Football
I appreciate all the feedback on the stadium. It justified all the hassle the university gave me in acquiring the rendering.
Here are some of my thoughts…
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There are no lights clearly shown in the photo. They must be either hidden in the facing of the press box or left out of the drawing as an oversight. If UA built a stadium without lights — especially after all the angst associated with the Rubber Bowl's lights and considering the MAC's best shot for national television is on weekday nights — everyone should be fired. Rest assured. There will be light.
Parking is another concern for many. I don't see it as a huge problem. People want to park in a giant deck right next to the stadium. Truth is, even a large deck only would account for about 1,000 spaces. And that would add several million dollars to the project. There are two pretty big decks within shouting distance of the stadium complex, not to mention countless lots and private houses that wouldn't mind using their crummy lawns to make some sweet cash. My issue is tailgating. If I can't tailgate before a Zips game, I will not be a happy or generous alumnus.
I'm not sure what to make of all the negativity from people commenting on my blog, even from UA alumni. OK, I understand the Zips may have been a second-rate program when you went to school. That might have even created some bitterness inside you. But be happy the program now possesses the weapons (Stile Field House included) to win the MAC recruiting battles and possibly advance to a better conference in the next 20 years. Heck, go back and take a class or two so you can feel like you're part of the new "Akron U." (Psst. It's called UA now.)
I specifically requested public information related to the buildings that are surrounding the stadium to the south and east. I suspect they are dorms. If UA instead will lease those properties to other private businesses, the university could have some fun in court. If I'm Joe of Joe's Sun Bar (assuming a guy named Joe owns it), that would be of serious interest to me. Eminent domain is not nearly a slam dunk when you're taking from private business owners and giving to other private business owners. There are some famous Supreme Court cases involving just that, which I plan to look into. The board of trustees, however, will not vote on the other properties just yet, so the university does not have to commit at this point.
I don't know if UA's VP of capital planning Ted Curtis reads this blog. If he does, I came up with a cool idea while walking downtown today. Why not replace the script "Q" atop the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Quaker Square with a Zips logo? That would be a neat way of connecting the university to downtown, which has been a goal long before Luis Proenza took over. The university bought Quaker Square to use as dorms to make up for the rooms to be demolished for the stadium.
A poster on ZipsNation.org uploaded a photo of the University of Virginia's football stadium, which is a horseshoe shape with a grassy hill in the open end zone for seating. It's hard to tell on the rendering if Akron's stadium includes that as well, but it might. I traveled with the team to Charlottesville, Va., in 2004 and it was a genuine college football experience.
Props to Stan Piatt for the shout out on 100.1 FM WNIR this morning. Also props to Steve French who praised the Buchtelite the day before.
The stadium has brought a lot more visitors to this blog. Just so you know, I cover mainly men's basketball and football on a daily basis. Feel free to e-mail me anytime with comments, questions or anger. My address is mike_rasor@yahoo.com. Or you can IM me: MRasor0200.
A new scholarship offer…
Russell Ellington, outside linebacker, Homewood, Ill.
Offers: Akron, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Michigan State, Western Michigan and Eastern Illinois
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 203
Speed: 4.6
Notes: Scout.com lists Ellington as the nation's No. 67 wide receiver.
Likelihood: Ellington committed early to Iowa State but recently decommitted. He wants to take a few visits, but still says the Cyclones are in the lead. Bill Simmons would liken it to visiting a few strip clubs on the eve of your wedding night. Ellington specifically mentioned Akron and Wake Forest in a Rivals.com story. Ellington has "low" interest in fellow MAC member Western Michigan.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
One detail I thought that was pretty amusing in the rendering is the giant Pepsi sign on the back of the scoreboard. Is that some kind of secret clue or did Pepsi already buy the rights to the scoreboard?
Also, about all the gripes over the parking situation, there are always people complaining needlessly about parking at UA. It is a constant amid so much change going on at the campus. The infamous gravel "lot 9" (soon to be replaced by the stadium) and the east parking deck remained nearly empty for the entire school year. There is parking. People are just too lazy to walk a hundred yards from their car to the classroom/stadium/whatever.
The eminent domain issue may not even materialize. If those "dorms" in the drawing are anyhting like the new one on Exchange, Joe's Sun may end up re-incarnated as one of the street level shops that will likely be put there. We'll see.
When you do your eminent domain research pay particular attention to the recent US supreme court decision which allows private property to be taken solely because the new use to which the property will be put will increase local property tax revenues. Effectively this means the U would have a fun time in court because they will win.
You wanted the plans Rasor and said you had a legal right to them. Methinks a little detail like the lights is in part of the 5% remaining to be done. I'm betting they'll be atop the Pressbox/sky boxes and behind the other section like in the first renderings.
I don't get the big fuss over not parking right next to the stadium. Is it that time of the month, or what?! Geez. People can't be happy about anything! I think it's actually good to NOT have parking right next to the stadium: encourage people to walk a little bit!!! Right past the bars & restaurants that will spring up on Exchange and downtown due to this key development. Having a ton of parking right next to the stadium would decrease the foot traffic in the surrounding area. This way, people can have a drink, or nice dinner, before the game, take a little walk through our beautiful new campus or revitalized downtown, and then enjoy a football game in our gorgeous new stadium! STOP COMPLAINING!
Two things that come to mind
1) Parking will not be an issue. There are some decks (east of the JAR off of Goodkirk) and one at Exchange/Wolf Ledges, not to mention numerous side streets (unless the City imposes parking bans during games)
2) Has there been any talk about the type of field – ie: artificial turf, field turf (like whats in the current fieldhouse/practice facility) or grass?
Good point, Rob. Let parents and their kids walk through campus. Although probably unintentional, that's a great marketing tool.
Mark, good question about the turf. I would assume Field Turf because that is what the team practices on, outside or in. Also, I believe almost every MAC team has gone to Field Turf because the maintenance is cheaper.
Big Guy, I zoomed in very close on the rendering. I think I can see light stands in the endzones.
UAkid, I think it's fair to assume Pepsi will have its brand all over the stadium. They went out of their way to include the logo on the rendering.
It will be field turf. They've already said they'll be letting the HS use it and you don't want grass with multiple users. Artificial turf is going the way of the dinosaur with field turf which is 100 times better and safer.
mrasor, I believe if look closely you can see lights across the top of the Press box/Sky boxes. No doubt they'll have lights IMO.
My buddy house and I were hanging out with a couple hookers (don't tell the sports gal) when I was thinking about two things. 1: ESPN censors me and I will continue to whine about it. 2: Why doesn't the new stadium in Akron resemble Fenway Pawk. Someone should get on this. Also. Why not film a reality show where the contestants compete in a bunch of Akron related challenges and the winner will get to be the first person to sit in the student seating. This should be a show. It will be better than this idea my buddy Jack-o had for a show. Now, back to my mail bag.
/end Bill Simmons.
Hookers? Jack-o? "Bag?" Kiel's having more fun than Akron allows.
I'm a '76 grad and the most incredible thing about all of this to me is that The Sun is still in business!!! My frat house was nearby (long departed Phi Psi) and I remember spending many hours there.
Oh yeah, the stadium looks great too. It's amazing what 30 years of progress will do.
On the stadium parking, I'm thinking there will be some sort of shuttle service around campus on game days.