Is there still nothing in the lobby of Alumni Hall about the new Alumni Hall Convocation Center? Why not? Why the wait?
There was a 100 club banner in the lobby and one at the Stags Club. However, I don't understand why there are not billboards of the renderings and videos of the virtual walkthrough posted and playing at key locations on campus and more importantly at the Bookstore in town. I do not understand it. And discussions with those involved fall on deaf ears. They did promote it at the pre-game Stags club meeting and show a video of the walkthrough to the nice size group at the Stags Club.
Our marketing target was dominant at the SELL OUT of AH on Sunday. Its adults with kids, alums and local towns people. That's who sold out the game NOT THE STUDENTS. They will show up if the program starts to show results. But Stags basketball is great weekend family entertainment. Target your marketing and ticket sales to the community. The vehicle to do that is on Post Rd right in the center of town.
Why are we hiding this thing to the best of our ability? They want money for the building, they should hire the PR and Development people from Sacred Heart.
Last Edit: Jan 28, 2020 16:53:13 GMT -5 by paulie74
There was a 100 club banner in the lobby and one at the Stags Club. However, I don't understand why there are not billboards of the renderings and videos of the virtual walkthrough posted and playing at key locations on campus and more importantly at the Bookstore in town...
The 100 Club Banner at the Alumni Pregame Reception and at the Stags Club is really "preaching to the choir" of Stag Club members. Still not having a presentation with a rendering of some kind in the lobby of AH for every ticket holder at every Stag Basketball game, in the BCC and especially in town at the Stag Bookstore is baffling to say the least. How hard would it be to give everyone that enters the AH lobby a "Coming Soon" one page flyer about the new Alumni Hall Convocation Center. Even better would be to let the Communications Department put together a continual loop video playing in the AH lobby. It is never too early to start promoting.
However, a one page presentation sheet and a video on the new Alumni Hall Convocation Center already exists. Why the wait to let more people know about it?
Once ground is broken our long awaited convocation center will most likely suffer form construction delays as a result of the current virus condition. Already, a 79 Million renovation project that I am working since August 2019 is affected by construction delays from items procured from overseas, particularly those manufactured in china. Today most construction items (electrical, plumbing, finish millwork,plastics etc.)) are manufactured in china or have some content in them that is manufactured in china. Manufacturing in china has previously ground to a halt because of the virus and may items shipped recently to overseas nations have been stopped at the borders or quarantined at shipping dock locations prior to being allowed into countries.
My niece works at the University and about two weeks ago I had lunch with her and she heard that were going to start this Spring. Interestingly she also heard a rumor that a pedestrian bridge was going to connect the BCC with the new Convocation Center.
My niece works at the University and about two weeks ago I had lunch with her and she heard that were going to start this Spring. Interestingly she also heard a rumor that a pedestrian bridge was going to connect the BCC with the new Convocation Center.
If that is true, wonder if its not a waste of money. Not like you have to cross a busy highway.
Just put a walkway in the right place for a change. How many dirt paths have been created on campus because they couldn't figure this out.
Once ground is broken our long awaited convocation center will most likely suffer form construction delays as a result of the current virus condition. Already, a 79 Million renovation project that I am working since August 2019 is affected by construction delays from items procured from overseas, particularly those manufactured in china. Today most construction items (electrical, plumbing, finish millwork,plastics etc.)) are manufactured in china or have some content in them that is manufactured in china. Manufacturing in china has previously ground to a halt because of the virus and may items shipped recently to overseas nations have been stopped at the borders or quarantined at shipping dock locations prior to being allowed into countries.
I would also expect illness among workers and social distancing requirements to impact construction, not to mention a likely recession The landscape is changing abruptly.
I think the delay on construction of the convocation center is not short term as many of us loyal fans would hope. It may turn out to be a long term deferral based on the comments made by president about financial difficulties at the university caused by virus impacts. FF has historically been very conservative with financial decisions. In this environment I just do not foresee the university approving a major investment at this time.
President Mark Nemec said the private Jesuit university is not running a deficit, but it does owe more than $10 million in room and board refunds for this semester. Its $375 million endowment is suffering steep losses as the stock market tanks.....
I think the delay on construction of the convocation center is not short term as many of us loyal fans would hope. It may turn out to be a long term deferral based on the comments made by president about financial difficulties at the university caused by virus impacts. FF has historically been very conservative with financial decisions. In this environment I just do not foresee the university approving a major investment at this time.
I’m sure they’re glad they haven’t begun the project. It’s going to be a very tough go for private colleges for the next couple years and beyond.
Offsetting some of these problems is the fact that you can borrow money now at 0%. Good business people look at this as an opportunity not a setback. But, perhaps I expect too much.
Offsetting some of these problems is the fact that you can borrow money now at 0%. Good business people look at this as an opportunity not a setback. But, perhaps I expect too much.
Great points on both sides of this discussion. The one factor that pours cold water on everything in uncertainty -- in both the academic and the business world.
This discussion is much bigger than whether to build one building. So big, it's crazy to even consider the impact in this space, but just a few thoughts:
When we come out of this, will higher education be operating under the same model we have today? - All of a sudden, if you are the consumer, online learning looks like a really good less expensive alternative. If you get an FU diploma, there is no sticker on it that says "conferred online". - Will there be fewer people on campuses? As a result will all but major college sports go away? - Will the on campus college experience be reserved for the well to do or those willing to make a major sacrifice for it? Will pragmatism overshadow Friday night keg parties?
And, in business, facilities and jobs are both in jeopardy. Companies are all about efficiency and overhead. What they are discovering is they can do even more with less. - Technology has really made the remote work idea viable and businesses have now been involuntarily thrown into a global "working remotely pilot program". - Think about that impact. Less office space, less commuting (fewer longer lasting cars), fewer people to maintain those facilities, fewer surrounding retail businesses to support those business centers--we could brainstorm this all day and have a list a mile long. - How much of current business travel is truly essential? - We can't even begin to discuss the final blow to the retail store.
The other side of this is going to look dramatically different. IMO the only "certainty" is significant change is inevitable in the next five years.
But as is always the case, the visionary entrepreneur will take that 0% money that Rave noted above and turn lemons into lemonade.