East Tower

[Eggers09]

It's finally happening. But when? And will this plan include rounding out the north endzone with permanent seats connecting the east and west sides?

https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/10 ... tower.aspx

[AppGrad78]

I don’t know the answer to your first question, but for the second, our folks aren’t in any hurry to complete the bottom portion of the North End Zone. They believe among other things that temporary bleachers in that area give them flexibility to host large events. Personally, I believe that’s a mistake. The new Indoor Practice Facility should suffice nicely in that regard. A finished lower NEZ coupled with the East Side Tower would go a long way toward making Kidd Brewer one of the finest facilities among G6 programs.

[pop5app]

IMO with the uncertainty and state of chaos in College Football; I think this is a mistake.

[JTApps1]

I don’t know the answer to your first question, but for the second, our folks aren’t in any hurry to complete the bottom portion of the North End Zone. They believe among other things that temporary bleachers in that area give them flexibility to host large events. Personally, I believe that’s a mistake. The new Indoor Practice Facility should suffice nicely in that regard. A finished lower NEZ coupled with the East Side Tower would go a long way toward making Kidd Brewer one of the finest facilities among G6 programs.

Permanent seats with real restrooms and concessions would be a huge upgrade. It's hard to justify charging the same price for those seats as the others.

[ASUTodd]

I'm torn on this one. I love to see the place grow and keep up to date................but...........

[T-Dog]

Gillin has said over the last year they have $8 million in "soft commits" for East Tower suites.

Those repurposed shipping containers on top of the East second deck are an eye sore.

[EastHallApp]

I'm torn on this one. I love to see the place grow and keep up to date................but...........

I hear you, but I'm for it. I think there's plenty of room to upgrade that east side with minimal to no loss of what we like about KBS.

People have been calling to expand KBS capacity since we first moved up to FBS and had entire sections empty for most games. I was opposed to it then, as I felt the demand didn't warrant increasing the supply. We're there now, and have been for a few years. Longer in the case of premium seating.

I think there's an opportunity to increase the quantity AND improve the quality of that side of the stadium. Hope we get it right.

[ASUTodd]

I'm torn on this one. I love to see the place grow and keep up to date................but...........

I hear you, but I'm for it. I think there's plenty of room to upgrade that east side with minimal to no loss of what we like about KBS.

People have been calling to expand KBS capacity since we first moved up to FBS and had entire sections empty for most games. I was opposed to it then, as I felt the demand didn't warrant increasing the supply. We're there now, and have been for a few years. Longer in the case of premium seating.

I think there's an opportunity to increase the quantity AND improve the quality of that side of the stadium. Hope we get it right.

The things I hope they fix when they do this...... figure out the sound system and change the lights to the new style LED lights so they can do the light shows for TD's and such.

[311neers]

It's finally happening. But when? And will this plan include rounding out the north endzone with permanent seats connecting the east and west sides?

https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/10 ... tower.aspx

Development timelines, especially when the state gets involved, take extreme amounts of time.
Even if we broke ground tomorrow, it's a 2.5-3 year project. Add in another 2-3 years of feasibility, planning, financial analysis, design and bidding.... Could be 5-10+ years until completion.

It's already been 2.5 years since renderings were released.

[311neers]

I'm torn on this one. I love to see the place grow and keep up to date................but...........

I hear you, but I'm for it. I think there's plenty of room to upgrade that east side with minimal to no loss of what we like about KBS.

People have been calling to expand KBS capacity since we first moved up to FBS and had entire sections empty for most games. I was opposed to it then, as I felt the demand didn't warrant increasing the supply. We're there now, and have been for a few years. Longer in the case of premium seating.

I think there's an opportunity to increase the quantity AND improve the quality of that side of the stadium. Hope we get it right.

The things I hope they fix when they do this...... figure out the sand system and change the lights to the new style LED lights so they can do the light shows for TD's and such.

We can't wait 5-10 years for that. Needed that 3-4 years ago.

[spacemonkey]

I hope this means they know something. The "something" being they know we are not being left behind in the new college football scheme.

[Pikapp79]

Gillin has said over the last year they have $8 million in "soft commits" for East Tower suites.

Those repurposed shipping containers on top of the East second deck are an eye sore.

With the way things are going better make sure the soft commits are still there. I wouldn’t want to be the one to pull the trigger when attendance could plummet over the next few years.

[appgrad95&97]

I HAVE to, we went from "fully funded" three years ago to $8 million in soft commitments?

[T-Dog]

I HAVE to, we went from "fully funded" three years ago to $8 million in soft commitments?

Just to clarify for those who don't get the joke.

There was an "insider" posting here up til a couple years ago that claimed the East Tower was fully funded, which was rightly ridiculed to the point of it being a joke. Same person that claimed Gardner-Webb had a first-round pick at RB and was standing next to Clark at away games. This person then claimed they were a target of moderator harassment, which was debunked, and they're gone.

So, just to clarify, the East Tower was never fully funded and no one except this one person claimed as such. Heck, the athletics department was still trying to fund the new Sofield practice facility.

The "soft commits" figure has been stated by Gillin numerous times in interviews and to the Board of Trustees.

[Saint3333]

There were a couple that really dug in on the fully funded and the nuances of that term.

[Lowcountry App]

Too bad we can’t just raze the east side and start over to eliminate that erector set look. If only I had won that $1.8 billion dollar powerball last month.

[BeauFoster]

I was previously told by the athletic department that the tower would pay for itself with suites and seats in roughly 10 years. 3 years ago, the suites were at least half booked/committed, and the club and loge seats were more than half (based on signed commitments and pledges). I have a contract for 3 seats once built (and, as I understand it, was the second commitment to club seats).

Is there $xx million in the bank, waiting to pay for it once approved? No, absolutely not. If it was, shovels would have hit dirt already. Is the revenue stream there to make it pay for itself? Yes, provided demand stays consistent (which is certainly an ‘if’). Of course, with all building material costs continuing to rise (and prices never come down), I’m sure the break even point is further into the future.

The building should dramatically improve the east side patron experience, with a second level concourse, new bathrooms and concessions on 2 levels, and finally making the ramps an integrated part of the stadium and not an erector set. Initial plans do link east and west sides with some premium seating, but I don’t believe people outside of those seats will be able to walk through (earlier renderings show covered loge boxes with a walkway).

Of course this could have all changed 10 times since I last heard.

[Saint3333]

Construction costs three years ago were ~20-30% less than they are today. Unless the cost/seat has increased proportionally those returns won't pencil out the same.

[BeauFoster]

Construction costs three years ago were ~20-30% less than they are today. Unless the cost/seat has increased proportionally those returns won't pencil out the same.

Which is why the break even point is further out than previously anticipated. Of course, ticket prices are likely to rise (as they have with most other seats in the stadium), which will offset that some.

There’s a huge pent up demand for premium seating options in Boone, hence the wait lists for all club, suite, and NEZ seats. Those options are money makers for the program in more ways than just seat costs. They generate concession dollars (which are high margin) at a greater rate than standard seats.

[mike87]

For better or worse the population growth in the High Country and corresponding interest in App State Football will support it. Our Walmart fans shop at the boutiques in Blowing Rock, and they want the premium seating. It makes sense and cents to provide it.