I was so impressed with this project, I thought it deserved its own thread. Coastal Carolina completed this last summer at a cost of $35 million, which included an aquatic center (already there) and a rock climbing facility that I'm sure the Fairfield Students could do without. It does include a first class workout facility, studios, classrooms, an indoor track, and a 3,600 seat arena. I'm aware that construction costs in the Northeast are more expensive than in South Carolina, but IMO, this clearly shows that the "one project" idea is the way to go.
Renovate the RecPlex and make a mess of that part of the campus then go back again to renovate (some day) Alumni Hall and make another mess of that same part of the campus. Brilliant!
Or just renovate the Recplex and continue to ignore the AH situation.
I can't tell you how important I think this is to the future of the University. Having the center of the University's entrance under construction will be difficult, but to do it twice is absurd. This is the opportunity to right two major wrongs at the same time. Why spend $25 Million on one project when you might be able to spend $35 million on two? Wait 5 years and the cost of redoing Alumni Hall will likely go up 30%. This REALLY NEEDS TO BE PUSHED AND FAST!
Watching a d-2 game from the "O'Reilly Center" on the campus of Drury University . This facility was profiled on this board previously. Great bldg. with a terrific crowd atmosphere. A bldg on campus like this would be perfect for the stags
The O'Reilly Family Event Center opened on the Drury University campus on October 1, 2010, as the new home of the Drury men's and women's basketball teams and the volleyball squad.
The arena has a capacity of 3,100 for athletic events and was built at a pricetag of $13.5 million. It was funded entirely through private donations, with the generous lead naming rights gift of $6 million provided by the O'Reilly family of Springfield....
Post by Stagophile on Jan 25, 2014 13:45:53 GMT -5
FVA and the Trustee are really miscalculating here. If it is not too late, they really need to consider this type of comprehensive athletic and recreational solution. Bucknell, Monmouth, Drury...they have all built facilities that are assets to their entire University communities.
Love the O'Reilly Center, but at this point, I think the only way the Administration changes their mind on an Alumni Hall renovation is if a project like the Coastal Carolina one is presented to them.......and quickly.
The pictures I posted to start this post speak for themselves. The final cost of the project was $24.35 million. Occupancy, August, 2012. I am aware of cost differences, asbestos issues, and that starting with a clear lot makes for a simpler project. Still, one project seems so much more practical. Maybe they should scrap the renovation of the Rec/Plex and Alumni Hall, build this type of facility adjacent to the Walsh Athletic center, incorporate it with the Alumni Field construction and make it one big complex? Knock down the Rec/Plex and put the garage there? Spruce up Alumni Hall for the Prep. I'm willing to bet that would be cheaper than doing Alumni and the RecPlex separately, and you'd get it done all at once.
Post by stagmania78 on Jan 26, 2014 2:17:29 GMT -5
If they build it, they will come. I know we'll get back to winning. I wish my guy Walshie's old man put his bucks into an arena instead of you know. A very nice man with the best of interests. We were 70's hoop and hockey fans. Daughter's came first. Oh well.
Every day we read about another new beautiful multi purpose athletic building on a mid-major campus.
I have one question. If you ran a company and the competition was offering a better product/value and you did not keep up, what happens to your product or brand?--Anybody? Bueller? --Sony Walkman --Bomar Brain (most millennials probably have no idea what this is) --Blockbuster Video --soon to come JC Penny and much of the brick and mortar retail world
FU has been resting on its past and our belief that this Jesuit identity thing will trump what people perceive as VALUE.
I assume much of our board are business people. To their credit they recognized the dorms were falling way behind the competition.
What bothers me is there is no talk or energy to even begin a campaign or even show a vision of what they want to achieve.
I totally agree. Screw up the campus once and do the RecPlex and AH together. But, you need the money. If we began a campaign for AH back in 2002, might we not be ready to break ground today?
My other concern is that decision, once eventually made, is not again short sighted. The BBall team is having a down year, but normal game attendance will be 2500-3200 when the program is winning. A 2000 seat facility is not the answer. 2500-3000 at WBA is still a hollow cavern. Most games should be played at this new 3000-3500 seat facility on campus.
Ok, that's the past. The problem is, we are again doing what we did in 2002. NOTHING. So, I will do the same.
Can someone explain to me how Coastal Carolina, with a $17.1 million endowment gets a $25-30 million facility built, and Fairfield, with a $254 million endowment, cannot? IMO, the "BOARD" need to see the sheer idiocy of rebuilding the RECPLEX for $25 million when you could probably do the RECPLEX and Alumni Hall in one project for $35 million. SHOW THEM COASTAL CAROLINA!