Indoor facility

[AFCAT]

Pretty impressive I'd say that they'll be done with two of the major components of the facilities plan before reaching the halfway mark of the 20-year plan. The IPF is obviously in a less prominent location but I'd guess at least some of that is due to other building projects going on in that area that weren't in the works yet when the plan was developed. The east side bleachers are long in need of being replaced with something safer and more coherent in terms of looks with the rest of the stadium, so hopefully that's up next.

I think Cruzado kindly left the easiest project for her successor. The east side will be underway within 5 years is my conservative prediction.

I believe it will be around that time frame as well, but I can also see MSU not being in a big hurry to replace the East side. After all, they don't currently gain much from improving the East side other than a better looking stadium, seats are seats. However, if they want to add sky boxes and fill in some of the gaps in the stadium at the same time, they can gain more revenue. I'm curious if they will just go the donated money route or look for a big stadium sponsor or go for the combination donation/loan financing like they did for the South end zone.

If they add sky boxes (they should) I wonder if they can/will sell the boxes ahead of time to fund construction. I assume construction would be completed in one offseason so it shouldn't be hard to sell the boxes before built.

That's where it can also get tricky. The more complicated or ambitious the renovation, the more time it will take to complete. I guess they could phase in some of the work over a few years, if they can't get it all done in one off season.

[Catsrgrood]

Pretty impressive I'd say that they'll be done with two of the major components of the facilities plan before reaching the halfway mark of the 20-year plan. The IPF is obviously in a less prominent location but I'd guess at least some of that is due to other building projects going on in that area that weren't in the works yet when the plan was developed. The east side bleachers are long in need of being replaced with something safer and more coherent in terms of looks with the rest of the stadium, so hopefully that's up next.

I think Cruzado kindly left the easiest project for her successor. The east side will be underway within 5 years is my conservative prediction.

I believe it will be around that time frame as well, but I can also see MSU not being in a big hurry to replace the East side. After all, they don't currently gain much from improving the East side other than a better looking stadium, seats are seats. However, if they want to add sky boxes and fill in some of the gaps in the stadium at the same time, they can gain more revenue. I'm curious if they will just go the donated money route or look for a big stadium sponsor or go for the combination donation/loan financing like they did for the South end zone.

If they add sky boxes (they should) I wonder if they can/will sell the boxes ahead of time to fund construction. I assume construction would be completed in one offseason so it shouldn't be hard to sell the boxes before built.

I feel like that the extra suites would be the driving factor for the school to take the plunge on doing the east side. Like AFCAT said, without the suites, there isn’t a huge incentive to a new east side that gains very little to nothing in ways of actual seats. Safer, yes. Look much nicer, yes. But little no effect to the bottom line come game day.

It’s the suites that would bring in true additional revenue.

[RICO CAT]

Pretty impressive I'd say that they'll be done with two of the major components of the facilities plan before reaching the halfway mark of the 20-year plan. The IPF is obviously in a less prominent location but I'd guess at least some of that is due to other building projects going on in that area that weren't in the works yet when the plan was developed. The east side bleachers are long in need of being replaced with something safer and more coherent in terms of looks with the rest of the stadium, so hopefully that's up next.

I think Cruzado kindly left the easiest project for her successor. The east side will be underway within 5 years is my conservative prediction.

I believe it will be around that time frame as well, but I can also see MSU not being in a big hurry to replace the East side. After all, they don't currently gain much from improving the East side other than a better looking stadium, seats are seats. However, if they want to add sky boxes and fill in some of the gaps in the stadium at the same time, they can gain more revenue. I'm curious if they will just go the donated money route or look for a big stadium sponsor or go for the combination donation/loan financing like they did for the South end zone.

If they add sky boxes (they should) I wonder if they can/will sell the boxes ahead of time to fund construction. I assume construction would be completed in one offseason so it shouldn't be hard to sell the boxes before built.

I feel like that the extra suites would be the driving factor for the school to take the plunge on doing the east side. Like AFCAT said, without the suites, there isn’t a huge incentive to a new east side that gains very little to nothing in ways of actual seats. Safer, yes. Look much nicer, yes. But little no effect to the bottom line come game day.

It’s the suites that would bring in true additional revenue.

I’m so glad they moved the location of the indoor facility closer to the stadium and track facility.. I agree with other posters that the east stands are still structurally sound and the plan really isn’t any different than what’s there now seating wise. Would like to see the NW end zone area closed in first. Enclosing the NE end zone will probably have to be incorporated into a newer east stand' design.

[GavinDonos]

Pretty impressive I'd say that they'll be done with two of the major components of the facilities plan before reaching the halfway mark of the 20-year plan. The IPF is obviously in a less prominent location but I'd guess at least some of that is due to other building projects going on in that area that weren't in the works yet when the plan was developed. The east side bleachers are long in need of being replaced with something safer and more coherent in terms of looks with the rest of the stadium, so hopefully that's up next.

I think Cruzado kindly left the easiest project for her successor. The east side will be underway within 5 years is my conservative prediction.

I believe it will be around that time frame as well, but I can also see MSU not being in a big hurry to replace the East side. After all, they don't currently gain much from improving the East side other than a better looking stadium, seats are seats. However, if they want to add sky boxes and fill in some of the gaps in the stadium at the same time, they can gain more revenue. I'm curious if they will just go the donated money route or look for a big stadium sponsor or go for the combination donation/loan financing like they did for the South end zone.

If they add sky boxes (they should) I wonder if they can/will sell the boxes ahead of time to fund construction. I assume construction would be completed in one offseason so it shouldn't be hard to sell the boxes before built.

That's where it can also get tricky. The more complicated or ambitious the renovation, the more time it will take to complete. I guess they could phase in some of the work over a few years, if they can't get it all done in one off season.

There is a sizeable waiting list for skybox access, so pre-sell with a licensing stipulation as a bolster shouldn't be a problem. I'll be surprised if this effort gets completed before 2035 though. Everyone grab their wallets, and don't forget to pay for Scholarship Assoc.BQC and Collective on the way out of the door!

At some point Billy Booster is going to run out of gas. Don't call me a pessimist.

[TomCat88]

Pretty impressive I'd say that they'll be done with two of the major components of the facilities plan before reaching the halfway mark of the 20-year plan. The IPF is obviously in a less prominent location but I'd guess at least some of that is due to other building projects going on in that area that weren't in the works yet when the plan was developed. The east side bleachers are long in need of being replaced with something safer and more coherent in terms of looks with the rest of the stadium, so hopefully that's up next.

I think Cruzado kindly left the easiest project for her successor. The east side will be underway within 5 years is my conservative prediction.

I believe it will be around that time frame as well, but I can also see MSU not being in a big hurry to replace the East side. After all, they don't currently gain much from improving the East side other than a better looking stadium, seats are seats. However, if they want to add sky boxes and fill in some of the gaps in the stadium at the same time, they can gain more revenue. I'm curious if they will just go the donated money route or look for a big stadium sponsor or go for the combination donation/loan financing like they did for the South end zone.

If they add sky boxes (they should) I wonder if they can/will sell the boxes ahead of time to fund construction. I assume construction would be completed in one offseason so it shouldn't be hard to sell the boxes before built.

That's where it can also get tricky. The more complicated or ambitious the renovation, the more time it will take to complete. I guess they could phase in some of the work over a few years, if they can't get it all done in one off season.

There is a sizeable waiting list for skybox access, so pre-sell with a licensing stipulation as a bolster shouldn't be a problem. I'll be surprised if this effort gets completed before 2035 though. Everyone grab their wallets, and don't forget to pay for Scholarship Assoc.BQC and Collective on the way out of the door!

At some point Billy Booster is going to run out of gas. Don't call me a pessimist.

If you can find one person that is happy with the eastside grandstand, please point them out. I don't think anyone in the top brass at MSU is happy with it, no fans are happy with it and if the fans aren't then the players/coaches aren't happy with it either. I doubt the concessionaires like it and I bet the bathrooms aren't very nice. I know people hate how slippery the stairs are and that there are no handrails. I didn't even see any bird poop on it last time I was up there.

Fans were wondering when the eastside would get replaced but MSU said it was going to put in a new EZ, and then fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded. Then when MSU said it was putting in the BAC, fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded, and so on with the scoreboard, the IPF and the parking lots.

[GavinDonos]

If you can find one person that is happy with the eastside grandstand, please point them out. I don't think anyone in the top brass at MSU is happy with it, no fans are happy with it and if the fans aren't then the players/coaches aren't happy with it either. I doubt the concessionaires like it and I bet the bathrooms aren't very nice. I know people hate how slippery the stairs are and that there are no handrails. I didn't even see any bird poop on it last time I was up there.

Fans were wondering when the eastside would get replaced but MSU said it was going to put in a new EZ, and then fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded. Then when MSU said it was putting in the BAC, fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded, and so on with the scoreboard, the IPF and the parking lots.

Couldn't have said it better myself Mr. Tomcat. We need to have the allure in facilities to attract student athletes, no doubt about it. But that is a constant churn... I know we aren't Texas rich and that our big time $$ alumni tend to put their money into academic facility endeavors, which is awesome. I guess I'm just excited to see the new scoreboard this year. Small bites with long capital campaigns... I'm used to it by now.

[lutecat]

Right now do we have more boxes than the bad guys to the west? I was thinking they had more but then the other day I was counting theirs and realized they only have one level of suites and we have 2? Or 3?

[MSU01]

Right now do we have more boxes than the bad guys to the west? I was thinking they had more but then the other day I was counting theirs and realized they only have one level of suites and we have 2? Or 3?

If the information on their websites is accurate, MSU has 38 suites and UM has 49.

[TomCat88]

If you can find one person that is happy with the eastside grandstand, please point them out. I don't think anyone in the top brass at MSU is happy with it, no fans are happy with it and if the fans aren't then the players/coaches aren't happy with it either. I doubt the concessionaires like it and I bet the bathrooms aren't very nice. I know people hate how slippery the stairs are and that there are no handrails. I didn't even see any bird poop on it last time I was up there.

Fans were wondering when the eastside would get replaced but MSU said it was going to put in a new EZ, and then fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded. Then when MSU said it was putting in the BAC, fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded, and so on with the scoreboard, the IPF and the parking lots.

Couldn't have said it better myself Mr. Tomcat. We need to have the allure in facilities to attract student athletes, no doubt about it. But that is a constant churn... I know we aren't Texas rich and that our big time $$ alumni tend to put their money into academic facility endeavors, which is awesome. I guess I'm just excited to see the new scoreboard this year. Small bites with long capital campaigns... I'm used to it by now.

I haven't seen a breakout of where the funds for the BAC and IPF came from. They did that with the EZ and may have with these two projects. I'm wondering what percentage of the BAC and IPF came from large donors compared to the EZ. MSU has been getting enormous donations from individuals (Jabs, Asbjournsen, Gianforte, the Joneses, others?) the past 10 years or so and I wonder if that's the case for the BAC and IPF. I know neither was funded with a single donation.

The eastside just stands out for all the wrong reasons. It has no personality when sitting in the middle of the steep/tall end zone, the much more modern looking westside and now the BAC and new scoreboard. It's not as bad from the outside. On top of that, and more importantly, it doesn't seem very functional with its metal (read slippery) steps and lack of handrails. Personally, this is a project I'd be much more likely to donate to than any of the previous projects. I realize the BAC and IPF are student/athlete projects that also affect the fan base less directly and have a higher priority, but humanoids have a selfish side and when they have a chance to do something directly for themselves, they seem eager to do so. It just seems like you would get a large portion paid for by the Average Joe and Average Jo.

[coloradocat]

If you can find one person that is happy with the eastside grandstand, please point them out. I don't think anyone in the top brass at MSU is happy with it, no fans are happy with it and if the fans aren't then the players/coaches aren't happy with it either. I doubt the concessionaires like it and I bet the bathrooms aren't very nice. I know people hate how slippery the stairs are and that there are no handrails. I didn't even see any bird poop on it last time I was up there.

Fans were wondering when the eastside would get replaced but MSU said it was going to put in a new EZ, and then fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded. Then when MSU said it was putting in the BAC, fans were wondering when the eastside was going to get upgraded, and so on with the scoreboard, the IPF and the parking lots.

Couldn't have said it better myself Mr. Tomcat. We need to have the allure in facilities to attract student athletes, no doubt about it. But that is a constant churn... I know we aren't Texas rich and that our big time $$ alumni tend to put their money into academic facility endeavors, which is awesome. I guess I'm just excited to see the new scoreboard this year. Small bites with long capital campaigns... I'm used to it by now.

I haven't seen a breakout of where the funds for the BAC and IPF came from. They did that with the EZ and may have with these two projects. I'm wondering what percentage of the BAC and IPF came from large donors compared to the EZ. MSU has been getting enormous donations from individuals (Jabs, Asbjournsen, Gianforte, the Joneses, others?) the past 10 years or so and I wonder if that's the case for the BAC and IPF. I know neither was funded with a single donation.

The eastside just stands out for all the wrong reasons. It has no personality when sitting in the middle of the steep/tall end zone, the much more modern looking westside and now the BAC and new scoreboard. It's not as bad from the outside. On top of that, and more importantly, it doesn't seem very functional with its metal (read slippery) steps and lack of handrails. Personally, this is a project I'd be much more likely to donate to than any of the previous projects. I realize the BAC and IPF are student/athlete projects that also affect the fan base less directly and have a higher priority, but humanoids have a selfish side and when they have a chance to do something directly for themselves, they seem eager to do so. It just seems like you would get a large portion paid for by the Average Joe and Average Jo.

There are likely too issues with replacing the eastside stands: 1) it's a replacement project, not new construction, so there's no rush because it already exists; 2) while it may be easier to get more small donations, if they are going to replace it with something that flows with the rest of the stadium and fits in with a larger plan it's going to cost a lot of money which the little guys don't have and the big guys have already spent.

I sit in the endzone so the eastside project doesn't impact me other than slightly aesthetically. If there are other projects they'd rather focus on first or slow walk this one in order to give donors a break, that's fine with me. Build in some non-slip pads in the meantime and call it good for a while.

[CodyCat]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

[mslacatfan]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

What he said.

[kennethnoisewater]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

[St George]

I think the East side needs boxes or suites when it gets redone. I would think Yellowstone Club could buy a big suite and have it available for its members for a "small" fee. Bobcat football could give these people that own multi million dollar estates something to do in the season between golf and skiing. In doing so bring in people that like to socialize. I don't know if this would be legal or not, but think of the draw if one of the suites was the Dutton Ranch Suite.

[coloradocat]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

[kennethnoisewater]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

That's why I said I'm all for NOT spending state money on upgrades. I agree it's an entertainment venue and the state shouldn't fund improvements. But if a few people fall through a rusted out hole (a little extreme maybe) in the 40th row and fall on the sidewalk, MSU is getting sued, not MSU football. I'm just saying at some level a replacement of the east side stands IS maintenance, and who is responsible for paying for that? Honest question, I'm not sure I know the answer. I know who I think it should be, but I might not be right. And maybe it's not now--maybe the utility of those stands is 50 more years--but maybe it's 5, and somebody has to do something before the bleachers are condemned. Then if they're condemned and the athletic department decides they can't raise the money, is MSU OK with just putting caution tape on them and saying that section of the stadium is closed now? I'm dumbfounded that handrails and extra traction hasn't been added to those bleachers, and why MSU's insurance carrier (the state, I'm sure) doesn't either raise premiums by $250k a year or say you have to make certain improvements, because any idiot can see this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[Camo_Cat]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

That's why I said I'm all for NOT spending state money on upgrades. I agree it's an entertainment venue and the state shouldn't fund improvements. But if a few people fall through a rusted out hole (a little extreme maybe) in the 40th row and fall on the sidewalk, MSU is getting sued, not MSU football. I'm just saying at some level a replacement of the east side stands IS maintenance, and who is responsible for paying for that? Honest question, I'm not sure I know the answer. I know who I think it should be, but I might not be right. And maybe it's not now--maybe the utility of those stands is 50 more years--but maybe it's 5, and somebody has to do something before the bleachers are condemned. Then if they're condemned and the athletic department decides they can't raise the money, is MSU OK with just putting caution tape on them and saying that section of the stadium is closed now? I'm dumbfounded that handrails and extra traction hasn't been added to those bleachers, and why MSU's insurance carrier (the state, I'm sure) doesn't either raise premiums by $250k a year or say you have to make certain improvements, because any idiot can see this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

My season tickets have been on the east side for years. I can't tell you how many times during bad weather games I've watched people take headers, fall on their butts, fall on their faces, fall on other people, slide off the walkways, etc. on those stands. And every time I see a real nasty one, it always runs through the back of my mind that hear comes a lawsuit. I don't what the viability of a lawsuit against the university would be; I assume that there is a clause that by purchasing a ticket to an outdoor venue during inclimate weather, the purchaser waives their right to sue in case of an accident. But if I were the school, I wouldn't want to be dragged down that road.

[CodyCat]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

That's why I said I'm all for NOT spending state money on upgrades. I agree it's an entertainment venue and the state shouldn't fund improvements. But if a few people fall through a rusted out hole (a little extreme maybe) in the 40th row and fall on the sidewalk, MSU is getting sued, not MSU football. I'm just saying at some level a replacement of the east side stands IS maintenance, and who is responsible for paying for that? Honest question, I'm not sure I know the answer. I know who I think it should be, but I might not be right. And maybe it's not now--maybe the utility of those stands is 50 more years--but maybe it's 5, and somebody has to do something before the bleachers are condemned. Then if they're condemned and the athletic department decides they can't raise the money, is MSU OK with just putting caution tape on them and saying that section of the stadium is closed now? I'm dumbfounded that handrails and extra traction hasn't been added to those bleachers, and why MSU's insurance carrier (the state, I'm sure) doesn't either raise premiums by $250k a year or say you have to make certain improvements, because any idiot can see this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

My season tickets have been on the east side for years. I can't tell you how many times during bad weather games I've watched people take headers, fall on their butts, fall on their faces, fall on other people, slide off the walkways, etc. on those stands. And every time I see a real nasty one, it always runs through the back of my mind that hear comes a lawsuit. I don't what the viability of a lawsuit against the university would be; I assume that there is a clause that by purchasing a ticket to an outdoor venue during inclimate weather, the purchaser waives their right to sue in case of an accident. But if I were the school, I wouldn't want to be dragged down that road.

These posts on liability got me thinking. How do we know that MSU hasn't had some sort of legal action taken against them for incidents occurring because of the east bleachers.

[kennethnoisewater]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

That's why I said I'm all for NOT spending state money on upgrades. I agree it's an entertainment venue and the state shouldn't fund improvements. But if a few people fall through a rusted out hole (a little extreme maybe) in the 40th row and fall on the sidewalk, MSU is getting sued, not MSU football. I'm just saying at some level a replacement of the east side stands IS maintenance, and who is responsible for paying for that? Honest question, I'm not sure I know the answer. I know who I think it should be, but I might not be right. And maybe it's not now--maybe the utility of those stands is 50 more years--but maybe it's 5, and somebody has to do something before the bleachers are condemned. Then if they're condemned and the athletic department decides they can't raise the money, is MSU OK with just putting caution tape on them and saying that section of the stadium is closed now? I'm dumbfounded that handrails and extra traction hasn't been added to those bleachers, and why MSU's insurance carrier (the state, I'm sure) doesn't either raise premiums by $250k a year or say you have to make certain improvements, because any idiot can see this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

My season tickets have been on the east side for years. I can't tell you how many times during bad weather games I've watched people take headers, fall on their butts, fall on their faces, fall on other people, slide off the walkways, etc. on those stands. And every time I see a real nasty one, it always runs through the back of my mind that hear comes a lawsuit. I don't what the viability of a lawsuit against the university would be; I assume that there is a clause that by purchasing a ticket to an outdoor venue during inclimate weather, the purchaser waives their right to sue in case of an accident. But if I were the school, I wouldn't want to be dragged down that road.

A waiver isn't worth the paper it's written on usually. I can't imagine there's a way a clause would get them out of liability in some circumstances. It's probably a little better because this was built before modern safety requirements were in place, but that won't hold up forever. I just think it may be that both sides (athletics and MSU/MUS) are holding out to see who's responsible for paying for what and nobody wants to volunteer for the responsibility. The University has benefitted greatly from football and its donors. Building the BAC freed up a ton of space in the fieldhouse. Just having a good program adds to the college experience and helps with enrollment. I'm sure they'd love to see the responsibility of fixing this safety hazard get shifted to private donors.

[kennethnoisewater]

My two cents on the east side. I think it really matters that it gets replaced ASAP. Aesthetics are important in recruiting and game day atmosphere. The atmosphere was exponentially better with the addition of the endzone bowl. I think its important that it matches the endzone. There is approximately one section that could be added onto each end of the east bleachers. I also think that a second deck could be added. When MSU tackles this, I think that pressboxes are mandatory. More revenue, will hold sound in much better. And would make the appearance of Bobcat Stadium unbelievable more attractive than it is now.

With all that said, I am extremely happy with what has been built and done for MSU athletics in the last five or so years.

I think you're right on, and I think that future expansion has to be taken into account for any project.

I do wonder if there's some state funding that could go towards this project though, and I've wondered if that's part of the delay. It's an existing stadium that in my opinion, the state has some obligation to keep up and make necessary improvements to. I'm all for not spending state money on upgrades, but if a facility already exists, I think MSU/MUS needs to fund a big chunk of it. If the roof of Roberts Hall was caving in, MSU/MUS wouldn't tell the engineering department (or whatever academic department uses that the most) to start hitting up donors to replace it. So if MSU can prove this is a safety hazard (shouldn't be hard) and that there's some risk of failure of the structure, which would endanger thousands of people, I think they could get the state to replace it with something similar. It would be subject to modern safety and ADA requirements, and I think it would be reasonable to request funding to make it look like the rest of the stadium. Say that simple replacement costs $25M (I honestly have no clue what the number would be), the state should pay for that. Then if athletics determines that suites would cost another $20M--that's what they fundraise for or get creative about financing from sponsorships and/or pledges to buy suites for 10 years or something.

There's a big difference between Roberts Hall and Bobcat Stadium. One is an academic building and the other is an entertainment building. I don't think the state has any obligation to fund entertainment, regardless of who owns the venue. I understand that the athletics department gets a lot of funding from the university general fund but that doesn't mean the state should be directly paying for upgrades. Maintenance yes, upgrades no. There's nothing wrong with the eastside that requires significant expenditures. If there was they would have directed the money there already rather than building the BAC and IPF.

That's why I said I'm all for NOT spending state money on upgrades. I agree it's an entertainment venue and the state shouldn't fund improvements. But if a few people fall through a rusted out hole (a little extreme maybe) in the 40th row and fall on the sidewalk, MSU is getting sued, not MSU football. I'm just saying at some level a replacement of the east side stands IS maintenance, and who is responsible for paying for that? Honest question, I'm not sure I know the answer. I know who I think it should be, but I might not be right. And maybe it's not now--maybe the utility of those stands is 50 more years--but maybe it's 5, and somebody has to do something before the bleachers are condemned. Then if they're condemned and the athletic department decides they can't raise the money, is MSU OK with just putting caution tape on them and saying that section of the stadium is closed now? I'm dumbfounded that handrails and extra traction hasn't been added to those bleachers, and why MSU's insurance carrier (the state, I'm sure) doesn't either raise premiums by $250k a year or say you have to make certain improvements, because any idiot can see this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

My season tickets have been on the east side for years. I can't tell you how many times during bad weather games I've watched people take headers, fall on their butts, fall on their faces, fall on other people, slide off the walkways, etc. on those stands. And every time I see a real nasty one, it always runs through the back of my mind that hear comes a lawsuit. I don't what the viability of a lawsuit against the university would be; I assume that there is a clause that by purchasing a ticket to an outdoor venue during inclimate weather, the purchaser waives their right to sue in case of an accident. But if I were the school, I wouldn't want to be dragged down that road.

These posts on liability got me thinking. How do we know that MSU hasn't had some sort of legal action taken against them for incidents occurring because of the east bleachers.

We don't, and I'm not sure that we necessarily would. Most insurance policies include a no-questions-asked limit of liability for personal injury, which is basically shut-up money, and it's usually between $5,000 and $10,000. Essentially if you slip and fall (or any other personal injury) and threaten to sue, the insurance company will give you up to that limit to just promise you won't sue. You don't even have to prove injury normally. I wouldn't be surprised if this has happened a few times and people have walked away with a twisted ankle and a few grand in their pocket. Insurers want to eliminate risk, because they want to eliminate their risk of paying out anything.