NEZ Update Query

[AppSt94]

I don’t understand. We have artificial turf that requires less maintenance and now someone wants hedges that require constant maintenance?

Fine. Put up a fence that would allow for a smoother flow of traffic trying to get out. If that is what you took from my comment, I clearly missed the mark.

How is a hedge or fence going to increase the number of exits from the stadium? There would still be a problem at the exit gates. I realize there is a problem with congestion under the west stands (that is why I moved to the East).

Someone with an understanding of how crowd control and Fire Marshall’s viewpoints can probably correct me if I am wrong, but creating an egress at field level would alleviate bottle necks at critical points where mass gatherings create vulnerability. I would say the the exit gates may still be an issue, but a bottleneck there is far less dangerous as people can spread out if needed. Providing an egress at field level would alleviate those bottlenecks under the stands. It may not be an issue now, but if we continue to grow, it may be required. It’s an opinion.

[APPdiesel]

I don’t understand why the Feild turf is being replaced. I mean it’s nice but $$$$$$. When 2 sports were just cut I dont see the justification. The only thing some friends and I could figure is that the drainage system has to be continued under the portion where the track is being replaced. I remember when they put in the current Feild they dug down like 10-15 feet for gravel and sand. I guess if you’re already digging and tearing up the turf you might as well replace it.

Generally, athletic departments budget a small amount yearly to be saved for turf replacement, as it depreciates, so there isn’t a single, large outlay.

All of this work that is in progress was already funded, and a fair amount already in progress or had contracts signed that would result in financial penalties for breaking that would still result in sports being cut. We were damned if we did, damned if we didn’t in this case.

Only in the eyes BTK2000. The rest of us understand the contracts were already signed, the checks were already cut and money is compartmentalized and earmarked. It's not like the entire university uses one big checking account.

[Yosef's Musket]

I would think that there will be some sort of hedging in front of the NEZ. I guess they could put a concrete wall to match the rest of the stands but it would seem odd to incorporate that into the corners where there aren't stands. I don't think I've seen images of what the ground level of NEZ will look like from the field, but I imagine their plan is to mimic whatever the NEZ looks like all the way around the ground level.

[asu66]

I don’t understand why the Feild turf is being replaced. I mean it’s nice but $$$$$$. When 2 sports were just cut I dont see the justification. The only thing some friends and I could figure is that the drainage system has to be continued under the portion where the track is being replaced. I remember when they put in the current Feild they dug down like 10-15 feet for gravel and sand. I guess if you’re already digging and tearing up the turf you might as well replace it.

Generally, athletic departments budget a small amount yearly to be saved for turf replacement, as it depreciates, so there isn’t a single, large outlay.

All of this work that is in progress was already funded, and a fair amount already in progress or had contracts signed that would result in financial penalties for breaking that would still result in sports being cut. We were damned if we did, damned if we didn’t in this case.

Only in the eyes BTK2000. The rest of us understand the contracts were already signed, the checks were already cut and money is compartmentalized and earmarked. It's not like the entire university uses one big checking account.

The turf was already overdue for replacement and was in the athletic department plan and budget for this summer. It's terribly worn in large areas surrounding both benches and is terribly faded from end-to-end. It has simply looked awful for the last 3-4 seasons. It has served it's intended purpose but it's time to update KBS to the state-of-the-art playing surface/drainage system and also update the App State Brand and its aesthetic appeal.

[1ASU78]

Thank you Mizzou.

Now during this stadium upgrade maybe we can upgrade away that plastic wrap covering the brick

Really? I like the bold look and message...and isn't it concrete walls they cover? (I can't remember exactly)

Well I thought it was brick all the way. But according to other folks here it is concrete. I thought it was brick with Appalachian written in the font with the butterfly over the i. And that is in concrete. Anyway not a fan of the wrap but it has never interfered with a day at KBS for me.

[huskie3]

The grading of Miller Hill has started. Looks like they are covering the track, not taking it up.

[asu66]

The grading of Miller Hill has started. Looks like they are covering the track, not taking it up.

A hundred years hence, just think what AppArchaeology students may dig up.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

The grading of Miller Hill has started. Looks like they are covering the track, not taking it up.

A hundred years hence, just think what AppArchaeology students may dig up.

I was going to post something like that and you beat me to it.

Centuries from now there will be an excavation and someone will make a witty remark such as, "I guess App remained the only FBS school with a track around its field."

[Yosef84]

The grading of Miller Hill has started. Looks like they are covering the track, not taking it up.

A hundred years hence, just think what AppArchaeology students may dig up.

I was going to post something like that and you beat me to it.

Centuries from now there will be an excavation and someone will make a witty remark such as, "I guess App remained the only FBS school with a track around its field."

Or, in a hundred years the trend will have reversed and multi-purpose facilities will be the norm. Maybe they'll be amazed that App wasted all that money by building separate facilities when they already had it taken care of. No....I'm not saying we shouldn't have taken up the track. Just pointing out that from a financial standpoint, it made sense. I didn't hate it as much as most on here do. I couldn't care less what fans of other programs say. Now that it is being taken up, I hope we're able to use the space for more seating before too long. I imagine that is at least 9 or 10 years down the road now though since the turf is being replaced in the same position.

[Yosef77]

Is it just me, or is it possible leaving the track under the new hill would cause some drainage issues?

[NashvilleNeer]

how often do you have to update/replace the turf?

[MDaniels84]

how often do you have to update/replace the turf?

About every 8 years or so, I believe.

[SayYesToTheRock]

Now that the track is being taken up, I hope we're able to use the space for more seating before too long. I imagine that is at least 9 or 10 years down the road now though since the turf is being replaced in the same position.

Around 2030, I'm hoping for a lower-bowl renovation/expansion
––Fully-connected horseshoe (or bowl in the edges of Miller Hill)
--Concourse connecting east and west
--Chairback seating
--Bring seats slightly closer to the field (U of SC's went basically to the field level)

[Yosef84]

Now that the track is being taken up, I hope we're able to use the space for more seating before too long. I imagine that is at least 9 or 10 years down the road now though since the turf is being replaced in the same position.

Around 2030, I'm hoping for a lower-bowl renovation/expansion
––Fully-connected horseshoe (or bowl in the edges of Miller Hill)
--Concourse connecting east and west
--Chairback seating
--Bring seats slightly closer to the field (U of SC's went basically to the field level)

That sounds about right. I would like to see it 2 or 3 years sooner but that would depend on other factors (financial position and attendance). I do like the idea that was proposed (not mine but I'll repeat it) to extend the upper deck of the East Stands down to the field. That would move the stands closer to the field, and of course the field would have to shift over. It would also make the sides more symmetrical so that connecting them with a "bowl" would be easier.

[SayYesToTheRock]

I do like the idea that was proposed (not mine but I'll repeat it) to extend the upper deck of the East Stands down to the field. That would move the stands closer to the field, and of course the field would have to shift over. It would also make the sides more symmetrical so that connecting them with a "bowl" would be easier.

I used to be on-board with shifting the field, but then the NEZ facility was built. If we shift the field over now, it will be off-center from the NEZ building and the scoreboard.

I believe a re-grade/extension of both sides of the lower bowl would look nice without sacrificing field symmetry.

[HkyMtneer]

I do like the idea that was proposed (not mine but I'll repeat it) to extend the upper deck of the East Stands down to the field. That would move the stands closer to the field, and of course the field would have to shift over. It would also make the sides more symmetrical so that connecting them with a "bowl" would be easier.

I used to be on-board with shifting the field, but then the NEZ facility was built. If we shift the field over now, it will be off-center from the NEZ building and the scoreboard.

I believe a re-grade/extension of both sides of the lower bowl would look nice without sacrificing field symmetry.

Since the NEZ was built so far off-center" (if staring down the pipe from the middle of the field) as it has been in order to maximize as much accommodating space as possible, thus leaning the entire structure and it's stands heavily towards the East Side, I'm not so sure it matters at this point one way or the other as far as symmetry.

[NashvilleNeer]

East side has to be upgraded next without a doubt. Has their been any talk of that?

[AppSt94]

Aren’t their issues with the structural integrity with the West side? I could be wrong, but those stands are older and are probably a higher priority.

[HkyMtneer]

Aren’t their issues with the structural integrity with the West side? I could be wrong, but those stands are older and are probably a higher priority.

I believe we did some work on the "bones" of the West side a few years back to shore that side up and buy some years. The lower West Side (student section) is in remarkably good shape compared to lower East. The lower East stands are by far the single greatest spot of aging concern, failing concrete primarily, in all of KBS. Those chips over there can make it feel like you're walking on loose gravel sometimes, and I'm afraid that something bad is going to happen sooner or later. I especially worry for the elderly or visitors who aren't accustomed to it and turn and burn up the stairs to the bathroom/concessions on a wet/wintery day.

[BeauFoster]

If I recall correctly, and changes to the existing concrete stands will require a near complete rebuild of that section, as code has changed and they are now not spaced correctly. To “add on” and make the stands lower/closer to the playing surface would be bigger than we think (if I’ve been told correctly).