NY economy...

[reeder]

Wanted to get some feedback on the NYS economy and possible impact on the stadium and SUNY in general.

 

Looking from the outside, I would guess that the state of the financial industry would have a pretty big impact on NYS and ultimately getting us a stadium built.

 

I would guess that the industry pumps a lot of dollars in taxes into NYS, what impact will the challenges have on the NYS economy? I'm not close to the NYS economic situation, but I don't think it's too good to begin with...

 

 

Let's not get into the reasons why we need a stadium, I think that's been covered quite well.

[Patch]

With the general shape of the economy nationally and in NYS I would believe UA getting the money for a stadium is becoming very doubtful. Especially in light of the recent cuts to education funding.

[Clickclack]

One of the major problems with SUNY is that it's subject to the ebbs and flows of the overall NYS budget. IMO the current political and more importantly financial climate in the state is not conducive to us getting the funding needed to construct a stadium. I hope I'm wrong but I'm not sure how much NY will invest in capital spending at SUNY schools over the next couple of years. The best thing we can hope for is that the NYS economy picks up but we are almost half way through the budget year and the news keeps getting more dire by the day.

[MRSGDG]

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimated Monday that turmoil on Wall Street could cost New York up to $3.5 billion in tax revenues over the next year and a half while knocking out 40,000 financial sector jobs.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080929/ny_ny_economy.html?.v=1

 

...not looking good

[UAalum72]

Campuses will absorb more of the cuts than originally expected

 

SUNY faces new round of cuts - Times-Union

[GreatDanes06]

while i all think it depends on what other campuses are asking for, if it doesn't happen this year, it won't happen for another 5-10 years...to which then the athletic department needs to seriously consider just focusing university field and upgrading that with whatever they can get from the state or private donors.

[danefan]

I fear we may be in trouble here.

 

I wonder if they are holding off on releasing the site plans because of this.

[Clickclack]

danefan,

 

Have you seen the site plan, is it even done? Where are we in the process? What other way is there to fund the construction of a stadium other then a handout from the state. Could we borrow?

[uofalbany]

I'd like to hear about other options as well... any and all would be appreciated.

 

Anyone know how the downtown convention center idea is progressing?

Doesn't the city have a couple of hundred million dollars in its pocket for the project?

Would it be nice if they decided to scrap the CC plan and they gave some of the money to the University for a stadium that can be used for the entire region !!!!!!!!

[Clickclack]

I'd like to hear about other options as well... any and all would be appreciated.

 

Anyone know how the downtown convention center idea is progressing?

Doesn't the city have a couple of hundred million dollars in its pocket for the project?

Would it be nice if they decided to scrap the CC plan and they gave some of the money to the University for a stadium that can be used for the entire region !!!!!!!!

 

Based on what I've been reading the CC project is pretty much DEAD in the water. They've lost most of the staff and the Convention Center Authority is a shell of what it once was. The city is awaiting an updated feasibility study that If I'm not mistaken should be do very soon. They are seeking an additional 200mil from the state (if memory serves) and they have approximately $190 mill committed towards this project by the state.

 

It would be nice if they scrapped the idea and gave us the money but it's a pipe dream. They are cutting budgets all over the place so they are not gonna give us the money.

[danefan]

I'd like to hear about other options as well... any and all would be appreciated.

 

Anyone know how the downtown convention center idea is progressing?

Doesn't the city have a couple of hundred million dollars in its pocket for the project?

Would it be nice if they decided to scrap the CC plan and they gave some of the money to the University for a stadium that can be used for the entire region !!!!!!!!

 

 

Convention center is in a sort of in-between stage. They have asked the state for something like $150+million more funding. One of the employees recently quit (TU article somewhere) indicating they didn't think they would get the funding.

 

The issue has to do with building a Sheraton hotel connected to the convention center. The original plan had the state building that (not really sure why the state would build a private hotel). Now they are apparently trying to get that built privately instead.

 

If the convention center doesnt go through I would hope it would be a boost for us, but who knows. That Jerry Jennings' baby and I'm not so sure they will be willing to just give up after all these years and all the money already spent. I think they should though because the convention center is a total waste of money.

 

As for the site plan, I have not seen it. There was a post some time ago indicating that facilities management newsletter said it would be released in September. They announced the hiring of Heery in April and said the study would take 4-6 months. Well its 6 months now.

 

As for alternative, I really think that upgrading University field would not be that difficult to do. The problem with it is it lacks the "wow" factor that could bring additional fans to a game. Upgrading University Field would need to be coupled with a serious marketing plan in the Capital Region to get people interested. Building a nice new fancy stadium would have that effect by word of mouth I think.

[Clickclack]

I'd like to hear about other options as well... any and all would be appreciated.

 

Anyone know how the downtown convention center idea is progressing?

Doesn't the city have a couple of hundred million dollars in its pocket for the project?

Would it be nice if they decided to scrap the CC plan and they gave some of the money to the University for a stadium that can be used for the entire region !!!!!!!!

 

 

Convention center is in a sort of in-between stage. They have asked the state for something like $150+million more funding. One of the employees recently quit (TU article somewhere) indicating they didn't think they would get the funding.

 

The issue has to do with building a Sheraton hotel connected to the convention center. The original plan had the state building that (not really sure why the state would build a private hotel). Now they are apparently trying to get that built privately instead.

 

If the convention center doesnt go through I would hope it would be a boost for us, but who knows. That Jerry Jennings' baby and I'm not so sure they will be willing to just give up after all these years and all the money already spent. I think they should though because the convention center is a total waste of money.

 

As for the site plan, I have not seen it. There was a post some time ago indicating that facilities management newsletter said it would be released in September. They announced the hiring of Heery in April and said the study would take 4-6 months. Well its 6 months now.

 

As for alternative, I really think that upgrading University field would not be that difficult to do. The problem with it is it lacks the "wow" factor that could bring additional fans to a game. Upgrading University Field would need to be coupled with a serious marketing plan in the Capital Region to get people interested. Building a nice new fancy stadium would have that effect by word of mouth I think.

 

danefan,

 

I remember reading a story a while ago that quoted Mayor Jennings saying he is unsure if in this economic climate it makes any sense to build a CC. I don't think he'd put up as much a fight as one would think to keep that project going.

[UAalum72]

Convention center story was Saturday.

 

Also, Galesi, one of the three developers for the Harriman Office Campus, dropped out of the project this week. More big plans that have taken forever to implement.

[UAalum72]

danefan,

 

Have you seen the site plan, is it even done? Where are we in the process?

UA facilities page now says the 'Site selection and program study for the new athletic stadium' has an Est. end of Dec. 08

[Patch]

Danefan I don't think it's the purpose of the stadium facility to draw fans (maybe it will draw some initially).

 

Without a commitment from the State???????

 

The goal should be full scholarship football, a better on the field product . No knock on Fordie and what his teams have done. They have overachieved against great odds. Then, make significant upgrades to University Field so you can start start bringing in some name schools for home games and more fans will come and we'll have a much improved football environment.

 

Unless we go full schollie we could have a beautiful stadium laying almost dormant. In fact we probably would have to bag over 1/2 the stadium like $iena does at the TU.