Modernize Stanford Stadium: 30,000 seats lost..

[NavyCrimson]

little off-subject here but good article on renovating an old stadium:

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2 ... 60805.html

pix: http://gostanford.collegesports.com/spo ... 05aaa.html

while everyone is adding seats, stanford is reducing theirs - however it makes sense -

good read

[Water Pony]

Having been to the Stanford stadium, this is a very wise move. Although bigger than our Ford Stadium, Stanford will achieve a similar, more intimate result. Plus, Stanford just doesn't get 85K fans anymore and the reconfiqured stadium at 55k will have a better impact.

As a matter of fact, when the Chicago Bears renovated Soldier Field, they also down-sized a bit. The result is better for the fans and players on the field.

[braginator]

Yeah I agree the smaller size is a good thing, but in the Bay Area there is some debate over Stanford downsizing. Cal fans who usually fill the stadium will no longer be able to go (and the Big Game is usually near a sell out). The atmosphere will be much improved for most games, but will sorta suck to be without so many Cal fans and even Notre Dame fans when they come in and fill it up.

[EastStang]

Having just gone to a baseball game last night at RFK Stadium and last fall going to Redskins games at FedEx Field, I will tell you bigger is not always better. RFK is an old stadium seats about 55,000 for football, 45,000 for baseball (with the famous movable seats which bounce up and down when the teams starts rolling). The sight lines are great and even in distant upper deck center field you can see the entire field. No obstructed views of the field of play. You can't say that about FedEx Field which has 85,000 capacity with about 10,000 obstructed view seats.

[Water Pony]

EastStang:

Isn't the plan for the Nationals to build a new stadium/field in Anacosta? Did it get approval?

[EastStang]

Yes, it will be a Camden Yards, Ballpark At Arlington type of clone which should be fine. And approvals have been given. They are only waiting on the new owership to weigh in (when we get new ownership). RFK is a decent baseball stadium of the Busch, Veterans and 3 Rivers vintage. Now that they've shaken the bugs out, it is back to being a very functional baseball park. The players are adjusting to the fact that it has a pretty big outfield and the weather has been cool enough to keep balls in the park. As the weather warms up, RFK becomes more of a hitters park.

[NavyCrimson]

now - as for cal-berkeley -


i remember driving thru the campus last yr & walking thru the stadium /

how sad / i wish i had my digital with me, u ought to see the press box, or lack of / the wooden bench seats had holes in 'em / unbelievable!!!

the whole ^%$$# campus looks like an institution, in fact, very institutional looking!

*************

Cal gets going on Memorial, work set for '07
- Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

The long-awaited renovation of Cal's Memorial Stadium is showing signs of progress, with a tentative target date set to begin construction and recent successes in fund raising.

In a conference call Monday to announce architects for the project, Tom Lollini, associate vice chancellor for facilities, said construction would "hopefully" begin after the 2006 football season. It would last about one year.

Athletic director Sandy Barbour said $40 million had been raised for the athletic department's portion of the funding -- including an anonymous gift of $25 million two months ago -- and she expected additional "leadership" donations in the next three to six months.

Beyond that, details were sketchy pending further definition of the project, being billed by the university as a new vision for the southeast quadrant of the Berkeley campus. In addition to the stadium improvements, there would be improvements at the business and law schools, which also are responsible for raising money.

HNTB Architecture, which has designed upgrades at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Ohio Stadium at Ohio State and Ross-Ade Stadium at Purdue, has been retained to do the design work on the stadium. Moore Ruble Yudell will handle the design work for the academic commons building shared by Haas School of Business and Boalt Hall.

Lollini said he expects design details by the fall.

Until the architects come up with specific plans, the university will not provide any cost estimates, although estimates for earlier concepts ran in the $180-$200 million range.

The project has been in the works since 1997, when the regents mandated seismic upgrades at the stadium, which sits on top of the Hayward Fault.

The impetus behind the project is the success of Cal's football program, with coach Jeff Tedford consistently saying the team needs improved facilities -- including better meeting, locker, conditioning and training rooms -- to remain competitive. He has escape clauses in his contract if the work isn't done.

It certainly is the major item facing Barbour, who replaced Steve Gladstone in September 2004. Her department has an annual operating deficit of between $3 million and $5 million, with increased football revenues from an improved stadium a possible way to close the gap.

She is confident more donors will step forward once the project is further defined.

"I have no doubt," she said. "We know the base is out there."

Lollini said the football team would be displaced for only one season and even hinted that work could be done while play continues at the stadium. There was no word on where the team might play if it did have to move.

Tony Gonzales, lead architect for NHTB, offered few specifics on early plans for the 82-year-old stadium, other than to note that the seating bowl would not be changed and the emphasis for fans would be on sight lines, concession stands and rest rooms.

"It's a wonderful place with a long history," Gonzales said. "We're going to be looking at capturing those elements of historical significance."

He also acknowledged the need to improve Memorial's facilities for the football team and said Tedford and his staff would be involved in planning.

In particular, Gonzales said recent projects have shown the need for adequate space for weight training facilities. Currently, football players have to lift in shifts in Memorial's weight room. Meeting space is so scarce that the offense and defense can't gather at the same time.

"Those facilities are very important in Division I athletics," he said. "They have a lot to do with recruiting and the athletes' time management."

Chancellor Robert Birgeneau announced the project in February. It also includes a new plaza area to the west of the stadium.

"It's hard to overestimate the value of the integrated approach," said Buzz Yudell, lead designer on the academic commons building, which will include the athletic department's study center.

At the time, officials said architects would be named in March. Despite the apparent delay, Lollini said that the project is "on track."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tentative time line
Fall, 2005: Design plan expected.

Early 2007: Construction begins.

2007 season: Team will play in temporary home, yet to be determined.

2008: Construction completed before football season.

E-mail Bruce Adams at [email protected].

[Water Pony]

Anyone have any new info on rennovating Moody?


BTW, I like the Three Mustangs in front Very impressive and much larger than I expected.

[No Cal Pony]

Hopefully Moody will get done sooner than later. Even some touch ups would be nice.

Stanford Stadium was always a nice place to visit. Very nice place in a very nice campus, while cal's staium was a pit, and has been in decay for some time. Shame since most of campus is pretty. Living here in NC, I have come to admire Kenan @ unc. Right in the middle of campus, and very nice. They also just added a large plaza complex which is state of the art.

Go Ponies!

[NavyCrimson]

No Cal Pony - no joke about cal's stadium / unbelievable!!!

when i walked down to the goal line (on the field) & looked up & around, wow!!! couldn't believe it / it literally looked like the old ownby stadium when we had the old wooden bench seats...wasn't that in the 70's or 80's...

& this was several months ago / as for the pressbox...what pressbox!!!???

LOL - you're certainly right about baseball too!!! it would make my heart content LOL thank you!