haggyland

Screens getting mounted...nice!

For a different type of exciting news you might want to check out the upper level...

Maybe we can get this guy to donate some of his billions to Albany

I got super excited when I saw that this afternoon.

I am already picturing the "Chobani Dome"...designed as an upside-down yogurt container!

The concrete cylinders are the light pole bases. The supports for the scoreboard are structural steel and won't get started for at least a couple of weeks.

Well, that is both informative and slightly disappointing! Still, thanks Brutus!

You know, DF, I can honestly say that I didn't get a good look at the University Field bleachers, as I was too excited to get to the new football field, and it was 80+ degrees, and I was on my bicycle...next time.

Dying to see the scoreboard go up; those are some very large supports. Good times!

I figured with so much weekend work that some of us would come running to the site. MsGDG has done a fine job, but I was also over there today, so here is an upload from my perspective:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109125479176636089044/albums/5887673431185058593

It looks like the timestamp on my camera was not working, so it downloaded them at different positions than when I took them, but:

1) T&F west side.

2) Horizontal pieces for the upper level.

3) Gratuitous shot for Bob87.

4) Purple flashings on the ticket booth.

5) Back of the stadium, with new upper level supports.

6) Underside of the upper level of the tower.

7) Purple flashings on the back entrance.

8) Retaining wall with new upper level supports in background.

9) Close-up of scoreboard supports.

10) T&F old lighting footing; new footing in foreground.

11) Eastern retaining wall.

12) Different view of horizontal pieces.

13) Windows on Eastern side of the tower walkway.

14) T&F northwest retaining wall.

15) Swamped retaining pond with stadium view.

16) T&F looking towards the Science Library.

17) University Field!

18) Upper level supports; lower level handrails.

19) Both T&F retaining walls.

 

Nope.

 

Box Term= 5 years

Box Cost= 150k for 5 years

 

4 boxes x 150k= 600k

Check. Greedy me was thinking they were paying BCS prices of $150K per year, and not emerging FCS program prices.

$30K a year times 4 boxes = $120K

 

To have a guarantee of $120,000 in revenue (5 years x 4 boxes at $150k total per box= 600K)

 

Math seems off? Would be 600K per year; 3M for the term, right?

BTW - just to reiterate what this means......we have a company that has agreed to purchase the naming rights.

 

Just the like the stadium, a RFP doesn't go out on something like this until you know what you'll get in return.

 

This is great news, IMO.

Seems like informal agreements would be in violation of the NYS Procurement Lobbying Law, but I am not a/the lawyer, and I have forgotten if the SUNYs are even subject to the PLL.

I don't mind it if the price is right!

 

$1m per year sounds good to me.

I guess I could argue that the potential bidder's list would be fairly static, so it doesn't matter much.

Still, in that ninth year of the contract, when we are hosting Appy State in front of 20K fans, the bidding rights will look like a bargain!

http://www.bizjourna...rights-for.html

A 10 year contract with a 10 year option? Me no like.

If the program was stagnant? Maybe, but although there is no timetable, they have already planned phases up to 20+ thousand capacity. Propose a small contract term now; rebid in a couple of years.

http://www.bizjourna...ew-ualbany.html

 

Long way to go, but football season ticket sales have already doubled despite huge jumps in price, not to mention 3 boxes were sold at $150k licenses each.

Ooga Chaka!

Haggy I think we're in the same mindset on this issue - blind faith is all we came have because their is nothing of substance to give us true faith.

 

MsGDG put a further scare in me....

 

No Taxes in New Zones

http://www.timesunio...nes-4538569.php

 

 

As someone who works in state finances and knows how strapped we are for cash.. I don't see how this will work...it's a nice thought but if we can't pay our current bills because we have no cash...I dunno. The things this Gov comes up with.. anything for positive ratings. But the reality of paying actual bills vs. his gimicks will eventually catch up to him.

I am just tired of all this fiscal doom and gloom (even if it is the reality.)

I want to be more like Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams, and just have an overpowering vision that things will work out.

Darn reality!

If the losses mount, an eventual increase in funding is more likely to come about than a step back down to a less competitive conference. I just hope that the funding is enough so that UAlbany can enjoy the types of successes it has been able to achieve in the AE. - Haggyland

 

My question is why do you think funding will increase if losses mount? Where will the money come from?

 

I think some ancillary sports may be cut or even a major sport like Footbal could be endangered ( see Hofstra) they built a pretty decent facility for Football and now it's a FH & Lax stadium. When Hofstra went to the CAA even in their worst nightmare situation no one would have imagined them dropping Football!

You know, it might just be blind faith. I want to believe that one of the largest and most powerful states in the union could muster up some additional funding to stop one of its university centers from becoming a laughingstock, if it came to that.

If not, maybe the Capital Region starts showing up and supporting the quality programs that the region has been lucky to have.

There are plenty of risks, and I would hate to lose any program, especially one that has enjoyed success through respected leadership. Still, I never thought the football stadium was going to be a reality, but that is coming to fruition, albeit in a slightly watered-down version.

Again: blind faith (with a touch of naivety)...that's all I can believe in at this point. (It's not like the athletic's department as a whole has maintained an aggressive and vocal presence that I can rally behind.)

We nickel and dime everything now, how will we finance the move?

 

It seems everything facility wise we've done id half assed now?

 

Fallon Field incomplete (no amenities) concessions, bathrooms, storage or lockerrooms.

 

Nothing done on the Field Hockey Field

 

Subpar baseball and softball facilities.

 

SEFCU needs new scoreboard(s), more chairbacks, better concession area and improved Lobby

 

Etc.etc, etc

 

If we over extend for the CAA will we ever get the money to even complete the FB (multi purpose) Facility?

 

I think before we move we should have all our ducks in a row.

 

All this means is that we will probably make the leap to the CAA!!!

 

Without a doubt, the most hardline pessimism against a move away from status quo.

Are there other reasons why you are adamantly against this?

Another way to evaluate a potential change in conference would be by looking at one of the "revenue sports": men's basketball.

After winning the AE title last year, the men's basketball program should be one of the favorites to win the conference tournament again next year. With a solid core of players returning, and some decent recruits incoming, the team could likely win 25 or more games. By winning the NCAA autobid twice in consecutive seasons, Will Brown might attract the attention of a program from a traditionally higher rated conference such as the A10, sign a contract for five or six years at twice his current salary, and be set financially for life. If the team experiences even greater success, it is not inconceivable that a program from a high major conference looking for a change could contact him (a la Fran McCaffery and Iowa), and offer him a contract in excess of $1 million a year.

Change conferences to the CAA, though, and you introduce additional risks:

• Without a guarantee that the budget will be increased, you could be operating at a competitive disadvantage for years in a new conference.
  
• Although last year was a down year, the CAA is traditionally a higher rated conference for men's basketball than the AE, and wins against better opponents will be harder to get.
  
• The opponent is lesser known, so they will potentially be harder to scout. With eleven years in the AE Will Brown and the men's basketball program also have eleven years worth of data and scouting reports on their fellow conference members. If UAlbany switches conferences to the CAA they would have to learn the tendencies and styles of play for ten new conference opponents, while their new conference opponents would only have to prepare scouts for two new teams (UAlbany and Elon.)
  
• It can be argued that because of the increased successes and exposures the CAA has experienced, that the competency level of the coaches in the CAA will be higher than found in the CAA, and the athletes will be more talented and more highly regarded. This could place further strain on UAlbany's competitive chances.
  
• With a larger geographical footprint, travel and fatigue become considerations, particularly in the first year when adjustment to the new schedules and logistics is taken into account.
  
• With potentially higher expectations in the CAA, the administration might not be as accepting of down seasons (even during the transition period), and future earnings could be compromised.
  
• I can offer no guarantee here, but home court advantage might be greater for the schools in the CAA, because of larger arenas and more interest in the programs.
  

Transition to the CAA under these conditions, and you risk losing the potential of another memorable season in the AE for the possibilities of greater exposure in the CAA, with less wins. With no announced contract in place, Will Brown and the men's basketball program might prefer a more cautious course of action. After a potential season of mediocrity in the CAA the offers from programs in traditionally stronger conferences might not be had, costing the staff hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. If the transition is longer or harder than expected, the consequences could be even more dire.

I say take the leap and believe you can achieve the best. If the losses mount, an eventual increase in funding is more likely to come about than a step back down to a less competitive conference. I just hope that the funding is enough so that UAlbany can enjoy the types of successes it has been able to achieve in the AE.

That is just one fan's look at the possible transition for a different perspective. What is has to do with facilities, I just don't know.

Antelope need room to roam

 

 

Antelope in North Dakota?

96 nailed it. Pronghorn (the American antelope) are all over the place up there.

Except a National title. ..or two.

Very true..and a lot of open land on where to showcase the trophy.

It's probably a dig by a North Dakota State fan. Dak-tronics

If so, I'll let them have that one..it's not like they have much else.

Awesome!

I still can't figure out why they chose to show us only up four against St. Francis late in the fourth quarter.

I'm not sure how accurate this is.... but I thought I overheard (before the tourny pairings were announced)

that because of unreasonable far distances to travel and the associated travel costs, two teams' travel expenses are paid for by the ncaa.

Anyone else hear this.... and if true, I'd assume Albany gets its travel paid for.

The following link should answer that question: http://instagram.com...tion_ref_map=[]

(Private Jet)

Today's photos: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109125479176636089044/albums/5875763303293422833

I was trying to get a view from the top of the lacrosse stands, and by standing directly east of the stadium on the soccer fields, but the athletics fields were all behind locked gates. I will try again next week.

As a suggestion (or reminder), any members that want to use the google account to post pictures should feel free to do so. The log-in information is:

User Name: UAStadium

PW: UAUA2012 (Case sensitive.)

Why does it look like the ALB logo is facing North/South instead of East/West...and why isn't it horizontally centered?

 

Because that is not its final position. They unloaded it and placed it in the general area, but then will "seal" it in its final position later.

A good example of this is the 30-yard marker, on the Northeast side. (Look at in between 12:30PM and 2:30PM today.)

Never been down to SBU... are there a few hotels near the school?

I have never stayed overnight there, so Bob87 has to be your go-to.

I'll be off the grid well before 10AM Sat, so I hope the game is not nearly as close as this one.

Seriously, how many shots from within 5 feet did they give up?

15-15 the feed cuts out. Just as well, because I kept flashing back to the defense this team has had for the past four to five years.

SBU played well; UA hit a lot of pipes, but man, they have to step up and finish this season strong.

I've been buffering for 5 minutes. Watching the twitter feed

Working now, but same.

12-12 after three; SBU starting with the ball on the man-up.

Time to see if this team can match the hype.