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Post by unalions on Oct 7, 2021 12:39:35 GMT -6
What do people think about the old ECM property ? It is just sitting there as a greenspace now. There is relatively good access in and out of the area and a lot of space. It is also close to downtown and campus. The city should build an arena/civic center there. Bring in big concerts, play big basketball games there, etc. Could also include some retail, restaurants, and such. The one here in Pensacola is older and some locals want it replaced. But, we get big concerts and shows. Big bridal expos, ComicCon events, etc. The Sun Belt Conference hosted their conference basketball tournaments there earlier this year.
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Post by unaman on Oct 8, 2021 7:30:00 GMT -6
What do people think about the old ECM property ? It is just sitting there as a greenspace now. There is relatively good access in and out of the area and a lot of space. It is also close to downtown and campus. The city should build an arena/civic center there. Bring in big concerts, play big basketball games there, etc. Could also include some retail, restaurants, and such. The one here in Pensacola is older and some locals want it replaced. But, we get big concerts and shows. Big bridal expos, ComicCon events, etc. The Sun Belt Conference hosted their conference basketball tournaments there earlier this year. The new AG Center and development around it covers that basically. It would be awesome to see the ASUN tournament held at the new AG center.
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Post by unalions on Oct 8, 2021 7:45:21 GMT -6
The city should build an arena/civic center there. Bring in big concerts, play big basketball games there, etc. Could also include some retail, restaurants, and such. The one here in Pensacola is older and some locals want it replaced. But, we get big concerts and shows. Big bridal expos, ComicCon events, etc. The Sun Belt Conference hosted their conference basketball tournaments there earlier this year. The new AG Center and development around it covers that basically. It would be awesome to see the ASUN tournament held at the new AG center. I watched a few of those meetings. Old codgers in charge. Doubt it amounts to much out there other than a money pit.
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Post by unafied on Oct 8, 2021 8:31:13 GMT -6
The new AG Center and development around it covers that basically. It would be awesome to see the ASUN tournament held at the new AG center. I watched a few of those meetings. Old codgers in charge. Doubt it amounts to much out there other than a money pit. If there's one guarantee about Shoals politicians, it's that they'll find a way to screw something up. The ECM site would've been a perfect location for the Ag Center, but I'm pretty sure at the time it was first being proposed they said it had to be built in the unincorporated county to get some kind of state funding (my memory is fuzzy on the exact reasoning). Now that it's under construction and they realize there's no sewer on the unincorporated parcel it's being built on (duh), what do they do? Ask the City of Florence to annex them. Clown show, as usual.
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Post by brandon on Oct 8, 2021 13:34:49 GMT -6
The new ag center will not be an option unless they have changed the design of it...
The way it looks so far is there will be 6 basketball coarte stacked next to each other with seats surrounding the whole floor. Unless they have a good way to set up nice, temporary stands around a court, it won't happen.
But they could have another arena attached to the main arena, kinda like the VBCC has and have one smaller space for basketball or even hockey...
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Post by unalions on Oct 26, 2021 8:20:05 GMT -6
It's kinda negative, there actually talking about cutting programs now. I don't see NWSCC last too much longer. The state don't want it, they want to pump all their money in Wallace State and Southern Union. I noticed a headline from the TimesDaily that NWSCC is bringing back sports! Very interesting!! Having a CC right in the area to recruit from again would be good for UNA.
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Post by unalions on Oct 26, 2021 10:11:32 GMT -6
I noticed a headline from the TimesDaily that NWSCC is bringing back sports! Very interesting!! Having a CC right in the area to recruit from again would be good for UNA. They have announced the return of Baseball and Softball in 2022 with Basketball and Volleyball to follow.
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Post by brandon on Oct 26, 2021 12:26:44 GMT -6
It's kinda negative, there actually talking about cutting programs now. I don't see NWSCC last too much longer. The state don't want it, they want to pump all their money in Wallace State and Southern Union. I noticed a headline from the TimesDaily that NWSCC is bringing back sports! Very interesting!! Having a CC right in the area to recruit from again would be good for UNA. Yeah, it's a great deal. I know just last year they was talking about cutting classes. Good to see a rebound. Or maybe it's an attempt for student recruiting.
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Post by unaman on Nov 20, 2021 9:34:30 GMT -6
To bring the stadium update back up, I am hearing from some sources that the City wants no part in building a new stadium and are of the opinion that Florence can’t support 2 stadiums. It’s becoming more clear that UNA went D1 without a real plan. I believe it’s already in the works with the city and University agreeing to work together that there will eventually be plans to renovate braly. I believe now the locker room project is due to creating a better facility on campus not for a new stadium.
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Post by brandon on Nov 20, 2021 13:04:47 GMT -6
To bring the stadium update back up, I am hearing from some sources that the City wants no part in building a new stadium and are of the opinion that Florence can’t support 2 stadiums. It’s becoming more clear that UNA went D1 without a real plan. I believe it’s already in the works with the city and University agreeing to work together that there will eventually be plans to renovate braly. I believe now the locker room project is due to creating a better facility on campus not for a new stadium. If it's done right, I have no problem with a major renovation of Braly... But doing it right will prove to be the prob.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Nov 20, 2021 13:34:38 GMT -6
Braly after $15 million could be a really nice venue. Anything under $10 million in renovations and UNA will be forced to build a stadium.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 20, 2021 13:48:14 GMT -6
To bring the stadium update back up, I am hearing from some sources that the City wants no part in building a new stadium and are of the opinion that Florence can’t support 2 stadiums. It’s becoming more clear that UNA went D1 without a real plan. I believe it’s already in the works with the city and University agreeing to work together that there will eventually be plans to renovate braly. I believe now the locker room project is due to creating a better facility on campus not for a new stadium. Not from Florence. Does the city get the final vote? Does this mean that if there is to be a new stadium, it will have to be on campus? Does this mean the city is trying to force UNA to acquire Braly?
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Post by unaman on Nov 20, 2021 16:22:00 GMT -6
To bring the stadium update back up, I am hearing from some sources that the City wants no part in building a new stadium and are of the opinion that Florence can’t support 2 stadiums. It’s becoming more clear that UNA went D1 without a real plan. I believe it’s already in the works with the city and University agreeing to work together that there will eventually be plans to renovate braly. I believe now the locker room project is due to creating a better facility on campus not for a new stadium. Not from Florence. Does the city get the final vote? Does this mean that if there is to be a new stadium, it will have to be on campus? Does this mean the city is trying to force UNA to acquire Braly? Not necessarily final vote but they play a major part in it. At other universities, the city backs the university and will help in fundraising, appropriate some funds, etc… I think if UNA wants to build a stadium, it has to be on campus. There’s no point in building off campus because you already have an off campus stadium now. The only benefit of building off campus is that you have new stadium. Still have problem with tailgating, student engagement, location. I think city is wanting UNA to front most of the renovation of Braly and if they do then the city and BOE begin the talks of allowing painting of the field, concessions, other uses to stadium.
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Post by unafied on Nov 20, 2021 16:43:23 GMT -6
To bring the stadium update back up, I am hearing from some sources that the City wants no part in building a new stadium and are of the opinion that Florence can’t support 2 stadiums. It’s becoming more clear that UNA went D1 without a real plan. I believe it’s already in the works with the city and University agreeing to work together that there will eventually be plans to renovate braly. I believe now the locker room project is due to creating a better facility on campus not for a new stadium. I just don’t get the “can’t support two stadiums”. I mean, the City would have zero involvement in our stadium other than possibly providing some funding. So I don’t get the argument. I mean yeah, Florence High School will still have Braly and it’s too big for JUST a high school, but I still don’t understand what their beef is. The real answer, most likely, is that they want Braly renovated and want to whine and complain to UNA so that we’ll stay in Braly and help them get a renovated stadium on the cheap. UNA needs to play hardball on this. If we ever want to make a move similar to what JSU just did, then we absolutely have to have a D1 quality stadium. I would only agree to staying Braly if they sell it to us. Period. I have no problem with the Falcons playing there, but we can no longer play in a stadium that’s painted in Florence colors. I've probably posted this list before, but my bare minimum in renovations for Braly would be: - Expanded, fully renovated press box, at least painted purple or rebuilt with some kind of nicer looking brick/stone exterior;
- Completely revamped locker rooms for both teams;
- A new scoreboard that brings us from 1998 into at least the 21st century;
- Redo the lighting on the visitor side so isn’t embarrassingly punching holes up through the stands
Anything less than those things is unacceptable. Further, I’d build a parking deck in the south endzone, on the old baseball field, and include an entrance plaza there. I’d push it up close to the field and have luxury boxes on the field side. That is easy money we are mostly missing out on.
Again, I REALLY hope we don’t back down on this. If we are going to accept rival teams telling recruits that we “play in a high school stadium”, then it damn well better be the best high school stadium outside of Texas.
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Post by unalions on Nov 20, 2021 17:16:55 GMT -6
UNA is in a similar situation as Valdosta State when it comes to using a city stadium to that caters more to the HS. It must be resolved soon. New and/or renovated…chop, chop! Times a tickin’!!
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