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Post by unaman on Nov 23, 2021 12:06:04 GMT -6
I'm guessing, if UNA doesn't acquire the stadium, Braly would end up continuing to be the Florence High stadium. City/BOE will have ongoing costs for Braly. From a $'s and cents standpoint, it would seem to be better to fix up Braly than to have a new City stadium plus ongoing Braly upkeep cost. City/BOE are probably counting on UNA acquiring Braly for,a) seed money for the new stadium and b) elimination of further ongoing costs associated with Braly. No UNA acquisition, no new City stadium. The high ground. What's the drop dead date for everyone to get of their pots? How much time left in existing agreement? I went back and found the agreement that was signed in March of 2017. You can download a PDF of it here: Mediation Settlement AgreementThe best part about the agreement is, the way I understand it, UNA can opt out by simply giving the school board 90 days notice. So there's really no time constraint to worry about. To answer my own question from earlier, it says in bullet point 11: "All parts of the stadium that are currently blue, both inside and outside the stadium, shall be painted gray and the expense shall be split equally between the parties". I wonder why that hasn't happened. Another part of the agreement that was not followed is part 5, as the concessions for the UNA games were ran by the parents of the Florence Band, and proceeds went to the Florence Band. I will continue to say this, but UNA transition to Division 1 for Football has been a complete disaster. No real plan. Fake it till we make it mentality.
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Post by brandon on Nov 25, 2021 23:47:57 GMT -6
UNA is more than likely going to buy Braly from what I've been told.
They are in negotiation phase trying to not only negotiate a price, but rent price for spirit hill.
What I was told is the first step if UNA buys Braly is to tear down old buildings in the footprint and build new football center that will include locker rooms for both teams, a medical/training room, a new video board and new turf, with brick masonry around the entire stadium. And the track will be deleted.
Step 2 will be a new press box with luxury boxes that will span the entire grandstand.
Step 3 will be a new grandstand in the opposite endzone from the football center that will add 5-7k more seats.
Don't have a timeline on negotiation phase.
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Post by brandon on Nov 25, 2021 23:51:16 GMT -6
Also being told that the idea for an FCS bowl game is being thrown around (I may have brought that idea up to certain individuals) to be played in Florence between the Ivy League champ vs the highest ranked team to not make the playoffs. (This year would have been EKU to my understanding)
If the Ivy League will agree to a bowl game.
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Post by unafied on Nov 26, 2021 6:59:21 GMT -6
Great stuff, Brandon.
I hope we hear something in the next few months. I’m telling myself that this has been in negotiations for a while now, and we were just letting Dr. Looney get settled in before he can give a final approval.
From a fan perspective, a new scoreboard would be an immediate upgrade to the game experience. Hopefully the timeline could allow for that to get done by next season, but I should probably not get my hopes up.
I actually really like the sound of doing an FCS bowl game! With this area’s history, I think it could be a fun event for all involved.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 26, 2021 8:58:46 GMT -6
UNA is more than likely going to buy Braly from what I've been told. They are in negotiation phase trying to not only negotiate a price, but rent price for spirit hill. What I was told is the first step if UNA buys Braly is to tear down old buildings in the footprint and build new football center that will include locker rooms for both teams, a medical/training room, a new video board and new turf, with brick masonry around the entire stadium. And the track will be deleted. Step 2 will be a new press box with luxury boxes that will span the entire grandstand. Step 3 will be a new grandstand in the opposite endzone from the football center that will add 5-7k more seats. Don't have a timeline on negotiation phase. Methinks Spirit Hill should be a part of stadium acquisition and not a rent situation. Best to acquire up front and avoid a future battle with the city over our needing the space versus them putting something there that interferes with our gamedays.
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Post by unalions on Nov 26, 2021 11:04:50 GMT -6
Everyday that passes without progress continues to hold our program back. Again, if this was going to be the plan, it should have been happening all during the transition. Chop, chop!! Make the deal happen and start renovating after the new year!!
But, we know how Florence works. We’ll likely be talking about this for a few years before it happens.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 26, 2021 13:19:49 GMT -6
Everyday that passes without progress continues to hold our program back. Again, if this was going to be the plan, it should have been happening all during the transition. Chop, chop!! Make the deal happen and start renovating after the new year!! But, we know how Florence works. We’ll likely be talking about this for a few years before it happens. You know, I'm thinking the blame for the last four years of floundering around is not on how Florence works. Certainly the lack of a well organized plan is not on Florence. Easy to point fingers but, this is on UNA. We all knew action was needed, stadium wise, years ago. You can leave your fate in the hands of others or take the reins and know where you are going. It is a simple choice when you come down to it.
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Post by unalions on Nov 26, 2021 13:43:54 GMT -6
Everyday that passes without progress continues to hold our program back. Again, if this was going to be the plan, it should have been happening all during the transition. Chop, chop!! Make the deal happen and start renovating after the new year!! But, we know how Florence works. We’ll likely be talking about this for a few years before it happens. You know, I'm thinking the blame for the last four years of floundering around is not on how Florence works. Certainly the lack of a well organized plan is not on Florence. Easy to point fingers but, this is on UNA. We all knew action was needed, stadium wise, years ago. You can leave your fate in the hands of others or take the reins and know where you are going. It is a simple choice when you come down to it. Oh, for sure. This is on UNA. Yet, I still don't care for the way the BOE handled a lot of this, either. But, UNA surely isn't their focus. Although, a partnership between the two entities would seem advantageous for both in many areas. So, this type of tug-of-war over a stadium has been disappointing to view from afar. Also, I included the Ag Center project in my thinking with my lumping together of "Florence" in that post. I love Florence. I miss my family. It will always be my hometown. But, I still shake my head at a lot of what goes on there (or lack thereof) especially with what seems to be a lack of focus and leadership in the region on a lot of fronts. But, I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy. I'm kinda glad to know that Braly will likely be UNA's soon and start to be renovated. It's where the nostalgia is for me as a kid growing up there, as a student in the band during the three-peat, and now for 25 years as an alum. I'd hate to see it continue to decline as it has been. So, I've complained, and I'll try to be more positive about this now! lol
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 26, 2021 14:57:59 GMT -6
You know, I'm thinking the blame for the last four years of floundering around is not on how Florence works. Certainly the lack of a well organized plan is not on Florence. Easy to point fingers but, this is on UNA. We all knew action was needed, stadium wise, years ago. You can leave your fate in the hands of others or take the reins and know where you are going. It is a simple choice when you come down to it. Oh, for sure. This is on UNA. Yet, I still don't care for the way the BOE handled a lot of this, either. But, UNA surely isn't their focus. Although, a partnership between the two entities would seem advantageous for both in many areas. So, this type of tug-of-war over a stadium has been disappointing to view from afar. Also, I included the Ag Center project in my thinking with my lumping together of "Florence" in that post. I love Florence. I miss my family. It will always be my hometown. But, I still shake my head at a lot of what goes on there (or lack thereof) especially with what seems to be a lack of focus and leadership in the region on a lot of fronts. But, I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy. I'm kinda glad to know that Braly will likely be UNA's soon and start to be renovated. It's where the nostalgia is for me as a kid growing up there, as a student in the band during the three-peat, and now for 25 years as an alum. I'd hate to see it continue to decline as it has been. So, I've complained, and I'll try to be more positive about this now! lol Florence is not my hometown but I was a UNA MBA graduate in the early 80's. Back then the struggle, for Florence, was the closure of the Ford Motors Aluminum plant. Having grown up in Huntsville and raising children in Madison, I've seen nothing but growth and progress pretty much my whole life. North Alabama has much to offer and the Florence area has so much untapped potential. I sit back and am amazed that it is not the vacation capital of North Alabama. I'm a bit of an outsider, not being from Florence, when it comes to the goings on of that area of North AL. Maybe it has to do with competition amongst the Quad cities or maybe there is no competition and it is a case of everyone wanting to make sure they don't step on anyone else's toes. Anyway, sure seems like it is hard to make forward progress on things from an outsider's perspective. There's an old saying that I'm sure you have heard along the way; Lead, follow, or get out of the way. The one thing, other than music, that folks share and have in common in the Quad Cities area is UNA. My opinion is this is a ripe time for UNA to take the reins and grow their/our institution. In so doing they can and will spur growth in the Quad Cities area. UNA needs to make the plan and take the plan to its successful conclusion.
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Post by brandon on Nov 28, 2021 16:42:30 GMT -6
The more I think about everything and the more I talk to people, buying Braly is probably the best stadium solution for UNA. We have all kind of history and traditions that are tied to Braly. And honestly, putting 30-60 mil in Braly will probably go a lot further than the same money in a new stadium.
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Post by lionpride13 on Nov 29, 2021 20:45:00 GMT -6
The more I think about everything and the more I talk to people, buying Braly is probably the best stadium solution for UNA. We have all kind of history and traditions that are tied to Braly. And honestly, putting 30-60 mil in Braly will probably go a lot further than the same money in a new stadium. An updated Braly keeps a big stadium “feel” to it, compared to a small on campus stadium just for the sake of having it on campus. New video board, better press box and enclosed end zones at Braly would be awesome.
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Post by brandon on Dec 4, 2021 15:31:04 GMT -6
Talked to a nameless booster today...
What he has been told this month is that the city only will give UNA to use the baseball field on Cox Creek and none of the area around it. It's not enough room by itself to play college ball or let alone build a suitable grandstand. That's what has put a hold on building there own football stadium.
So tentative plans are to try to aquire Braly, build a new baseball stadium around the existing field, turn the practice field into a soccer field and grandstand. And eventually move all football (locker rooms, coaches offices, training room, workout facility etc.) Into Braly in the new football center.
He said if they aquire Braly, the football center will get started, but will take the longest to finish so they will be where they are until. He said they are looking to spend up to 50 million on Braly and another 20 million on building a new baseball stadium around Mike Lane field.
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Post by unafied on Dec 4, 2021 16:20:34 GMT -6
Talked to a nameless booster today... What he has been told this month is that the city only will give UNA to use the baseball field on Cox Creek and none of the area around it. It's not enough room by itself to play college ball or let alone build a suitable grandstand. That's what has put a hold on building there own football stadium. So tentative plans are to try to aquire Braly, build a new baseball stadium around the existing field, turn the practice field into a soccer field and grandstand. And eventually move all football (locker rooms, coaches offices, training room, workout facility etc.) Into Braly in the new football center. He said if they aquire Braly, the football center will get started, but will take the longest to finish so they will be where they are until. He said they are looking to spend up to 50 million on Braly and another 20 million on building a new baseball stadium around Mike Lane field. Brandon, do you think this means building a practice facility at Braly? Maybe on the old baseball field? It looks like there might be JUST enough room to squeeze it in there. I suppose you don’t have to do a full 120 yards either, so maybe that’s what they could do. If that’s what they’re thinking, my dream would be to do an indoor facility in that south endzone that you could integrate our locker room in to. Then in the north endzone you could tear down the existing locker rooms and build new seating/suites with a visitor locker room underneath. Put a new scoreboard either on top of that, or in the south endzone. I think I’d prefer to keep baseball where it is. On-campus is always preferable to me. Attendance might be a little better at Cox Creek, but I’m not sure it would be enough to make a difference.
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Post by brandon on Dec 4, 2021 18:05:01 GMT -6
Talked to a nameless booster today... What he has been told this month is that the city only will give UNA to use the baseball field on Cox Creek and none of the area around it. It's not enough room by itself to play college ball or let alone build a suitable grandstand. That's what has put a hold on building there own football stadium. So tentative plans are to try to aquire Braly, build a new baseball stadium around the existing field, turn the practice field into a soccer field and grandstand. And eventually move all football (locker rooms, coaches offices, training room, workout facility etc.) Into Braly in the new football center. He said if they aquire Braly, the football center will get started, but will take the longest to finish so they will be where they are until. He said they are looking to spend up to 50 million on Braly and another 20 million on building a new baseball stadium around Mike Lane field. Brandon, do you think this means building a practice facility at Braly? Maybe on the old baseball field? It looks like there might be JUST enough room to squeeze it in there. I suppose you don’t have to do a full 120 yards either, so maybe that’s what they could do. If that’s what they’re thinking, my dream would be to do an indoor facility in that south endzone that you could integrate our locker room in to. Then in the north endzone you could tear down the existing locker rooms and build new seating/suites with a visitor locker room underneath. Put a new scoreboard either on top of that, or in the south endzone. I think I’d prefer to keep baseball where it is. On-campus is always preferable to me. Attendance might be a little better at Cox Creek, but I’m not sure it would be enough to make a difference. You could definitely do a UAB style practice facility on the old baseball field. But I think the plans there is to pave it, make it look nice and have parking. Put the new seating on that endzone and have a new entrance there. I just hope they either, (a)take out the lights on the Royal ave side or (b) year down those stands all together and build new stands that wrap around and tie into the other side. But those posts have to go. A football center New press box with luxury boxes Take out old track and lower the field New lighting Video board(s) 5-7k seats in endzone... Masonry and decorative iron work throughout stadium Those are all a must in my opinion.
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Post by brandon on Dec 4, 2021 18:06:12 GMT -6
You could eventually offer an above market price for the houses across Royal Ave and build a indoor facility there...
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