Drc: Regents Pass Stadium Proposal

NT80 · August 21, 2009

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...1.fe90a22b.html

Football: Regents pass stadium proposal

12:10 AM CDT on Friday, August 21, 2009

Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas moved another step closer to building a stadium to replace Fouts Field on Thursday, when the Board of Regents approved a proposal for a new venue that athletic director Rick Villarreal said is still taking shape.

The official proposal listed a seating capacity of 28,000 seats, a number that Villarreal said will not be finalized until later in the design, development and construction of the stadium.

“The capacity of that stadium is going to be over 30,000,” Villarreal said. “We have made it a point that we want to have a capacity over 30,000 and the ability to expand to 50,000. Because we have made changes, I could not tell you the exact number of seats until we finish construction, but it is important that we would be able to get 30,000 people in on game day.”

Villarreal said that UNT could get several extra fans into the stadium on the touchdown terrace on the side of the athletic center, a berm behind the end zone for students, and on corporate decks.

UNT is attempting to replace Fouts Field, where the school’s football team has played since 1952. Fouts has a capacity of 30,500.

UNT will take the proposal to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in October.

“I am extremely excited,” Villarreal said. “The students, administration and the Board of Regents have stepped forward, spoken out and said this project is important to us and I would like to thank all of them for their support. It’s important to the university. It is bigger than just a place we are going to play football games. It will change the perception of our football program and the university. We will be able to host events we haven’t hosted before and be able to compete for the best players available.”

UNT’s current schedule calls for substantial construction beginning in February with early phases beginning in November. Villarreal said the school would make sure a large number of fans would be able to participate in any ceremony that would signal the beginning of construction.

UNT’s last home game of the season is Nov. 21 against Army.

The school’s long-term plans to expand the stadium could include adding seating behind an end zone and an upper deck on the east side of the stadium.

UNT has received eight commitments for suites that require a $100,000 commitment over a five-year period.

Villarreal said Thursday’s vote is a key step toward completing the project and that the school would need the continued support of its fans in the next few months.

“It’s now time for our fan base, alumni and supporters to step forward and help us in fundraising and help us finish off this project,” Villarreal said.

Edited August 21, 2009 by NT80

FirefightnRick · August 21, 2009

.... Because we have made changes, I could not tell you the exact number of seats until we finish construction, but it is important that we would be able to get 30,000 people in on game day.”

I couldn't agree more. It is important and it's great to see our leadership thinks so too.

Rick

Edited August 21, 2009 by FirefightnRick

SilverEagle · August 21, 2009

"I could not tell you the exact number of seats until we finish construction,"

....and by then, if it turns out that the final capacity is less than 30K. then it would be too late to do anything about it.

I read somewhere that Ford stadium was built for about 50 mil, and that includes the cost of tearing down Owenby and starting over. Ours is going to cost 78 mil., and we don't have to tear anything down to start construction. Have costs gone up that much?

Edited August 21, 2009 by SilverEagle

LoveMG · August 21, 2009

“The capacity of that stadium is going to be over 30,000,” Villarreal said. “We have made it a point that we want to have a capacity over 30,000 and the ability to expand to 50,000.

there, we won. i doubt we see that figure 28,000 quoted again from anyone in the athletic department.

UNTflyer · August 21, 2009

"I could not tell you the exact number of seats until we finish construction,"
....and by then, if it turns out that the final capacity is less than 30K. then it would be too late to do anything about it.
I read somewhere that Ford stadium was built for about 50 mil, and that includes the cost of tearing down Owenby and starting over. Ours is going to cost 78 mil., and we don't have to tear anything down to start construction. Have costs gone up that much?

When I was your age, soda pops only cost a nickel!!

untcampbell · August 21, 2009

The power of this board continues to amaze:

** 30,000 seats

** Open practices and scrimmages

** College-experienced coaches

** Flexible parking lot maneuvering until 3 pm

** Gilmore took a few snaps from the DE

** Improved Athletic Department website and communication

This web-based community, no all Americans, should be proud (insert Eagle screech and patriotic music here).

GMG

greenminer · August 21, 2009

The power of this board continues to amaze:
This web-based community, no all Americans, should be proud (insert Eagle screech and patriotic music here).
GMG

I was thinking about this in perspective: for whatever reasons - probably a combination of administration problems and the lack of winning - we have become pretty cynical/bitter about our football program around here.

But, for a positive spin: I think the fact that people are being so nit-picky and vocal in their complaints means they (we) care.

stebo · August 21, 2009

The power of this board continues to amaze:
** 30,000 seats
** Open practices and scrimmages
** College-experienced coaches
** Flexible parking lot maneuvering until 3 pm
** Gilmore took a few snaps from the DE
** Improved Athletic Department website and communication
This web-based community, no all Americans, should be proud (insert Eagle screech and patriotic music here).
GMG

ROTFLMAO - it is kinda funny how every single thing above is just something that this board bitched about... but if you look at each thing, nothing has changed - it was just the board knee-jerking. I will take that passion over a dead board without anyone caring at all. I seriously doubt that Coach Dodge opened up a few practices as a result of complaints on the board, but maybe he did. I doubt that Coach hired new coaches because of the board but rather due to learning from his own mistakes. The parking lot rules have not actually changes since last year - and King explained that, but screw it - the BOARD fixed the problem! We have Tight Ends because of the board now. I didn't know that the AD was redesigning the official website until a post on here - but that post wasn't a suggestion, it was the link to the newly launched website. Lots of urban legends up there, next thing you know you will be telling me about death panels and how the Eagle's Next (Formeryly Non UNT Sports) got rid of them from health care reform when they didn't even exist in the first place! AHHAHAHAHAHA!

untcampbell · August 21, 2009

Agree.

(for the record, I could not find the sarcasm font for my post above but it should be read that way)

Any business should listen to its customers. Especially when said customers communicate DIRECTLY with the business. However, I don't believe we should take credit for bringing up something through the kind of knee jerk reaction that permeates this board only to find out that the information that caused the reaction in the first place was inaccurate.

And I understand that, in fact, many changes have occurred in relation to factual situations, i.e. the purported QB under center, et al.

That said, the only regret I have about the improvement we MAY (I believe the word should be LIKELY) see in 2009 is the post we will see from The Fake taking credit for the number of wins while noting that we would have one X more games had we gotten rid of ALL of the high school coaches.

But, GMG.

Edited August 21, 2009 by untcampbell

KRAM1 · August 21, 2009

Nice to see this crap put to bed....as I said...and will stay with...when the final plans are completed and building starts we can get excited OR NOT over the stadium capacity...RV has said again the stadium capacity will be 30,000+. I hope that puts all this talk about "bait and switch", etc. to bed.

BIG point...we need 30,000+ rear ends in the seats when the stadium opens...and, by golly, we could use 30,000+ rears in the stands at Fouts for the first home game this season. How about everyone here quit complaining long enough to make sure you are at Fouts for that first home game with several of your friends/family who have not been attending games? And, how about some of you folks here who admit to not going to games and not buying tickets to just "get over whatever it is" and give it a new try for the first game? You might find that the fun you have outweighs everything else. The atmosphere before and during the games is so much better than it was that you might just find that you really enjoy the Mean Green spirit once again.

If GMG.com folks are so influential, as some here so indicate, then why not turn that influence into something positive like trying to fill Fouts for the first home game (and every home game for that matter)? What do you think?

GO MEAN GREEN!

August 21, 2009

I think that Scott (untcampbell) is right on. The things that he pointed out (I might even add the quarterback not in shotgun) all did not exist before complaints by the BOARD. Would they have existed had there been no dissention? Probably. Were all just impeccable timing or was the seed planted by this Board?

This Board does not have the power to change anything, per se, but sometimes the power of suggestion by enough people = the power of persuasion.

Edited August 21, 2009 by GrayEagleOne

KRAM1 · August 21, 2009

When I was your age, soda pops only cost a nickel!!

Flyer, I hate to be the one to tell you this....BUT you are no where near the age of SilverEagle! :lol:

FireFightnJoey · August 21, 2009

The power of this board continues to amaze:
** 30,000 seats
** Open practices and scrimmages
** College-experienced coaches
** Flexible parking lot maneuvering until 3 pm
** Gilmore took a few snaps from the DE
** Improved Athletic Department website and communication
This web-based community, no all Americans, should be proud (insert Eagle screech and patriotic music here).
GMG

The official proposal listed a seating capacity of 28,000 seats, a number that Villarreal said will not be finalized until later in the design, development and construction of the stadium.
“The capacity of that stadium is going to be over 30,000,” Villarreal said. “We have made it a point that we want to have a capacity over 30,000 and the ability to expand to 50,000. Because we have made changes, I could not tell you the exact number of seats until we finish construction, but it is important that we would be able to get 30,000 people in on game day.”
Villarreal said that UNT could get several extra fans into the stadium on the touchdown terrace on the side of the athletic center, a berm behind the end zone for students, and on corporate decks.

Still 28,00 seats, but 30,000+ capacity if we can get some people to fill the endzone berm, blah, blah.

NT1978 · August 21, 2009

When I was your age, soda pops only cost a nickel!!

Flyer, I hate to be the one to tell you this....BUT you are no where near the age of SilverEagle!

With the way the economy is going it might be true when the time comes.

MeanGreen61 · August 21, 2009

We're fortunate to be able to build any kind of stadium considering todays business/financial climate. Looking forward to 2011 !

FirefightnRick · August 21, 2009

The power of this board continues to amaze:
** 30,000 seats
** Open practices and scrimmages
** College-experienced coaches
** Flexible parking lot maneuvering until 3 pm
** Gilmore took a few snaps from the DE
** Improved Athletic Department website and communication
This web-based community, no all Americans, should be proud (insert Eagle screech and patriotic music here).
GMG

And lets add to your list, although I don't have the video of your ears turning red as you were giving it to the Junior Mean Green Spirit line staff last year after they flubbed it towards the end of the season and our kids didn't get to participate. This one below is a gasser!:

Kram bitching about no tailgating at Soccer games.

Kram posted:

OK, so my wife and I are sitting in the stands watching the game. There are some UNT fans outside the stadium at the end nearest 35W when some campus cops come up and it appears they tell them to put out the grill and that they cannot tailgate. The young lady sitting next to us who is/was associated with the soccer program told us that a group of parents wanted to tailgate before the game and they were told they couldn't...only tailgate allowed was at football games. WHAT IS THAT??????? Are you kidding me? I can understand if they couldn't light up a grill...OK, so be it, but how about sandwiches, chips, beer and sodas???? No fire danger there, right?
If the info I received is true...shame on UNT for finding yet another way to discourage fans and to stamp out enthusiasm for UNT athletics. This is VERY hard for me to understand...and I will definitely check into the info I got from the young lady to see if it is true or not...there just has to be another side to this story. There often is...I do so hope there is to this one. Good grief. Anyone here have any additional info on this????
If this is true...it is plain STUPID! And, one of the things that just keeps people from getting into UNT athletics and becoming real fans who buy tickets and make donations. Go figure...but, we'll see. Unless someone from the athletic dept. who knows the full story wants to post a reply here, I will let you know what i find out...at least to those who care...
GO MEAN GREEN!

Hey, you go Classic!. Put your foot down in defense for people in a parking lot you more than likely don't even know, but over something YOU feel strongly about. But when someone else, one of our own who you've known for 30 years makes one concerning comment about what was reported about the stadium from a BOR meeting on a message board and he's UNDER THE BUS?

Rick

The Fake Lonnie Finch · August 21, 2009

Well, somebody reads it since Rick Villareal called me this spring to discuss some of the things I'd posted. If not Rick himself, then his toady who once thought I was Kenny Evans. Either way, whatever gets posted here does get into the mix.