Indoor Facility News

[bb fan]

What more is it you want the admins to do to guarantee playoff bids Virginia Redbird or, Birdswin?

What are we doing differently now than what we did the years we did make the playoffs?

 

[HailISNU]

can some please list this supposed plethora of other building options other than "permanent structure" and "temporary structure"

 

[MadBird]

For those in favor of a bubble, I think this would be a decent option. Just throw it up over Hancock.

https://bceagles.com/facilities/?id=8

I'm not a huge fan of the bubbles, but can agree that it would be better than nothing. Just can't understand how so many D2 schools can manage to put together funding for a DECENT indoor facility and we can't. I mean, I can understand, it's just really irritating...

Bubble over Hancock would work for winter, but isn't a solution for football "in season". Better to do it over the regular practice field, or another location I guess.

I'd still favor a permanent facility, but at some point you'd think it's time to "recalibrate" and set sights lower if the bucks aren't coming in for a "real" facility.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

What more is it you want the admins to do to guarantee playoff bids Virginia Redbird or, Birdswin?

What are we doing differently now than what we did the years we did make the playoffs?

Sadly, your own words show the problem. What is ISU doing differently from the years they made the playoffs? Nothing and that is the basic problem. Coach Spack got them to the playoffs and the National Championship game and then nothing different is done to build on that momentum...that appearance is just ridden as far as it will go. The biggest thing since it seems to me is the new turf at Hancock which frankly should have been replaced years before.

There is no guarantee to making the playoffs unless you are NDSU. Speaking of NDSU, they have a bubble and are in the process of fundraising to build an indoor football building. ISU is in the process of fundraising to build an indoor football facility but in the meantime just practice in the snow and slush and shiver.

https://gobison.com/facilities/

NDSU's opponent in the next round of the playoffs is SDSU. They have an indoor facility and a new stadium.

https://gojacks.com/facilities/

The YSU indoor facility has been highlighted here several times.

http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/watts

One benefit coaches appreciate with making the playoffs is more practices with the players. How productive are those practices if you are in snow and bitter cold? Recruits compare programs as they are recruited. NDSU has no indoor facility built as yet but they have the bubble and artist renderings of the new indoor facility and who thinks it will not get built? What do you tell that recruit when he visits ISU. We have nothing to show you but we are scrounging for money and maybe in 5-10 years an indoor facility will be built. We really want it and hope it gets done. in the meantime, we could invest in a temp indoor facility but we are not going to do that. We are serious about fielding a top-notch football team. Just trust us and sign on the line.

Good luck with that!

 

[fourthandshort]

What more is it you want the admins to do to guarantee playoff bids Virginia Redbird or, Birdswin?

What are we doing differently now than what we did the years we did make the playoffs?

Sadly, your own words show the problem. What is ISU doing differently from the years they made the playoffs? Nothing and that is the basic problem. Coach Spack got them to the playoffs and the National Championship game and then nothing different is done to build on that momentum...that appearance is just ridden as far as it will go. The biggest thing since it seems to me is the new turf at Hancock which frankly should have been replaced years before.

There is no guarantee to making the playoffs unless you are NDSU. Speaking of NDSU, they have a bubble and are in the process of fundraising to build an indoor football building. ISU is in the process of fundraising to build an indoor football facility but in the meantime just practice in the snow and slush and shiver.

https://gobison.com/facilities/

NDSU's opponent in the next round of the playoffs is SDSU. They have an indoor facility and a new stadium.

https://gojacks.com/facilities/

The YSU indoor facility has been highlighted here several times.

http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/watts

One benefit coaches appreciate with making the playoffs is more practices with the players. How productive are those practices if you are in snow and bitter cold? Recruits compare programs as they are recruited. NDSU has no indoor facility built as yet but they have the bubble and artist renderings of the new indoor facility and who thinks it will not get built? What do you tell that recruit when he visits ISU. We have nothing to show you but we are scrounging for money and maybe in 5-10 years an indoor facility will be built. We really want it and hope it gets done. in the meantime, we could invest in a temp indoor facility but we are not going to do that. We are serious about fielding a top-notch football team. Just trust us and sign on the line.

Good luck with that!

nice post VirginiaRB

so I'm just going to pound home a real simple point, though there are many reasons it is very important to have an indoor facility (bubble or building) sitting here in midwest .. not the least of which is being able to recruit from warm weather states as an FCS school.

But putting aside the obvious weather/winter needs, the most important actual tangible benefit is having an alternative playing surface available 24/7/365 .... 365 being most critical ... that replicates the playing surface in game ... that is, footing and timing. So mitigating inclement weather is huge, recruitment is huge, but the actual tangible reason is simply footing and timing. It is important to every position, but especially important to skill players, offensively and defensively. And footing directly impacts timing, especially in pass game.

Horton is unacceptable option for several reasons, but primary issue is it does nothing to prepare our player for the footing (and timing) they will experience in a game.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

I'm doing some research into the indoor vs bubble argument.

A couple things to point out: to get anything done in the state of IL, it's going to be on the backs of students or through the generosity of private/corporate donors. Even academic buildings are that way, as we have seen with the Fine Arts building. The state has held up that money for many years, even to the detriment of paying millions in necessary but avoidable maintenance costs.

To get things done at ISU at the level of an indoor, you will either need corporate donors or the students to fund something. Considering the students will be paying for the debt service on the stadium for many years, that takes them out of the equation. The students paid for almost the entire stadium because they couldn't get but a small fraction through development. Part of that is the development team at the time didn't ask enough people. They are also going to run into some trouble if club seats start coming open at a higher clip to then find new donors to pay those capital amounts and take over those seats,

We also don't have the private donors right now to get it done. Can they be developed? Yes. Are we their choice of philanthropy? Not right now. We have some boosters who can pay for half/the entire facility. That's a lot though even if you have $100 million in the bank.

That's where it takes getting in key staff members to shepherd those relationships. It seems over the last three months, now we have someone who can develop relationships and get those donations. If it's just him, it still may take years.

Unless we get a few more donors at $1 million or a corporate donor willing to be the lead gift, we will not break ground.

 

[fourthandshort]

Maybe not entirely fair to do this, but Spack has raised the bar enought around here that we're now putting more players in NFL. I assume we try to hit those guys up to help .. certainly, an indoor facility would be an easy case to make for some level of contribution from former players.

Question for those that "know" ... is it simply the issue of our sports admin failure to recognize they are in the business of asking for money ? Are they too proud and think it makes us look weak ? What is it about fund raising they lack .. lack of ideas/resources, lack of right personalities asking for money, false sense of pride ? Or what ?

Also, I have heard from couple people that trust is eroding between some of the donor base and sports admin leadership. Is this a major factor too ?

 

[bb fan]

Interesting info, Virginia. But you didn't answer the question. except to provide a link about YSU's indoor building. At the time they were doing that, we were coming up with $25 million for Hancock 2.0. Should we have built an indoor facility instead?

It just gets tiresome. Some posters b1tch and moan. They throw out snarky comments that admins, coaches whatever don't care or work hard enough. One thing I can assure you of. They do care. They are working hard. There have been obvious accomplishments. I am not satisfied. Nor are they. As is should be. But if folks are going to take slams, give some specific ideas -- for funding. For strategy. Birdswin said we need to do things to GUARANTEE the playoffs. Virginia, at least you said as much -- there are no guarantees. If there were, this board would light up with real specific ways we can get there.

 

[HailISNU]

Even academic buildings are that way, as we have seen with the Fine Arts building.

Oh wow that's a blast from the past. RIP

 

[ricohill]

Maybe not entirely fair to do this, but Spack has raised the bar enought around here that we're now putting more players in NFL. I assume we try to hit those guys up to help .. certainly, an indoor facility would be an easy case to make for some level of contribution from former players.

Question for those that "know" ... is it simply the issue of our sports admin failure to recognize they are in the business of asking for money ? Are they too proud and think it makes us look weak ? What is it about fund raising they lack .. lack of ideas/resources, lack of right personalities asking for money, false sense of pride ? Or what ?

Also, I have heard from couple people that trust is eroding between some of the donor base and sports admin leadership. Is this a major factor too ?

Asking guys in the NFL is harder than you think. Those guys from ISU aren't making Aaron Rodgers money. They donate and give back, but not going to be able to foot the bill for an indoor facility.

Having been around for a long time, ISU has lost a large portion of its donor base (most of which are basketball fans). Football really just started growing a fan base recently. There has been a lack of growth of new donors and ignored donors in major metropolitan cities where large numbers of ISU alums live.

We don't have a dynamic fundraiser in the top positions in the athletic department. Right now our lowest level administrator (in the org chart) is the one carrying the weight of fundraising. Which, is good for him, but when the people above him aren't getting it done it isn't fair to him or a recipe for success. Your AD has to be your best fundraiser and that is not the case.

I also think right now we lack a vision and direction for the athletic program. Honestly, we need a basketball practice facility as much or more than indoor practice facility. We need cost of attendance for football, training table, supplements paid for, finish Hancock/Redbird Arena, etc... as well. I would love for the athletic department to put all its main needs together and have a real fundraising campaign. I don't think we know which donors to target and what to sell them on. We are just randomly asking people for money.

That is my take on the situation.

 

[GhostofMBA]

BB Fan, it is too bad the old board is no longer around. Many good ideas were lost. I put it on par with the Burning of the Great Library of Alexandria.

The indoor facility has been discussed for a long, long time.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Interesting info, Virginia. But you didn't answer the question. except to provide a link about YSU's indoor building. At the time they were doing that, we were coming up with $25 million for Hancock 2.0. Should we have built an indoor facility instead?

It just gets tiresome. Some posters b1tch and moan. They throw out snarky comments that admins, coaches whatever don't care or work hard enough. One thing I can assure you of. They do care. They are working hard. There have been obvious accomplishments. I am not satisfied. Nor are they. As is should be. But if folks are going to take slams, give some specific ideas -- for funding. For strategy. Birdswin said we need to do things to GUARANTEE the playoffs. Virginia, at least you said as much -- there are no guarantees. If there were, this board would light up with real specific ways we can get there.

BB Fan we are going to have to agree to disagree on this topic. I answered your question...some type of indoor facility is needed. You choose to only look at the YSU link and ignore the rest. You have some connection with the athletic department it seems and you want to speak on their behalf. I have no problem with that. I am sure they want to win. Everybody wants to win. Not everybody wants to do what you need to do to win. Look at the NDSU link again. They have a bubble right now. They have plans for the future Indoor facility and while they are still in the fundraising mode they have something to show recruits and do you think anyone in their fanbase for a split second thinks that indoor facility will not be built? Look at the fans on this board...how many really believe ISU will eventually build an indoor facility? Heck, most don't believe they will even consider a temp structure.
The bottom line for me...talk is very cheap! Show me the money!

BTW, I am not an AD and my job is not to raise money. People are being paid to do that job so posting that it is up to the fans on this board to "give some specific ideas - for funding" seems to me to be ridiculous. If the people in charge need to go to this board for "ideas" then ISU should go look for people that really know how to do this job. I would like to see a permanent indoor facility built but a bubble or some type of temp structure for an interim fix is fine and desirable. BTW, if you look at the links all the bubbles at other universities that I have looked at are not just for football. The facilities are used by other sports as well so it would be a multi-sport facility I would think. If it would benefit more than just football there is even more reason to put something like this up.

So why do NDSU and SDSU have some type of indoor facility and ISU does not? Lots of different reasons I am certain. Some I would assume is tied to the pitiful government and financial status of the state of Illinois. Some may be tired to lack of interest by the student population and local area. Maybe ISU just does not have the alumni with deep pockets to contribute huge amounts. BB fan you mentioned in a post that there are "many more different building choices than an inflatable dome or a traditional building like YSU". So...what are they? You never listed any of the options. Is the Athletic Department considering these options? Do they have a plan? Which one do they favor? What are the reasons they favor one over the other? When do they expect to be ready to move forward? What plans do they have on the table? Basically, how much do they really communicate with the fan base? You want the program to grow you have to invest and build it and interact with the fan base and grow it. I don't know the answer to those questions but then again it is not my job to figure it out. Does that mean I can't have an opinion and post some criticism? No.

I have been a lifelong Chicago Bears fan and the last 10 years or so I have been blasting the McCaskey family for much the same thing. They are making tons of money whether the Bears win or not so why invest, why commit? The McCaskey's have finally made the commitment and it is showing on the field. Kudos to them but I still believe they only made the changes because fans were a lot of empty seats at Soldier Field and they were losing stature as the Cubs and Blackhawks started to win championships. I don't feel much differently right now about the ISU Athletic Department. They are doing okay so why invest to excel? I could be right or I could be wrong but with the fan base, it is really only their perception that matters. If they don't feel the athletic department is as committed to excellence as they want then why purchase tickets or attend the games? The fan base perception IS the Athletic Department's reality. Just the way it is.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Maybe not entirely fair to do this, but Spack has raised the bar enought around here that we're now putting more players in NFL. I assume we try to hit those guys up to help .. certainly, an indoor facility would be an easy case to make for some level of contribution from former players.

Question for those that "know" ... is it simply the issue of our sports admin failure to recognize they are in the business of asking for money ? Are they too proud and think it makes us look weak ? What is it about fund raising they lack .. lack of ideas/resources, lack of right personalities asking for money, false sense of pride ? Or what ?

Also, I have heard from couple people that trust is eroding between some of the donor base and sports admin leadership. Is this a major factor too ?

Asking guys in the NFL is harder than you think. Those guys from ISU aren't making Aaron Rodgers money. They donate and give back, but not going to be able to foot the bill for an indoor facility.

Having been around for a long time, ISU has lost a large portion of its donor base (most of which are basketball fans). Football really just started growing a fan base recently. There has been a lack of growth of new donors and ignored donors in major metropolitan cities where large numbers of ISU alums live.

We don't have a dynamic fundraiser in the top positions in the athletic department. Right now our lowest level administrator (in the org chart) is the one carrying the weight of fundraising. Which, is good for him, but when the people above him aren't getting it done it isn't fair to him or a recipe for success. Your AD has to be your best fundraiser and that is not the case.

I also think right now we lack a vision and direction for the athletic program. Honestly, we need a basketball practice facility as much or more than indoor practice facility. We need cost of attendance for football, training table, supplements paid for, finish Hancock/Redbird Arena, etc... as well. I would love for the athletic department to put all its main needs together and have a real fundraising campaign. I don't think we know which donors to target and what to sell them on. We are just randomly asking people for money.

That is my take on the situation.

A couple thoughts: the End Zone club appears to be taking care of the training table. Any members, has that changed? A big thank you to those guys who continue to donate to that each year, regardless of what the funds are used for. Players also have access to the all-they-care-to-eat dining centers, if they choose. I really, really hope a food shortage is not a problem. I'd be happy to go to Aldi and get cases of cereal (for a snack) to drop off at Kaufman if that was a problem, as I'm sure many of us would be.

Luckily, the Board of Trustees took care of funding for the start of the RBA/Horton improvements. I'm guessing we will also see some sort of club seating like we did for FB help pay for the capital improvements.

Before we finish Hancock, we need to sell the place out more. It doesn't make sense to put in another renovation to add thousands more seats if we can't regularly fill the nice new part we have. Hopefully we get some big wins to start and build the crowd; work on increasing the gameday atmosphere to get a lot of the people in from tailgating.

Unfortunately on the fundraising front, our NFL Birds mostly don't have big contracts. They're making great money - say $500k-$1,000,000 per year range. That means their take-home pay is about half of that and doesn't leave room for huge gifts. Laurent had the contract to make a sizable gift - say 6-7 figures; however, he didn't get to play much under it. Thus, about $15-20 mil got left on the table. I know he has donated though.

Unless Doug Collins wants to make a legacy gift, our best athlete earning potential right now is in MLB or perhaps Shelby Harris if he continues to make key plays on Denver's DL and can get a decent contract in FA. Even so, his first go-round in FA may be, at-most, a couple million per year.

 

[bb fan]

I read your links, Virginia. I saw a bunch of stuff about how good NDSU, and a link to a YSU webpage about their indoor facility. You make a big deal about SDSU and NDSU having indoor facilities. Now, don't you think that might be a bit higher priority for them, being their location?

The point is, I see very little materially that we are doing that puts as at an disadvantage to "guarantee" playoff bids. as some insist on. We abosulutely need, and can do better. I wish we could raise more funds, and I think we have made moves recently to aid that. Even in your last reply, I just don't read much of any specific substaince there. Fans tell me stuff from time to time, and every once in a blue moon I read something here that I do share with admins. All through my45 years of being an ISU fan, I have never hesitated to get to know admins and university presidents. And those that know me know I am not shy when it comes to sharing ideas. So when I ask, I am sincere about looking for real ideas that can make us better.

Not speaking about you Virginia, and several other great posters, but this forums just seems go become harder and hared to read. More and more baseless, petty, snarky bashing. Dialog that does nothing to help our Redbirds. Thanks for the convo, though.

 

[MadBird]

I'm a little afraid to continue this thread and open this up again, but what the hey . . .

From the "how the other half lives" department, DII family:

https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/...-4-million-inflatable-sports-dome/2213764002/

MANKATO — Minnesota State University students have overwhelmingly endorsed a new $4 million inflatable dome on campus, which is expected to fill a longstanding need for indoor sports space for the university and the broader Mankato community.

Under the plan, the dome would be used from 2-5 p.m. weekdays by MSU's intercollegiate sports teams. Otherwise, the facility would be available for general use as a classroom for certain college classes, for intramural sports or club teams, and for rent to youth sports teams from around the region.

Construction is slated to begin in May on the dome, which is to be located along Monks Avenue on the southeast corner of MSU's campus. It will be deflated during warm-weather months with its artificial turf playing surface available for outdoor play.

Okay, I officially apologize for re-opening this discussion!! :lol: Let's return to our regular programming!

 

[fourthandshort]

I'm a little afraid to continue this thread and open this up again, but what the hey . . .

From the "how the other half lives" department, DII family:

https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/...-4-million-inflatable-sports-dome/2213764002/

MANKATO — Minnesota State University students have overwhelmingly endorsed a new $4 million inflatable dome on campus, which is expected to fill a longstanding need for indoor sports space for the university and the broader Mankato community.

Under the plan, the dome would be used from 2-5 p.m. weekdays by MSU's intercollegiate sports teams. Otherwise, the facility would be available for general use as a classroom for certain college classes, for intramural sports or club teams, and for rent to youth sports teams from around the region.

Construction is slated to begin in May on the dome, which is to be located along Monks Avenue on the southeast corner of MSU's campus. It will be deflated during warm-weather months with its artificial turf playing surface available for outdoor play.

Okay, I officially apologize for re-opening this discussion!! :lol: Let's return to our regular programming!

nice going Madbird ... no putting the toothpaste back in the tube .. can't be done.

 

[MadBird]

I'm a little afraid to continue this thread and open this up again, but what the hey . . .

From the "how the other half lives" department, DII family:

https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/...-4-million-inflatable-sports-dome/2213764002/

Okay, I officially apologize for re-opening this discussion!! :lol: Let's return to our regular programming!

nice going Madbird ... no putting the toothpaste back in the tube .. can't be done.

Maybe I could commence to name-calling, and steer the thread off track!

 

[fourthandshort]

Okay, I officially apologize for re-opening this discussion!! :lol: Let's return to our regular programming!

nice going Madbird ... no putting the toothpaste back in the tube .. can't be done.

Maybe I could commence to name-calling, and steer the thread off track!

If you need ideas there, apparently the basketball forum can show you how its done most effectively.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

I read your links, Virginia. I saw a bunch of stuff about how good NDSU, and a link to a YSU webpage about their indoor facility. You make a big deal about SDSU and NDSU having indoor facilities. Now, don't you think that might be a bit higher priority for them, being their location?

The point is, I see very little materially that we are doing that puts as at an disadvantage to "guarantee" playoff bids. as some insist on. We abosulutely need, and can do better. I wish we could raise more funds, and I think we have made moves recently to aid that. Even in your last reply, I just don't read much of any specific substaince there. Fans tell me stuff from time to time, and every once in a blue moon I read something here that I do share with admins. All through my45 years of being an ISU fan, I have never hesitated to get to know admins and university presidents. And those that know me know I am not shy when it comes to sharing ideas. So when I ask, I am sincere about looking for real ideas that can make us better.

Not speaking about you Virginia, and several other great posters, but this forums just seems go become harder and hared to read. More and more baseless, petty, snarky bashing. Dialog that does nothing to help our Redbirds. Thanks for the convo, though.

No heartburn BB Fan. We both want to see Redbird sports do well. I have been gone from Illinois for over 35 years and don't have the direct connection to ISU staff. I have been back for a game or two at Hancock and would love to see the BB facility but that is not possible being so far away.
NDSU and SDSU both have invested in their programs and while the weather is without a doubt more severe in those states if your position in central Illinois is balmy and wonderful in December, January, February, and March...well my memory of walking to class in the early '70s is fogged and dimmed.
If the Birds made the playoffs this year and were preparing for the next game where would they be practicing? I see on the weather channel that the high in Normal today is 33 and the low is 22 degrees. 73% humidity and showers forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Perfect weather to get out on the field at Hancock or the grass field and prepare for a playoff game. I am a football fan so I see things a bit differently.
Good discussion BB! I love some spirited debate but don't take arguments from the other side personally. I hope you do not either. The next time I am in Normal for a game (soon I hope) I would be proud to cheer the Birds on with you. When the whistle blows...we are on the same team!

 

[isuquinndog]

nice going Madbird ... no putting the toothpaste back in the tube .. can't be done.

Maybe I could commence to name-calling, and steer the thread off track!

If you need ideas there, apparently the basketball forum can show you how its done most effectively.

:snooty: :snooty: :mrgreen: