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Post by una04 on Jan 7, 2021 14:26:34 GMT -6
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Post by unafied on Jan 7, 2021 14:50:38 GMT -6
The discouraging part is, nothing about the new football stadium.
Doesn't mean it isn't happening, of course. I just wish we'd hear some kind of update.
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Post by newkidontheblock on Jan 7, 2021 15:09:52 GMT -6
The issue with the stadium is that UNA has no update when asked. They haven't made progress before COVID. And now haven't since. Last thing the TimesDaily wrote about it was in May, when up to five or six sources said they're still in the "listening" phase. They were in the listening phase in October.
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Post by newkidontheblock on Jan 7, 2021 15:11:51 GMT -6
The issue with the stadium is that UNA has no update when asked. They haven't made progress before COVID. And now haven't since. Last thing the TimesDaily wrote about it was in May, when up to five or six sources said they're still in the "listening" phase. They were in the listening phase in October. October 2019 that is. The athletic dept. has placed all focus on return to play from COVID since May on. Not to dampen anyone spirits regarding a new Stadium, but it looks like the Lions are far far from that at this point.
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Post by unalions on Jan 7, 2021 15:50:24 GMT -6
The issue with the stadium is that UNA has no update when asked. They haven't made progress before COVID. And now haven't since. Last thing the TimesDaily wrote about it was in May, when up to five or six sources said they're still in the "listening" phase. They were in the listening phase in October. October 2019 that is. The athletic dept. has placed all focus on return to play from COVID since May on. Not to dampen anyone spirits regarding a new Stadium, but it looks like the Lions are far far from that at this point. Then it's past time to update Braly. Like, get started tomorrow on a new scoreboard and pressbox updates. I know Brandon said the pressbox doesn't affect recruiting but it does affect how the program is seen by the media. And right now, that impression is 1970 dorm room.
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Post by unafied on Jan 7, 2021 17:02:08 GMT -6
October 2019 that is. The athletic dept. has placed all focus on return to play from COVID since May on. Not to dampen anyone spirits regarding a new Stadium, but it looks like the Lions are far far from that at this point. Then it's past time to update Braly. Like, get started tomorrow on a new scoreboard and pressbox updates. I know Brandon said the pressbox doesn't affect recruiting but it does affect how the program is seen by the media. And right now, that impression is 1970 dorm room. I’m at the point where I’m thinking it might just be for the best to heavily invest in Braly and use the space on campus for maybe an eventual indoor practice facility. The fact is, the players spend a lot more time on the practice field than in a stadium, anyway. Braly needs quite a bit of updating, but it’s not to the point where it can’t be brought up to “really good FCS stadium” level. But the time is NOW to decide what direction they want to go. Sh*t or get off the pot.
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Post by unafied on Jan 8, 2021 9:37:04 GMT -6
Since I've been negative about the football stadium, here's some positivity. The men's basketball locker room looks great...
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Post by brandon on Jan 8, 2021 11:01:59 GMT -6
I think we need to be a little more patient about the stadium...
I think it's going to happen sooner than we may think.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Jan 8, 2021 12:16:14 GMT -6
I think we need to be a little more patient about the stadium... I think it's going to happen sooner than we may think. Glad to read those meds are kicking in buddy.....
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Post by brandon on Jan 8, 2021 12:29:38 GMT -6
I think we need to be a little more patient about the stadium... I think it's going to happen sooner than we may think. Glad to read those meds are kicking in buddy..... I'm being serious... we are still in the transition, and I think we have done a lot in a short amount of time. We dont know what's going on behind the scenes, but I know that they know we cant stay were we are in the facility race. There is a lot on the table, and we have done a lot as far as money goes to help out. Playing those 3 FBS games have went a long way.
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Post by unafied on Mar 3, 2021 10:54:05 GMT -6
The TimesDaily this morning says that tree-clearing is wrapping up at the Ag Center site. Soon bids will go out to begin the arena construction. Said they are targeting October 2022 on completion.
With all the changes happening in the ASUN, I wonder if the arena is still on our radar. If Wikipedia is accurate, Flowers Hall is the second-smallest arena in the ASUN at 3900 capacity. The three new members are all over 5800. We need to be mindful of the future. Liberty is now splitting games between their new 4000 seat home, and the old ~10,000 seat arena when they expect large crowds. Should we at least plan for something similar? I know we aren't selling out Flowers even in non-COVID years, but if having a potentially bigger arena can sell us on a few recruits, it may be worth it.
Plus, wouldn't it be incredible if someday the ASUN decides to have a neutral location for a conference tournament, and Florence is chosen as the site? Maybe it's a longshot, but it will likely never happen at Flowers.
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Post by brandon on Mar 3, 2021 13:45:47 GMT -6
The TimesDaily this morning says that tree-clearing is wrapping up at the Ag Center site. Soon bids will go out to begin the arena construction. Said they are targeting October 2022 on completion. With all the changes happening in the ASUN, I wonder if the arena is still on our radar. If Wikipedia is accurate, Flowers Hall is the second-smallest arena in the ASUN at 3900 capacity. The three new members are all over 5800. We need to be mindful of the future. Liberty is now splitting games between their new 4000 seat home, and the old ~10,000 seat arena when they expect large crowds. Should we at least plan for something similar? I know we aren't selling out Flowers even in non-COVID years, but if having a potentially bigger arena can sell us on a few recruits, it may be worth it. Plus, wouldn't it be incredible if someday the ASUN decides to have a neutral location for a conference tournament, and Florence is chosen as the site? Maybe it's a longshot, but it will likely never happen at Flowers. From the plans I saw from the AG center, it will not be conducive to College Basketball... Additionally, Flowers Hall can be expanded. Like I've said before, they already have future plans for a new entrance and extra seating in that area.
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Post by rmfl1988 on Mar 3, 2021 15:26:37 GMT -6
The discouraging part is, nothing about the new football stadium. Doesn't mean it isn't happening, of course. I just wish we'd hear some kind of update. The discouraging part is that they are giving Willis an extension...
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Post by newkidontheblock on Mar 3, 2021 17:13:28 GMT -6
Well what I can tell you on that front is that story was published in January. Its now March 3 and still no word on an extension.
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Post by unafied on Jun 3, 2021 7:25:02 GMT -6
A recent article in the TimesDaily mentioned that out of ~250 division 1 football programs, we are the only one that "plays in a high school stadium".
Ouch.
Now obviously Braly is better than a vast majority of high school stadiums, so that label isn't entirely fair. But don't think other programs, especially one a couple hundred miles southeast and soon to be a conference rival, won't be using that one against us. A lot of kids will probably come to Florence for a visit and see that the situation isn't *that bad*, but it will definitely be something we have to fight to have recruits understand.
It's infuriating that we didn't have a plan to get the stadium started before COVID hit. I know that nobody could have predicted it, but we should have broken ground on a new stadium the day we announced our move to D1 (if not before that). I wouldn't be surprised if now we wait another couple of years, just to see if the insane cost of raw materials comes down. And we will be that much further behind our rivals.
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, I'm just really frustrated with this situation. We need some good news.
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