge recruiting tool though for players coming into Bozeman (especially some that aren't too keen on the weather there etc.). BIG RECRUITING TOOL as no one else in the Big Sky has one

HOWEVER: SKY BOXES are GUARANTEED INCOME. Those should come first and should be built this next year! If your going to build them in 1-2 years you should start now on them if they will pay for themselves. Otherwise your just giong to pay more money for them 2 years down the line! SKY BOXES should be first as that can help fund the other improvements.

Even though it pains me to say this, I've come around on Fieldturf and think that we should install that first.

We can practice on it. We can "close" practice on it (i.e., not allow anyone into the stadium). We practice on the same exact surface and climate that we would play in. And we could rent it out for other activities (I don't know how much we could make...probably not much).

The problems are - not much revenue enhancement (like the skyboxes would bring it), and it really wouldn't benefit any other sport than football - which could be why they would go with the Indoor practice facility first.

Just my thoughts.

LuvMaroon wrote:

Billings_Griz wrote:So a kid that practiced all week long indoors has NO advantage at home in a game played outside in Montana in November??? If you're spending $$$ for upgrades, I'd like to see bowl seating on the east end, I think that would be more of an advantage to MSU. MSU fans are loud, that place would be rockin'.

Cat Fans are loud!?!?! You better go watch a game at Wa-Griz so you can see what loud really is!!!!

Really? Hmm, maybe I'll go check out a game there.


These guys need an indoor facility:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/ ... d=tab1pos1