JMU Stadium Expansion Video

[SkinsWizDukes]

Wow, this is going to be an incredible stadium!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxibToE1S7A

[Dane96]

Ummmm....yeah...I would assume FBS is in the cards one day.

[jmu_duke07]

All I can say is, WOW!

[rufus]

Ummmm....yeah...I would assume FBS is in the cards one day.
There's no plan for FBS right now, but the administration would consider a move if the right opportunity presents itself. I guess you could argue that the stadium expansion will increase the likelyhood of such an opportunity presenting itself though. Right now there's just nowhere for JMU to go in FBS, so I don't see JMU making the move any time soon unless it does so with several other regional FCS schools.

There's no doubt that JMU is going to have one of the best facilities in FCS. Even if only Phase I is built, I would probably rank Bridgeforth among the top 5 in FCS.

[aust42]

Very nice. Should ensure landing quality recruits year in and year out with those facilities. What is the seating capacity?

[JmuSkinsfan]

Very nice. Should ensure landing quality recruits year in and year out with those facilities. What is the seating capacity?

After Phase I: 24,950
After Phase II: 34,000
After Phase III: 40,000

that's at least what i've heard

[Dane96]

There's no plan for FBS right now, but the administration would consider a move if the right opportunity presents itself. I guess you could argue that the stadium expansion will increase the likelyhood of such an opportunity presenting itself though. Right now there's just nowhere for JMU to go in FBS, so I don't see JMU making the move any time soon unless it does so with several other regional FCS schools.

There's no doubt that JMU is going to have one of the best facilities in FCS. Even if only Phase I is built, I would probably rank Bridgeforth among the top 5 in FCS.

I meant, if all phases are built. If you go over 30k...you are not staying FCS...no matter what they are saying now.

[Kiss My Apps]

Incredible...xbowx

What are the timetables for completions of each phase and has the funding for each phase been completed?

[mcveyrl]

Incredible...xbowx

What are the timetables for completions of each phase and has the funding for each phase been completed?

Phase I is in the works and is to be completed by 2010, but I don't believe any timetable has been announced on anything else.

My guess is the administration wanted the architects to design something like this for a "just in case" scenario. That way, the expansion is planned and can be implemented if necessary.

[NYJMUSupporter]

Phase 1 will be completed for the start of the 2011 season. JMU has some funds on hand, but the university is embarking on a 10 million dollar fundraising campaign. There are no definite timetables for phases 2 and 3.

[Eight Legger]

Pretty sweet looking. . . Can't wait to come out there and beat you on Homecoming the first year it's open!
:D

[JMUfan2008]

Pretty sweet looking. . . Can't wait to come out there and beat you on Homecoming the first year it's open!
:D
Quick question...where are recruits going to want to play...an upgraded JMU stadium with 24k seats, or a brand-spanking new 9k Richmond stadium...hmmm :p

[GOTOREROS]

What is total cost of the project? 75-100 million by the looks to me....

[th0m]

The first phase (one entire new two-deck side and the endzone lower side) is around 52 million I think.

[Longhorn]

Phase II and III totgether would no doubt push it real close to the $90-100 mil number...or about $40-48 mil beyond the initial committment that's already been approved for Phase I.

[WUTNDITWAA]

Niiiiiiice. Too bad it won't be finished in time for this season.

[Eight Legger]

Quick question...where are recruits going to want to play...an upgraded JMU stadium with 24k seats, or a brand-spanking new 9k Richmond stadium...hmmm :p

I guess you're right. We have no chance of ever beating you again, because everyone knows stadium size is the lone determining factor in where a recruit goes to school.

[JmuSkinsfan]

I guess you're right. We have no chance of ever beating you again, because everyone knows stadium size is the lone determining factor in where a recruit goes to school.

No, you're right. They tend to go to schools who have coaches who have won National Championships, where the women are just as beautiful as the surrounding Shenendoah valley and campus, and where they can snag a good education in the process...all this while having the best facilities at their disposal. ;)

[Eight Legger]

No, you're right. They tend to go to schools who have coaches who have won National Championships, where the women are just as beautiful as the surrounding Shenendoah valley and campus, and where they can snag a good education in the process...all this while having the best facilities at their disposal. ;)

Let's move this to the smack board before we both get kicked over there anyway. . . But since you brought it up. . . most recruits I have talked with would rather play for coaches who are getting calls from FCS programs, not laughed at by them for making stupid calls like running the ball when all you need to do is take a knee to win a playoff game. Whoops. I forget how many FCS jobs Matthews has been offered in his 10 years??

The appeal of the most beautiful campus in America tends to help our cause a decent amount, and have you ever seen our women? Evidently not. For fun in Richmond, there's an entire city at our disposal, as opposed to drunken cow-tipping.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Let's move this to the smack board before we both get kicked over there anyway. . . But since you brought it up. . . most recruits I have talked with would rather play for coaches who are getting calls from FCS programs, not laughed at by them for making stupid calls like running the ball when all you need to do is take a knee to win a playoff game. Whoops. I forget how many FCS jobs Matthews has been offered in his 10 years??

The appeal of the most beautiful campus in America tends to help our cause a decent amount, and have you ever seen our women? Evidently not. For fun in Richmond, there's an entire city at our disposal, as opposed to drunken cow-tipping.

Haha touche. Though I've never been drunken cow tipping...I, like the majority of JMU students stick to partying, which we are evidently pretty good at. I wasn't trying to start a smack thread, just responding to yours a bit.

Plus our prestige is pretty high. And I believe you are talking about FBS jobs and not FCS jobs. And I have heard on numerous occasions that recruits have come to JMU soley because of the Plecker Athletic Center...and now you add to that the state of the art stadium, and I'd say we are pretty well off.

[Eight Legger]

Well I'm a Skins fan too, so I'll gladly cut you some slack. Maybe one of these days they will hire a new coach too. Frankly, I think Gregg Williams needs at least 4 or 5 more interviews before that happens though...

[Zoo]

That's an awesome stadium for the Dukes.

40,000+ fans every Saturday, can you imagine that?

[rufus]

That's an awesome stadium for the Dukes.

40,000+ fans every Saturday, can you imagine that?
No. :)

[Longhorn]

No. :)

It's hard to imagine now...but it may happen sooner than later. Gotta build Phase II and III first. xnodx

[LehighFan11]

WOW...JMU congrats. This a big time upgrade that screams FBS. No way they can go over 40k with suites and not go FBS. They will own recuriting in the FCS. No high schooler is going to past that up for any other FCS team. If VT wasn't so good i would consider the idea of JMU being good int he FBS, but we will have to wait and see. Congrats on the plans. I hope Lehigh plays JMU some time so I can come down and check it out, or on second thought maybe not.

[dgreco]

yea FBS written all of it.

[Fresno St. Alum]

how many other CAA schools have stadiums that are more than 15K?

[th0m]

UD and UMass. ODU will have one when they start football, and W&M is fairly close to 15k I think.

[Fresno St. Alum]

any other CAA's going to upgrade stadiums over 15k anytime soon?

James Madison
Delaware
UMass
Old Dominion
William & Mary

you add Georgia Southern, Jacksonville St., Appalachian St., & Chattanooga to those 5 and you have a solid conference.

Throw Charlotte in there too if they add FB

[KiddBrewer]

WOW...JMU congrats. This a big time upgrade that screams FBS. No way they can go over 40k with suites and not go FBS. They will own recuriting in the FCS. No high schooler is going to past that up for any other FCS team. If VT wasn't so good i would consider the idea of JMU being good int he FBS, but we will have to wait and see. Congrats on the plans. I hope Lehigh plays JMU some time so I can come down and check it out, or on second thought maybe not.

ha wanna make a bet???xcoffeex xrotatehx xthumbsupx

[KiddBrewer]

but.....it is top of the line though......lets wait and see if it gets built....


if it does, its going to be the best without question. if it does.

[th0m]

Obviously the first phase "will get built". I'm sure the rest will get built too, eventually. However, only a timeline has been placed on the first phase. Winning tradition, school growth, attendance growth, ambition by the administration, alumni donations, all of these things will play a role in stadium growth.

[JMUDuke2002]

I would love to come down and see it, but that school is so far off the beatin path.

Off the beaten path? We are divided by I-81. I would hardly call it off the beaten path, at least compared to some place like Boone.

This stadium is fantastic. There are FBS schools that do not have the facilities that JMU has and will have in the coming years. It is a great time to a be a Duke. Can't wait to see it go up and visit for homecoming and other games. So, next year is the last year of Bridgeforths current configuration. I gotta remember to bring my camera. I wonder if they will be giving away chunks of the old stands when they tear them down.

[andy7171]

Stadium looks fantastic! However I think the absence of drunken hooligans cursing and throwing purple streamers really gives a false sense of reality.

[Eight Legger]

how many other CAA schools have stadiums that are more than 15K?

UR Stadium holds 22,000. We are moving to a new stadium on campus that will hold 9,000 in 2010.

[ur2k]

Phase 1 will be completed for the start of the 2011 season. JMU has some funds on hand, but the university is embarking on a 10 million dollar fundraising campaign. There are no definite timetables for phases 2 and 3.


How much will the whole thing cost? How much does the school have on hand? I assume no state funds will be used considering the budget situation in the Commonwealth and I assume 10 million won't come close to paying for that big of an expansion. Heck we just raised 25 million for our 9,000 seat stadium. Just curious.

[jmuroller]

I would love to come down and see it, but that school is so far off the beatin path.


I think you need to get a map out and check your facts. The Interstate (I-81) runs right through our campus. And this is coming from someone who lives in Rhode Islandxeyebrowx

[jmuroller]

How much will the whole thing cost? How much does the school have on hand? I assume no state funds will be used considering the budget situation in the Commonwealth and I assume 10 million won't come close to paying for that big of an expansion. Heck we just raised 25 million for our 9,000 seat stadium. Just curious.

You can't use State Funds to build athletic facilities in the State of VA. You can BORROW from the state, but you have to pay them back like any other loan. Obviously the interest rate is cheaper and I can only imagine the hoops you would have to go through to get a 50mil+ loan from a bank.

[JMUDuke2002]

How much will the whole thing cost? How much does the school have on hand? I assume no state funds will be used considering the budget situation in the Commonwealth and I assume 10 million won't come close to paying for that big of an expansion. Heck we just raised 25 million for our 9,000 seat stadium. Just curious.

From my understanding, 10 million is ready. Some is coming from students fees, the rest will be from a bond the state will issue that will be paid back through student fees, concessions, tickets etc...The cost of phase 1 is 52 million, and I assume the cost for the other phases will be somewhere between 50 and 60 million.

[mcveyrl]

From my understanding, 10 million is ready. Some is coming from students fees, the rest will be from a bond the state will issue that will be paid back through student fees, concessions, tickets etc...The cost of phase 1 is 52 million, and I assume the cost for the other phases will be somewhere between 50 and 60 million.

Yea, I've got a feeling that we'll need to fill up Phase I for quite a few years before we start talking about Phase's II and III.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

I would love to come down and see it, but that school is so far off the beatin path.

I was able to find it OK and it was worth the trip.xthumbsupx


Stadium looks fantastic! However I think the absence of drunken hooligans cursing and throwing purple streamers really gives a false sense of reality.

This is truexsmiley_wix


It will be very impressive when complete.
What about parking? I don't remember alot of open space around the stadium.


You may want to change the background music in that clip.
I've been told it sounds like the sound track to a porn flicxlolx xlolx xlolx

[jmu_duke07]

From my understanding, 10 million is ready. Some is coming from students fees, the rest will be from a bond the state will issue that will be paid back through student fees, concessions, tickets etc...The cost of phase 1 is 52 million, and I assume the cost for the other phases will be somewhere between 50 and 60 million.

Phase 1 will be the most expensive by far... even with inflation. Phase 1 includes Luxury seating, new press box, and a lounge, something that phase 2 would not include. Phase 3 only has more seats... Once phase 1 is done, phase 2 and 3 will be a breeze! xthumbsupx

[Eight Legger]

Does JMU sell out every game right now? I didn't think that was the case. Hopefully there will be enough people to fill 40,000 seats eventually.

[NYJMUSupporter]

JMU has sold out almost every game since 2004. We are also adding 7500 students over the next 5 years. We will have no problem filling the seats in phas 1. If we keep winning we may be able to make a run at 30 plus!

[jmu_duke07]

Does JMU sell out every game right now? I didn't think that was the case. Hopefully there will be enough people to fill 40,000 seats eventually.

Fairly certain, yes... we would def selll out a 9,000 person stadium for sure xsmiley_wix

[Fresno St. Alum]

so no one comes to the Richmond games? 22,000 to 9,000 is a big drop. Usually a new stadium is bigger not smaller.

[Eight Legger]

so no one comes to the Richmond games? 22,000 to 9,000 is a big drop. Usually a new stadium is bigger not smaller.

8,000-10,000 is a good turnout for us. We get it a few times a year. But our school only has 2,500 undergrads, and the stadium is off campus. So, it's tough to draw that well... 9,000 will be about right for us. We have a decent number of grads in town, but most people here pull for UVA or Va. Tech, so we are #3 in our own town.

Unlike JMU, we have no plans to grow our student population by accepting everyone who applies for admission...

xrolleyesx

[NYJMUSupporter]

Actually JMU is increasing their academic standards. This years crop of freshman have better test scores than any other class in the history of the school. JMU is also adding a number of innovative academic programs, as well as research partnerships to attract high quality students. For example. JMU just entered into a researchpartnership with SRI International. The relationship will provide a wide variety of research opportunities to JMU students and will bring a wave of high paying jobs to the valley.

The state of Virginia is making JMU increase their enrollment. JMU is not the only school that will be adding large numbers of students. VA is going through a period of tremendous growth and the states institutions of higher learning are going to have to grow to meet the needs.

[rufus]

It will be interesting to see how other FCS schools in JMU's conference/region react to the expansion project. I wonder whether other schools, like Old Dominion especially, decide to enter a facilities "arms race" with JMU. If this type of competition takes hold, it could really benefit FCS as a whole by forcing other schools to show a greater commitment to their football programs.

[NYJMUSupporter]

Good point. I think the arms race has already started. W&M upgraded their stadium, Richmond is building a very nice facility (Smaller does not mean it will not fit them well), APP State and Montana are making major changes and there are a number of other FCS programs making major additions. I think you will see more schools follow in their paths

[Madisonian]

8,000-10,000 is a good turnout for us. We get it a few times a year. But our school only has 2,500 undergrads, and the stadium is off campus. So, it's tough to draw that well... 9,000 will be about right for us. We have a decent number of grads in town, but most people here pull for UVA or Va. Tech, so we are #3 in our own town.

Unlike JMU, we have no plans to grow our student population by accepting everyone who applies for admission...

xrolleyesx

I would argue that you are more like #4 in your own town. I believe VCU is still sporting that undefeated streak in FCS football. xsmiley_wix

Also, do you mind providing the board with even the semblance of proof of UR's superior academics? I guess I have never really placed UR as a better school than JMU academically. Please enlighten me, please.

Also, you have a ton of alumni in town. The problem is they are primarily geriatrics that attended either Richmond College or Westhampton College.

By the way, I think UR is an excellent institution. I also think the same of James Madison. I think you do your school and your fellow alumni a disservice when you post derogatory and offbase comments about another academic institution. This is a football board, let's limit it to that.

Back on point, the new stadium (even just phase I) is sick!!!!!!!!!

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

8,000-10,000 is a good turnout for us. We get it a few times a year. But our school only has 2,500 undergrads, and the stadium is off campus. So, it's tough to draw that well... 9,000 will be about right for us. We have a decent number of grads in town, but most people here pull for UVA or Va. Tech, so we are #3 in our own town.

Unlike JMU, we have no plans to grow our student population by accepting everyone who applies for admission...

xrolleyesx

.....why so much hatred 8 legger.........

[JmuSkinsfan]

.....why so much hatred 8 legger.........

Unlike JMU, Richmond is a private school and have the ability to cap the total enrollment by simply raising tuition. Where as JMU and the other fine public institutions in the state (rated up there with California and North Carolina for top public state university systems) must accept more and more students in order to deal with the massive growth in the northern and southeastern parts of the state. Of course, his post screams of the private school sentiment I've dealt with my whole life xsmiley_wix

[ur2k]

I'm not going to join this pissing match on academics but historically UR dominated the US News and World Reports category of Southern Master's level Universities - until we started getting ranked in the National Liberal Arts category. With that said I think JMU is coming on academically and the SRI partnership (even though the State is footing most of that bill) is one of the most forward looking things Virginia's done in a long time. Either way, VA has a great set of Universities (both private and public) and it gives us something to argue about.

Things have been pretty even on the football field the last few years (2004 being the exception for you guys) and I think it will remain that way for awhile.

Good luck on your stadium - and filling it. And the good thing is that with our little stadium, you can't get tickets anymore.

[93henfan]

Awesome upgrade. Does Phase IV involve getting rid of the annoying JMU fans (cough - confetti and streamers after touchdowns - cough)?xsmiley_wix

But seriously, that's a beautiful project and I'm happy for the JMU fans.

[Eight Legger]

How many posts does it take to rile up a bunch of JMU fans? Apparently just one! Lighten up folks. . . apparently you missed the good banter I had going back and forth with one of your fellow alums. I even clearly followed the board's rules for outlining sarcasm by using a sarcastic face after my last post. . sheesh!

Virginia has the best public university system in America. No argument from me on that one. If one of my as-yet-unborn children should one day want to attend the fine institution that is JMU, I would gladly write the check to send him/her out there to attend school with the 75,000 undergrads you will have by then.

My pride in having attended UR does not mean I am putting down other schools. I do, however, think that it is more difficult to get into UR than it is to JMU. Sheer numbers would tell you that. We have 2,500 undergrads. You have, what, three or four times that many? A JMU guy threw up some numbers that showed SAT/GPA, etc etc here earlier. I don't care to rehash them, but I think they supported my good-natured argument for UR.

Anyway, I will stop mocoking JMU's academics when you quit ripping on our new stadium. We could afford to build a 40,000 seat stadium too, but it obviously would not make sense to do so with such a small enrollment.

[JmuSkinsfan]

My posts have ended in playful faces, so I hope you don't consider them serious or reactions to being offended.

[JMUDuke2002]

How many posts does it take to rile up a bunch of JMU fans? Apparently just one! Lighten up folks. . . apparently you missed the good banter I had going back and forth with one of your fellow alums. I even clearly followed the board's rules for outlining sarcasm by using a sarcastic face after my last post. . sheesh!

Virginia has the best public university system in America. No argument from me on that one. If one of my as-yet-unborn children should one day want to attend the fine institution that is JMU, I would gladly write the check to send him/her out there to attend school with the 75,000 undergrads you will have by then.

My pride in having attended UR does not mean I am putting down other schools. I do, however, think that it is more difficult to get into UR than it is to JMU. Sheer numbers would tell you that. We have 2,500 undergrads. You have, what, three or four times that many? A JMU guy threw up some numbers that showed SAT/GPA, etc etc here earlier. I don't care to rehash them, but I think they supported my good-natured argument for UR.

Anyway, I will stop mocoking JMU's academics when you quit ripping on our new stadium. We could afford to build a 40,000 seat stadium too, but it obviously would not make sense to do so with such a small enrollment.

Obviously that UoR education didn't teach you about math xsmiley_wix JMU has almost 7 times the undergraduates that UR has. BTW, I didn't take offense to your banter. I know a few UR grads, and all of them are nice and mostly successful people.

[andy7171]

so no one comes to the Richmond games? 22,000 to 9,000 is a big drop. Usually a new stadium is bigger not smaller.

Richmond averages 6-7000 per home game. Richmond Stadium is an OLD municipal stadium, probably built before WWII and clear across town from the actual campus. An on campus 9000 seat stadium would be a great game day experience and I would think many more students would show up.

A packed 9000 seat venue beats a 22,000 stadium a third full any day.

I visited there on a recruiting trip. Richmond has a beautiful campus, the stadium not so much.

[JMUSaxMRD]

I'm definitely going to have to come back as an alumni to see this stadium after each phase. It will be amazing.

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

How many posts does it take to rile up a bunch of JMU fans? Apparently just one! Lighten up folks. . . apparently you missed the good banter I had going back and forth with one of your fellow alums. I even clearly followed the board's rules for outlining sarcasm by using a sarcastic face after my last post. . sheesh!

Virginia has the best public university system in America. No argument from me on that one. If one of my as-yet-unborn children should one day want to attend the fine institution that is JMU, I would gladly write the check to send him/her out there to attend school with the 75,000 undergrads you will have by then.

My pride in having attended UR does not mean I am putting down other schools. I do, however, think that it is more difficult to get into UR than it is to JMU. Sheer numbers would tell you that. We have 2,500 undergrads. You have, what, three or four times that many? A JMU guy threw up some numbers that showed SAT/GPA, etc etc here earlier. I don't care to rehash them, but I think they supported my good-natured argument for UR.

Anyway, I will stop mocoking JMU's academics when you quit ripping on our new stadium. We could afford to build a 40,000 seat stadium too, but it obviously would not make sense to do so with such a small enrollment.

I hadn't notice anyone ripping on your stadium........we all know it's being built to eliminate JMU getting 5-6K tickets........:D

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

I was at the JMU/UR game in Harrisonburg this year (JMU Homecoming) and there were large sections of empty seats...

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

If this is a Homecoming Sellout, I wonder if we should be calling the ticket office and checking if any seats are available at a 40,000 seat stadium NOW!

http://picasaweb.google.com/pltasullivan/URVsJMU2007ByGeorge/photo#5126800206749310642

[BDKJMU]

JMU has sold out almost every game since 2004. We are also adding 7500 students over the next 5 years. We will have no problem filling the seats in phas 1. If we keep winning we may be able to make a run at 30 plus!

Check your facts. The 07'-13' growth will be about 4k students. Where are you getting this 7,500? xconfusedx
http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=11256&CHID=1&key=JMU%20enrollment&title=&author=&channelid=

[BDKJMU]

UD and UMass. ODU will have one when they start football, and W&M is fairly close to 15k I think.

Zable's listed capacity is 12,259:
http://www.tribeathletics.com/story.php/1342/

[BDKJMU]

8,000-10,000 is a good turnout for us. We get it a few times a year. But our school only has 2,500 undergrads, and the stadium is off campus. So, it's tough to draw that well... 9,000 will be about right for us. We have a decent number of grads in town, but most people here pull for UVA or Va. Tech, so we are #3 in our own town.

Unlike JMU, we have no plans to grow our student population by accepting everyone who applies for admission...

xrolleyesx

I know the JMU @ UR 06' had more than 9k. If you draw 10k or more for homecoming, parents' weekend, and a big game like JMU (which next year I bet will bring 4-5 k again, maybe more) or W&M, why not make the stadium 10-11k? I don't get why UR is making it so small, unless they do an overflow of 10-11k? I know UNH is or was listed at 6.5k, but they've had over 10k for big games.

[BDKJMU]

Actually JMU is increasing their academic standards. This years crop of freshman have better test scores than any other class in the history of the school. JMU is also adding a number of innovative academic programs, as well as research partnerships to attract high quality students. For example. JMU just entered into a researchpartnership with SRI International. The relationship will provide a wide variety of research opportunities to JMU students and will bring a wave of high paying jobs to the valley.

The state of Virginia is making JMU increase their enrollment. JMU is not the only school that will be adding large numbers of students. VA is going through a period of tremendous growth and the states institutions of higher learning are going to have to grow to meet the needs.

The state of VA can't "make" JMU increase their enrollment. The state obviously can't force schools to grow their enrollment big time, because some schools didn't go along when asked to, like UVA & W&M, and if the state could "make" them, they'd be substantially growing their enrollment too. They can "ask" by saying if you do this, we'll give you lots more $. JMU was one of several that was asked and agreed to do it.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

I know the JMU @ UR 06' had more than 9k. If you draw 10k or more for homecoming, parents' weekend, and a big game like JMU (which next year I bet will bring 4-5 k) or W&M, why not make the stadium 10-11k? I don't get why UR is making it so small, unless they do an overflow of 10-11k? I know UNH is or was listed at 6.5k, but they've had over 10k for big games.


You need to understand how hard a time the University is having ... convincing the neighbors that building a football stadium there is a good thing.

The Robins Center seats 9k, so the football season will seat 9k ... to justify to the neighbors that the traffic will be no worse than it is during hoops games.

I'm sure UR would love to build a 12-15,000 seat stadium on campus, but it would never get passed. Too many locals would complain and City Council would Deep-6 the project.

Keep in mind the 9k seat stadium STILL has not been approved.

[BDKJMU]

You need to understand how hard a time the University is having ... convincing the neighbors that building a football stadium there is a good thing.

The Robins Center seats 9k, so the football season will seat 9k ... to justify to the neighbors that the traffic will be no worse than it is during hoops games.

I'm sure UR would love to build a 12-15,000 seat stadium on campus, but it would never get passed. Too many locals would complain and City Council would Deep-6 the project.

Keep in mind the 9k seat stadium STILL has not been approved.

Really??? I thought it was a done deal. Gosh, it's been talked about it seems like a lot longer than JMU fans have been talking about stadium expansion over on the jmu caazoneboard. How long is it going to take to get it approved?

[VT Wildcat Fan53]

Uh,Oh. UNH, URI, UMASS, NU -- welcome to America East Football (along with UAlbany, Stony Brook, and Central CT)if these stadiums keep going up in the mid-Atlantic states, ....

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

Really??? I thought it was a done deal. Gosh, it's been talked about it seems like a lot longer than JMU fans have been talking about stadium expansion over on the jmu caazoneboard. How long is it going to take to get it approved?

Great question. Have you ever seen Richmond City Council in action?

[JMU1992]

Good to see there's still plenty of love between UR and JMU, and that the underhanded conference move by UR did not change things.

[Eight Legger]

Good to see there's still plenty of love between UR and JMU, and that the underhanded conference move by UR did not change things.

Hahaha, underhanded. We moved to a new conference. What's underhanded about that? Didn't realize the CAA loved us so much when we were there. Guess we'll have some ammo when JMU moves to the Mountain West in a few years for football...

[NYJMUSupporter]

The 7500 students number came directly from the mouth of Jeff Bourne During the 2008 Duke Club Rep Kickoff. He had that number in his presentation.

[JDC325]

Nice job JMU!!! I dont believe for a second this expansion has NOTHING to do with MAYBE moving up but either way great job. Can we borrow your leaders for about 5-10 years? GSU is overdue for something like this.

[BDKJMU]

The 7500 students number came directly from the mouth of Jeff Bourne During the 2008 Duke Club Rep Kickoff. He had that number in his presentation.

Then that directly contradicts the 4100 # that Dr. Frank Doherty, the director of JMU’s Office of Institutional Research and Don Egle, JMU spokesman, put out last year about the growth from the 06'-07' and 2012'-2013' school year. In addition, there is nothing in the press or message zone board that I've seen about 7,500 in 5 years, and JMU has in the past publicly released its projected growth numbers. So is there somewhere you can provide a link that substantiates this 7,500 claim? Growing 1500 a year for 5 years, which would be going from 17,400 to 25k in 5 years, seems like a far fetched, unrealistic growth rate.
http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/aboutJMU/

[DTSpider]

RE: City of Richmond.

Ask the Atlanta Braves what it's like working with the Richmond City Council. The Council is an absolute joke.

[JMU2004]

RE: City of Richmond.

Ask the Atlanta Braves what it's like working with the Richmond City Council. The Council is an absolute joke.

If UR were smart, they would have contracted with surrounding counties to build a stadium in the far west end. Heck, thats where 90% of local UR alums live anyway. Imagine a stadium out Patterson in western Henrico or eastern Goochland. Hell, St. Catherines and Benedictine make it work!

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

If UR were smart, they would have contracted with surrounding counties to build a stadium in the far west end. Heck, thats where 90% of local UR alums live anyway. Imagine a stadium out Patterson in western Henrico or eastern Goochland. Hell, St. Catherines and Benedictine make it work!

Brilliant. That helps the whole 'students have a hard time getting to the games off campus' problem how?

[NYJMUSupporter]

I do not have a link to the presentation. One was not provided. Maybe it was a misprint, and he said the wrong number. I was surprised by the number when I heard it. Maybe this includes grad students? I am just guessing.

[mcveyrl]

RE: City of Richmond.

Ask the Atlanta Braves what it's like working with the Richmond City Council. The Council is an absolute joke.

xoopsx xoopsx

As a Braves fan, the move from Richmond was very disappointing. But, I've heard that several A and AA squads are already looking at moving in.

[th0m]

If this is a Homecoming Sellout, I wonder if we should be calling the ticket office and checking if any seats are available at a 40,000 seat stadium NOW!

http://picasaweb.google.com/pltasullivan/URVsJMU2007ByGeorge/photo#5126800206749310642

Congrats, you found some empty spots in the chair-back section! Those are the people that are probably still sipping wine and eating cheese at their 'tailgate' xrolleyesx

You could know, UR probably has quite a few of those themselves ;)

I kid, I kid... (before this thread gets out of hand) But is it really that hard to grasp that 'sold out' still allows for some empty spots from no-shows?

[JMUfan2008]

Homecoming 2007...biggest blunder in JMU sports attendance history...

There was a HUGE scare because they reported that only 5000 tickets would be available for students for the game...what they didn't say is that this is the same number as any other game. So because of this (and an early gametime) a lot of students just tailgated through the game. JMU PR saves the day once again... xoopsx Students thought they wouldn't get a seat because of games like this, the Villanova game a few weeks before, all the games before this were similar:
http://picasaweb.google.com/StudentDukeClub/VU/photo#5117663622580193426
Any empty seats there?

Yes, UR gets better students, but as was stated this is because their entire enrollment is half of what our freshmen classes are every year...plus they can charge $40,000 a year to limit enrollment. And not knocking your stadium, I'm sure it will be very nice, but how is 9k going to get it done? If you want to draw students how are you going to limit capacity that much? I guess this means we won't get home games AT Richmond like we used to. xsmiley_wix

[JMU2K_DukeDawg]

Brilliant. That helps the whole 'students have a hard time getting to the games off campus' problem how?

Hey, I was there a couple years ago for the JMU UR game at your homecoming, and there was a great student showing... in the parking lots getting drunk. We do the same on Homecoming. It's normal. But there were plenty of students there.

The West End / Goochland idea is perfect because so many yuppies in that part of town think you'll get shot, raped and murdered if you step over into the city limits. A West End stadium would be HUGE for support for UR. But then it would U of Henrico, where business and life flourishes.

It is a shame that UR is positioned the way it is and stuck between a rock and a hard place with regards to the local River Road / Patterson Ave. community and City Council (what idiots!).

It makes all our JMU's grumblings about Harrisonburg fighting JMU seem so silly really.

As others have pointed out, no timelines for the new stadium to completion of phase III, although i heard one person say 2018 at the earliest assuming all sellouts and meeting all fund raising goals. Expect a finished product more around 2025. But hey, at least the ball is rolling. i just hope we don't end up with our own version of the lopsided "Ice Castle" forever.

And UR fans - yes you can afford a 40,000k stadium. No - we cannot. But yet we are the ones building it. Nothing like living the American dream of debt, debt and more debt! xlolx :(