There is no way it would cost $1 million for a temporary field.

Bleachers and temporary press facilities and bathrooms (even Port-to-lets) could be leased. The field and lights are already next to the arena. Parking is there.

I really want to see games on campus (in any manner) next season. That would continue the progress and show that FAU is serious about football in Palm Beach County, would generate more donations as people realize this is going to happen, and would add so much to the Owl game experience, not to mention attendance.

BMarkey said

I really want to see games on campus (in any manner) next season.

I really doubt a temp stadium for next year (2008) is even a thought at this point.  We have a contract for a stadium, and it is lockhart.

The only reason there would be consideration for a temp stadium in 2009 would be if lockhart is torn down and our OCS is not ready.  Ted Hutton is reporting in his blog that lockhart may not be torn down in 2009 now.

I don't want the admin and BoT to get comfy in a temp stadium and then get stupid ideas about the new stadium.

Let's beat Texas, and then fill up lockhart with our attendance and get that Stadium built for '09.

Actually I am kinda growing fond of Lockhart. Can we turn that into a dome?..........JUST KIDDING!!!! ;D

BMarkey said

I really want to see games on campus (in any manner) next season. That would continue the progress and show that FAU is serious about football in Palm Beach County, would generate more donations as people realize this is going to happen, and would add so much to the Owl game experience, not to mention attendance.

I wonder what visiting opponents would think…. is a temporary stadium on-campus a better or worse experience than playing at Lockhart? For instance, when USF came to Lockhart and it was like, "…this is it? Seriously?"

fauowl said

The only reason there would be consideration for a temp stadium in 2009 would be if lockhart is torn down and our OCS is not ready.  Ted Hutton is reporting in his blog that lockhart may not be torn down in 2009 now.
I don't want the admin and BoT to get comfy in a temp stadium and then get stupid ideas about the new stadium.

Ted also said, back in the stadium approval meeting, that the admin is only going to spend "every penny" on the new one and not focus on a temp stadium.

So why it's on the list of Minor Projects remains to be seen.

owlcountry said

BMarkey said

I wonder what visiting opponents would think…. is a temporary stadium on-campus a better or worse experience than playing at Lockhart? For instance, when USF came to Lockhart and it was like, "…this is it? Seriously?"

That is a big opinion for USF to have while they are playing rented games at Raymond James.

Anything on campus would be seen as progress and an improvement. The bleachers, restrooms and all can portable and leased. It's done for big games elsewhere, tennis tourneys and such all the time.

BMarkey said

Anything on campus would be seen as progress and an improvement. The bleachers, restrooms and all can portable and leased. It's done for big games elsewhere, tennis tourneys and such all the time.

Maybe I'm opening up a can of worms here, but I am split on whether or not I like the idea of an on-campus stadium.

In reality, how many more students would show up at the game if the stadium was on campus? Honestly, while most student say "I don't want to drive to the game," I still don't think they will go to the game if a temporary stadium is on campus. After all, the students don't take the free bus ride anyway. Maybe 300 more students would go to the games if the temp. stadium was on campus in 2009? Trust me - an increase of any kind is AWESOME.

Also, do we think 2,000 extra people will show up from the surrounding community if we have a temporary stadium on campus? I don't know…

On the other hand, it would be great to have a stadium on campus for recruiting.

Any thoughts?

smittysahoot said

BMarkey said

Anything on campus would be seen as progress and an improvement. The bleachers, restrooms and all can portable and leased. It's done for big games elsewhere, tennis tourneys and such all the time.

Maybe I'm opening up a can of worms here, but I am split on whether or not I like the idea of an on-campus stadium.

In reality, how many more students would show up at the game if the stadium was on campus? Honestly, while most student say "I don't want to drive to the game," I still don't think they will go to the game if a temporary stadium is on campus. After all, the students don't take the free bus ride anyway. Maybe 300 more students would go to the games if the temp. stadium was on campus in 2009? Trust me - an increase of any kind is AWESOME.

Also, do we think 2,000 extra people will show up from the surrounding community if we have a temporary stadium on campus? I don't know…

On the other hand, it would be great to have a stadium on campus for recruiting.

Any thoughts?

I think a temp stadium would draw more fans. It would also get people used to the idea of FAU playing on campus prior to the opening of the real stadium. The most important thing is that a temp stadium not look like a makeshift project. It needs to have be able to hold 15,000+ fans and it needs to look good. That is going to be difficult. I say if it can't be done right, don't do it.

GO OWLS!!!

owlfan1 said

That is going to be difficult. I say if it can't be done right, don't do it.

You hit the nail on the head. It's an expensive project to "hope" we draw the same amount of fans. After all, if we can't draw 10,000 to Lockhart, will an on campus temporary stadium really draw 15,000? Especially because we are "selling" 15k per game, why move to an on-campus temporary stadium if we are meeting the minimum requirements? I say save the $600k a year it would cost to do a temporary stadium and play at Dolphin Stadium (as much as I hate it) for 2009.

It may seem REALLY ridiculous, but maybe we can play at Boca High football stadium? It takes away cost of putting up bleachers, etc and it is basically on-campus. I know they tore down the bleachers, but it looks like they are rebuilding. In my opinion, that's good for us for the one-year we are homeless.

smittysahoot said

owlfan1 said

That is going to be difficult. I say if it can't be done right, don't do it.

You hit the nail on the head. It's an expensive project to "hope" we draw the same amount of fans. After all, if we can't draw 10,000 to Lockhart, will an on campus temporary stadium really draw 15,000? Especially because we are "selling" 15k per game, why move to an on-campus temporary stadium if we are meeting the minimum requirements? I say save the $600k a year it would cost to do a temporary stadium and play at Dolphin Stadium (as much as I hate it) for 2009.

It may seem REALLY ridiculous, but maybe we can play at Boca High football stadium? It takes away cost of putting up bleachers, etc and it is basically on-campus. I know they tore down the bleachers, but it looks like they are rebuilding. In my opinion, that's good for us for the one-year we are homeless.

Would KILL recruiting IMHO. Lockhart is bad enough. Playing at a ACTUAL high school stadium would be a terrible thing to show a potential recruit. Lockhart is the only place I'm afraid. Dolphin stadium while MUCH nicer is MUCH farther away and would hurt attendance.