ACUs Construction Progressing

LongJim · March 6, 2017

Was out in Abilene this weekend. ACU is serious.

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Danish43 · March 6, 2017

So how many people will that stadium be fitting?

meangreen16 · March 6, 2017

44 minutes ago, Danish43 said:

So how many people will that stadium be fitting?

8500 seating. Add in standing room/seating in the grass endzone, and it extends to around 12,000.

They're moving out of Shotwell Stadium which seats several thousand more than that.

GTWT · March 6, 2017

ACS is Div I FCS & they're building a stadium that seats 8.5k?

All About UNT · March 6, 2017

2 hours ago, GTWT said:

ACS is Div I FCS & they're building a stadium that seats 8.5k?

easily expanded

Talk on their attendance http://acuoptimist.com/2016/01/new-on-campus-stadium-should-increase-attendance/

When these guys were dominating they only averaged 8k a game. Abilene is a lonnnnnnng drive for alumni to make to watch FCS ball.

greenjoe · March 6, 2017

Lemme get this straight. They now have a stadium that seats 12,000 and they're building a stadium that seats 8,500. I guess they're going to make it up in volume.

GreenMachine · March 6, 2017

3 minutes ago, greenjoe said:

Lemme get this straight. They now have a stadium that seats 12,000 and they're building a stadium that seats 8,500. I guess they're going to make it up in volume.

So size does matter?

BTG_Fan1 · March 6, 2017

Less seats so they can charge people more

emmitt01 · March 7, 2017

We are talking about a stadium in Abilene, right?

letsgiveacheer · March 7, 2017

They are counting on the Abilene Paradox to boost attendance.

VideoEagle · March 7, 2017

5 minutes ago, letsgiveacheer said:

They are counting on the Abilene Paradox to boost attendance.

You mean no one in the car actually wanted to go to an ACU game?

jperg2 · March 7, 2017

wizade · March 7, 2017

Looks just like Allen's HS stadium.

MeanGreenMailbox aka TFLF · March 7, 2017

Probably about right for ACU. Shotwell was a drive away from the campus, much like Miami's, and antiquated.

On campus, just a bit off the highway, yet nestled against neighborhoods, I've bet they can fill it.

Look, we are talking about a program that was Division II five years ago. They're not going to be drawing 30,000 a couple of years into their FCS voyage, if ever.

What they have successfully done is:
(1) Jumped up a notch in competition to FCS, then
(2) Assessed where they stood in that competition, then
(3) Made a decision based on it.

So, they did the opposite of "if you build it, they will come." They did, "we've seen who comes, let's build something suited for them." You don't often see that these days.

Besides, it's safe to say that ACU has done fine for itself without athletics being the "window" to the university. In fact, they would pride themselves upon the fact.

My grandfather, dad, brother, and sister, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousin have earned their degrees from ACU. My grandfather's brother was a professor there; and his wife was the presidents' secretary for decades. ACU's got a built in audience of church of Christers, and they don't particularly care whether or not the world is impressed with them.

Personally, it simply impressed me that Mosley & Co. were able to get the church of Christers to donate to the athletic department. Normally, the alumni have only opened their wallets for the business department and bible/missions department. There are many wealthy alumni from ACU. Mosley just finally got some of it for the athletics side. I'm hoping he has the same rain-making abilities for us in Denton.

Congrats to them. It'll be a nice, little stadium for their faithful. The little, old, blue-haired ladies who live in the adjacent neighborhoods can now walk to the football games as easily as they walk up the street to the old University church of Christ on Sunday mornings.