Stadium renovation to start soon?

[bcoach]

To: Appalachian Family




MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR | June 21, 2013




Dear Members of the Appalachian Community:

Another academic year begins in a few weeks, and although I announced in April that I will move into a new chapter of my life when the next chancellor arrives, my dedication to advancing Appalachian is stronger than ever.

I know this dedication is shared by you as well, and I am proud of the hard work we all do for our University. Our to-do list for the upcoming academic year is ambitious, but attainable. I am counting on you to help me reach these goals:

•Break ground on a health sciences building – Let’s give our students the space they deserve as Appalachian positions itself as a leader in enhancing the state’s health professions.
•Expand international opportunities – Our students need an understanding of how their scholarship and research can create global and local connections. Having just returned from China, I find myself even more enthusiastic about the tremendous potential for enhancing our international collaborations.
•Create more scholarships for high-achieving students – The newly announced Wilson Scholarship Program is just the beginning. Additional support to this scholarship is needed, as well as for the Chancellor’s Scholarship in The Honors College, to attract the best and brightest students.
•Increase funding for need-based scholarships – The ACCESS Scholarship Program, and others like it, have allowed many of our students and alumni to succeed in ways they never dreamed possible. Any amount donated to support one of these scholarships is transformational for the students who earn them and for generations to come.
•Work with the athletics leadership to ensure a successful transition to the SunBelt Conference – We must be financially prepared for this move, including the required new scholarships and costs associated with the transition. We also must continue showing our Mountaineer pride on game days.
•Exceed the fundraising goal for the Campaign for Appalachian – None of these goals, or any future goals for that matter, are possible without your help. We are within $47 million of our $200 million goal, and your contributions have made - and will continue to make - a difference.

I am extremely proud to have been a part of Appalachian’s achievements in the past nine years. Together, we have created new and strengthened existing academic programs, sustainability initiatives and global connections. Thank you for your many efforts that contributed to this success. I am looking forward to working with you in the months to come to ensure even greater success for this University we all love.

With Appalachian Pride,
Kenneth E. Peacock
Kenneth E. Peacock
Chancellor

I don't see ant mention of expansion.

[asu66]

Don't think you will for a couple or three years--minimum!

[bcoach]

Don't think you will for a couple or three years--minimum!

I agree

[Saint3333]

KBS sits 24,000 of which ~11k seats are reserved for students and visitors. There are ~4k seats available for mini season ticket packages if you look online.

That puts KBS at 70% season tickets (excluding student and visitor seating), I would think that number needs to be north of 80% before we expand.

For some perspective. A three year program, ODU, has 14k season ticket holders with a waiting list of a couple thousand.

Do we really have the support we think we do to warrant expansion?

[appstcyclist]

KBS sits 24,000 of which ~11k seats are reserved for students and visitors. There are ~4k seats available for mini season ticket packages if you look online.

That puts KBS at 70% season tickets (excluding student and visitor seating), I would think that number needs to be north of 80% before we expand.

For some perspective. A three year program, ODU, has 14k season ticket holders with a waiting list of a couple thousand.

Do we really have the support we think we do to warrant expansion?

I don't think we are ready for another expansion. With the temporary endzone seats that are put in and the grass I'm not sure we need more seats just yet. That may change after we have some of the sunbelt teams come up, or other OOC FBS teams that have a good number of traveling fans.

[asumike83]

I think we should look at it from the perspective of permanent seating which is 21,650. The end zone bleachers are fine for now but are just a stop gap until something permanent can be installed.

IMO, the goal should be track relocation and permanent seating for 30,000. That way, the stadium would be at least 90% full if current attendance holds, sold out a decent amount of the time and plenty of room on the hill for a standing-room crowd of 35,000+.

[hapapp]

I think we should look at it from the perspective of permanent seating which is 21,650. The end zone bleachers are fine for now but are just a stop gap until something permanent can be installed.

IMO, the goal should be track relocation and permanent seating for 30,000. That way, the stadium would be at least 90% full if current attendance holds, sold out a decent amount of the time and plenty of room on the hill for a standing-room crowd of 35,000+.

I think we will have a hard time attracting OOC FBS programs until we have permanent seating that meets what our attendance is now. I realize that when we expand we want to do it so it will serve us for the future but I do believe we have to get to 30,000 one way or the other.

[ASUMountaineer]

I think we should look at it from the perspective of permanent seating which is 21,650. The end zone bleachers are fine for now but are just a stop gap until something permanent can be installed.

IMO, the goal should be track relocation and permanent seating for 30,000. That way, the stadium would be at least 90% full if current attendance holds, sold out a decent amount of the time and plenty of room on the hill for a standing-room crowd of 35,000+.

I think we will have a hard time attracting OOC FBS programs until we have permanent seating that meets what our attendance is now. I realize that when we expand we want to do it so it will serve us for the future but I do believe we have to get to 30,000 one way or the other.

Agreed.

[JTApps1]

I think we should look at it from the perspective of permanent seating which is 21,650. The end zone bleachers are fine for now but are just a stop gap until something permanent can be installed.

IMO, the goal should be track relocation and permanent seating for 30,000. That way, the stadium would be at least 90% full if current attendance holds, sold out a decent amount of the time and plenty of room on the hill for a standing-room crowd of 35,000+.

I think we will have a hard time attracting OOC FBS programs until we have permanent seating that meets what our attendance is now. I realize that when we expand we want to do it so it will serve us for the future but I do believe we have to get to 30,000 one way or the other.

Agreed. The fact is we have been over capacity for every regular season game 8 years in a row despite two expansions and adding temporary seats. I get what Saint is saying about wanting a guarantee that the added seats would be full, but I also believe ticket sales will increase with the move up and having fewer chances for fans to see us in person. Plus, like you mentioned we will have larger visiting fan bases for some games (hopefully).

[GoApps70]

Agree. 30,000 actual seats - plus what we can cram on the bank if needed should be our goal
after relocating the track. Wish we could have someone buy the old Watauga High School for
us, so we can still have the track as part of the main campus. Figure App State is too concerned
with additional scholarships and change to FBS to put the money out. Guess they cannot get the
state to do so.
Would help with parking also.