How about buying St Vincents Hospital, WICC, University of Bridgeport.
Right on JoeStag! These ideas have been proposed here many times. Fairfield should further engage the local community and focus on becoming an engine of economic change and development in Bridgeport and the surrounding area.
There is a shortage of primary care physicans and the pharmaceutical industry has a large presence in Connecticut. Fairfield should buy St. Vincent's and establish a School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Public Health right in the heart of Bridgeport.
GE and Sikorsky are two of the biggest engineering firms in the world. Fairfield should buy the University of Bridgeport to expand the School of Engineering and further expand our footprint into the neighborhood surrounding the Webster Bank Arena.
Radio is an excellent means to deliver the Fairfield brand and strengthen ties to the local cultural and business communities. Fairfield should buy WICC and establish it as the preeminent NPR station in Fairfield County with significant ties to the culture community by featuring the Quick Center for the Performing Art and signficant ties to the business community by featuring professors from the Dolan School of Business and Economics Department.
Now that is bold and strategic!!!
Just because my ideas are bold and strategic, that does not make them Right. And as some have suggested they are NOT realistic or sensible.
I remember that when the archtectural consultants, designed an on-campus arena in 2008-09, and it was rejected by the Board of Trustees due to the need for new dorms. It was hard to argue against that, especially snce a New some students who were going to attend Fairfield. And the RecPlex is certainly more of a need/requirement of students than a refurbished AH. They both could be done at the same time, but that would have a major impact on the endowment/debt. I vote for a Major gutting of AH, because that is what I want ...... but that does not mean its the best thing for Fairfield and its endowment/debt that is needed to keep the quality of academics high.
And the RecPlex is certainly more of a need/requirement of students than a refurbished AH. They both could be done at the same time, but that would have a major impact on the endowment/debt. I vote for a Major gutting of AH, because that is what I want...
I don't see the Trustees ever voting for the 2008 on campus arena/convocation center plan not while the WBA is available as an alternative facility. However, I agree that the RecPlex and AH renovation could be done at the same time but more importantly should be done at the same time. AH should be gutted from the new roof down into a state of the art facility. The AH renovation is at least 15 years overdue since the 1999 plan to fix the problem. The move to the WBA made it easier to forget about and neglect fixing AH but the need is still there and it isn't going away. It will continue to be "not up to Division 1 standards" and will just get worse and more expensive. Yes, renovating the RecPlex and AH at the same time would have a major impact on the University's endowment/debt but that is what the capital campaign is for. The old excuse of "when funds are availble" is why there is a capital campaign. The last capital campaign that exceeded it's initial goal included the renovation of AH as one of it's initiatives and this capital campaign should have renovating AH as one of it's initiatives too. If not part of this capital campaign then when? Another 15 years from now?
Marist, Rider and now Siena are or have renovated/upgraded their on campus basketball/athletic facilities and Iona is also planning to renovate too while Fairfield so far does nothing to fix the AH problem and falls behind their MAAC peers.
My understanding is that the RecPlex renovation will total $25 million. If $10 million were added, is there anyone who thinks the University couldn't construct a first class facility, with a similar attendance number in Alumni Hall (2500), for that number? ($35 million)
Post by reindeerfan on Apr 7, 2014 16:34:09 GMT -5
I spent my Sunday at the university for accepted students day. Very well done by Fairfield, I have been critical of some things associated with the school but they did a great job with this event. The event however started with the 3000 or so attendees listening to discussions in Alumni Hall. Lets say that isn't the biggest selling point about Fairfield.
We have to recognize that Alumni Hall is used for many purposes not just basketball. And it does say something about the institution. I understand the dorms were a higher priority and perhaps so is the recplex. But at this point it is starting to move toward the top of the remaining priorities in my mind.
Post by reindeerfan on Apr 7, 2014 16:35:00 GMT -5
PS Parking is also an issue and an underground garage may also need to be part of the plan, not just for games but because there is not adequate parking.
Alumni Hall was past it's prime when I graduated in 1991 ( legit- not a Masiello situation). Replacing or upgrading has been put off way too long. It's almost "blight" at this point.
Tear down that hall, Father!
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2014 23:23:21 GMT -5 by stagthomas
I've posted this before, but surely, something like this can be done.
This place is georgeous. We should call this architecture group before we break ground or spend another $ putting lipstick on the pig of AH. Even if we had to pay close to $35M I would say it is the better route.
Seeing that this thread started out as a transfer thread and you people who are so out of whack about our transfers, take a look at ZagsBlog and their listing of transfers around the country. Specifically, look at Boston U. and how thrilled their players are on playing in the Patriot League. By the way, that kid Watson is a hell of a point guard.
I wish we had a chance at Watson, but he said he wants to go high major. He is a stud. This has to be tough for BU considering they had the championship on their home floor and couldn't secure the ncaa berth.
Verbal Commits shows us offering Macari Brooks, Tre Burnette and JaMill Powell as JUCO guards. I'm sure we are looking at a few more and some 5th year guards. I'd love to see us get one of these big scorers or a proven 5th year 2G or combo who averaged 15 ppg. I'm curious if anyone knows who is out there we might be interested in.
Also, still have an offer out to JUCO banger Mike Kirkland. His video shows a kid with a big body who hits the glass. He has a good deal of mid-major offers, including Niagara. We also have interest in another JUCO forward, Will Ransom.