For All The Talk About A New Stadium

the real grad88 · January 18, 2007

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but have we actually started a campaign? The last I heard, they were doing a feasibility study...which means there is no campaign as of yet. Folks, we could still be 5 to 8 years away...and that's if we return to our winning ways and keep a decent fan base going. I am counting on our new coach for that and think he's the man for the job. We need to be prepared for a long wait in terms of any hopes of a new stadium though.

Zeke · January 18, 2007

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but have we actually started a campaign? The last I heard, they were doing a feasibility study...which means there is no campaign as of yet. Folks, we could still be 5 to 8 years away...and that's if we return to our winning ways and keep a decent fan base going. I am counting on our new coach for that and think he's the man for the job. We need to be prepared for a long wait in terms of any hopes of a new stadium though.

I am glad you bring this up because I am afraid some seem to think that it is just a matter of months before we turn dirt.

eppy4life · January 18, 2007

I agree it's a long way off. Is anyone else worried that Dodge may come and go before this thing gets done?

the real grad88 · January 18, 2007

They still have to find that one big donor...our T-Bone Pickens who will actually kick off the campaign with a minimum of a 1/3rd-of-the-cost gift. That will be the single largest gift that UNT has EVER received. That will take some doing I am afraid.

Stan R · January 18, 2007

I am still holding RV accountable to his 2009 date of turning dirt. You don't quote a specific date if you don't want to be held accountable to it. His 1.5 million dollar donation he brought in was a nice start. But this is a big meal and 1.5 million is just a snack.

Stan R · January 18, 2007

I agree it's a long way off. Is anyone else worried that Dodge may come and go before this thing gets done?

Yes, absolutely. I think it is a valid concern. However I feel a lot better about raising this money with Dodge at the helm than I did with Dickey. Unfortunately I don't think NT has a silver bullet. We don't have a boone pickens. We have to find 60 mini-pickenses at 1 million each. Or 10,000 nano-pickenses at $6,000. :blowup:

January 18, 2007

From what I hear, they are at work. How can you be certain when a person who hasn't said no, or even said that he will, will actually commit? You can't be too pushy on this or you'll turn the donor off. Just keep giving reminders .

the real grad88 · January 18, 2007

Yes, absolutely. I think it is a valid concern. However I feel a lot better about raising this money with Dodge at the helm than I did with Dickey. Unfortunately I don't think NT has a silver bullet. We don't have a boone pickens. We have to find 60 mini-pickenses at 1 million each. Or 10,000 nano-pickenses at $6,000.

I was waiting for someone to bring that up. Finding one difference maker is much easier than finding 60 one million dollar donors....much easier! Once that difference maker is found, then others will come piling in!

Green to the Bone · January 18, 2007

If we can just get all 23 million Texans to donate $2.61 each, we've got $60 million.

Seems doable ...

NT80 · January 18, 2007

They still have to find that one big donor...our T-Bone Pickens who will actually kick off the campaign with a minimum of a 1/3rd-of-the-cost gift.

What about .... oh wait, he may be a Utah State fan now....... <_<

ColoradoEagle · January 19, 2007

In my opinion, someone doesn't donate $1.5 million to start architecting the stadium without considering donating another chunk. I think the Goldfields are interested in helping the program further. Also the AD said in the past that they wouldn't launch the capital campaign until a significant portion of the stadium was paid for. This makes me think the naming rights have already, or will be very soon, sold. I wouldn't be surprised to see a ground breaking in 2008 from what I've seen so far, but I'm very optimistic on the situation.

NT80 · January 19, 2007

In my opinion, someone doesn't donate $1.5 million to start architecting the stadium without considering donating another chunk. I think the Goldfields are interested in helping the program further. Also the AD said in the past that they wouldn't launch the capital campaign until a significant portion of the stadium was paid for. This makes me think the naming rights have already, or will be very soon, sold. I wouldn't be surprised to see a ground breaking in 2008 from what I've seen so far, but I'm very optimistic on the situation.

You're correct. Someone also doesn't spend $1.5 million seed money without assurances the project will happen. The next step of the firm hired to do the capital campaign surveys that were gathered late last year was to report back the findings mid-January (now) then determine how much and when was viable for bonds and a campaign. I expect to hear something about Capital Campaign projects and timelines soon. It is better to ask potential donors for $$ now while they are somewhat happy.

UNTBill · January 19, 2007

I believe that RV has commissioned a rather well known firm that specializes in fund raising.

It was posted several months ago. At that time, I googled them and it was confirmed that UNT had engaged their services in order to pursue a capital campaign. Naturally, I could only assume that it was related to a new football stadium. Sorry, I don't remember the firms name.

I do recall that the firm was very good at what it does. Maybe someone can find that post.

GO MEAN GREEN

Green Mean · January 19, 2007

I am a current student and I could have sworn that I read somewhere that an official push for the campaign for the new FB stadium will be sometime in the spring semester of 2007. So I think all of our wishes will come true and the talk of getting a new stadium will probably turn into reality in just a few months.

ColoradoEagle · January 19, 2007

I believe that RV has commissioned a rather well known firm that specializes in fund raising.
It was posted several months ago. At that time, I googled them and it was confirmed that UNT had engaged their services in order to pursue a capital campaign. Naturally, I could only assume that it was related to a new football stadium. Sorry, I don't remember the firms name.
I do recall that the firm was very good at what it does. Maybe someone can find that post.

http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.ph...dium&st=15#

http://www.lawsonassociates.net/

New Client:
The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas is a student-centered public research university with 11 colleges and schools offering 93 bachelor’s, 111 master’s and 50 doctoral degree programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.(www.unt.edu)

Lawson Associates will be assisting the University of North Texas with a $151 million Capital and Endowment Campaign which includes: New Building Initiatives, Mean Green Athletic Program, College of Business Administration Building, College of Music, College of Public Affairs and Community Services - College of Education, School of Visual Art, College of Business Administration, and the College of Arts and Sciences- College of Education.

Edited January 19, 2007 by ColoradoEagle

SilverEagle · January 19, 2007

http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.ph...dium&st=15#
http://www.lawsonassociates.net/

New Client:

The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas is a student-centered public research university with 11 colleges and schools offering 93 bachelor’s, 111 master’s and 50 doctoral degree programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.(www.unt.edu)

Lawson Associates will be assisting the University of North Texas with a $151 million Capital and Endowment Campaign which includes: New Building Initiatives, Mean Green Athletic Program, College of Business Administration Building, College of Music, College of Public Affairs and Community Services - College of Education, School of Visual Art, College of Business Administration, and the College of Arts and Sciences- College of Education.

Ok, someone help me out here. I understand that you would need to do private fund raising for something like the new Fouts, or "The Armadillo", because they are performance/entertainment venues. But why would you have to do private fund raising for the other departments listed? The college of Business Administration and College of Education (and the rest) would mainly need classrooms, and aren't those buildings state funded?

island eagle · January 19, 2007

New Client:
The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas is a student-centered public research university with 11 colleges and schools offering 93 bachelor’s, 111 master’s and 50 doctoral degree programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.(www.unt.edu)
Lawson Associates will be assisting the University of North Texas with a $151 million Capital and Endowment Campaign which includes: New Building Initiatives, Mean Green Athletic Program, College of Business Administration Building, College of Music, College of Public Affairs and Community Services - College of Education, School of Visual Art, College of Business Administration, and the College of Arts and Sciences- College of Education.
Ok, someone help me out here. I understand that you would need to do private fund raising for something like the new Fouts, or "The Armadillo", because they are performance/entertainment venues. But why would you have to do private fund raising for the other departments listed? The college of Business Administration and College of Education (and the rest) would mainly need classrooms, and aren't those buildings state funded?

The State contributes a much smaller share of the total budget to the State Universities than in the past. They expect the institutions to come up with any extra needed money through private fundraising sources. That is a major problem here at UTMB where grants nationwide are decreasing at the same time that pressure is increasing for getting money from such sources as Federal and private grants.

SilverEagle · January 19, 2007

The State contributes a much smaller share of the total budget to the State Universities than in the past. They expect the institutions to come up with any extra needed money through private fundraising sources. That is a major problem here at UTMB where grants nationwide are decreasing at the same time that pressure is increasing for getting money from such sources as Federal and private grants.

Oh great! Now, if funding is raised to build the new stadium, but not enough is raised to help fund some of the classrooms, we are really going to hear it from the academic community at North Texas. <_<

the real grad88 · January 19, 2007

In my opinion, someone doesn't donate $1.5 million to start architecting the stadium without considering donating another chunk. I think the Goldfields are interested in helping the program further. Also the AD said in the past that they wouldn't launch the capital campaign until a significant portion of the stadium was paid for. This makes me think the naming rights have already, or will be very soon, sold. I wouldn't be surprised to see a ground breaking in 2008 from what I've seen so far, but I'm very optimistic on the situation.

It is true that the campaign is not officially launched until a minimum of 1/3rd of the project is secured from a big-daddy donor. That is what gives you the momentum to carry on the project. Otherwise, the smaller major donors (1-5 million dollar range) do not give for fear that the project will not be competed. The last phase would be the mop-up phase in which all us little guys are asked to give our $1000-10,000 donations-to finish off the job.

All successful large fundraising projects operate that way. There is really no other way to do it. That is why I say that we should not be disappointed if this is still a long term process (5-8 years).

the real grad88 · January 19, 2007

The State contributes a much smaller share of the total budget to the State Universities than in the past. They expect the institutions to come up with any extra needed money through private fundraising sources. That is a major problem here at UTMB where grants nationwide are decreasing at the same time that pressure is increasing for getting money from such sources as Federal and private grants.

I truly don't like this situation. I think the academic departments pushed their way in on this deal. We need a separate campaign for the stadium. If we are lumped in with all of these other projects, I fear that it will never happen. I say let's put it too a student vote again and bond it out, if this is what we are working with.

Green Mean · January 19, 2007

I know that as it is tuition is going up and goes up every year as it is. However for the new health center I think our tuition was raised like $19/semester. To get the stadium started cant we raise tuition for it until the stadium is paid off? I know if they had a student vote I am 99.99999999999999999999% sure that it would get approved and passed in a heart beat just like the health center. Thats what they are doing with the new health center (chestnut hall).

Edited January 19, 2007 by Green Mean

Stan R · January 19, 2007

I know that as it is tuition is going up and goes up every year as it is. However for the new health center I think our tuition was raised like $19/semester. To get the stadium started cant we raise tuition for it until the stadium is paid off? I know if they had a student vote I am 99.99999999999999999999% sure that it would get approved and passed in a heart beat just like the health center. Thats what they are doing with the new health center (chestnut hall).

Don't be so sure buddy. Remember the athletic fee increase vote? Failed first time.

January 19, 2007

Actually, it was athletics who pushed their way into the campaign. They were told to keep hands off of those who were/are/have been commited to academic giving.

Early on advancement people were allowed to solicit for the athletic department if they developed their own list of donors. They identified several potential donors who had deep pockets but none has stepped forward. The good news is that they haven't said hell, no either. I'm hoping that the new climate will make at least one of them come forward.

The university also allowed each entity to create their own development officers. The Athletic Department has two full time development officers working on this every day. At least this way we don't have to wait for a few crumbs to fall from the Office of Development. Hopefully, we'll see some major progress soon.

I have also heard of a couple of corporate donors who'll be giving in the one to five million dollar range. Others could follow once the campaign is in full swing.

Strictly my opinion, but I think that this changing of the football program was done in part to motivate these potential donors.

So take heart, guys, I think that this stadium is only 2-3 years away. Then again, I have to think that because I don't know that I'll still be around in 5-8 years.

Green Mean · January 19, 2007

Don't be so sure buddy. Remember the athletic fee increase vote? Failed first time.

Oh ok I didnt know that happened. When was that vote? What was the whole proposal? If it failed then THATS ABSOLUTELY SORRY.

the real grad88 · January 19, 2007

Actually, it was athletics who pushed their way into the campaign. They were told to keep hands off of those who were/are/have been commited to academic giving.
Early on advancement people were allowed to solicit for the athletic department if they developed their own list of donors. They identified several potential donors who had deep pockets but none has stepped forward. The good news is that they haven't said hell, no either. I'm hoping that the new climate will make at least one of them come forward.
The university also allowed each entity to create their own development officers. The Athletic Department has two full time development officers working on this every day. At least this way we don't have to wait for a few crumbs to fall from the Office of Development. Hopefully, we'll see some major progress soon.
I have also heard of a couple of corporate donors who'll be giving in the one to five million dollar range. Others could follow once the campaign is in full swing.
Strictly my opinion, but I think that this changing of the football program was done in part to motivate these potential donors.
So take heart, guys, I think that this stadium is only 2-3 years away. Then again, I have to think that because I don't know that I'll still be around in 5-8 years.

Good insight into the inside situation. When I left Advancement several years ago, they were just beginning to talk about hiring DOs for athletics. I always felt like it would have been better for everyone to work on the same project, one at a time...so that you can freekin get something done and see some results. This situation of having all of the academic departments with their own DOs, working on their own little pet projects is not good IMHO. If everyone would be charged with working on a new stadium until you get the job done, I think we would see some progress. The problem is: Most of the academic departments see athletics as a nuisance at best and as a competitor for their dollars at worst. They never could get the vision that if athletics rise, we would all benefit. I could not stand that aspect of advancement at North Texas. They sure don't have that problem at Baylor do they? Or A&M?