FCS Indoor Practice Facilities

[gvilleapp]

Appalachian expects to open its indoor practice facility this summer. The foundation is finished and structural steel is now in place. It will have a 80 yd X 60 yd. field turf surface that will allow normal practices during snow and rain, something we really need with our climate.

Do any other other FCS schools have a facility like this?

[DetroitFlyer]

Dayton is in the process of opening up one as well.

[DFW HOYA]

Do any other other FCS schools have a facility like this?

What's a practice facility? xeyebrowx

[MplsBison]

Dayton is in the process of opening up one as well.

Serious?

If that's true then that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

If you have the financial commitment to get a multi million dollar facility built, then why the heck aren't you increasing scholarships?

[MplsBison]

What's a practice facility? xeyebrowx

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/lou/graphics/tragercentermain-350.jpg

[PapaBear]

Maine has an air-supported bubble/dome about the same size (I think it's 65 or 70 yards long, not 80) with field turf.

No plans for a steel-supported structure, that I know of.

[MplsBison]

I think the self supporting buildings are about 10 million whereas the inflated bubbles are probably only a couple million.


Weird that Maine has fieldturf indoors but astro at the stadium.

[Lionsrking]

Appalachian expects to open its indoor practice facility this summer. The foundation is finished and structural steel is now in place. It will have a 80 yd X 60 yd. field turf surface that will allow normal practices during snow and rain, something we really need with our climate.

Do any other other FCS schools have a facility like this?


Central Arkansas has one.

[tarmac]

what school is that in the pic ture above? What is the length and width and the field?

[dbackjon]

Well, NAU has the dome, so can always practice indoors :)



(except during basketball/indoor track season) xbangx

[BeauFoster]

The pic is of UofLouisville's practice facility. From the website:


The indoor practice facility features a 120-yard FieldTurf field, a 100-meter four-lane sprint track, pole vault and long jump pits, as well as, batting cages for both baseball and softball. It's also equipped for the soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams to use.


http://uoflsports.cstv.com/facilities/lou-trager-center.html

[DetroitFlyer]

http://daytonflyers.cstv.com/facilities/PAC.html

Ours is a multi-purpose indoor facility. The old physical activities center, ( PAC ), was replaced by a new, $25 million center for the university. The old center is being renovated to further support UD athletics, including football. We also have a new, very nice outdoor practice field, in addition to Welcome Stadium. Once you review the above link, check out some of the other information on the site. The current opening screen advertises our spring game on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

We may not provide scholarships, but we have facilities that rival any school in FCS.

[GOKATS]

MSU is in the capital campaign phase for facility improvements, one of which is an indoor practice facility- the plan is to have a full 100 yard field encompassed by a 5 lane 300 meter track.

[dbackjon]

http://daytonflyers.cstv.com/facilities/PAC.html

Ours is a multi-purpose indoor facility. The old physical activities center, ( PAC ), was replaced by a new, $25 million center for the university. The old center is being renovated to further support UD athletics, including football. We also have a new, very nice outdoor practice field, in addition to Welcome Stadium. Once you review the above link, check out some of the other information on the site. The current opening screen advertises our spring game on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

We may not provide scholarships, but we have facilities that rival any school in FCS.

Which is PRECISELY why schools like Dayton must compete in D-I for ALL Sports. It is not fair to small D-III schools to have to play the Dayton's of the world in Football.

[MplsBison]

Which is PRECISELY why schools like Dayton must compete in D-I for ALL Sports. It is not fair to small D-III schools to have to play the Dayton's of the world in Football.


Exactly.


And now that they're here you'd think they might as well try to add some scholarships and compete.

Who knows, maybe they'd be the next Miami OH.



I suppose title IX is holding them back.

[MplsBison]

MSU is in the capital campaign phase for facility improvements, one of which is an indoor practice facility- the plan is to have a full 100 yard field encompassed by a 5 lane 300 meter track.

Like Akron's?

http://www.nmnathletics.com.edgesuite.net/pics19/0/HD/HDFYBBNCXQQBLMQ.20060629160134.jpg

[EKU05]

Which is PRECISELY why schools like Dayton must compete in D-I for ALL Sports. It is not fair to small D-III schools to have to play the Dayton's of the world in Football.


You nailed it. That statement should be the end of that discussion forever (but it won't be).

[EKU05]

The pic is of UofLouisville's practice facility. From the website:




http://uoflsports.cstv.com/facilities/lou-trager-center.html


I live in Louisville. It's a terrific facility...and only about 2 or 3 years old I think. It's within spitting distance of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium itself which is about to be expanded to around 63,000 in capacity (all chairback...as far as I know it's still the only on campus college stadium in the country that can claim that). My point being that Louisville is seriously competing with the big boys in terms of facilities now.

As for EKU...

We don't have an indoor practice facility. Incliment weather usually sends the team into the side by side basketball courts of Weaver Gymnasium...which was the main basketball facility prior to 1962. It's an old building.

We do have a full size field turf practice field out near the Presnell football building now, but the Roy Kidd Stadium field is still natural grass for the time being (so obviously the team doesn't practice in the stadium itself).

[JoshUCA]

http://www.ucasports.com/ucasports.asp?id=7
Above is a link to UCA's facility...the Pepsi Americas Center. It does not have all the bell's & whistles, but it gets the job done.

A few more pics can be found here:http://sandbox.ucafans.com/photostack/index.php?gallery=./Facilities/Pepsi%20Center

[Mich Griz]

MSU is in the capital campaign phase for facility improvements, one of which is an indoor practice facility- the plan is to have a full 100 yard field encompassed by a 5 lane 300 meter track.


Serious?

If that's true then that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

If you have the financial commitment to get a multi million dollar facility built, then why the heck don't you get some winning teams firts.

[Reed Rothchild]

UNI has a terrific DOME that they get access to whenever they want. Now that the basketball teams have an arena they don't have to share that anymore.

[dbackjon]

Serious?

If that's true then that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

If you have the financial commitment to get a multi million dollar facility built, then why the heck don't you get some winning teams firts.

MSU's Football team has five straight winning seasons, including 3 Big Sky titles (all shared). Seem to be doing a good job at that...

[GOKATS]

MSU's Football team has five straight winning seasons, including 3 Big Sky titles (all shared). Seem to be doing a good job at that...

.....and the Cats have beat the griz 3 out of the last 5.xnodx xlolx

[BEAR]

http://www.ucasports.com/ucasports.asp?id=7
Above is a link to UCA's facility...the Pepsi Americas Center. It does not have all the bell's & whistles, but it gets the job done.

A few more pics can be found here:http://sandbox.ucafans.com/photostack/index.php?gallery=./Facilities/Pepsi%20Center

Yeah, the $2 million Pepsi Center also has a bathroom for those much needed breaks.....

http://t2.images.live.com/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1133367988773&id=64b48913361c1b8db5a874296c66c367

[GOKATS]

Like Akron's?

http://www.nmnathletics.com.edgesuite.net/pics19/0/HD/HDFYBBNCXQQBLMQ.20060629160134.jpg

Must be similar, that's about the only info that's been released so far.

[CatFan22]

Serious?

If that's true then that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

If you have the financial commitment to get a multi million dollar facility built, then why the heck don't you get some winning teams firts.

See: dbackjon's response.

[AZGrizFan]

.....and the Cats have beat the griz 3 out of the last 5.xnodx xlolx

And 3 out of the last, what, 21? xrolleyesx :D

[FlyYtown]

Youngstown State will be building one in the next 2-4 years. I personally think they are just waiting to move the current turf over to it when they build it; because in 2010 I believe we are getting new field turf at Stambaugh once again.

Our's will have a track according to documents I have read, but will not be nearly as nice as Akron's..... Could this lead to the MAC?
WE CAN ONLY HOPE!

[andy7171]

http://daytonflyers.cstv.com/facilities/PAC.html

Ours is a multi-purpose indoor facility. The old physical activities center, ( PAC ), was replaced by a new, $25 million center for the university. The old center is being renovated to further support UD athletics, including football. We also have a new, very nice outdoor practice field, in addition to Welcome Stadium. Once you review the above link, check out some of the other information on the site. The current opening screen advertises our spring game on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

We may not provide scholarships, but we have facilities that rival any school in FCS.
If you consider this an indoor practice facility for football, then Towson uses their Towson Center facility for practice too. Although I think there is a huge difference between having a turf field to actually practice on normally and having a rubberized court to basically walk through plays and run sprints in.


MSU is in the capital campaign phase for facility improvements, one of which is an indoor practice facility- the plan is to have a full 100 yard field encompassed by a 5 lane 300 meter track.
Am I the only one who thinks that tracks around indoor practice fields looks ugly? :D

[PapaBear]

Weird that Maine has fieldturf indoors but astro at the stadium.

You got that right. They're working on getting FieldTurf for the stadium, too ... hopefully before this coming season.

[BeauFoster]

Am I the only one who thinks that tracks around indoor practice fields looks ugly? :D


Ask 95% of the ASU fans out there and they will not only agree with you about tracks and practice fields, they will complete the thought and include stadiums, too! xlolx

[NE MT GRIZZ]

MSU is in the capital campaign phase for facility improvements, one of which is an indoor practice facility- the plan is to have a full 100 yard field encompassed by a 5 lane 300 meter track.

That would be an incredible enhancement for you guys.
I know the track team would love a 300m track.
You don't have to run those tight turns.

Opportunites to make money on all kinds of camps.

Batting cages would be nice too.xthumbsupx

[CopperCat]

Serious?

If that's true then that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

If you have the financial commitment to get a multi million dollar facility built, then why the heck don't you get some winning teams firts.

We've had plenty of winning teams recently (at least in football).

If you haven't been paying attention, the last few years have been plagued by weather when spring drills start. They get put off, sometimes for up to a week or more, and the team doesn't get as much practice time. The practice fields are at the east end of the valley where the weather gets rather nasty (I've watched it for 17 years, I should know) so an indoor facility makes alot of sense. While UM had just finished up spring drills, MSU had barely started because the weather was still bad.

[citdog]

REAL MEN PRACTICE AND PLAY OUTDOORS!

[dbackjon]

REAL MEN PRACTICE AND PLAY OUTDOORS!


Tell ya what - take your butt up to Bozeman, or Fargo and practice in below freezing temps, with snow falling, and then get back to us :D

[CopperCat]

Tell ya what - take your butt up to Bozeman, or Fargo and practice in below freezing temps, with snow falling, and then get back to us :D

I had a buddy who went to the Citadel citdog, and I know that your weather down there doesn't even come close to what we've got going on up here. dback is spot on! ITS FLIPPIN' COLD HERE IN THE SPRINGTIME WHEN THE SNOW IS FLYING AND THE WIND IS BLOWING!!!

[appfan2008]

http://www.ucasports.com/ucasports.asp?id=7
Above is a link to UCA's facility...the Pepsi Americas Center. It does not have all the bell's & whistles, but it gets the job done.

A few more pics can be found here:http://sandbox.ucafans.com/photostack/index.php?gallery=./Facilities/Pepsi%20Center
wow that is one nice facility you guys have... very impressive

[JoshUCA]

wow that is one nice facility you guys have... very impressive

Thanks...we are proud of it!

[citdog]

I had a buddy who went to the Citadel citdog, and I know that your weather down there doesn't even come close to what we've got going on up here. dback is spot on! ITS FLIPPIN' COLD HERE IN THE SPRINGTIME WHEN THE SNOW IS FLYING AND THE WIND IS BLOWING!!!

you do have roads and airplanes that will take you away from all of that nonsense don't you?

[dbackjon]

you do have roads and airplanes that will take you away from all of that nonsense don't you?

so they should move spring practice to Arizona? xrolleyesx

[citdog]

so they should move spring practice to Arizona? xrolleyesx

maybe, but people shouldn't live in climates not conducive to human life

[dbackjon]

maybe, but people shouldn't live in climates not conducive to human life

Like Charleston? :D :hateshumidity:

[GOKATS]

maybe, but people shouldn't live in climates not conducive to human life

We'll put up with a little cold and snow to avoid certain sub-species.xnodx We don't need gills to breath the air. :D

[citdog]

We'll put up with a little cold and snow to avoid certain sub-species.xnodx We don't need gills to breath the air. :D

And what species would that be?

[CopperCat]

you do have roads and airplanes that will take you away from all of that nonsense don't you?

Unless you know of an airplane big enough that can move an entire college and its fanbase to somewhere more temperate, I'd say that we are going nowhere.

[igo4uni]

maybe, but people shouldn't live in climates not conducive to human life

I actually enjoy the 4 seasons.

[GOKATS]

And what species would that be?

You had your ticket pulled on another train........

I'll leave it at that.

[appfan2008]

I actually enjoy the 4 seasons.
as do i and that 3 inches of snow last night in boone was wonderful

[Appstate29]

as do i and that 3 inches of snow last night in boone was wonderful

:pumpuke:

[citdog]

You had your ticket pulled on another train........

I'll leave it at that.

i have no idea what you are talking about

[Hammerhead]

Since this is one reason why the Montana schools aren't playing this spring, how many teams have indoor practice facilities outside of the MVFC? Northern Arizona and Idaho have indoor stadiums and may not have separate indoor practice fields. NDSU is almost ready to start work on a dedicated facility for football although the Fargodome has been available most of the spring and we have a bubble that is mostly used by the women's soccer team.

[melloware13]

UD converted their field house from an indoor track (used to host basketball way back) to indoor facility at some point this decade, I'd like to say around 2015.

[Sader87]

Holy Cross does...this video is a couple years old....I think the indoor football field is 80yds in length.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs9nxbZJJ_g

[Schism55]

Holy 14 year old thread necro Batman!

[JALMOND]

Portland State needs to first work on getting an on-campus stadium, then we can worry about an indoor practice facility.

btw...whatever happened to the indoor practice facility the Montana State fans were boasting about 14 years ago (early on in this thread)?