Official news on Stadium & Track

[Dane96]

This entire process has been bungled royally, and effectively pushed away a lot of alumni.

 

I am not going into details...as this is more common sense, but I know there are several alumni with DEEP pockets (one whom was ready to dump a bigger donation than John Fallon)...and plenty of alumni like myself that were willing to put up multiple four figure donations spread out over a few years. McElroy's overall tactics (he is the leader of this effort) totally ruined most of that.

 

Further, to NOT hire a lobbyist until about a year ago (the school went out and got one for an overall lobbying position) is just awful; they needed a voice to combat Stony Brook's and they just screwed the pooch on that one. Has anyone EVER heard one of our local councilmen or State reps talk about this project other than some basic canned one liners?

 

Whether people want to believe it or not...even in a fiscal crisis there is ALWAYS...and I STRESS ALWAY $$$$ to be had with the State or the Feds. There are many construction grant programs...educational grant upgrades...and general slush fund dollars to hit up. All we needed to do (once the 60mm dollar dream was lost) was get 10mm or so. You get about 2-4 more million from alumni and corporate donations...and you get some nice funding to put up a stadium.

 

For example, in 2007 ground was broken (project completed a year later) on the Montreal Impact's Saputo Stadium. Capacity: 13,067. Cost $14.1mm Canadian...likely around $13.6mm USD. This whole added construction cost nonsense (you have extra costs associated with public building in NY...but guess what, it is the same here in Taxachusetts) is simply that: HORSE$iena. The school, unless I am severely mistaken, can claim tax exempt status on building contracts. Further (and even if I am wrong on that), there are additional tax write-offs and depreciation dollars that you can take each year regarding the construction.

 

Bottom line: we could have had something like this if McElroy's ego did not get in the way:

 

 

 

This is expandable to 20k...and will look phenomenal when they finish. Total cost with expansion: $34mm See the 24 second mark:

 

http://footballblips.dailyradar.com/video/impact_de_montr_al_mls_2011_projet_d_expansion_du/

 

Kennesaw State's facility for $16mm (8300 beautiful seats):

 

 

 

McElroy has done some phenomenal things...but right now...we need new blood with some fresh ideas. He has built a nice overall athletic program...but he has failed completely in what he had made the centerpiece of his administration. He went big...and whiffed horrendously. He could have went above...and we would be in a much better place we are now.

[Clickclack]

Time for new leadership!

 

He's done an admirable job with the transition to D1 athletics but the stadium project has been a complete miss.

[Michigan_Dane]

I agree. It's time for new leadership. It's time for change from top to bottom!

 

I don't think I'm asking for too much. For more than a decade I've worked and traveled and when I see other state universities, I always wonder why not us?

 

• I worked in Boise ID. Why does Boise State look like an NFL team and Albany looks like a Jr High program?
  
• I live in San Diego now. Why do we not have 1/100 of what San Diego State has?
  
• High schools in Atlanta have better facilities than New York's university center
  
• Now Albany even lags America's laggards, SUNY. Nothing like being the last of the last.
  

 

We don't have to be a Michigan. We don't have to be a Fresno. Can we at least be a freaking lousy Stony Brook? Stony Brook is a completely obscure university but at least they are showing some motivation to being a Western Michigan someday or at least a Kennesaw State.

 

Its not just football. SUNY is a disaster. It's micro managed by an inept legislature. The tuition is ridiculously low and the results show in the academic output. UUP is intent on destroying SUNY through some socialist view the state should fund everything even though it's obvious they don't have the funds. SUNY should be completely dismantled and they should start over.

 

Fire them all and hire UNC to run SUNY.

[Dane96]

BTW...Kennesaw's stadium will be on display tonight at 7 on FSC. Atlanta Beat are playing.

[alum73]

I think this situation is the result of not having a President, rather than an athletics dept. problem. Kermit wasn't here long enough to get the results we needed, and the AD is not the person to get the required $ from the state. We've got more titles than the other 3 university centers combined. Now we're a victim of our own successes. I try to remain positive and don't withhold my contributions, especially during these tough financial times. Our athletic budget has grown significantly and we need a lot of money to keep going forward. We already have a great need for scholarship money. I've never really understood the logic of not giving because we can't afford the facilities we'd like. It seems counter productive to me.

[Dane96]

I dont give anymore because I have had smoke blown up my ass when I had a check in hand ready to go. I dont like being lied to.

 

Simple as this: when you are going after alumni that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, icons in business, etc...you better come fully with the truth and with supporting data. Many of us feel jilted...and maybe I am speaking out of turn...but I would say Ruler, Danefan, myself...and others are in that boat.

 

Again, if it werent for Don Ostrom...I would probably never consider giving a dime to the ADept after the nonsense I feel has gone on. Don Ostrom and Mary Johnson just work too hard without backing in my opinion. I consider my season tickets to be my donation since I live so far away...and go to only a few home games these days. When the school wants to get serious about a stadium plan...I will have check in hand.

[Clickclack]

I dont give anymore because I have had smoke blown up my ass when I had a check in hand ready to go. I dont like being lied to.

 

Simple as this: when you are going after alumni that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, icons in business, etc...you better come fully with the truth. Many of us feel jilted...and maybe I am speaking out of turn...but I would say Ruler, Danefan, myself...and others are in that boat.

 

Again, if it werent for Don Ostrom...I would probably never consider giving a dime to the ADept after the nonsense I feel has gone on. Many just works too hard without backing in my opinion. I consider my season tickets to be my donation since I live so far away...and go to only a few home games these days. When the school wants to get serious about a stadium plan...I will have check in hand.

 

Well put! On two separate occasions In a response to my e-mail inquiry I was told to expect something on a particular date by someone HIGH up on the athletic dept and both times came and went A LOOONNNNGGG TIME AGO!

 

We've been strung along for years, it's obvious that they have failed miserably to engage the alumni community and people have turned away. The stadium is like a mirage, always just over them hills but we can't seem to ever get to it.

 

Unless they release something concrete, I'm going to assume that we are stuck on that field for all eternity and the pretty picture in the lobby of the SEFCU is just that...a pretty picture/pipe dream.

[danes05]

I dont give anymore because I have had smoke blown up my ass when I had a check in hand ready to go. I dont like being lied to.

 

Simple as this: when you are going after alumni that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, icons in business, etc...you better come fully with the truth. Many of us feel jilted...and maybe I am speaking out of turn...but I would say Ruler, Danefan, myself...and others are in that boat.

 

Again, if it werent for Don Ostrom...I would probably never consider giving a dime to the ADept after the nonsense I feel has gone on. Many just works too hard without backing in my opinion. I consider my season tickets to be my donation since I live so far away...and go to only a few home games these days. When the school wants to get serious about a stadium plan...I will have check in hand.

 

Well put! On two separate occasions In a response to my e-mail inquiry I was told to expect something on a particular date by someone HIGH up on the athletic dept and both times came and went A LOOONNNNGGG TIME AGO!

 

We've been strung along for years, it's obvious that they have failed miserably to engage the alumni community and people have turned away. The stadium is like a mirage, always just over them hills but we can't seem to ever get to it.

 

Unless they release something concrete, I'm going to assume that we are stuck on that field for all eternity and the pretty picture in the lobby of the SEFCU is just that...a pretty picture/pipe dream.

 

I used to contribute money every year since graduation to both the athletic department and academic general fund. I still donate to the academic side but stopped giving to the athletic department since the online auction. I bid on the "day with Coach B" and have yet to have it even though I was assured it would come to fruition. Two seasons have passed. That is the kind of thing that will piss off a fan base IMHO. I still purchase season tickets to both hoop and football and drop my dime on the VC, but I just can't bring myself to throw more money than that at this point. I'm sure I'll be back to giving in a few years, just still holding a small grudge

[DanesRGood]

I used to contribute money every year since graduation to both the athletic department and academic general fund. I still donate to the academic side but stopped giving to the athletic department since the online auction. I bid on the "day with Coach B" and have yet to have it even though I was assured it would come to fruition. Two seasons have passed. That is the kind of thing that will piss off a fan base IMHO. I still purchase season tickets to both hoop and football and drop my dime on the VC, but I just can't bring myself to throw more money than that at this point. I'm sure I'll be back to giving in a few years, just still holding a small grudge

 

Wait. Did you pay for this "day with Coach B"? If so, that is PATHETIC that 2 seasons have passed and they didn't come through on the auction. I would keep asking. That's ridiculous.

[danes05]

I used to contribute money every year since graduation to both the athletic department and academic general fund. I still donate to the academic side but stopped giving to the athletic department since the online auction. I bid on the "day with Coach B" and have yet to have it even though I was assured it would come to fruition. Two seasons have passed. That is the kind of thing that will piss off a fan base IMHO. I still purchase season tickets to both hoop and football and drop my dime on the VC, but I just can't bring myself to throw more money than that at this point. I'm sure I'll be back to giving in a few years, just still holding a small grudge

 

Wait. Did you pay for this "day with Coach B"? If so, that is PATHETIC that 2 seasons have passed and they didn't come through on the auction. I would keep asking. That's ridiculous.

 

Yeah, I payed. Cost me $100. doesn't do me any good to keep asking as I just moved to Pittsburgh this week for a new job. By the way, if anyone wants to hook up for the football games down here this year, shoot me a message. I still bleed Purple & Gold !!

[Clickclack]

Wow...bush league! Probably would be awkward anyway if you keep asking and they finally give in.

 

This kind of stuff shouldn't happen in a well run athletic dept.