Florida_Owl said

Lm77 said

We have been legitimate for years.

* Beat Hawaii in Hawaii
* I-AA semi-finals
* Beat Minnesota
* Conference co-champions
* Only team to win a bowl game in FL

1.  And no one pain any attention but our fans, and the drunk Hawaiins.

2.  And received one "consolation article" courtesy of the local media the day after game day.

3.  Who lost 10 games last year.

4.  Of The "Sun Belt"; regarded as second worst, if not the worst, 1A Football Conference.

5.  See number 4 again.

Look, while we on the inside here at the Nest think we are all that and a bag of chips, respectfully, our highest moment is your first point.  And that aint gonna cut it in the eyes of someone you are asking to drop $10 - $20 Million dollars in our fledgling program as a "for profit" business - one that wants immediate and measured return.

Especially when we go to ranked, or even regarded, OOC opponents and get WAXED by 35+ points over and over.

You have to win your way to that regard in peoples eyes…

We have not arrived yet.  But if we beat MSU, it would be a start!

Where's Walty12 for some reality here?? Lol…….

Reality is that we are a 7 year program that is breaking records for a 7 year old program.  Everyone on this board are like those parents that push their kids along too fast and expect too much…listen FAU is doing things that have NEVER been done before.  Arrived?  You really think we should be beating teams like Texas and Michigan State on the road?  I am not sure UF could beat Texas and/or Michigan State on the road.  The day we can go into Austin/East Lansing and win is the day we need to be in the SEC.  You guys are not appreciating the strides we have made or the strenght of the programs we are playing against OOC.

I know you guys want National Titles and BCS games now, but baby has to walk before he runs.

walty12 said

Everyone on this board are like those parents that push their kids along too fast and expect too much…I know you guys want National Titles and BCS games now, but baby has to walk before he runs.

Well put.

To add:

OR has the nicest "treehouse" on the block…


But ours is coming…give it just a little more time.

Florida_Owl said

Fledgling said

FIU is further less arrived than we are and they are getting a new stadium.

No, FIU is upgrading a HS stadium that was GIVEN to them for absolutely NOTHING.

Can't go there…….

Fledgling said

No one has heard a peep about the football stadium.  It's all gossip and rumors.

Respectfully, this is an invalid generalization, and is yours to believe should you choose…

"All good things come to those who wait."  8)

Sorry to interject here, Florida Owl..and I think everyone here is making some good points…but in reference to FIU and our stadium I have to bring actual facts here……as I have told you now several times, the whole structure from the "old" stadium, except for the north bleachers, and the outside concession/bathroom area (until Phase II is built in 2010 or 2011, when it will be eliminated) was torn down…even the playing field was removed and a new $1.1 million surface installed…and a NEW stadium built in the same footprint.  This has a cost, for Phase I, of around $50 million, once the state of the art fieldhouse is finished on May 2009.  It hasn't been free, easy,  nor necessarily cheap either.

Also, once again, just to set the record straight on the original FIU stadium… FIU had to pay to make the necessary improvements, including the then new field, scoreboards, bathroom and concession areas (paying for all that). ….even MOVE the stadium towards FIU land (and pay for it), while also donating land of the University to the County for an elementary school in exchange for the partial use (after the move) of County land for that "original" stadium, while allowing two Dade County games a week to be played there for no money.  I call that good management decisions, leadership,  and vision (which has undoubtedly paid off as of today) regarding the stadium situation for a new football program…hardly "given to FIU" as you stated.

So, in summary….I have no doubts in my mind that coach Howard S. will find a way to build that new stadium for you guys, and it will be soon.  He has a historic track record that proves it.  However, FIU's new stadium in its old footprint, has been built…and financed (which FAU is reportedly using a very similar financing approach) without half the on-the-field-success that FAU has achieved to this point.  There is very little…if any…correlation between "legitimacy" and winning, with building a nice, new little stadium on campus.  A strong leadership with vision, a reasonable, down to earth "doable" short term project…. and a decided commitment to building the thing by the higher ups, along with raising some money….is what you need.

FIUFanatic said

This has a cost, for Phase I, of around $50 million, once the state of the art fieldhouse is finished on May 2009.  …  However, FIU's new stadium in its old footprint, has been built…and financed (which FAU is reportedly using a very similar financing approach) without half the on-the-field-success that FAU has achieved to this point. 

I'm sure you've told us but I can't recall… what was the financing model for the $50 million? You also had to have enough money to put down to secure a bond, right, and I don't remember reading anything about naming rights or development rights…

Also, what do you know about the "Main Street" project around your stadium?

FIUFanatic said

Sorry to interject here, Florida Owl..and I think everyone here is making some good points…but in reference to FIU and our stadium I have to bring actual facts here……as I have told you now several times, the whole structure from the "old" stadium, except for the north bleachers, and the outside concession/bathroom area (until Phase II is built in 2010 or 2011, when it will be eliminated) was torn down…even the playing field was removed and a new $1.1 million surface installed…and a NEW stadium built in the same footprint.  This has a cost, for Phase I, of around $50 million, once the state of the art fieldhouse is finished on May 2009.  It hasn't been free, easy,  nor necessarily cheap either.

Also, once again, just to set the record straight on the original FIU stadium… FIU had to pay to make the necessary improvements, including the then new field, scoreboards, bathroom and concession areas (paying for all that). ….even MOVE the stadium towards FIU land (and pay for it), while also donating land of the University to the County for an elementary school in exchange for the partial use (after the move) of County land for that "original" stadium, while allowing two Dade County games a week to be played there for no money.  I call that good management decisions, leadership,  and vision (which has undoubtedly paid off as of today) regarding the stadium situation for a new football program…hardly "given to FIU" as you stated.

Just to clarify, because i think you misunderstood here, the point folks who are upset are making is that you have had a stadium for years - ahead of us…Im talking about what you had in place…not what you are building  ;)

and i think we are splitting straws here…call it what you want, but you "walked into that stadium"…albeit torn down or not…

Florida_Owl said

FIUFanatic said

Sorry to interject here, Florida Owl..and I think everyone here is making some good points…but in reference to FIU and our stadium I have to bring actual facts here……as I have told you now several times, the whole structure from the "old" stadium, except for the north bleachers, and the outside concession/bathroom area (until Phase II is built in 2010 or 2011, when it will be eliminated) was torn down…even the playing field was removed and a new $1.1 million surface installed…and a NEW stadium built in the same footprint.  This has a cost, for Phase I, of around $50 million, once the state of the art fieldhouse is finished on May 2009.  It hasn't been free, easy,  nor necessarily cheap either.

Also, once again, just to set the record straight on the original FIU stadium… FIU had to pay to make the necessary improvements, including the then new field, scoreboards, bathroom and concession areas (paying for all that). ….even MOVE the stadium towards FIU land (and pay for it), while also donating land of the University to the County for an elementary school in exchange for the partial use (after the move) of County land for that "original" stadium, while allowing two Dade County games a week to be played there for no money.  I call that good management decisions, leadership,  and vision (which has undoubtedly paid off as of today) regarding the stadium situation for a new football program…hardly "given to FIU" as you stated.

Just to clarify, because i think you misunderstood here, the point folks who are upset are making is that you have had a stadium for years - ahead of us…Im talking about what you had in place…not what you are building  ;)

and i think we are splitting straws here…call it what you want, but you "walked into that stadium"…albeit torn down or not…

Cool, and I agree here…but I just wanted to clarify the facts surrounding the history of FIU Stadium, and the foresight of the administration to negotiate a deal with the county 8-10 years ago (already football was planned) and pay millions of dollars just to bring a major portion of the old stadium to our campus.  It wasn't for free, and I wanted to point out that fact.  The University, even then, had to pay up, so……true, it was easier and beneficial to have a county land stadium next to the campus, but no…FIU did not just "walked into that stadium"…they paid for it, which, undoubtedly, helped in having built, not upgrade, a new stadium it its old footprint.   

owlcountry said

FIUFanatic said

This has a cost, for Phase I, of around $50 million, once the state of the art fieldhouse is finished on May 2009.  …  However, FIU's new stadium in its old footprint, has been built…and financed (which FAU is reportedly using a very similar financing approach) without half the on-the-field-success that FAU has achieved to this point. 

I'm sure you've told us but I can't recall… what was the financing model for the $50 million? You also had to have enough money to put down to secure a bond, right, and I don't remember reading anything about naming rights or development rights…

Also, what do you know about the "Main Street" project around your stadium?

Just as I read in one of the last newspaper articles and information out in the media…maybe 6-10 months ago…about FAU's new financing model, FIU has a major portion of it financed through the issuance of bonds ($35 million), and raising some cash donations (already in place).  Cash donations, were not as much as it appears FAU is now required to raise prior to "bonding" due to some factors, I believe, one of which is the amount to be bonded (FAU, I read is about $50 million, a bit more a bit less?), and the timing it was done, with the financial markets and everything.  T

Just as FAU, the repayment of the bonds will incorporate ticket sales, premium seating (Club Seats and Skyboxes Suites), and naming rights.  FIU has not secured yet any naming rights for the stadium, due in part, to the difficult economic situation…but those monies won't be needed to cover the yearly repayment until year 2 or 3 of the schedule.  Thus, for this inaugural year…and I think even next year, NO monies from naming rights, be it the field, the stadium, the fieldhouse, etc., won't be needed to cover its debt payment.  Conversely, starting in Year 2 or 3, FIU has to make an effort to have those monies in place in order to help the repayment of the debt in future years, and secure substantial overages.  FIU, and this might be different from FAU's plan(if FAU goes the "developmental rights" way), does NOT have a developmental rights contract fee (or did not initially) with private enterprise on campus.

The "Main Street" concept, as far as it was first thought of (and which is not used to pay off the bonds debt) was going to be built and bonded by FIU…and rented out to FIU students (dorms) like they do now with current on campus residents, and private businesses (shops and restaurants), not done through a developmental rights fee, which could be used to receive a large lump sum of money upfront. 

FIUFanatic said

Cool, and I agree here…but I just wanted to clarify the facts surrounding the history of FIU Stadium, and the foresight of the administration to negotiate a deal with the county 8-10 years ago (already football was planned) and pay millions of dollars just to bring a major portion of the old stadium to our campus.  It wasn't for free, and I wanted to point out that fact.  The University, even then, had to pay up, so……true, it was easier and beneficial to have a county land stadium next to the campus, but no…FIU did not just "walked into that stadium"…they paid for it, which, undoubtedly, helped in having built, not upgrade, a new stadium it its old footprint.

I had always been under the impression that they had been alloacted the stadium from the County at no charge, in exchange for other land interest and usage rights?  Is that not correct?

Florida_Owl said

FIUFanatic said

Cool, and I agree here…but I just wanted to clarify the facts surrounding the history of FIU Stadium, and the foresight of the administration to negotiate a deal with the county 8-10 years ago (already football was planned) and pay millions of dollars just to bring a major portion of the old stadium to our campus.  It wasn't for free, and I wanted to point out that fact.  The University, even then, had to pay up, so……true, it was easier and beneficial to have a county land stadium next to the campus, but no…FIU did not just "walked into that stadium"…they paid for it, which, undoubtedly, helped in having built, not upgrade, a new stadium it its old footprint.

I had always been under the impression that they had been alloacted the stadium from the County at no charge, in exchange for other land interest and usage rights?  Is that not correct?

No.  As I explained in the previous post, FIU became the "owner" of the stadium, after donating the county some acres of very valuable land (an elementary school was built by the county on FIU's grounds), and after paying for the remodelations necessary to become a I-AA stadium at the moment.  Also, the move into FIU land was subsidized by FIU.  Thus, it cost FIU several millions of $$ to acquire the rights to the then high school stadium.  Today, it's a totally different thing.  It's just beautiful and modern looking.

FIUFanatic said

No.  As I explained in the previous post, FIU became the "owner" of the stadium, after donating the county some acres of very valuable land (an elementary school was built by the county on FIU's grounds), and after paying for the remodelations necessary to become a I-AA stadium at the moment.  Also, the move into FIU land was subsidized by FIU.  Thus, it cost FIU several millions of $$ to acquire the rights to the then high school stadium.

How much?