Lehigh Football Nation
June 6th, 2013, 12:54 PM
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/06/report-odu-expansion-delayed-few-months
ODU has sold out all 29 games played at the 76-year-old, 20,068-seat stadium and is preparing to move into Conference USA. The move will mean ODU begins playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA's highest classification, in 2014. Most other ODU sports teams will join Conference USA on July 1.
The stadium is sold out for the 2013 season, with the exception of student tickets and 1,000 set aside for visiting teams, even though ticket prices increased at every level.
The contract with Perkins+Will indicated that Foreman Field likely would be expanded to 33,000 or 35,000 seats.
Harnage would not say what the consultant will recommend.
ODU officials had said the school must also eventually expand the L.R. Hill Sports Complex, where the football team trains, in order to compete with other FBS programs.
"The master plan addresses all of the space needs of the campus that we know about," Harnage said.
Separately, Harnage also is studying how to comply with Conference USA regulations that will require upgrades to the visitor's locker rooms and press box at Foreman Field, at least on a temporary basis. For example, ODU must provide an instant-replay booth in the press box.
"We're going to try to do it in a way that we can meet the requirements" without spending an excessive amount of money on facilities that could be demolished when the stadium is renovated, Harnage said.
Northwestern's recent facilities upgrade (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0915-northwestern-athletics--20120915,0,5426786.story?dssReturn) might be a good comparison point:
Pending final approval Saturday from the board's educational properties committee, the school is prepared to commit between $225 million and $250 million for the project.
Sources expect the on-campus facility to be a "game-changer" for football recruiting, providing a wow factor for recruits and allowing players to practice, lift weights and meet with coaches and academic advisers without having to trudge a mile west to the Ryan Field area.
"The drawings look spectacular," one source said.
Northwestern announced its "master plan" for a massive facilities upgrade in October 2010, and athletic director Jim Phillips presented the findings of a study by sports architectural firm Populous to NU's trustees on Sept. 23, 2011.
The plan met with resistance from those concerned about the price tag and the perception attached to giving prime real estate - with views of the Chicago skyline - to athletics rather than academics.
Let's assume that it's 1/10th the cost of Northwestern's facilities upgrade. That's still potentially a $25 million dollar improvement that isn't "included" in the costs of moving up - even though it's "required" for CUSA membership.
As great as ODU has been in terms of fan support and money, is this the sort of upgrade that they can just do without batting an eyelash?
ODU has sold out all 29 games played at the 76-year-old, 20,068-seat stadium and is preparing to move into Conference USA. The move will mean ODU begins playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA's highest classification, in 2014. Most other ODU sports teams will join Conference USA on July 1.
The stadium is sold out for the 2013 season, with the exception of student tickets and 1,000 set aside for visiting teams, even though ticket prices increased at every level.
The contract with Perkins+Will indicated that Foreman Field likely would be expanded to 33,000 or 35,000 seats.
Harnage would not say what the consultant will recommend.
ODU officials had said the school must also eventually expand the L.R. Hill Sports Complex, where the football team trains, in order to compete with other FBS programs.
"The master plan addresses all of the space needs of the campus that we know about," Harnage said.
Separately, Harnage also is studying how to comply with Conference USA regulations that will require upgrades to the visitor's locker rooms and press box at Foreman Field, at least on a temporary basis. For example, ODU must provide an instant-replay booth in the press box.
"We're going to try to do it in a way that we can meet the requirements" without spending an excessive amount of money on facilities that could be demolished when the stadium is renovated, Harnage said.
Northwestern's recent facilities upgrade (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0915-northwestern-athletics--20120915,0,5426786.story?dssReturn) might be a good comparison point:
Pending final approval Saturday from the board's educational properties committee, the school is prepared to commit between $225 million and $250 million for the project.
Sources expect the on-campus facility to be a "game-changer" for football recruiting, providing a wow factor for recruits and allowing players to practice, lift weights and meet with coaches and academic advisers without having to trudge a mile west to the Ryan Field area.
"The drawings look spectacular," one source said.
Northwestern announced its "master plan" for a massive facilities upgrade in October 2010, and athletic director Jim Phillips presented the findings of a study by sports architectural firm Populous to NU's trustees on Sept. 23, 2011.
The plan met with resistance from those concerned about the price tag and the perception attached to giving prime real estate - with views of the Chicago skyline - to athletics rather than academics.
Let's assume that it's 1/10th the cost of Northwestern's facilities upgrade. That's still potentially a $25 million dollar improvement that isn't "included" in the costs of moving up - even though it's "required" for CUSA membership.
As great as ODU has been in terms of fan support and money, is this the sort of upgrade that they can just do without batting an eyelash?