The first thing Whitman's done that's really disappointed me. I get that facilities are important for recruiting and training of athletes but after all the build up for a stadium reno this is very blah.
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Memorial Stadium Renovation Postponed
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The first thing Whitman's done that's really disappointed me. I get that facilities are important for recruiting and training of athletes but after all the build up for a stadium reno this is very blah.
kind of felt like it was going that way after months of nothing
illinifaninwi
- DeForest, Wisconsin
Josh Whitman really gets it. This facility will be top-notch. Also very pleased to hear about a new baseball stadium.
FT35
- Naperville
Anymore information about this? As one of the few people here who follows Illinois baseball religiously this gets me really excited! It's long overdue.
I know the idea of attracting a Frontier League team to Champaign in order to get a stadium upgrade was floated around years ago but the absence of beer sales at an on campus facility put a stop to that. Having the team play off campus was not appealing at all.
Slight disappointment, but I'll wait to see the plans to judge. I'm wondering to what extent this will renovate or change the parts within MS today in that corner. Ideally this would include a full teardown/rebuild of the entire NW corner of MS as well (aside from the ramp tower). Make Lovie's office and perhaps a recruiting area elevated in the space between the north end zone student section and the NW ramp tower, with giant windows overlooking the field (about where that unused roof is right now above the current locker room). Then add brand new locker rooms and meeting rooms built underneath.
Then build a new weight room/training center/dining area/etc. in the space just south of Irwin, running from MS to 4th street. Perhaps even connected to MS if we can do it respectfully. Should be able to incorporate most of the player-centric items they were planning to do down in the south end zone.
Still hoping improving the shape of seating in the Horseshoe and moving it closer to the field will be sooner rather than later though. That empty space looks so bad on gameday.
Then build a new weight room/training center/dining area/etc. in the space just south of Irwin, running from MS to 4th street. Perhaps even connected to MS if we can do it respectfully. Should be able to incorporate most of the player-centric items they were planning to do down in the south end zone.
Still hoping improving the shape of seating in the Horseshoe and moving it closer to the field will be sooner rather than later though. That empty space looks so bad on gameday.
I might be wrong, but my impression is the following: the rebuild of the south horseshoe was first a lot bigger than 132 mil and the school has other priorities (although they've never worried about their budget before) second, the football athletic offices and training center under and on top of the south grandstand facilities would be at its completion a disjointed facility. It was always a bad idea to separate the offices and training from the indoor facility.
I do like the idea of rebuilding the horseshoe to adapt to todays needs for fans but it was really the wrong place for the team. Get the team in a first class practice and training facility that they can tour recruits in, deal with the south grandstand later.
I do like the idea of rebuilding the horseshoe to adapt to todays needs for fans but it was really the wrong place for the team. Get the team in a first class practice and training facility that they can tour recruits in, deal with the south grandstand later.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As a selfish fan, all I cared about was fixing the embarrassingly ugly SEZ, an inexcusable wart on an otherwise gorgeous and iconic stadium. Huge bummer.
I'm disappointed on two levels. One because I wanted to see the horse shoe renovated, but mainly bc I ditched my seats in the horseshoe for the $300 deal because I thought the seats would be changed in a year.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Really disappointed. SEZ needs to get done asap.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
From an out-of-state, not season ticket holder position as a fan, this is the right move. Spend money on the player facilities to attract better recruits, which theoretically translates to more wins, which means more excitement and demand for more seats, which means more money, which ultimately means the stadium gets down when it's more needed. Gotta crawl before you walk, and this helps us crawl faster.
peace davids
- Colorado
I'm ok with this. I want the MS renovation to be a full effort in an attempt to bring everything together for the greatness of the facility. The East was a piece, the NEZ was a piece - but both are really independent to the grand scheme of the stadium. I felt like the horseshoe was moving in that direction to - yet another independent piece that would fit a specific goal, but not necessarily part of the grand architectural plan.
MS is a jewel - renovations really need to do it justice. I think Whitman gets that, and doesn't want to do a sub-par job with it (given less than desired funds)
MS is a jewel - renovations really need to do it justice. I think Whitman gets that, and doesn't want to do a sub-par job with it (given less than desired funds)
BS, that is no BS.
All this discussion so far and not one mention of the Lovie effect. Lovie's reasoned voice is being heard loud and clear. Remember, JW is still a young pup in his position. When these new facilities result in more fans in the seats, the the SEZ will be taken care of. I can wait.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Yep. Ultimately it's about winning. Remember #wewillwin? Better recruits are gonna help you win. More seats is not. More seats will come after the winning. Lovie and Whitman are making sure they don't put the cart before the horse which is the smart move.
(On a side note, it's gonna take me some time to get used to all these smart moves after so many decades of the opposite!)
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