Support for New Stadium

[northalaspectator]

(I thought that I would share this on this board. It was posted on Facebook by former Lauderdale County Circuit Judge - Honorable Edward Tease.)

UNA Division 1 Classification; Budgets ; Stadium..

After the passage of a couple of related time frames: 25 years of all talk/No action of D1 status & 3 weeks since Dr Kitts' stadium announcement, UNA can actually see more exciting alternatives than ever before...and not just athletically, but academically, reputationally, economically, et al.
Dr Kitts has already presided over a much strengthened and improved curriculum with new departments, degrees, facilities, and rapidly expanding student enrollment...now over 10000 students, and growing. He has been supported by a committed team of administrators and educators...and very significant contributions of private sector citizens... with more recently announced.
For the first time in over seventy five years, we can look forward to a new modern stadium being built. I have never seen a football game in Florence anywhere but Braly Stadium, a serviceable relic of the past. Saw a game in year #1....1949...But familiar as it is, it sends a message of past mediocrity to our visitors.. After decades of foot dragging ,Dr Kitts said "It will happen".....and I believe him.
I hope the footprint of the stadium can be expanded for present and/or future seating.. by acquring additional tracts now ...But I also know that the present trend in CFB is to build smaller/common sense stadiums...with room to expand, as needed. The explosion of stadium construction costs is real and has lead to many projects being more realistically right sized..in Tuscaloosa, Auburn, and elsewhere.
In years past, UNA only wanted to talk "costs", not revenue.. Now is the time to emphasize the Revenue of a new modern facility. The potential has always been there, but has been limited by the partnership with another tenant, Florence Falcon football. I hope for a brighter future for Florence as well, and have every confidence that Dr. Jimmy Shaw will improve their venue to the benefit of Florence. So, I hope UNA will design and build all it can reasonably afford , because we are far behind all the D1 CFB programs in the State of Alabama. At present we are probably dead last in overall program and facilities. So UNA governance, shared or otherwise, should adopt budgets to accommodate a new day for UNA.. If every other program in Alabama can do it, why not UNA? I have long wished for a UNA president to support a move to D1, and we have never had one. But now we have such a president who has earned and deserves the support of the local community and governments.
Thanks again, Dr Kitts...This community has been waiting.....

[brandon]

Jun 24, 2023 20:39:02 GMT -6 northalaspectator said:

(I thought that I would share this on this board. It was posted on Facebook by former Lauderdale County Circuit Judge - Honorable Edward Tease.)

UNA Division 1 Classification; Budgets ; Stadium..

After the passage of a couple of related time frames: 25 years of all talk/No action of D1 status & 3 weeks since Dr Kitts' stadium announcement, UNA can actually see more exciting alternatives than ever before...and not just athletically, but academically, reputationally, economically, et al.
Dr Kitts has already presided over a much strengthened and improved curriculum with new departments, degrees, facilities, and rapidly expanding student enrollment...now over 10000 students, and growing. He has been supported by a committed team of administrators and educators...and very significant contributions of private sector citizens... with more recently announced.
For the first time in over seventy five years, we can look forward to a new modern stadium being built. I have never seen a football game in Florence anywhere but Braly Stadium, a serviceable relic of the past. Saw a game in year #1....1949...But familiar as it is, it sends a message of past mediocrity to our visitors.. After decades of foot dragging ,Dr Kitts said "It will happen".....and I believe him.
I hope the footprint of the stadium can be expanded for present and/or future seating.. by acquring additional tracts now ...But I also know that the present trend in CFB is to build smaller/common sense stadiums...with room to expand, as needed. The explosion of stadium construction costs is real and has lead to many projects being more realistically right sized..in Tuscaloosa, Auburn, and elsewhere.
In years past, UNA only wanted to talk "costs", not revenue.. Now is the time to emphasize the Revenue of a new modern facility. The potential has always been there, but has been limited by the partnership with another tenant, Florence Falcon football. I hope for a brighter future for Florence as well, and have every confidence that Dr. Jimmy Shaw will improve their venue to the benefit of Florence. So, I hope UNA will design and build all it can reasonably afford , because we are far behind all the D1 CFB programs in the State of Alabama. At present we are probably dead last in overall program and facilities. So UNA governance, shared or otherwise, should adopt budgets to accommodate a new day for UNA.. If every other program in Alabama can do it, why not UNA? I have long wished for a UNA president to support a move to D1, and we have never had one. But now we have such a president who has earned and deserves the support of the local community and governments.
Thanks again, Dr Kitts...This community has been waiting.....

That needs to go to the TD and Montgomery straight to the Governor.

[unalions]

I saw this on the UNA Office of Advancement Facebook page:

The University of North Alabama Bank Independent Stadium announcement is just the beginning of the fundraising efforts that will bring this facility to life! Be part of our donor recognition by giving a gift of at least $100, and join us in making history! Give today at www.una.edu/bistadium