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With the possibilities we will be scheduling A&M and would want to attract the new Conference USA Championship Game to Dallas, why not be BOLD.

First, expand Ford Stadium to 45K by enclosing the horseshoe as its design permits. At 32K, we will would be constrained in holding all the fans for an A&M game and our current capacity is too small to appeal to the CUSA. In the first week in December, Dallas would be ideal to host the game and 45K seats is the right size. Plus, Dallas and our stadium wouldn't duplicate, threaten or water down bowl sites in Memphis, Houston, Orlando, New Orleans.

Second, if Rice can make a commitment for a new Convocation Center, then it is time to renovate Moody and add a practical facility for the Men's and Women's BB teams. Jimmy will help fill the seats with better teams and results.

With our commitment and acceptance in CUSA, we are obligated to have the facilities too match. Ford is a fabulous stadium. With a modest investment, the Aggies will help us fill it and make us the perfect site for the CUSA Championship.

P.S. That only leaves a new competitive swimming & diving complex left, along with much needed intramural fields.

Add 13k seats (endzone = low ticket $$$) for one game a year, perhaps. But I doubt it.

I don't think it is economically feasible to do that...unless someone ponies up the $10-15MM (I am guessing) it will take to add 13k seats.

However, I have always assumed that we would expand IF we ever got competitive again. '05 is our first shot at it, and '06 will be our best shot moving forward (as in depth on the team).

If we can win a bit this year, then with the inroads Bennett's staff has made in recruiting, we should be off to a good class for '05.

I like the idea of Ford hosting it over say the Cotton or Texas Stadium because, let's be honest, they aren't going to get 60k fans in the stands.

I think CUSA will ultimately have to move to a 'home field' champ game, meaning...we cannot have CUSA champ game like SEC, ACC, B12, etc...we will have to have one of the two div champ host the game, otherwise our attendance will be rediculous.

if c-usa ever became a bcs-bs conference or there were ever a 'true' playoff system, of course hell if freezing over too within the next 2 yrs, the fans would be there to overflow the stadium! GUARANTEED!

I thought the expansion of Ford by adding end-zone seats would "only" take us to 35K total.

As I understand, the original design feature of enclosing the horseshoe would add another 13K, taking us to 45K.

I thought part of the reasoning behind the small stadium was to help us have a home field rather than being visitors in our own stadium. Let's see if we can put a competitve team on the field and draw back all the fans who have given up on SMU before we start talking about expansion of Ford. I concur wholeheartedly regarding the rennovations needed at Moody.

on the money again, OP. It may well be that A$M will never agree to play us at Ford. The most important thing in our rebuilding is to reach a point where SMU draws like Marshall and Ford is packed or nearly packed for every game...with SMU fans!

I heard that any home game scheduled with A$M will unequivocally be at Ford stadium.