$3 Million Gift Commitment to IPF

Dmills

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cubird

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Kyle was at the game, but was sitting further north of his usual seats. I briefly talked to him leaving the Arena. And yes he wasn’t too happy about the loss of peas in the refs‘ whistles in the last minute of the game.
 

Dmills

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Reports earlier this month had the total amount raised to this point at $7 million. This should put us at $10 million while the project is "not to exceed $11.5 million". That puts us in really good shape and I believe the project will be started in the Spring now that we have met the $8 million threshold to begin construction.
 
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Total Red

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Kyle was at the game, but was sitting further north of his usual seats. I briefly talked to him leaving the Arena. And yes he wasn’t too happy about the loss of peas in the refs‘ whistles in the last minute of the game.
Ok I missed him, thanks. He's doing incredible work because we aren't used to this level of financial support. Transformational, Game Changer, whatever you want to call it. If this continues then Redbird Athletics will have a newer, much higher ceiling.
 

REALBird

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Congrats and Thanks DM, Sheila (Pham) and BJ. Redbird Nation is deeply appreciative of your gifts, time and effort to help recruit and prepare future student athletes to excel and win championships at Illinois State. Let’s get this done AD Kyle Brennan.
 

fourthandshort

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Kudos to both Sheila and BJ ... just a phenomenally generous donation.

Many of you know, the BJ Bello transfer story remains my favorite come-back story of all for Redbird Nation since i began following just after Spack was hired ... just an inspiration for anyone struggling to break thru at FBS level giving it one last shot at FCS level. The redemption and vindication he must feel must be so personally rewarding.

Now he gives back in huge way .. major kudos to BJ Bello !!!!
 

cubird

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Wonder since money has been secured for the IPF, whether the AD can still get naming rights for improving existing facilities.
 

cubird

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Who knew they would be serving tall cans of beer after installing the new seats. Maybe they will give out Redbird Cozies!
 

ISUBird

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I know we are far from Utah's level and spending power, but they are spending $61 million on a new indoor practice facility. 20 years ago they were practicing in a bubble, something that we will start doing in a few years.

If we were able to spend double for a real building that we are on a bubble then why do we not fundraise a few more years and build a better building?
 

cubird

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Because costs continue to go up. Maybe this investment gets u to another level competitively with your peers. Parlay that to get to the next level ...what ever that may be.
 

Total Red

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We will have the bubble within a year and we need it NOW, not in a few years. From the functional standpoint of teams being able to work out, the difference between a bubble and a hard-sided building is negligible and there would be no guarantee that the funds would be there in a few years for a permanent structure.

I don't know if fans appreciate what a game changer this is. The IPF is being built primarily with private donations and that has not been the history here. Redbird Arena was built primarily with student fees and we had to pay off those bonds before the Hancock renovation could be undertaken. I'd like this to be a new normal where multimillion-dollar gifts happen with regularity, but I don't think we can count on that just yet.
 

ISUBird

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I understand both arguments, but it still seems shortsighted. A real building will last longer and look better to recruits as well as less chance of injury due to something happening to the structure. Recently the university has been doing very good at fundraising in all aspects so keep it going with this and a real building would probably open up wallets more. You can't count on the IPF making the team better, but you can count on more money making the IPF better than a bubble.

I also disagree, we don't need it now or we would have always needed it and I know need wasn't meant in the literal sense, we have been very competitive under Spack without one. Besides, bubble don't offer everything or the quality a real building does and there's a reason they have fallen out of favor. To help bridge the gap and put us closer we could sell the naming rights to Hancock.
 
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dpdoughbird06

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We will have the bubble within a year and we need it NOW, not in a few years. From the functional standpoint of teams being able to work out, the difference between a bubble and a hard-sided building is negligible and there would be no guarantee that the funds would be there in a few years for a permanent structure.

I don't know if fans appreciate what a game changer this is. The IPF is being built primarily with private donations and that has not been the history here. Redbird Arena was built primarily with student fees and we had to pay off those bonds before the Hancock renovation could be undertaken. I'd like this to be a new normal where multimillion-dollar gifts happen with regularity, but I don't think we can count on that just yet.
I’d prefer a brick-and-mortar building, but that can always come later in some form if this bubble helps football go on some nice deep playoff runs in the next few years.

Winning has a way of loosening wallets.
 

Virginia Redbird

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I also disagree, we don't need it now or we would have always needed it and I know need wasn't meant in the literal sense, we have been very competitive under Spack without one. Besides, bubble don't offer everything or the quality a real building does and there's a reason they have fallen out of favor. To help bridge the gap and put us closer we could sell the naming rights to Hancock.
ISU has needed an indoor facility for some time now. It is far overdue at the level they play. They have been competitive until the past two seasons but that does not mean they did not need the facility. It means Spack has done a good job of doing without but the Birds are not catching up, they are falling behind ... way, way behind. I would like to see a brick-and-mortar building but that is not going to happen in Normal. It will happen at other places but not in Normal. A bubble is a good option if it gets an indoor place to practice in bad weather.
 

Reggie1857

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I think some folks are so accepting of the bubble idea because ISU has a history of doing things half assed when they build athletic facilities. Illinois State has never had as competent and aggressive a group of fundraisers in the athletic dept as they do now. Granted, it was not a very high bar to climb over, but it is, what it is. They have the money secured to start on the bubble and they've only had a competent AD for a little over a year. Give this dept a chance to redeem its laughable history and set the goal higher than a cheezy inflatable dome.
 
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