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Post by elonsoccerfan on Jan 26, 2008 7:12:27 GMT -5
Drove past the stadium this week and liked the progress on the stadium upgrades. The batting cages have been moved and base frame has been put in for the new bleacher seats. Looks very good. Left to go in are the seat backs and a fence (chainlink, not brick) around the outside to enclose the stadium. Can't wait for the season to start.
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Post by euphoenix99 on Jan 26, 2008 16:35:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the update. Not sure how I missed the news on these changes happening. So what's the overall plan? 600 seat backs, which I assume will fill the old fenced in area, and then additional bleacher seats outside of that area? I would guess they are not the old movable bleachers that were there last year.
Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get an idea for the overall project.
Go Phoenix!
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Post by elonphoenix on Jan 28, 2008 16:05:01 GMT -5
My understanding is 600 stadium seats on the concrete pad in front of the press box and a 6' black chain link fence around the complex. I don't think there will be any additional bleachers outside the 600 stadium seats. Ought to look nice, but I'm concerned what charging for admission is going to do to attendance and the crowd energy level.
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Post by firebird on Jan 28, 2008 17:51:28 GMT -5
This is purely a RUMOR but it is RUMORED that the charge will be $2. If that is the case, I have no problem with it. I just wonder if the $2 will pay for the cost of the fence?
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Post by euphoenix99 on Jan 28, 2008 21:58:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. Looking forward to seeing how the place looks when it's done. As for the $2 charge, I can't imagine it will have a big impact on attendance. A night of baseball for the whole family for $8-10. Hard to find a better deal.
Go Phoenix!
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Post by elonphoenix on Jan 30, 2008 15:11:04 GMT -5
They're drilling the holes today for the fence posts. It's not good. Down the 1st base line the exterior 6' fence will be about halfway from the field fence to the parking lot, which will take that nice open area and cut it in half. Down the 3rd base line the exterior 6' fence will be 15-20' from the curb, which won't be a big deal until there's another big crowd like vs. UNC, then it'll make that whole area a lot tighter than it is now.
I'm really afraid that the great open "Field of Dreams" vibe that Elon baseball has had is going to die. They had the best version of an open & community-driven baseball experience and now they're replacing it with what I'm afraid will be a subpar closed experience (certainly not as nice as UNCG or Charleston).
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Post by elonfirefighter on Jan 30, 2008 17:25:50 GMT -5
baby steps will make it grow from the corn. If you build it "they" will come.
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Post by elonsoccerfan on Jan 30, 2008 21:24:14 GMT -5
There was a big concern about crows control (ie fans being able to drink) during baseball games. I believe that is a main reason for enclosing the stadium. I was told that admission was goingt o be dirt cheap in the first year. I'd expect that to change in 2009.
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Post by elonfirefighter on Jan 30, 2008 21:27:37 GMT -5
crowd controle was not the reason for this change. This was in the works from at least 2002 when i was manager there. back then it was lights first then moving to the other improvements
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Post by elonsoccerfan on Jan 31, 2008 22:04:35 GMT -5
It may have been in the plans, but crowd control (ie alcohol control) was definitely a factor. Especially during the turnouts for the UNC game as well as the South Carolina game.
Have to give props to Dave Blank, he is making things happen for all teams.
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