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Post by GaCat on Jan 29, 2024 19:11:07 GMT -5
Sorry- can’t let this go - but the visual and thoughts of a 1970’s Chancellor’s Box on the east side that resembles the west side is archaic at best- give the Chancellor a 100 seat suite in a glass two story pressbox so we don’t look like the 1970’s with a new build!!! What A&E would come up with a 1970’s design? Make the precious $ spent look good!! A Cat since ‘65. GO CATS
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Post by retiredcat on Jan 29, 2024 20:36:44 GMT -5
GACAT....Do not fret about the design for the makeover of Whitmire Stadium. The east side will be much more attractive as the existing upper level seating and press box will be gone and replaced by a new type of seating which will include a couple entertainment decks and chairback seats. The west side will have a modern, attractive press box, club level seating, Chancellor's Box and a student success center...four levels that will stretch from one end to the other of the existing west side stands. Also, a new section of chairback seating will connect to the existing west side stands on the northwest corner. There will be a new strength and conditioning building that will also house sports medicine and several other services in the northwest corner of the existing stadium layout. Also, the present field house will be gutted and rebuilt and used exclusively by football, Between the new field house and strength and conditioning building will be our Hall of Champions which will house our hall of fame and the history of WCU Athletics with high tech visuals.
As soon as our architect gets a green light and knows how much money we will have to spend on the project, a design will be released to the public (people like you and me) probably within a year. Those who have made significant donations to the project have seen the conceptual drawings and are highly impressed.
The stadium makeover is a major part of the athletics facilities upgrade but not all of it as there will be a major building that will get track & field, soccer and golf out of the dilapidated old Camp Lab gym and will be located on the north side beyond the present track & field/soccer facility. Also, attractive and high tech. There is also a plan for a significant upgrade to our baseball facility.
When? Depends on how much private money can be raised. We have $30 million in bond money which will be paid back with student fees. We will need maybe as much as that again to make it a G0.
If you have a couple million sitting around and need a tax deduction, give the people in the H.F. Robinson Building a call.
Are there others out there that can add to what I have written...or know more about the project?
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Post by The Cats on Jan 29, 2024 20:54:21 GMT -5
GACAT....Do not fret about the design for the makeover of Whitmire Stadium. The east side will be much more attractive as the existing upper level seating and press box will be gone and replaced by a new type of seating which will include a couple entertainment decks and chairback seats. The west side will have a modern, attractive press box, club level seating, Chancellor's Box and a student success center...four levels that will stretch from one end to the other of the existing west side stands. Also, a new section of chairback seating will connect to the existing west side stands on the northwest corner. There will be a new strength and conditioning building that will also house sports medicine and several other services in the northwest corner of the existing stadium layout. Also, the present field house will be gutted and rebuilt and used exclusively by football, Between the new field house and strength and conditioning building will be our Hall of Champions which will house our hall of fame and the history of WCU Athletics with high tech visuals. As soon as our architect gets a green light and knows how much money we will have to spend on the project, a design will be released to the public (people like you and me) probably within a year. Those who have made significant donations to the project have seen the conceptual drawings and are highly impressed. The stadium makeover is a major part of the athletics facilities upgrade but not all of it as there will be a major building that will get track & field, soccer and golf out of the dilapidated old Camp Lab gym and will be located on the north side beyond the present track & field/soccer facility. Also, attractive and high tech. There is also a plan for a significant upgrade to our baseball facility. When? Depends on how much private money can be raised. We have $30 million in bond money which will be paid back with student fees. We will need maybe as much as that again to make it a G0. If you have a couple million sitting around and need a tax deduction, give the people in the H.F. Robinson Building a call. Are there others out there that can add to what I have written...or know more about the project? Thanks for the update. It sounds very good, just hope I'm around to see it all completed, so tell them to hurry...
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Post by GaCat on Jan 29, 2024 21:48:54 GMT -5
Retired Cat I keep up with a lot of the ideas formulated for the facilities - wasn’t aware that it might be four stories complex behind all the west stands. That sounds really impressive. What ever happened to the one-time offer by Harrah’s during Bardo’s time to donate money for pressbox/facilities - has anyone pursued that again? Since you appear to have some information regarding the stadium complex - what is the “Student Learning Portion” of complex? Is that something we can get state money for - learning/facilities? At one time Bardo was pursuing ideas of “Hospitality Curriculum” money incorporated in a joint use facility behind the west stands?
Thanks for all the good information😊
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Post by retiredcat on Jan 30, 2024 8:59:11 GMT -5
Regarding the "Hospitality" building, which was to be constructed behind the west side seating...Our Congressman during the first half of Bardo's administration was Charles Taylor, a Republican who was high on the scale of the House Appropriations Committee. If he had been reelected, he was going to federally fund the "Hospitality" school for economic stimulus to the region. A nice press box, chancellor's box and entertainment suites would have been part of the building. HOWEVER, Taylor lost to Heath Schuler and our dream evaporated as Heath was not on the appropriations committee.
As far as Harrah's is concerned, I think the University administration following Bardo used their money for other (non athletics) projects. I'm still not sure there was ever a firm commitment from Harrah's.
I'm not sure I will see all the proposed athletics facilities upgrades in my lifetime (I'm in my 80s), but I still have hope it will eventually happen and we can level the recruiting playing field with our fellow SoCon members and others we are competing with for student-athletes.
I'm still trying to stay fit by walking on campus everyday, trying to shoot my age on the golf course and drinking water out of the Tuck.
Hope that helps to give me 10 more years.
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Post by mtncat1 on Jan 30, 2024 10:25:43 GMT -5
I find it hard to believe you are in your 80's. You don't look it at all! Keep up the good regimen you are on, it's working! Ha, ha! To your earlier points, I think the timing really is all going to depend on how quickly we can secure private donations. I'm chipping in a little extra where I can. My hope is that if a lot of other regular donors do the same, we can get to the goal sooner rather than later and get this off the ground.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Jan 30, 2024 14:30:33 GMT -5
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Jan 30, 2024 14:31:24 GMT -5
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Jan 30, 2024 14:32:17 GMT -5
Last picture.
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Post by The Cats on Jan 30, 2024 14:51:44 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing those pics with us... It give us all hope that we will finally have something nice for football!!! Pictures sent to me a while back from a reliable bartender friend. I think he took these with his iPhone. These are just artist renderings but it should give you the concept they intend. I don’t know what will be built though. View AttachmentView AttachmentView Attachment
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