If it can be worked around on the rare times when the indoor needs to be used then why would we focus the entire project around connecting the facility to the indoor?
Glad this isn't an internet argument. Not my intent.
I'll respectfully return a question prior to answering yours...Why the fixation on the SEZ? Why confuse the issues of "fan experience" and getting the team the best that money can buy to help it win....which is the biggest influencer of fan experience and recruiting that there is. We already have the big jumbotron, a decent sound system.... and luxury boxes. Its not like those areas are totally lacking so I don't see the emergency in that area. (question: were the original SEZ plans drawn up before we had those things??) IMHO, the emergency is in the facilities that go into making the product BEFORE game day.
The indoor field is most important in the off season to maximize flexibility in designing off season workouts and to save precious time. For
full-team work it is a backup for inclement weather or when doing walk thrus or pre-game stuff where you'd rather have players paying attention rather than focusing on how they are freezing their asses off because practice isn't a ball-buster. So an 80yrd field, while not optimal is not a disaster. But given that the current field is simply a metal box with a turf floor... if build a new complex over there then it might make sense to simply go ahead and redo that and make it 100yds or whatever Lovie needs. Or, better yet, build the new building to encompass the footprint of where the indoor field is now (and more), then put in a new indoor field and have a door going out to one grass field on the South end. So if you feel the need to practice on grass...you walk across the indoor turn and go outside. This also addresses some other point that was made about the indoor facility needing replacing in a few years. Do. It. Now!
I'll use Iowa as an example again. ... They didn't build their complex in the Kinnick parking lot and make stadium improvements at the same time. They built a stand alone facility that connects to their practice fields (indoor and out). Now this year they are going to start on improving one of their end zones. Two separate projects. Two separate purposes.
Most importantly... I think that the SEZ site has more constraints.. and will involve road closures etc. etc. Build where I am talking about and its darn near a green field. Construction will be easier, and quicker and cheaper. I'd think. Maximum flexibility to do whatever is needed to give us the best... and there won't be anyone 5 years from now asking, "so why did we spend $XXXMM to put our locker room and training facilities FARTHER away from our indoor practice field than they are now." Lol.
We do that and then improve the stadium as a separate project... except maybe then we'll be talking about ADDING capacity... and not simply because more Ohio State fans want to come to watch their team play.
And in the end... not one thing said on this thread will have an impact on anything!