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Post by brandon on Nov 21, 2021 16:24:50 GMT -6
So I've been making phone calls... 2 Out of the three that I call said the exact same thing. The BOE is wanting to sell the stadium outright to UNA and build a smaller high school stadium for Florence. UNA is in negotiations about price and being able to use parking lots with the middle school. If UNA buys Braly, they plan on replacing the press box, adding brick, tearing out old buildings, new locker rooms, tearing out the old track, and paving the old baseball field. Also plans on replacing the Royal ave side grandstand and adding seats in one endzone. Replacement of the turf would happen first. Well that’s totally different. I was afraid renovation meant us sharing a stadium. Braly Stadium and Wallace Field has a nice ring to it. I will help dig up that old track. North Alabama needs to be all over that place. Our championships need to be seen everywhere. Lions needs to be all over the place. People that attend games now never see North Alabama on the field or anywhere on the stadium. My question is do we also get the property that is Spirit Hill? Would also love to have the lot south of the field. Either would make for great tailgating. Both properties would be the right choice for tailgating and parking/staging. Build stands for the band and student section at one of the end zones preferably opposite of the new jumbo scoreboard with live play by play action. Lot of options… Yes, that lot is the old baseball stadium.
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Post by unafied on Nov 21, 2021 20:00:13 GMT -6
So I've been making phone calls... 2 Out of the three that I call said the exact same thing. The BOE is wanting to sell the stadium outright to UNA and build a smaller high school stadium for Florence. UNA is in negotiations about price and being able to use parking lots with the middle school. If UNA buys Braly, they plan on replacing the press box, adding brick, tearing out old buildings, new locker rooms, tearing out the old track, and paving the old baseball field. Also plans on replacing the Royal ave side grandstand and adding seats in one endzone. Replacement of the turf would happen first. Thanks for sharing this, man. I can dig this, as long as we don’t overpay for the stadium itself.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Nov 21, 2021 20:21:28 GMT -6
With the additions in seating we would also be closer to FBS level. If we desire to reach that level in the next few years our stadium capacity would be there.
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Post by unafan on Nov 22, 2021 11:51:42 GMT -6
This would be great ! Florence High doesn’t need a stadium that big anyway. If UNA buys it outright, and renovates it right ....YES ! I would hope that Spirit Hill and the old baseball field would be part of the deal as well as agreement with BOE and city about parking. I hope something comes out of this.
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Post by unalions on Nov 22, 2021 13:16:32 GMT -6
I’m excited about the potential of overhauling Braly. It’s full of nostalgia for so many people. That said, if this was gonna happen over a new stadium, it should have been ongoing for the past five years.
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Post by northalaspectator on Nov 22, 2021 15:16:00 GMT -6
I’m excited about the potential of overhauling Braly. It’s full of nostalgia for so many people. That said, if this was gonna happen over a new stadium, it should have been ongoing for the past five years. Just maybe the New AD had a lot to do with this to start these discussions.
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Post by unafied on Nov 22, 2021 15:46:34 GMT -6
Maybe the Florence Board didn’t get serious about selling until they saw we were serious about building new? Probably want to make money off Braly while they still have the chance. If we commit to building, they are STUCK with the stadium.
Might be a “shit or get off the pot” moment for both sides, if you pardon my French.
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Post by unaman on Nov 23, 2021 7:17:14 GMT -6
Maybe the Florence Board didn’t get serious about selling until they saw we were serious about building new? Probably want to make money off Braly while they still have the chance. If we commit to building, they are STUCK with the stadium. Might be a “shit or get off the pot” moment for both sides, if you pardon my French. That is a very good point. Now, I just want to see movement on this. If this is the way UNA is going, let’s do it and start some renovations. Several people will not be happy if UNA does this because the statement will be made, why didn’t UNA and city do this right when UNA went D1? The only time that I think Florence filled up Braly was the Muscle Shoals game. I would still be in favor of letting Florence use the stadium for that game. However it will be UNA’s stadium painted with UNA colors and logos. I was looking at Valdosta State stadium and they did it right with both college and high school having same colors. Florence should have at least had their mascot as a Lion but they wanted to be different.
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Post by unafied on Nov 23, 2021 7:50:31 GMT -6
Maybe the Florence Board didn’t get serious about selling until they saw we were serious about building new? Probably want to make money off Braly while they still have the chance. If we commit to building, they are STUCK with the stadium. Might be a “shit or get off the pot” moment for both sides, if you pardon my French. That is a very good point. Now, I just want to see movement on this. If this is the way UNA is going, let’s do it and start some renovations. Several people will not be happy if UNA does this because the statement will be made, why didn’t UNA and city do this right when UNA went D1? The only time that I think Florence filled up Braly was the Muscle Shoals game. I would still be in favor of letting Florence use the stadium for that game. However it will be UNA’s stadium painted with UNA colors and logos. I was looking at Valdosta State stadium and they did it right with both college and high school having same colors. Florence should have at least had their mascot as a Lion but they wanted to be different. Yep, the whole situation has been handled poorly for years now. I don't know how much leverage UNA had, but they should've never agreed to the stadium having Florence colors. I still wonder what ever came of the negotiations a few years back, when we signed a new 10-year contract (I believe?) to stay in Braly, and one of the stipulations was that everything blue would be painted gray. Did I imagine that? Or has Florence just put that off, and our side not pushed to have it done? What really doesn't make sense to me is, we were supposedly close to being invited to the OVC back in 2011. WHY did we not either begin fundraising for a new stadium at that point, or force some updates at Braly? I would just love to know what the plan was, if any, behind the scenes. Why were we content to both let Braly age so much AND not make plans for a new stadium? Especially while actively trying to move up? It's really head-scratching at the least, and infuriating at the most. I understand, to a point, wanting to wait for the increased money from D1 to do updates or start building. I know we have a budget (lower than most schools in the state, thanks Montgomery!). But the lack of progress for a full decade is just so baffling.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 23, 2021 8:28:38 GMT -6
That is a very good point. Now, I just want to see movement on this. If this is the way UNA is going, let’s do it and start some renovations. Several people will not be happy if UNA does this because the statement will be made, why didn’t UNA and city do this right when UNA went D1? The only time that I think Florence filled up Braly was the Muscle Shoals game. I would still be in favor of letting Florence use the stadium for that game. However it will be UNA’s stadium painted with UNA colors and logos. I was looking at Valdosta State stadium and they did it right with both college and high school having same colors. Florence should have at least had their mascot as a Lion but they wanted to be different. Yep, the whole situation has been handled poorly for years now. I don't know how much leverage UNA had, but they should've never agreed to the stadium having Florence colors. I still wonder what ever came of the negotiations a few years back, when we signed a new 10-year contract (I believe?) to stay in Braly, and one of the stipulations was that everything blue would be painted gray. Did I imagine that? Or has Florence just put that off, and our side not pushed to have it done? What really doesn't make sense to me is, we were supposedly close to being invited to the OVC back in 2011. WHY did we not either begin fundraising for a new stadium at that point, or force some updates at Braly? I would just love to know what the plan was, if any, behind the scenes. Why were we content to both let Braly age so much AND not make plans for a new stadium? Especially while actively trying to move up? It's really head-scratching at the least, and infuriating at the most. I understand, to a point, wanting to wait for the increased money from D1 to do updates or start building. I know we have a budget (lower than most schools in the state, thanks Montgomery!). But the lack of progress for a full decade is just so baffling. Too late to worry about what the plan was. It is water under the bridge as they say. Time to know what the plan is. We should have the high ground in any nego over Braly. If the choice is to go with Braly, be fair with the City/BOE but, walk away from any sucker deal. It may cost more but, we don't have to go with Braly as we can go on campus and walk away from Braly. The City/BOE cannot walk away from Braly unless they can get someone to acquire it. Theirs to deal with and maintain or let rust away. The best move to prevent creating a dead zone in the city is for the city/BOE to nego, in good faith, with UNA. A revitalized Braly Stadium area can be only good for the city. UNA only negotiates from a position of weakness if they choose too. Don't choose too.
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Post by unalions on Nov 23, 2021 9:30:19 GMT -6
The more y’all post, the more I roll my eyes and get angrier about how all of this has and could have been handled. I’m soooooo happy we have new leadership in the Athletic Department now.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Nov 23, 2021 9:30:25 GMT -6
Agree that North Alabama has the upper hand for negotiation. North Alabama needs to manipulate the negotiations to sounding very favorable for Florence. The only way North Alabama and Florence really grow and benefit is through a healthy relationship. We need each other, Florence needs North Alabama more than they realize. I am hoping that message resonates with our presentation.
Next question…where would the new Florence High School stadium be built? It really doesn’t need to be adjacent to Braly, that would be an eyesore for both. Sounds like we are still quite a ways from resolving our stadium dilemma. Looney and the board need to get moving on this issue now.
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Post by unafied on Nov 23, 2021 9:42:23 GMT -6
Agree that North Alabama has the upper hand for negotiation. North Alabama needs to manipulate the negotiations to sounding very favorable for Florence. The only way North Alabama and Florence really grow and benefit is through a healthy relationship. We need each other, Florence needs North Alabama more than they realize. I am hoping that message resonates with our presentation. Next question…where would the new Florence High School stadium be built? It really doesn’t need to be adjacent to Braly, that would be an eyesore for both. Sounds like we are still quite a ways from resolving our stadium dilemma. Looney and the board need to get moving on this issue now. I say, let them play in Braly until they find a good solution. I'm sure we can cut them a fair deal. Maybe we can even provide suggestions on where they can print up some nice black and blue banners to hang in the stadium on Friday nights. Just make sure they're gone by Saturday morning!
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 23, 2021 10:26:20 GMT -6
Agree that North Alabama has the upper hand for negotiation. North Alabama needs to manipulate the negotiations to sounding very favorable for Florence. The only way North Alabama and Florence really grow and benefit is through a healthy relationship. We need each other, Florence needs North Alabama more than they realize. I am hoping that message resonates with our presentation. Next question…where would the new Florence High School stadium be built? It really doesn’t need to be adjacent to Braly, that would be an eyesore for both. Sounds like we are still quite a ways from resolving our stadium dilemma. Looney and the board need to get moving on this issue now. 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?
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Post by unafied on Nov 23, 2021 11:37:12 GMT -6
Agree that North Alabama has the upper hand for negotiation. North Alabama needs to manipulate the negotiations to sounding very favorable for Florence. The only way North Alabama and Florence really grow and benefit is through a healthy relationship. We need each other, Florence needs North Alabama more than they realize. I am hoping that message resonates with our presentation. Next question…where would the new Florence High School stadium be built? It really doesn’t need to be adjacent to Braly, that would be an eyesore for both. Sounds like we are still quite a ways from resolving our stadium dilemma. Looney and the board need to get moving on this issue now. 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.
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