Regents approve $135-$150M plans for Kinnick upgrade, new dorm

[ichawk24]

http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...orth-end-zone-new-dorm-indoor-track/31169933/

Athletics director Gary Barta last week said that while making the North End Zone improvements, estimated to cost from $35 million to $45 million, "let's make sure the fan experience is taken care of, too – whether that's club areas, patio clubs, suites, and all that will be part of it if we get permission to move forward – all that will be on the block to consider."

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The three are potentially tied together, with the current indoor track in the Rec Building that is prime real estate and, according to notes provided to the Board of Regents, "is on a site being considered for" the proposed $85 million residence hall.

 

[Vroom_C14]

So build suites and seats that could very well be empty for the foreseeable future...guess you gotta take some risks.

All for taking out rows and making the seating more "mid-west" size fan frieNdly. Try dropping the price of food to normal rates and bet you sell 2x as much or greater.

 

[NomisHawk]

So build suites and seats that could very well be empty for the foreseeable future...guess you gotta take some risks.

All for taking out rows and making the seating more "mid-west" size fan frieNdly. Try dropping the price of food to normal rates and bet you sell 2x as much or greater.

I think it could be really good - a lot of times that north endzone is the last to fill up and the hardest to navigate. Better food options will always be a plus, and having an athlete-oriented dorm will be another big recruiting plus and will help with team discipline, nutrition, and injury care. Everything the athletes (particularly football players) need will be right in that 1/2 mile radius. I think this is a great plan. One plus with having a long-tenured coach is that your expansion plans have consistency in vision and maintain momentum. To have just finished the football facility and to move on towards this right away is a great thing, and after Kirk Ferentz is gone (whether that is 1-5 years from now) we as fans will look back and start to understand what he has done for the infrastructure of this program.

 

[theIowaHawk]

So build suites and seats that could very well be empty for the foreseeable future...guess you gotta take some risks.

I doubt they have any trouble filling suites, but I could be wrong.

I liked Barta's comments on it: Increasing or keeping it at 70,585 is not a priority, but will try to keep it near 70k.

 

[icparkerhawk]

I doubt they have any trouble filling suites, but I could be wrong.

I liked Barta's comments on it: Increasing or keeping it at 70,585 is not a priority, but will try to keep it near 70k.

This. Despite the squeaky wheels on here, the drop in ticket sales is primarily coming from no or low donation seats. There are some from the bigger money spots dropping, but the line for suites is still years long. Imo, this is a great way to counter the current problem. The poors stop buying tickets so take their seats and creste more suites for the people with the money who are going to be locked in for years whether the team is good bad or ugly. The premium seats generate far more revenue that can be used for other things, like a new dorm.

 

[ichawk24]

I wouldn't mind if they added more suites/luxury and saw attendance slide down a bit. Ticket scarcity is a good thing for ticket sellers.

Or basically echoing icparkerhawk.

 

[Hawks2405]

Sounds like they may build "up" in the North End Zone. They are thinking about possibly connecting the main suites with the new suites. The project could really change the look of Kinnick.

 

[icu81222]

Love it.

Iowa won't be down for long. I really can't fathom these struggles from the last few yrs continuing much longer. Why? Because they will either start winning again, (which I really think is possible ) or KF will be gone and the new blood will absolutely take advantage of all the positives Iowa has right now.

Win win. Just be patient. The cavalry is coming.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Agree. One thing you can't say about Iowa is that they don't spend money on football. They have repeatedly shown they will write the big check. I'd be happy if KF turns the ship around, and if he doesn't, I'm sure they will write a decent size check for his replacement.

 

[Letsgohawks411]

It doesn't matter until we upgrade the coaches!

 

[MITCH492]

Sound like they are making more seats available for visiting fans such as the Nebraska fans who travel like none other. Better keep the food prices up there.

 

[GoHawks2009]

Where's the fake outrage fans crying that millions of dollars that may or may not have come from their taxes are being spent?

Did we finally grow up and learn how stupid an argument that is?............Consider me skeptical.

 

[icu81222]

Where's the fake outrage fans crying that millions of dollars that may or may not have come from their taxes are being spent?

Did we finally grow up and learn how stupid an argument that is?............Consider me skeptical.

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

 

[icparkerhawk]

Where's the fake outrage fans crying that millions of dollars that may or may not have come from their taxes are being spent?

Did we finally grow up and learn how stupid an argument that is?............Consider me skeptical.

There might be more faux outrage if it wasn't pretty explicitly stated where the dollars would come from (hint:none of it is taxpayer money).

 

[GoHawks2009]

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

Well you turned out alright didn't you?.......

 

[hawkcub]

There might be more faux outrage if it wasn't pretty explicitly stated where the dollars would come from (hint:none of it is taxpayer money).

Won't stop some. Have had this argument with some people I know about IA athletics not getting tax payer money. Even showed them the statement on IA's athletic webite saying just that. Their comment was well I still don't believe it.

 

[lenoxhawks]

I think it could be really good - a lot of times that north endzone is the last to fill up and the hardest to navigate. Better food options will always be a plus, and having an athlete-oriented dorm will be another big recruiting plus and will help with team discipline, nutrition, and injury care. Everything the athletes (particularly football players) need will be right in that 1/2 mile radius. I think this is a great plan. One plus with having a long-tenured coach is that your expansion plans have consistency in vision and maintain momentum. To have just finished the football facility and to move on towards this right away is a great thing, and after Kirk Ferentz is gone (whether that is 1-5 years from now) we as fans will look back and start to understand what he has done for the infrastructure of this program.

He has nothing to do with these additions. The BTN tv money is driving this along with great Iowa fans that see the big picture knowing a new coach is just around the corner.

 

[Douglas C. Neidermeyer]

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

 

[gojojo]

I haven't really been that impressed with Nebraska's turnout in IC. Wisconsin brings more fans

Sound like they are making more seats available for visiting fans such as the Nebraska fans who travel like none other. Better keep the food prices up there.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

If they have groups wanting to lease suites waiting for the space, sounds like a good business move.
Can charge more and are less dependent on the teams performance than selling crowded bleacher tickets to the average fan.
I'm still not worried about getting a game ticket this year under face value should I decide to go for a game. I don't see the ticket brokers having a banner year.

 

[lenoxhawks]

Sound like they are making more seats available for visiting fans such as the Nebraska fans who travel like none other. Better keep the food prices up there.

There were 3x more Hawk fans in Lincoln than Husker fans in IC. Huskers didn't travel to IC either of the last 2 visits.

 

[Calhill]

This new football facility and new Kinnick upgrades are no longer "developmental" facilities. Time for KF to catch on.