How would you expand DNF? Or would you?

[MedDawg]

I know it seems early since we haven't been through the first season, but how would you expand the New Dude? Or would you choose not to expand?

Say you are the athletic director--would you expand the grandstands to take out the LF berm or the RF terrace or both? Take out all three berms and replace with chairbacks? Expand both upper and lower levels or just lower level?

How would you sell them? Would you offer season tickets for all of them? Or would you turn down season ticket requests so as to save some seats for General Admission?

Overbuild a bit to fill all season ticket requests and have some left over for General Admission?

Will your plan account for down seasons and lower attendance, or does that not really matter?


Let me say that there is something to be said about having a "tough ticket". We had that in basketball for a few years when we would sell out the Hump with season tickets. It actually increases season ticket sales as medium-enthusiastic fans will buy season tickets to guarantee having a seat. That's what our current baseball situation is in. Some football stadiums do that, too, instead of continually expanding to meet current needs or to allow everyone to attend a game who might want to. Not sure if that applies to baseball and specifically to State, since we have always had 'unlimited' tickets for games at DNF.

My thought: First thing we need to do is allow GA to take an empty grandstand seat after the 1st inning, then be prepared to move if the seat owner shows up. Do that, and see what the GA needs are for possible expansion.

Personally I would like one section upper and lower level expansion down the 3rd base line, taking out the LF berm. Not sure if I would keep any for GA, though. If the demand is there, maybe we should sell them all as season tickets. Not sure if just one upper and lower section expansion would cost too much for what we would get due to fixed costs for equipment, etc. If there is crazy high demand, then another upper/lower level expansion (or just a lower level) down the first base line, taking out the terrace. Definitely save some for General Admission then. I do like the look of the upper/and lower levels going together, so I would rather build one upper/lower level section than two lower levels. Of course, just taking out 1-2 berms and replacing them with chairbacks would be cheaper.

Build another left field loft building, and charge less to sell them all out or rent out by the weekend.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

Build more condos in the outfield. They are unique in college baseball, there seems to be a market for them, & they create a ton of additional revenue.

 

[L4Dawg]

I wouldn't. The place has a great look and vibe just as it is. It's plenty big for all but maybe 2-3 games a year. I edited to add this: you could add more condos.

 

[00Dawg]

Left Field Berm goes.

Afterwards, I'm slightly overbuilt for season tickets in 2019, and sell individual seats for each game. They get treated like open season ticket seats do now (open Tuesday to BC members, then general public).
Eventually, demand catches up. When that happens, I expand the upper deck to the end of the former left field berm.

 

[Arthur2478]

1. I would not expand at all. It is near perfect the way it is for 98% of games that are played there
2. I would hire a software company to create a ticket exchange marketplace so unused chair backs could be sold to those without season tickets.
3. For big games in which no one is willing to sell their chair backs (Super Bulldog, Regionals, Super Regionals), I would place small temporary bleachers (like 6-8 row bleachers) on the concourse right behind the berms and above the bullpen. This would allow for a several hundred additional seats for SRO purchasers.

 

[aTotal360]

Underground seating where we could watch the game on TV.

 

[jdbulldog]

Tear it down and start over...the place is too small and just has no class about it. Bring back the old wooden bleachers complete with the splinters. Modernize the outfield with some pretty contraptions for people to sit in. Perhaps some trailers could be used for those less fortunate. Tear down the lofts and replace with double wides for the rich folks.

 

[drummerdawg]

I'd take the berms out and replace them with seats. As my grandma said, if they spend $70 million dollars on building a new stadium they should have seats for everybody. The way they did the standing room around the stadium is cool for people to walk around or for overflow crowds but it shouldn't be used in replace of actual seats. I'd actually go a little more extreme and do less season tickets and use those seats as first come first serve. Instead of $5 general admission tickets they could be something like $15 or $20 per seat and still have $5 SRO tickets. This allows the grandstands to be full and nobody has to wait for a certain inning to hopefully find enough seats together for a family with the inconvenience of moving locations.

I'd add some extra Lounge spots, maybe in replace of one of the berms and use those as rentals where people who don't go to many games can have a Lounge experience for a game or weekend.

Then, I'd add another Loft next to the other one.

Not an "expansion" idea, but I'd like to see us do something with the lighting in the stadium. The Dude is beautify in the daytime but at night on tv it's dark and you can't see anything. The Lounge area and Lofts need to be lit up at night because you can't tell what's out there.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I like to have some berms because there are people who enjoy them, especially kids. The view from the RF berm is very unique and cool. The one thing I would definitely change is I wish they had just put chairbacks instead of the tiered berm by the visitors bullpen. Hold those for the day of games and offer them first to GA season ticket holders who want to upgrade.

I like the idea of temporary bleachers, but I don't think there's enough space without making the walkway too congested. The only good place would be beyond the tired student area in RF, and that's going to be packed with students, anyway. The original plan had much more concourse space down the LF and RF lines, but it got trimmed down significantly.

 

[GTAT]

Electronic ticket exchange where you can scan barcodes. That's it.

 

[thekimmer]

The obvious answer for expansion is to extend the upper deck but not necessary right now.

The biggest thing that is needed right now is a robust process to allow people to purchase unused chairback tickets for individual games. My thought when I've seen any game this season has been is there really that many people that buy season tickets and don't use them? Enrollment into this process should be a condition of season ticket purchase. This still does not address the issue of having zero general admission seating. I don't get how anybody thought this was a good idea.

In the meantime, as far as letting people occupy the seats, the first inning might be a little quick. I'd say third inning let gen admission folks occupy them pending but then by the 6th if nobody has shown up they are your seats for that game even if the ticket holder appears.

 

[AlSwearengen]

I just bought tickets to Sunday’s game on stubhub, so I was looking at weekend games throughout the season, trying to find games that I will be able to go to. There weren’t a lot available and those that are, $$$$$ for a baseball game. I was/am active as hell but have been battling plantar fasciitis, so my *** doesn’t want to stand and even if my feet don’t hurt, 17 standing for a baseball game. I’m 3.5 hrs from Starkville and along with my schedule and not being wealthy, I’m not buying season tickets.

If I watch the game on Saturday and see a lot of empty chairbacks, I’m going to say the school needs to address the unused seats in some way. I remember hearing that they were limiting chairbacks so the stadium doesn’t look empty, but so far this year, I am seeing a lot of empty seats and full berms and outfield. Seems strange to me.

 

[Xenomorph]

Illustrated tutorial for 3 possible GA seating expansions..

1. Above the home bullpen. That drink rail is at an odd angle for watching the game already. And nobody says the bullpen has to be open to the sky. Build an angled roof over it that so that it follows generally the line above the berm. Place a set of bleachers there angled to the field. Gain ~800 seats if you can install 10 rows.

2. Above the lounge in left field. This would be my #1 location. Easy installation, it wouldn't hinder any circulation around the park and they'd be used... a lot. Gain maybe 800-1,000 seats.

3. In the congregation area behind the student section. My least favorite idea. It would be somewhat awkward because I think the columns in the plaza would create sight issues and sitting there with your kids might give them an early lesson on college life. Might gain 500 seats.

View attachment 12522

 

[GhostOfJackie]

1. I would not expand at all. It is near perfect the way it is for 98% of games that are played there
2. I would hire a software company to create a ticket exchange marketplace so unused chair backs could be sold to those without season tickets.
3. For big games in which no one is willing to sell their chair backs (Super Bulldog, Regionals, Super Regionals), I would place small temporary bleachers (like 6-8 row bleachers) on the concourse right behind the berms and above the bullpen. This would allow for a several hundred additional seats for SRO purchasers.

You would place temporary bleachers in that beautiful stadium? Really?

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

Do whatever LSU and Arkansas are doing to get that many fans in the grand stand at game time.

Guess I should elaborate a little more.

LSU is increasing the highest demand seats by 24%. So it is going to be more painful to buy prime tickets and “not use them”. They also have 15 game packets and 9 game “your choice” packages. Finally they have a 15 voucher package but these will be limited making only picking Friday-Sunday unavailable for all 15. Example: Not available most likely for a MSU or Arkansas series. The Voucher package seems a little complicated to me. I like the mini- plans. I guess in the mini plan for 15 games you could get all SEC home series.

Oh I forgot to mention starting in 2020 no one can purchase more than 8 season tickets. That will keep corporations from tying up high demand seats that are empty a lot of the season.

 

[thekimmer]

1. Above the home bullpen. That drink rail is at an odd angle for watching the game already. And nobody says the bullpen has to be open to the sky. Build an angled roof over it that so that it follows generally the line above the berm. Place a set of bleachers there angled to the field. Gain ~800 seats if you can install 10 rows.

2. Above the lounge in left field. This would be my #1 location. Easy installation, it wouldn't hinder any circulation around the park and they'd be used... a lot. Gain maybe 800-1,000 seats.

3. In the congregation area behind the student section. My least favorite idea. It would be somewhat awkward because I think the columns in the plaza would create sight issues and sitting there with your kids might give them an early lesson on college life. Might gain 500 seats.

View attachment 12522

To build out over the bullpen the bleachers would have to be elevated or they would destroy the open sight line plan for that corner of the stadium.

 

[Xenomorph]

I agree. I think that little standing room area above the pen, adjacent to LFL would go away.

 

[Shamoan]

right field brothel

 

[512taylor]

I don't think we need more seats, but unless something changes this season,we definitely need to add additional concession stands.

 

[aTotal360]

To match the action in the left. I can dig it.

 

[philduckworth]

My thought: First thing we need to do is allow GA to take an empty grandstand seat after the 1st inning, then be prepared to move if the seat owner shows up. Do that, and see what the GA needs are for possible expansion.

.

Just this.

 

[jdbulldog]

That plantar fasciitis will kick the best of butts. Get a shot, buy a brace for sleeping and do the exercises. One day you will be able to walk without crying.

 

[paindonthurt_]

The obvious answer at this point is don’t expand, BUT investing in a good/easy ticket exchange/sell would probably be worth the money. Return on investment for food and drink sales would likely be good.

I’m not bitching abt the concessions bc I don’t like to ***** and wine, BUT they could probably make them better/more convenient. Which would be an ROI.

The stadium is great. Nothing is perfect and can always improve, but the people bitching are gonna ***** no matter what.

 

[Dawgbite]

Here is a thought, do away with paper tickets and go to an emailed E-ticket. Season ticket holders are required to claim their tickets weekly, say on Monday prior to a series. When claimed their tickets are emailed to them for a smart phone or to be printed. On each Tuesday all unclaimed tickets are put on sale to the general public and possibly could still be available for walkups on game day. There could be some way to reward season ticket holders who don't personally use their tickets but whose tickets are claimed by the general public, BDC points maybe.

 

[hogfan14]

Do whatever LSU and Arkansas are doing to get that many fans in the grand stand at game time.

I think it's a little tacky but Arkansas just introduced these that they're putting at the back of the "Hog Pen" (outfield seating area). Re-purposed shipping containers that are 300 square feet and include a TV, grill, leather sofa, fridge, microwave, and an observation balcony people can sit on. Can be rented out for $1,500 and comes with 50 tickets. Not really my thing but interesting idea I guess. Always cool seeing new ideas schools are trying for baseball with how ridiculous the arms race is in the SEC. I want to make the trip to Dudy Noble one of these days to check it out because it looks amazing.

In the next few years we're adding a 40,000-square-foot right field club seating area with suites that will also be a "baseball performance center" and new locker room for current and former players:

 

[8dog]

Relocate to much larger population densities?

 

[8dog]

I love Baum. But that RF thing is questionable

 

[patdog]

That all sounds good, but you're gonna have a lot of very pissed off season ticket holders who forget to claim their tickets on Monday, and then start looking for their tickets on gameday. And yeah, I get the whole "well, it's their fault" argument, but that really doesn't matter. You don't piss off your season ticket holders.

 

[Mayor of Little London]

Ticket exchange system that works.

Sell beer.

Expand concourse section on right field side and get food trucks in for sec series.

Bryan sausage dogs.

Pickle vendor in left field concourse.

Jake Mangum Statue.

2nd loft with a rooftop bar. Let anybody in the bar (up to fire code) but charge a cover day of.

Sell 85 jerseys, pin stripe cursive State jerseys and flex fit M over S hats (regular bill not flat bill).

Big 17ing welcome to Starkvegas sign behind right field—-to offset the lofts in left.

If Mangum breaks SEC hits record at home do the homerun lights even if a single.

Do the seat upgrade promotion like when they bring the people from upper deck in football down to the good seats for baseball but do it on weekday games and let them sit in triple crown club so it’s not all empty seats.

 

[Shamoan]

true...and when its all said and done, at least we have people that care about it. i bet mizzou and tennessee fans do zero bitching.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Sell beer.


Sell 85 jerseys, pin stripe cursive State jerseys and flex fit M over S hats (regular bill not flat bill).

You had me at these two.

Can't comment on the rest until I make a trip to experience it in person.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Having a bar/restaurant and charging cover is a fantastic idea.

Have 4 really good items on the menu with abt 3 good sides.

Have abt 6 good craft draft beers and 2 domestics.
Good selection of bottles.
Good mix drinks.

Would print money.

Ticket exchange system that works.

Sell beer.

Expand concourse section on right field side and get food trucks in for sec series.

Bryan sausage dogs.

Pickle vendor in left field concourse.

Jake Mangum Statue.

2nd loft with a rooftop bar. Let anybody in the bar (up to fire code) but charge a cover day of.

Sell 85 jerseys, pin stripe cursive State jerseys and flex fit M over S hats (regular bill not flat bill).

Big 17ing welcome to Starkvegas sign behind right field—-to offset the lofts in left.

If Mangum breaks SEC hits record at home do the homerun lights even if a single.

Do the seat upgrade promotion like when they bring the people from upper deck in football down to the good seats for baseball but do it on weekday games and let them sit in triple crown club so it’s not all empty seats.

 

[hogfan14]

I love Baum. But that RF thing is questionable

Yeah, it may not actually look like that but a lot of stuff on campus has gone to the more modern looking architecture which I'm not a fan of. Hopefully the real thing matches the rest of the stadium better than that.

 

[Arthur2478]

Only for certain games in which they'd be full utilized. They would be removed for other games in which they aren't needed.

 

[Xenomorph]

Just think of the fun getting state laws changed! **

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I would be surprised if you didn’t see a change in the availability of empty seats next season. The powers that be are going to see the empty spaces and not like the way it looks either. They just move slowly when it comes to finding a solution for problems like that.

 

[Mjoelner]

2. Above the lounge in left field. This would be my #1 location. Easy installation, it wouldn't hinder any circulation around the park and they'd be used... a lot. Gain maybe 800-1,000 seats.

The problem with idea #2 is that is where the second set of lofts would go if they get built. I have no idea on the current status of that but a friend heard from a contractor earlier this year that its a very real possibilty that the second building does get built.

 

[Dawgbite]

That all sounds good, but you're gonna have a lot of very pissed off season ticket holders who forget to claim their tickets on Monday, and then start looking for their tickets on gameday. And yeah, I get the whole "well, it's their fault" argument, but that really doesn't matter. You don't piss off your season ticket holders.

Ok, then they get first available when they realize its wednesday and they haven't claimed their tickets. If none are available , then they will remember to claim their ticket next Monday. They regularly piss off the season ticket holders in the name of revenue, its just a short step to doing it in the name of TV aesthetics.

 

[Mjoelner]

Stealing from other ideas already mentioned here and some I've seen elsewhere, I'd do 4 things:

1. Open up grandstand seating earlier than they do. If you're in a seat and someone shows up with a ticket. Move. Simple.

2. Create a viable ticket exchange program and figure out some perks for using it.

3. Put some small tables or shelves around the condiment stations. There is hardly any area now to set a drink down while you're piling on the mustard.

4. Move Little Caesar's and Chick Fil A from the concession stand behind first to the open areas of the concourse between the concession stands and restrooms where the yellow arrows are below. These areas are where the concession stands were set up last year during construction.
View attachment 12523

 

[Drewbowski]

sleeping in a brace huh? I haven't tried that one. I wouldn't think at 32 I'd be unable to walk!