First visit to The New Dude

[Pilgrimdawg]

Got to make my first trip to the New Dude Sunday. I have seen a lot of baseball in my life, but never a game like that. It was crazy. With regard to the stadium itself, (1) WOW, it is magnificent! Truly first class (2) it is too small. Should have found a way to extend the grandstand down to the foul poles. If we have almost 10k for a Sunday game with Auburn, there is no way we can accomidate everyone for some upcoming series or for regional play. It will become obvious to all if we have good weather next Saturday with LSU in town. (3) we must come up with some reasonable GA seating. The berms were full yesterday and they don’t really accommodate that many people. Perhaps a few hundred. A lot of people that would be in the GA seating are kids / families that get to come occasionally. Many of those kids are our future students and fan base. We need to accommodate them for the long term good of the fan base and for the university. If they get turned away or get in and have nowhere to sit and actually see the game, that is not good. Perhaps some bleachers in right field behind the right field lounge spots? I don’t know if that is the best solution but surely we can come up with something. Over all, it is an incredible facility and just needs a couple of tweaks to be perfect for years to come.

 

[MSUDC11]

Not to beat a dead horse but I’m ok with the current GA setup for two basic reasons:

1. It’s a non issue for 90% of our home games, and while the old stadium did have GA seating, let’s not pretend those old metal bleachers weren’t miserable to sit in for the big games or when the weather got hot.

2. It allows room for future growth where as chairbacks pole to pole would limit that. If the demand is there for more chairbacks in a few years, great, we can add on. The Dude won’t always be the newest and shiniest toy in the box and some day we’ll need to renovate again.

In short, the difference of opinion seems to be that the anti-berm crowd has Regionals and big Saturday games on their mind, whereas the administration and pro-berm crowd says “we’ll make it work” for those few days a year and that the current setup is ideal for the many others games and keeps the future in mind.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Completely agree. Many people on here will disagree and say that there are "plenty of GA options" and that's partially true, however you can already see that there's a portion of our fan base who will be left out on SEC weekends without a comfortable option. They have already made themselves known.

The good thing is that we can address this rather easily when we decide to expand the stadium. There is room down both sidelines to accommodate more reserved season ticket chair backs (to satisfy that crowd) and to accommodate for more GA seating. There is room to add both the lower and upper decks all the way to the foul poles.

I don't know how strong the demand for more season tickets is, but I know there are more people who want them. I think we see an expansion sooner rather than later. Either way, this is a good problem to have to deal with in the best stadium in the country.

 

[patdog]

let’s not pretend those old metal bleachers weren’t miserable to sit in for the big games or when the weather got hot.​

I sat in them many times and I can confirm they were better than no seat at all.

If the demand is there for more chairbacks in a few years, great, we can add on.

The demand is there today, as evidenced by the fact all grandstand seats were sold before the stadium was even completed.
​

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

We went for first time Saturday....

Got to make my first trip to the New Dude Sunday. I have seen a lot of baseball in my life, but never a game like that. It was crazy. With regard to the stadium itself, (1) WOW, it is magnificent! Truly first class (2) it is too small. Should have found a way to extend the grandstand down to the foul poles. If we have almost 10k for a Sunday game with Auburn, there is no way we can accomidate everyone for some upcoming series or for regional play. It will become obvious to all if we have good weather next Saturday with LSU in town. (3) we must come up with some reasonable GA seating. The berms were full yesterday and they don’t really accommodate that many people. Perhaps a few hundred. A lot of people that would be in the GA seating are kids / families that get to come occasionally. Many of those kids are our future students and fan base. We need to accommodate them for the long term good of the fan base and for the university. If they get turned away or get in and have nowhere to sit and actually see the game, that is not good. Perhaps some bleachers in right field behind the right field lounge spots? I don’t know if that is the best solution but surely we can come up with something. Over all, it is an incredible facility and just needs a couple of tweaks to be perfect for years to come.

Took my 8year old for first time for he and I and we arrived about 25 mins before the game and the GA areas were already filled and the standing folks were already 2 deep....A nice lady outside the stadium approached us while we were looking for someone and offered us two chair backs in the shade by 1B....we stayed till the last pitch of the game....i can tell you though, if we had not gotten those seats, we would not have made it till the 5th inning....the GA seating is really the only negative about the whole ballpark.....it is a very special place for sure...

if i had any other complaint, it would have been the sound system...but it could have been where we were sitting.

 

[MSUDC11]

I sat in them many times and I can confirm they were better than no seat at all.

The demand is there today, as evidenced by the fact all grandstand seats were sold before the stadium was even completed.
​

Agree to disagree on the metal bleachers. After experiencing both, I like the berms better.

I think whether or not the GA thing was a good idea is something that will have to be re-evaluated in a few years once the newness of the stadium has worn off a little. And if it proves to be something that hurts attendance (not sure it will be) then we’ll certainly add some more seating in the future.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

We were there. Sat in the berm with the bricks behind visitors bull pen. There are issues. There are areas on both sides where you cannot see the corners in the outfield.

The upper deck needs to be extended sooner rather than later. SEC weekends-5 of them, and big Non-con series-USM, and a power 5 opponent equal 21 games that should draw 9,000 or more. Saturday, we packed in 12,343 and it was freaking maddening. That is only the 18th largest crowd at DN-PDS. There are crowds of 15,000 plus coming up in the next 3 weeks and it will be chaos. Misery along with ecstasy is coming. Get ready!

 

[trob115]

Folks who are complaining about not having chairbacks need to look themselves in the mirror.

When the new stadium was announced, ticket requests were mailed out asking for how many seats each individual would be interested in buying in the new DNF. Then there was the “pre- purchase” of the chairbacks. The Atheletic Dept. used this number of pre-purchased seats in their size determination for the number of chairbacks in the stadium.

 

[patdog]

This is the backwards, small-thinking way of looking at it. All anyone who might have bought season passes earlier would do is move someone who did buy season passes into the SRO/berm areas. It wouldn't change the overall status, which is there aren't enough seats to meet demand. This stadium is incredible in every way, except that it was simply built too small.

 

[anon1787432961]

I sat on third base side and could not see in our dugout. It's time to tear this stadium down and build it right.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

This is the backwards, small-thinking way of looking at it. All anyone who might have bought season passes earlier would do is move someone who did buy season passes into the SRO/berm areas. It wouldn't change the overall status, which is there aren't enough seats to meet demand. This stadium is incredible in every way, except that it was simply built too small.

Shut this thread down. Discussion closed. This guy has the only sensible answer.

Build more seats.

Build more seats.

Build more seats.

 

[BigBully]

I went for the first time this weekend. Overall, very impressive for a college stadium. Atmosphere was great and really enjoyed that you could walk the stadium and still see the game.

We were hanging out with friends in their rig in right field. If I had a request to improve the stadium, it would be to
: a) put a score board along the 3rd base side so everyone in the outfield wouldn’t have to turn around after each play or to see the count; or b) pit a “mini score board” along the rafters between the lower deck and upper deck.

Otherwise, a great stadium.

BB

 

[operch]

Methinks the concept is, Build it and they will come, however if you don't build it right, there will be no place to put them after they get there.

 

[EngDawg]

I always tried to stand up at the top of the bleachers at the old stadium, so for me the SRO is really a non-issue. That being said, I am young and don’t have children so it isn’t difficult or uncomfortable for me to stand the whole game.

Maybe we should make a rule that, for SEC weekends, the berms are reserved for families with small children and people over a certain age who may have trouble standing the whole game.

 

[Go Budaw]

So they planned the number of chairbacks based on how many people bought them before they even broke ground? That’s incredibly short-sighted. There is a very large percentage of people (by far and away the vast majority of our fanbase) that would not ever agree to tie up thousands of dollars of their disposable income into an architectural rendering as opposed to an actual stadium that they can walk into and experience before they agree to a long term purchase. You also build with a 20 or 30 year growth plan factored into the design. Fortunately, we did that as we have room to expand later, but those seats are needed now and they aren’t there.

 

[philduckworth]

I went for the first time this weekend. Overall, very impressive for a college stadium. Atmosphere was great and really enjoyed that you could walk the stadium and still see the game.

We were hanging out with friends in their rig in right field. If I had a request to improve the stadium, it would be to
: a) put a score board along the 3rd base side so everyone in the outfield wouldn’t have to turn around after each play or to see the count; or b) pit a “mini score board” along the rafters between the lower deck and upper deck.

Otherwise, a great stadium.

BB

Yes to another scoreboard!!

 

[Go Budaw]

Agree to disagree on the metal bleachers. After experiencing both, I like the berms better.

I think whether or not the GA thing was a good idea is something that will have to be re-evaluated in a few years once the newness of the stadium has worn off a little. And if it proves to be something that hurts attendance (not sure it will be) then we’ll certainly add some more seating in the future.

I do like the idea of keeping at least one of the berms. They are great for families with small kids as the kids have room to run around, chase foul balls, play with toys, etc. And there is room to spread out for most of the games, and the green space definitely adds character to the ballpark.

If it were up to me, I’d extend the chairbacks into the tiered area on the lower level on the 1B side, keep the large adjacent berm on that same side, and the extend chairbacks across the entire existing berm on the 3B side. I’d also make sure at least 75% of the new seats to be earmarked for GA seating, with a certain number premium GA season tickets sold in these areas at a higher price than existing GA (along with single game GA seats). Keeping the 1B side berm also is beneficial for families because it is closest in proximity to the kids area behind the RF fence.

I think those are common sense things that gives more fans options to attend / sit without making the park to cavernous during the midweek games.

 

[SheltonChoked]

Got to make my first trip to the New Dude Sunday. I have seen a lot of baseball in my life, but never a game like that. It was crazy. With regard to the stadium itself, (1) WOW, it is magnificent! Truly first class (2) it is too small. Should have found a way to extend the grandstand down to the foul poles. If we have almost 10k for a Sunday game with Auburn, there is no way we can accomidate everyone for some upcoming series or for regional play. It will become obvious to all if we have good weather next Saturday with LSU in town. (3) we must come up with some reasonable GA seating. The berms were full yesterday and they don’t really accommodate that many people. Perhaps a few hundred. A lot of people that would be in the GA seating are kids / families that get to come occasionally. Many of those kids are our future students and fan base. We need to accommodate them for the long term good of the fan base and for the university. If they get turned away or get in and have nowhere to sit and actually see the game, that is not good. Perhaps some bleachers in right field behind the right field lounge spots? I don’t know if that is the best solution but surely we can come up with something. Over all, it is an incredible facility and just needs a couple of tweaks to be perfect for years to come.

Living where I do I do not get to go to many, if any games. That being said, you think that it is best for MSU to not sell all of the chairbacks as season tickets, for those few games a year when the stadium sells out?

Tell me the $$$ sense in that...

They built more seats than the old stadium. Sold them out.

The issue in baseball at MSU is the same as it ever has been. It draws crowds.. Big crowds.

Go to a game on a weekday night.
Sit where you want.

 

[johnson86-1]

This is the backwards, small-thinking way of looking at it. All anyone who might have bought season passes earlier would do is move someone who did buy season passes into the SRO/berm areas. It wouldn't change the overall status, which is there aren't enough seats to meet demand. This stadium is incredible in every way, except that it was simply built too small.

Maybe. But a lot of people committed to pay a lot of money over several years (5 I think?) for seats that they obviously aren't planning on using that much outside of big weekends. If all those people had realized MSU was going to size the stadium larger than the current demand, how many of them would have still committed because they were mainly interested in supporting the baseball program and/or scare of missing out? And how many of them would have said I don't want to be committed to five years before the stadium is built when I will probably be able to get season tickets year by year after it's built, or maybe even skip season tickets and just plan to scalp tickets for the big weekends?

I have no clue if it would have impacted anything, but I can understand why the school might have been hesitant to build for future supply when a downturn (in performance or the economy) might hurt sales, plus taking into account the fact that attendance at other sports seems to have gotten softer nationwide and baseball is starting to have a lot more televised options.

 

[Pilgrimdawg]

Folks who are complaining about not having chairbacks need to look themselves in the mirror.

When the new stadium was announced, ticket requests were mailed out asking for how many seats each individual would be interested in buying in the new DNF. Then there was the “pre- purchase” of the chairbacks. The Atheletic Dept. used this number of pre-purchased seats in their size determination for the number of chairbacks in the stadium.

I had seats in the old Dude and finally gave them up since we reached the point where we were not able to go very often. We could have bought seats in the new Dude but then we would have been some of those people that this board complains about that does not fill their seats all the time. I was invited to go Sunday by someone that has seats. My wife and I both have terrible knees so the berms are not an option for us and we don’t have friends in the outfield. Our only option is to get lucky in obtaining a chair back from someone that is not going or just stay home and listen on the radio. I probably would have already attended 2 or 3 additional games this year if I had a place to sit. Just driving to Starkville in hopes that I can buy a chair back seat from someone selling some on the sidewalk is not a good idea. I guess that old folks are just supposed to keep their *** at home, look at a mirror, and stay out of the way.

 

[DawgESQ]

Here's the way to solve all of this.

1. A ticket resell website.

2. Actually police the resell of tickets. It isn't hard to use technology to force resellers on to an official site and to sell their tickets for face. Remember, it is still technically illegal to sell your tickets above face.

But beyond that, the stadium is right sized. 1 season ticket holder is better than 100 weekend GA ticket buyers.

<body id="cke_pastebin" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; left: -1000px;">It shall be unlawful for any admission ticket to any athletic contest of any college or university of the State of Mississippi or for any admission ticket to any entertainment event held on state property to be sold for a price in excess of the price printed on the face of the ticket.</body>

 

[[email protected]]

You know every Tue if you are a Bulldog club member at 830 you can buy chair back tickets to that weeks games. The general public can buy any that are left on Wed.

So don’t say there are no chairbacks for non season ticket holders.

I would imagine a lot of the empty seats the ticket holders are in the stadium in the Lounge area or in the triple Crown Club or Rooftop Club.

 

[patdog]

That's my plan for weekends this year. Call in at 8:30 Tuesday and see if I can get seats. If not, I'll just skip the weekend.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

i haven't had any luck doing that. i've called every week before lunch. That's only if they are turned in by season ticket holders. I would imagine very few are being turned back in. So it only probably takes one call and they are gone. I haven't heard of any one here doing that with good results.

your third statement is also inaccurate. lots of the people that i sat with along the sides in the lower chairbacks had not been selling their seats and had not been until Saturday. I asked them.

I found mine on stubhub. those have been very few and far between. less than 20 probably a weekend. There are way way way more than 20 empty seats in the grandstands that aren't in club level.