Florida_Owl said

okay, i guess no one is going to answer either of my questions…

I think we all know the answer.

Well, since you demand answers, here they are  ;D.  Seriously, I don't know all the specifics, as this stadium construction has been very, very fluid in changes from Day 1, especially with the new AD coming in, changing things, and bringing in new, different ideas.  However, I'll try my best.  The picture is from, I believe, Phase III.  From my understanding, FIU will "enclose" the stadium, eliminating the North side "old" bleachers, and then will have a 5 or 6 story, 100,000 square feet "Student Support Complex" Center attached to the North side, then becoming the stadium "Main Facade".  The funding plans are already in place, and it will be finished in either 2010 or 2011, last I heard.

The second decks, which would be Phase III, are not funded, to the best of my recollection, and not planned yet, until the administration feels it is prudent to add those seats.  Once the North Side construction is done, after eliminating the old bleachers (Phase II), I believe the capacity will be anywhere from 22,000-25,000 seats, which would be more than enough at this stage.

The coaching offices and some of the amenities they are now building on the 37,500 square feet field house, were not supposed to be builit until the original Phase II, but was advanced a bit to open this Fall…From what I hear, there's a possibility some work on the field house might not be fully finished for our Inaugural game at the New Cage.  The fieldhouse, will have 2 stories for the time being, with expansion for 2 or 3 additional stories planned for the near future.  The cost of this new fieldhouse…not originally planned like this..is around $12.5 million.

That is from what I've seen, heard, read, and tours of the construction of the stadium I've taken with administrators.  Hope that answers some of your questions.

BTW….I hear some of your recruits were excellent as well, and stars can be so subjective and erroneous.  Besides, the development of a "high" 2-star player is many times more important that just signing a four star or whatever….

FIUFanatic said

Well, since you demand answers, here they are 

thanks for the info!

Hopefully they can pull  it together to complete the remaining phases…

the SBC is on the rise!

FIUFanatic said

From what I hear, there's a possibility some work on the field house might not be fully finished for our Inaugural game at the New Cage. 

The Cage……. Thats either very clever or very corny

Debatable to say the least.

That is what's been un-officially called since we opened playing on campus since Day 1.  Students seem to like that denomination.

BTW, Florida Owl, your last comment here seems to have more facts to back your comments…..I know rankings are just that, but since scout.com's latest rankings indicate the SBC is ahead of both, the MAC, and the WAC in rankings….Of course, it may or may not mean everything, but it is a clear indication of the rise the SBC has been undergoing over the last couple of years….

I think the SBC will easily pass the MAC and WAC and start up the back of USA

Talon said

I think the SBC will easily pass the MAC and WAC and start up the back of USA

i think they already have - last game of the year in the NO bowl! ;D

True  ;)

Talon said

True  ;)

Talon, ol' buddy ol' pal…how might i get one of those rings?? ;)

that looks mighty nice!

New construction photos of FIU Stadium:

http://www.fiusports.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPSID=88351&SPID=10392&DB_OEM_ID=11700&PALBID=16820