Cratter Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 When it's proposed for UND, Bison fans. Can you imagine if Ralph wanted to have fun with people: To UND: "Have an architectural firm draw up the nicest stadium in the country. Leather seats. Luxury suites, milliondollar scoreboard. Tell them this is what you plan for a hockey arena in the future. If I like it, I might donate a lot of money to UND. " UND: "How many seats" Ralph: "11-12,000" UND: "That seems like a lot. Double the current 6,000 seat one and sometimes we can't even fill that that." Ralph: "Dont' worry. Build it and they will come. Better to have to many seats than not enough!" Every fan in the country to UND: "Pipe Dream" Ralph reaction: Quote
MplsBison Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 If an alumni donates 300 million to UND, all the power in the world to him, UND and the state of North Dakota. Quote
Cratter Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 If an alumni donates 300 million to UND, all the power in the world to him, UND and the state of North Dakota. It wouldn't be from one rich alumni, but probably 10 donors of $30 million. Quote
GeauxSioux Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 If we were Portland State, we wouldn't have to worry about the size of the Betty..The Vikings are hosting Idaho State in a Big Sky Conference game at 2:05 p.m. at the Stott Center. The school's single-game attendance record is 1,056, set against Idaho State on Feb. 13, 1999. College basketball. I would much rather have a problem with "where are we going to put the people" than "how can we get more people to come". Thankfully UND has some solutions for the former and the latter isn't a current concern. Quote
MplsBison Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 It wouldn't be from one rich alumni, but probably 10 donors of $30 million. Right. 10 years from now I expect UND to have the indoor practice facility built and to be playing games in the Alerus. Quote
GeauxSioux Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Right. 10 years from now I expect UND to have the indoor practice facility built and to be playing games in the Alerus. You are a visionary. Quote
GeauxSioux Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 I saw this posted over at egriz in regards to NAU. $162M sports plan unveiled Funding options: --State and university funds --Special taxing authority --Naming rights --Sky box and club box revenues --Private donations Athletics Master Plan Schedule Phase I: 2008-09 Skydome upgrade $12.3M Multisport facility $9.8M Football practice fields $5.2M Cage and throwing circles $161,000 Rolle Center upgrade $2.9M Wall Aquatic Center upgrade $1.3M Phase II 2010-11 Demolish Lumberjack Stadium $798,000 New Athletic Department offices, training room, lockerrooms $20.2M Women's outdoor sports $4.7M Phase III 2012-13 New 6,500-seat arena $86.0M Skydome amenities $4.6M New Lumberjack Stadium seating $3.7M Phase IV 2013-14 Final Skydome renovations $14.0M Outdoor tennis courts $681,000 New aquatic center UNPRICED Total $162 million Quote
Big A HG Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 Why would we want a really nice stadium when we can only half fill the Alerus for the last home game...a playoff game. Quote
UND92,96 Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 Why would we want a really nice stadium when we can only half fill the Alerus for the last home game...a playoff game. I don't know whether UND will need a new stadium in the foreseeable future or not, but people really need to quit focusing on playoff attendance as a barometer of interest in the program. Playoff attendance tends to be far different from regular season attendance not just at UND, but at many other schools, as well. There are a variety of reasons for it that have been discussed ad nauseum. The regular season average this year was 10,790, which I believe would have been a record at UND. I think it's reasonable to assume that once the home schedule gets to the point where we have several home games against strong opponents every year, that will increase. Whether it increases to the point where the Alerus is simply too small, we'll have to wait and see. In any event, if a new stadium is built, I think it's safe to say that it will be a result of a Engelstad-esque donation, and if a person (or people) want to make that kind of donation for a stadium, then more power to them. Quote
The Sicatoka Posted January 22, 2008 Author Posted January 22, 2008 Why would we want a really nice stadium when we can only half fill the Alerus for the last home game...a playoff game. Sadly, the late Gino-era of hockey only half filled the old (6067 capacity) REA most nights. Given that .... Why would anyone be dumb enough to build UND a state-of-the-art hockey facility with twice the seats? Quote
star2city Posted January 26, 2008 Posted January 26, 2008 An interesting debate ongoing in Sioux Falls: build a 14,000 seat arena (BB/Hockey) or an 18,000 seat dome (football). Why would SF want or need a domed football stadium when there are no tenants other than high school football teams? Possible answer: the leaders of this initiative are eyeing SDSU and/or USD football as tenants. Each school must have at leat a 15,000 seat home (and preferably 18,000) if one of them ever chose to go IA. SDSU's Coughlin needs to be rebuilt from scratch to be a legitmate IA, and USD's is way too small, and neither would likely afford a new football stadium themselves. http://argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...8/1135/SPORTS05 On the Sioux Falls sports scene, there will be no bigger story this year than the debate surrounding a new events center - and what sort of facility it should be. If you look at surrounding Upper Midwest cities of lesser caliber (start with Sioux City, Iowa, and Fargo), there is no question we need a new stadium to brighten our future, and that we should be able to pay for it. I've made it clear that my preference is to build a 14,000-seat events center at the existing athletic complex at West Avenue and Russell. It should connect to the convention center and replace the archaic Arena - hosting basketball, hockey, concerts, Storm football, trade shows, truck pulls and whatever passes for entertainment when 2012 rolls around. The Coliseum Exploratory Group also wants to build on that site, but it envisions an 18,000-seat football-type facility modeled after the Fargodome. That plan would keep the Arena for hockey and basketball but get rid of Howard Wood Field. Of those two options, a decision must be made quickly so we can approach matters of funding and public relations from a unified stance. Much of the early debate has been marred by misinformation and bickering - not the best way to lay the groundwork for a successful public vote. Coliseum group loses founding member The remaining chairman (Dykhouse) is an SDSU booster. Quote
MplsBison Posted January 26, 2008 Posted January 26, 2008 It'd be cool if SDSU had a dome. Then all of the Dakota 4 would have domes. But my gut tells me that SDSU wants to stay at Caughlin and build their new athletics center in one of the endzones and then rebuild the visiting side stands. This might be what USD needs to legitmately compete in FCS, along with a new bball arena. Quote
The Sicatoka Posted January 26, 2008 Author Posted January 26, 2008 http://argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...8/1135/SPORTS05 Stand by for righteous indignation from the Fargo Forum in three, two, .... Quote
GeauxSioux Posted February 10, 2008 Posted February 10, 2008 Stand by for righteous indignation from the Fargo Forum in three, two, .... I found the "righteous" indignation elsewhere. Skyscraper Forum Quote
GeauxSioux Posted February 10, 2008 Posted February 10, 2008 What will the next president inherit?Facilities “In our master plan, we have a significant change in the athletic component over a nine- or 10-year period,” said Rick Tonder, associate facilities director. Those plans involve bringing athletics back to the center of campus in two main hubs, he said, one surrounding Memorial Stadium and the other around the Ralph Engelstad Arena. The former would include track and field and soccer complexes and the latter, which is essentially complete, includes the Ralph, the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center and the UND Wellness Center. Still waiting for these plans to become official. Quote
Bleed Green Posted February 10, 2008 Posted February 10, 2008 People in FArGo suffer from an infliction known as F.I.G.J.A.M. ... which stands for "F**K I'm Good ... Just Ask Me" That skyscraper site made me throw up in my mouth ... twice. Quote
The Sicatoka Posted February 11, 2008 Author Posted February 11, 2008 What will the next president inherit? Quote
bincitysioux Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 Just a question/thought out of the blue: Could the UND softball team play games in the Alerus Center? I see that UND has played in a tourney in the UNI-Dome and they are playing in St. Cloud's bubble-dome that they set up over the field at Husky Stadium this weekend. I also know that USD plays softball games in the DakotaDome, and NDSU has played a handful of games in the Fargodome. Perhaps it is not possible, otherwise they would have done it at some point over the last 7 years. But if it could be done, that could help ensure that fewer home games get cancelled due to weather, and possibly even be a recruiting tool. Quote
hermit Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 All the facilities could be build from the $370 million Harrah's paid for the Imperial. This depends on if there is a clause in Raplh's will on how much goes to UND depending on if the nickname changes or not. Quote
bincitysioux Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 All the facilities could be build from the $370 million Harrah's paid for the Imperial. This depends on if there is a clause in Raplh's will on how much goes to UND depending on if the nickname changes or not. Quote
Hammersmith Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 Just a question/thought out of the blue: Could the UND softball team play games in the Alerus Center? I see that UND has played in a tourney in the UNI-Dome and they are playing in St. Cloud's bubble-dome that they set up over the field at Husky Stadium this weekend. I also know that USD plays softball games in the DakotaDome, and NDSU has played a handful of games in the Fargodome. Perhaps it is not possible, otherwise they would have done it at some point over the last 7 years. But if it could be done, that could help ensure that fewer home games get cancelled due to weather, and possibly even be a recruiting tool. I would think it should be possible. NDSU just held a softball tournament in the Fargodome about a week ago, and I think it has less sideline space than the Alerus. The biggest problem with holding a game in a football stadium seems to be the lack of dirt running paths. The turf can sometimes cause injuries when players try to slide or pivot. When discussing the tourney on Bisonville, a poster remembered being in the FD a few years back when a visiting player snapped her leg trying to make a play. He said the snap and her scream echoed into the silence. Now, I doubt something that bad would happen every year, but it might be a reason why UND has never used the Alerus in this way. Quote
puck Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 But Lonnie Laffen, partner of Grand Forks-based JLG Architects, said he expects to have a strong year. Quote
SiouxCrew11 Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 I hope so! I'm ready to see some blueprints or models of this indoor practice facility! Quote
MplsBison Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 If UND got another 10 million in donations...it's just not fair! If that's true, I'd like to see where UND ranks on multimillion dollar donations. Quote
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