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<blockquote data-quote="Fuze" data-source="post: 2007669" data-attributes="member: 749685"><p>This got brought up in the Fall when this conversation was more active, and I gave a similar reply. I agree with lowering the field, but not to move seats closer (besides the horseshoe which is comically far from the endzone). We should lower it so the front rows are more elevated, allowing fans in those seats to actually see over all the people around the sideline. As it stands currently, the first 5 rows between the 20s (so right behind the player areas), have the seats completely removed, and outside the 20s, the seats are typically tarped off unless we have enough seats sold. They're rarely sold because the view is terrible. You're just simply too low. </p><p></p><p>As for the amount of space between the sideline and front row on the east side, you can't make it all that much closer. I never saw the stadium before they removed the track, but from all the pictures I've seen, our setup was already incredibly condensed with there being maybe a few feet between the sideline of the field and the edge of the track. We never added seats or lowered the field like many other schools did after removing their track because we never really needed to. For the most part, those schools have all brought their seating to about the same distance as we have right now (some still have more space despite renovations to be closer). You need a certain amount of space behind the player's area purely for the logistical things of gameday. It's pretty tight back there on gameday as it is and making it tighter would make life far too difficult for stadium, team, and media employees to do their job, and when most other schools have as much space or more between the bench and sideline, it's not a sacrifice I imagine the DIA would ever seriously consider making. </p><p></p><p>None of that applies to the horseshoe tho. Get rid of that ugly thing, build something nicer and taller, and move it way closer to the endzone. You need a decent amount of space behind the benches on gamedays, but you only need like max 10ft behind the endzone. Also like I said at the top of my reply, lower the field still, but do it to elevate the fans over the field so we can see and so we can sell tickets in the first row right away instead of selling them last. Lower it like 3-4ft so the walls are about 6-7ft tall total, add a staircase to the field in the 4 corners, and the viewing experience becomes significantly better.</p><p></p><p>Regardless, I doubt this ever happens. I think the financial costs would far outweigh the advantages of doing it because we'd have to lower a lot more than just the field. We'd have to completely redo the northwest tunnel and garage and potentially even lower the entirety of Irwin Dr. to accommodate for lowering the field, and the costs of that would probably be outrageous when all it accomplishes is fix an issue that only a select few of us actually notice.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fuze, post: 2007669, member: 749685"] This got brought up in the Fall when this conversation was more active, and I gave a similar reply. I agree with lowering the field, but not to move seats closer (besides the horseshoe which is comically far from the endzone). We should lower it so the front rows are more elevated, allowing fans in those seats to actually see over all the people around the sideline. As it stands currently, the first 5 rows between the 20s (so right behind the player areas), have the seats completely removed, and outside the 20s, the seats are typically tarped off unless we have enough seats sold. They're rarely sold because the view is terrible. You're just simply too low. As for the amount of space between the sideline and front row on the east side, you can't make it all that much closer. I never saw the stadium before they removed the track, but from all the pictures I've seen, our setup was already incredibly condensed with there being maybe a few feet between the sideline of the field and the edge of the track. We never added seats or lowered the field like many other schools did after removing their track because we never really needed to. For the most part, those schools have all brought their seating to about the same distance as we have right now (some still have more space despite renovations to be closer). You need a certain amount of space behind the player's area purely for the logistical things of gameday. It's pretty tight back there on gameday as it is and making it tighter would make life far too difficult for stadium, team, and media employees to do their job, and when most other schools have as much space or more between the bench and sideline, it's not a sacrifice I imagine the DIA would ever seriously consider making. None of that applies to the horseshoe tho. Get rid of that ugly thing, build something nicer and taller, and move it way closer to the endzone. You need a decent amount of space behind the benches on gamedays, but you only need like max 10ft behind the endzone. Also like I said at the top of my reply, lower the field still, but do it to elevate the fans over the field so we can see and so we can sell tickets in the first row right away instead of selling them last. Lower it like 3-4ft so the walls are about 6-7ft tall total, add a staircase to the field in the 4 corners, and the viewing experience becomes significantly better. Regardless, I doubt this ever happens. I think the financial costs would far outweigh the advantages of doing it because we'd have to lower a lot more than just the field. We'd have to completely redo the northwest tunnel and garage and potentially even lower the entirety of Irwin Dr. to accommodate for lowering the field, and the costs of that would probably be outrageous when all it accomplishes is fix an issue that only a select few of us actually notice. [/QUOTE]
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