Strawberry Stadium construction update...

[Lionsrking]

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

Here are some updated construction pics of our new press box/club suite facility...looks like everything is on schedule and should be ready for the home opener on September 13. Also threw in a few "before" pics to give an idea of what we had.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4324.jpg?t=1215494267

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4323.jpg?t=1215494367

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4325.jpg?t=1215494439

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4326.jpg?t=1215494499

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4328.jpg?t=1215494556

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http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4283.jpg?t=1215494697

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4285.jpg?t=1215494798

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4287.jpg?t=1215494884

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4299.jpg?t=1215494944

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4306.jpg?t=1215495135

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4320.jpg?t=1215495394

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4295.jpg?t=1215495529

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4308.jpg?t=1215495795

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4309.jpg?t=1215495837

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4312.jpg?t=1215495889

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4315.jpg?t=1215495929

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4316.jpg?t=1215495962

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4198.jpg?t=1215496014

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4252.jpg?t=1215496186

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/Homeside.jpg?t=1215540811

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/StrawberryStadiumoldpressbox2.jpg?t=1215540846

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/StrawberryStadiumoldpressbox.jpg?t=1215540870

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_3138.jpg?t=1215541182

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_3139.jpg?t=1215541218

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/OldFacade.jpg?t=1215541715

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/WestStadium.jpg?t=1215541754

[GOKATS]

Nice improvement!!xthumbsupx

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

Nice xthumbsupx . You really think they will be finished for Sept 13th xconfusedx.

[Lionsrking]

Nice improvement!!xthumbsupx

Thanks!! We should have our new video board up in '09 which will further enhance the atmosphere. We're also looking at building a new track facility which will enable us to remove the track around the football field and build a berm the north endzone. The new weight room is already under construction. Slowly but surely, the facilities are starting to come around at Ole Strawberry!!!

[Lionsrking]

Nice xthumbsupx . You really think they will be finished for Sept 13th xconfusedx.

Should be with no problem, barring a natural disaster (hurricane, etc.) or a worker's strike. Once they get it sealed off, which shouldn't be much longer, they can work around the clock. The target date for completion that was given a few months ago was September 10...could very easily be finished up before then.

[BgJag]

Played in that stadium in high school, back in the mid 70's.

[89Hen]

Looks good. What is your capacity?

[SoCon48]

Strawberry Field(s), forever. Beatles.

[Lionsrking]

Looks good. What is your capacity?

7,500 permanent...right at 10,000 with temporary endzone bleachers...it's small but a great environment when it's packed...IMO one of the best places to watch a game.

[Lionsrking]

Strawberry Field(s), forever. Beatles.

Gee, we've never heard that one before...xrolleyesxxlolx

[houtexan]

Nice addition. Looking forward to LU vs. SLU games soon!

[Lionsrking]

Nice addition. Looking forward to LU vs. SLU games soon!

Me too...Lamar will be a welcome addition to SLC football!!!

[TheBisonator]

You lucky lions got a parking ramp behind your press box!! Sweet!!

Looks good. I've actually seen that stadium in person, when I took a trip down to NO a few years ago (pre-Katrina). My group was visiting a group at SLU on the way.

[Lionsrking]

You lucky lions got a parking ramp behind your press box!! Sweet!!

Looks good. I've actually seen that stadium in person, when I took a trip down to NO a few years ago (pre-Katrina). My group was visiting a group at SLU on the way.

Wow!! Small world huh?!!

Yeah...definitely lucky to have the parking facility...took some fancy maneuvering by our president but the only way we could get the press box built was for the students to pass a fee for an "intermodal transport facility."

The main expense with a new press box was the elevators needed to comply with ADA regulations. By connecting the parking garage to the stadium, we could use the same elevators and same stairways. Originally I thought it was a bad idea and would be an eyesore but the architecture has blended in nicely and provides a nice centerfield backdrop in our baseball stadium.

[aust42]

Your old Press Box is still better than Delaware's current open high school press box.

[Lionsrking]

Your old Press Box is still better than Delaware's current open high school press box.

I've actually seen Delaware's press box when I was in Wilmington on business a couple of summers ago...I was shocked when I saw it...otherwise a very nice stadium.

[Lionsrking]

Windows now being installed...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/000_0152.jpg?t=1215979444

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/000_0153.jpg?t=1215979996

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/000_0155.jpg?t=1215980035

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/000_0156.jpg?t=1215980057

[813Jag]

Looking good! xthumbsupx

[Lionsrking]

Update, 7-16-08...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4342.jpg?t=1216315418

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4343.jpg?t=1216315457

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4344.jpg?t=1216315485

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4345.jpg?t=1216315509

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4346.jpg?t=1216315534

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4347.jpg?t=1216315576

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4348.jpg?t=1216315599

[Lionsrking]

7-17-08 update...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4349.jpg?t=1216337582

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4351.jpg?t=1216337602

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4352.jpg?t=1216337624

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4353.jpg?t=1216337644

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4354.jpg?t=1216337664

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4355.jpg?t=1216337694

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4356.jpg?t=1216337714

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4358.jpg?t=1216337734

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4359.jpg?t=1216337754

[Lionsrking]

Update, 8-06-08...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4473.jpg?t=1218138324

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4475.jpg?t=1218138409

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4483.jpg?t=1218138439

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4484.jpg?t=1218138464http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4487.jpg?t=1218138493

Below are pictures of our main tailgaiting area called, "Friendship Circle."

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4477.jpg?t=1218138609

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4478.jpg?t=1218138630

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4479.jpg?t=1218138652

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4480.jpg?t=1218138675

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/100_4482.jpg?t=1218138700

[appfan2008]

wow very nice improvement... almost like night and day

[Lionsrking]

wow very nice improvement... almost like night and day

I agree...hope our team shows a similar type improvement on the field!!!

[TexasTerror]

Great job, SLU! Looking forward to visiting you guys in 2009, if not before...

[furman94]

Wow! Looks great!

[GeauxLions94]

Great job, SLU! Looking forward to visiting you guys in 2009, if not before...

You live in New Orleans. Make that .... before

[IndianaAppMan]

The stadium looks great, but I just wanted to comment on how pretty the campus around it looks. I love those live oaks with the Spanish moss. Truly a southern look at its finest. xthumbsupx

[Lionsrking]

The stadium looks great, but I just wanted to comment on how pretty the campus around it looks. I love those live oaks with the Spanish moss. Truly a southern look at its finest. xthumbsupx

Appreciate the kind words...our campus has undergone quite a transformation in the last seven or eight years, but Friendship Circle has been a mainstay...great setting to tailgate!!!

[FiniteMan]

The pressbox is truly beautiful. Well done. I do have a question about stadium capacity though. I see the stadium seats 7408 and you guys usually pack the place. Is there any talk of a capacity expansion? It seems like the stadium is likely a bottleneck. To make money in FCS it really should have capacity for much larger crowds.

[TexasTerror]

The pressbox is truly beautiful. Well done. I do have a question about stadium capacity though. I see the stadium seats 7408 and you guys usually pack the place. Is there any talk of a capacity expansion? It seems like the stadium is likely a bottleneck. To make money in FCS it really should have capacity for much larger crowds.

They ran 66.9% of capacity last year with crowds averaging 4951. They need to consistently put crowds in there if they want to fill it up. Their big games in Hammond are when they've played McNeese (short trip for the Pokes) and the Colonels (River Bell)...

Hopefully with the upgrades this year and next, the game day experience will only improve -- and no doubt it will. A nice bunch in Hammond, from the fans to the press box crew.

[Grizaholic17]

Kind of like the McDonald's commercials: bah duh duh duh duh...I'm Lovin it!

And I say this every time, but I love the name of the stadium. So masculine :p

[Lionsrking]

They ran 66.9% of capacity last year with crowds averaging 4951. They need to consistently put crowds in there if they want to fill it up. Their big games in Hammond are when they've played McNeese (short trip for the Pokes) and the Colonels (River Bell)...

Hopefully with the upgrades this year and next, the game day experience will only improve -- and no doubt it will. A nice bunch in Hammond, from the fans to the press box crew.

We'll fill it up when we start winning on a consistent basis. The first two years back, we routinely drew crowds of over 9,000 and then Katrina hit...of course the biggest factor has been 2-9 and 3-8 the last two years.

[Lionsrking]

The pressbox is truly beautiful. Well done. I do have a question about stadium capacity though. I see the stadium seats 7408 and you guys usually pack the place. Is there any talk of a capacity expansion? It seems like the stadium is likely a bottleneck. To make money in FCS it really should have capacity for much larger crowds.

We can bring in temp seating and boost capacity to around 10,000 if needed...our first two years back, we averaged over 9,000 fans...there's talk of expansion long term but the next likely project will be to eliminate the track and build berm seating in the north endzone...and we have a waiting list for our new suites and Victory Club seating and can easily expand on each wing to add more suites.

[Lionsrking]

Kind of like the McDonald's commercials: bah duh duh duh duh...I'm Lovin it!

And I say this every time, but I love the name of the stadium. So masculine :p

Well the stadium is named in honor of the area's major crop (the strawberry) and those who worked the fields, past and present...so I would say it's quite masculine considering it's not easy work.

[Tod]

Looks beautiful, stadium, campus and all! xthumbsupx xthumbsupx

[813Jag]

Appreciate the kind words...our campus has undergone quite a transformation in the last seven or eight years, but Friendship Circle has been a mainstay...great setting to tailgate!!!
Always loved your campus, spent a lot of time there when I was at Southern. Press Box looks good. xthumbsupx

[FiniteMan]

We can bring in temp seating and boost capacity to around 10,000 if needed...our first two years back, we averaged over 9,000 fans...there's talk of expansion long term but the next likely project will be to eliminate the track and build berm seating in the north endzone...and we have a waiting list for our new suites and Victory Club seating and can easily expand on each wing to add more suites.


I had you guys as averaging 7692 over 2004-2006 (9365, 7347, & 5961 seasonal averages) and had wondered if the NCAA number for 2004 was wrong. Thanks for clearing up the mystery of where you guys "hid the bodies" in 2004. :)

[Lionsrking]

I had you guys as averaging 7692 over 2004-2006 (9365, 7347, & 5961 seasonal averages) and had wondered if the NCAA number for 2004 was wrong. Thanks for clearing up the mystery of where you guys "hid the bodies" in 2004. :)

The first three years back ('03 and '04) we had temporary bleachers in both endzones which put our capacity at over 9,700 although we were officially listed at 7,408...after Katrina, we didn't rent the bleachers again.

We should be much stronger this year and over the next couple of years and I expect we'll see a considerable attendance increase.