NU considering improvements to East facade

[pschatz25]

The latest issue of the Evanston Roundtable included this blurb:

"And at Ryan Field, Northwestern would like to “construct exterior improvements to the east façade” of the stadium."

Let the speculation begin...

 

[NUCat320]

The latest issue of the Evanston Roundtable included this blurb:

"And at Ryan Field, Northwestern would like to “construct exterior improvements to the east façade” of the stadium."

Let the speculation begin...

There's not really an east facade today, right? Perhaps "a wall" could be an improvement.

 

[pschatz25]

I believe there is an exterior facade- a wall- roughly between the 40s on the East Side, with the rest being pretty open to the elements. Maybe they want to extend the facade to cover more of the stadium's innards. I'm not sure how much of a benefit that would be, unless they built out a bit and used the space for concession stands on the concourses.

My guess is they want to build something (suites, club level, press box) above the East stands and need to improve the facade to support it.

 

[NJCat83588]

The latest issue of the Evanston Roundtable included this blurb:

"And at Ryan Field, Northwestern would like to “construct exterior improvements to the east façade” of the stadium."

Let the speculation begin...

Very interesting, indeed! There are so many thing needing improvement at Ryan Field, I would not have thought the East Façade was a top priority. Perhaps there are structural repairs required to keep the place from falling down. If I were in the NU administration, I'd put all my effort inside the stadium, trying to enhance the in-game experience before putting one cent into lipstick on the pig's exterior.

 

[shakes3858]

Very interesting, indeed! There are so many thing needing improvement at Ryan Field, I would not have thought the East Façade was a top priority. Perhaps there are structural repairs required to keep the place from falling down. If I were in the NU administration, I'd put all my effort inside the stadium, trying to enhance the in-game experience before putting one cent into lipstick on the pig's exterior.

Inside the stadium is gorgeous already. They actually win an award yearly for the nicest looking field. Sorry we don't have marble urinals with 24 karat gold flushers. Quit witching.

 

[NJCat83588]

Inside the stadium is gorgeous already. They actually win an award yearly for the nicest looking field. Sorry we don't have marble urinals with 24 karat gold flushers. Quit witching.

OK, how about a decent sound system? How about better concession stands? How about more wifi bandwidth?

Anyway, one site has Ryan Field one of the 20 worst college football stadiums. I read it on the internet so it must be true............

http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nat...-worst-stadiums-to-watch-fbs-college-football

 

[lunker35]

OK, how about a decent sound system? How about better concession stands? How about more wifi bandwidth?

Amen Shakes. The sound system would be such an easy fix and yet we have such an atrocious system year over year. The concessions are OK by me, but I do almost all of my eating before the games.

 

[shakes3858]

OK, how about a decent sound system?
Don't care. I'm just there to watch the game not listen to music. I have that on CD.

How about better concession stands?
Concessions are great... before and after the game at the Uber tent.

How about more wifi bandwidth?
How about less wifi bandwidth? I want everyone I know to think that I'm 100% unreachable during the three and a half hours of the game.

Anyway, one site has Ryan Field one of the 20 worst college football stadiums. I read it on the internet so it must be true............
Ryan Field is on the list because the game day experience is not fun because our fan base would rather whine and complain rather than embracing traditions. Whether it's air willie, hands up in the air, for whom the bell tolls, laking the posts someone always complains and it ends. NU fans would rather sit in an empty stadium than deal with someone standing in front of them. They'd rather sit in a quiet stadium than have a group of people making noise on third down. That's why the game day atmosphere sucks. It has nothing to do with scoreboards, concessions, toilets, sounds systems... I'm not pointing to you as one of those fans, but there are too many of them.

Did you make it to Notre Dame? They don't have a video board. Their concessions are crap. I never pay attention to sound systems so I can't comment. The bathrooms are as bad as Wrigley Field. The seating is terrible. There's no shelter from the elements. They don't even bother to paint their endzone. It's nothing but a big bowl. Despite that, it's regularly listed as one of the top 5 gameday environments. Why? Their fans care, they make noise, if you tell them to hold up their hands a certain way, they do it. Bottom line, they love traditions and have fun with them instead of witching about hot dogs.

 

[willycat]

I believe there is an exterior facade- a wall- roughly between the 40s on the East Side, with the rest being pretty open to the elements. Maybe they want to extend the facade to cover more of the stadium's innards. I'm not sure how much of a benefit that would be, unless they built out a bit and used the space for concession stands on the concourses.

My guess is they want to build something (suites, club level, press box) above the East stands and need to improve the facade to support it.

All of those things would be welcome but how about putting something over and around our front door... the south façade.

 

[EvanstonCat]

How about a monster digital screen like the one they just deployed at Auburn

We also need to steal Purdue's big ass drum

 

[willycat]

How about a monster digital screen like the one they just deployed at Auburn

We also need to steal Purdue's big ass drum

Actually need to steal at least 50 to 75 of their members.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I think they should put a replica of Ozymandias there, but give it the visage of Jim Harbaugh.

 

[pschatz25]

All of those things would be welcome but how about putting something over and around our front door... the south façade.

Yep, totally agree. The South end is an eye sore and it's the most visible part of the stadium.

 

[Styre]

OK, how about a decent sound system?
Don't care. I'm just there to watch the game not listen to music. I have that on CD.

I'd like to clearly hear the PA announcer, personally. And while we're on the subject, a PA announcer that isn't constantly making mistakes would be nice, too.

How about better concession stands?
Concessions are great... before and after the game at the Uber tent.

How about more wifi bandwidth?
How about less wifi bandwidth? I want everyone I know to think that I'm 100% unreachable during the three and a half hours of the game.

You do realize that "I don't want to eat and I don't want my phone to work!" represents about 0.001% of the people in the building, right? Why would you object to an improvement that makes the game more enjoyable for other people if, by your own admission, you won't pay attention to it one way or the other?

NU fans would rather sit in an empty stadium than deal with someone standing in front of them. They'd rather sit in a quiet stadium than have a group of people making noise on third down. That's why the game day atmosphere sucks. It has nothing to do with scoreboards, concessions, toilets, sounds systems... I'm not pointing to you as one of those fans, but there are too many of them.

Did you make it to Notre Dame? They don't have a video board. Their concessions are crap. I never pay attention to sound systems so I can't comment. The bathrooms are as bad as Wrigley Field. The seating is terrible. There's no shelter from the elements. They don't even bother to paint their endzone. It's nothing but a big bowl. Despite that, it's regularly listed as one of the top 5 gameday environments. Why? Their fans care, they make noise, if you tell them to hold up their hands a certain way, they do it. Bottom line, they love traditions and have fun with them instead of witching about hot dogs.

Do you know why ND fans embrace tradition and pack the stadium and make noise and ours don't? The answer is really obvious. It's also the answer to the question "why is half the stadium red when we play Ohio State or Nebraska or Wisconsin?" Did you notice there wasn't as much bitching about Hands in the Air and the other "traditions" in 2012 as there was in 2013 and 2014?

 

[GlideCat]

Ryan Field is on the list because the game day experience is not fun because our fan base would rather whine and complain rather than embracing traditions. Whether it's air willie, hands up in the air, for whom the bell tolls, laking the posts someone always complains and it ends. NU fans would rather sit in an empty stadium than deal with someone standing in front of them. They'd rather sit in a quiet stadium than have a group of people making noise on third down. That's why the game day atmosphere sucks. It has nothing to do with scoreboards, concessions, toilets, sounds systems... I'm not pointing to you as one of those fans, but there are too many of them.

Did you make it to Notre Dame? They don't have a video board. Their concessions are crap. I never pay attention to sound systems so I can't comment. The bathrooms are as bad as Wrigley Field. The seating is terrible. There's no shelter from the elements. They don't even bother to paint their endzone. It's nothing but a big bowl. Despite that, it's regularly listed as one of the top 5 gameday environments. Why? Their fans care, they make noise, if you tell them to hold up their hands a certain way, they do it. Bottom line, they love traditions and have fun with them instead of witching about hot dogs.

This is our tradition. You want us to embrace traditions and yet you trash the only constant tradition we have... lethargic complaining fans. So, you want us to start new traditions ("new" traditions? oxymoron?) but demand that we turn away from our roots and the basic tradition we have. How dare you, sir!

Need I say it... sarcasm alert.

 

[Cat In The Cradle]

OK, how about a decent sound system? How about better concession stands? How about more wifi bandwidth?

Anyway, one site has Ryan Field one of the 20 worst college football stadiums. I read it on the internet so it must be true............

http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nat...-worst-stadiums-to-watch-fbs-college-football

In acknowledging your disclaimer on this list, I posit one question that shreds any semblance of its having value: how did the Illini's Memorial Stadium fail to make the list? The place has the stale and sterile feel of one of those Soviet edifices left over from the Cold War. It reminds a little of Dyche Stadium before the renovations, including water seepage from everywhere, bacteria festering in 100 year old dirt and grime accumulation in every corner, and nothing but drab cobalt concrete causing temporary blindness anytime you glance out at the 'I' at midfield. There's even a fricking cemetery across the street . . . which does put the fans in the appropriate mood as they march in lockstep resembling the start of one of those old videos from Madanna. No, there is no comparison.

Ryan Field has a nice "earthy feel," kind of like Wrigley Field before they added the lights and all these other bells and whistles some are advocating on this thread.

Sure, we crap about acoustics but do we really want louder PA announcements or the "put your hands up" presentation?

Catering? Supply and demand. If we are willing to pay for an overpriced decent hot dog, they'll start serving those. In the meantime, the decent priced mediocre variety suits fine.

The east facade? I like look out at the lake during half time. I hope they keep the status quo.

 

[NJCat83588]

In acknowledging your disclaimer on this list, I posit one question that shreds any semblance of its having value: how did the Illini's Memorial Stadium fail to make the list? The place has the stale and sterile feel of one of those Soviet edifices left over from the Cold War. It reminds a little of Dyche Stadium before the renovations, including water seepage from everywhere, bacteria festering in 100 year old dirt and grime accumulation in every corner, and nothing but drab cobalt concrete causing temporary blindness anytime you glance out at the 'I' at midfield. There's even a fricking cemetery across the street . . . which does put the fans in the appropriate mood as they march in lockstep resembling the start of one of those old videos from Madanna. No, there is no comparison.

Ryan Field has a nice "earthy feel," kind of like Wrigley Field before they added the lights and all these other bells and whistles some are advocating on this thread.

Sure, we crap about acoustics but do we really want louder PA announcements or the "put your hands up" presentation?

Catering? Supply and demand. If we are willing to pay for an overpriced decent hot dog, they'll start serving those. In the meantime, the decent priced mediocre variety suits fine.

The east facade? I like look out at the lake during half time. I hope they keep the status quo.

Actually, if you only consider the economics, it makes no sense to put any money into Ryan. The place is used 6 or 7 times a year. People will come as long as the product warrants it. Speaker system, concessions, urinals, parking, none of it matters as much as the product on the field. If NU has a competitive team, they will draw. If they continue to lose, they won't

Simple.

 

[GlideCat]

Actually, if you only consider the economics, it makes no sense to put any money into Ryan. The place is used 6 or 7 times a year. People will come as long as the product warrants it. Speaker system, concessions, urinals, parking, none of it matters as much as the product on the field. If NU has a competitive team, they will draw. If they continue to lose, they won't

Simple.

I partly disagree. A major overhaul of the facility which is heavily advertised coupled with a good season after the re-opening would probably sell quite a few new season tickets. At that point, the product on the field would have to maintain at a solid level to keep the increases. So, while in the long term it does tie to the success of the team on the field, a short term gain can be made through a stadium improvement coupled with a good competitive team.

 

[willycat]

Actually, if you only consider the economics, it makes no sense to put any money into Ryan. The place is used 6 or 7 times a year. People will come as long as the product warrants it. Speaker system, concessions, urinals, parking, none of it matters as much as the product on the field. If NU has a competitive team, they will draw. If they continue to lose, they won't

Simple.

First your not likely to replace Ryan Field in my life time but you can make it more fan friendly. Open up the under the stands concourses, make Walker Terrace into club like viewing place, configure the east stands into stadium seats and open up the area for tailgating once the indoor facility, weight training venue is no longer needed

 

[shakes3858]

This is our tradition. You want us to embrace traditions and yet you trash the only constant tradition we have... lethargic complaining fans. So, you want us to start new traditions ("new" traditions? oxymoron?) but demand that we turn away from our roots and the basic tradition we have. How dare you, sir!

Need I say it... sarcasm alert.

My early vote for post of the year

 

[Styre]

Ryan Field has a nice "earthy feel," kind of like Wrigley Field before they added the lights and all these other bells and whistles some are advocating on this thread.

Are you seriously one of those people who thinks Wrigley was better before they added lights?

Also, the total lack of awareness from some quarters amuses me:

"Our fans suck! They're a bunch of old people who don't want to stand up and make noise on third down and hate all of our traditions!"
"Okay, why don't we modernize the stadium to make it more attractive to younger, more boisterous fans?"
"NO! Those are pointless distractions! The stadium should be just like it was in 1945!"

 

[NURoseBowl]

The latest issue of the Evanston Roundtable included this blurb:

"And at Ryan Field, Northwestern would like to “construct exterior improvements to the east façade” of the stadium."

Let the speculation begin...

I believe there is an exterior facade- a wall- roughly between the 40s on the East Side, with the rest being pretty open to the elements. Maybe they want to extend the facade to cover more of the stadium's innards. I'm not sure how much of a benefit that would be, unless they built out a bit and used the space for concession stands on the concourses.

My guess is they want to build something (suites, club level, press box) above the East stands and need to improve the facade to support it.

This is my thought, too, pschatz. Wouldn't even need to be a full-fledged press box; I'm sure the one on the west side works just fine. But what I'D like to see is something tantamount to a camera box (or boxes) on the east side, so that the TV feed would show the more built-up, more heavily purple west stands as the backdrop. Not sure what technical limitations (if any) this would impose on announcers calling the game from across the field, but I've got to believe this would look a helluva lot better on TV.

 

[phatcat]

Inside the stadium is gorgeous already. They actually win an award yearly for the nicest looking field. Sorry we don't have marble urinals with 24 karat gold flushers. Quit witching.

Amen Shakes! I am not even going to bother to read the drivel below (big drum and auburn screen - indeed!).

I invite each of you to go to your next game as if it is your first time ever to the stadium. If you are tailgater, fine, if not, also fine. Find your regular tailgate or offsite parking (city streets or the elementary school for instance). Do you realize how beautiful that neighborhood is? Even when we have a sellout, it is not crammed beyond belief in the neighborhood. You have Mustard's, the souvenir store, the El, the pregame over by the baseball field. I don't need 1000 forms of stimuli BEFORE the game. I find it completely charming every time I go there.

Inside, you feel like you have been transported to the 1940's. Are any of you complaining about Ryan/Dyche yet kneeling at the altar of Wrigley? Basically, we are the B1G's Wrigley.

For sound, if I can hear the PA announce the play, down and distance I am ok. Everything else is a bonus.

for restrooms, sure they are subpar. For comparison, I once waited 20 minutes at a port-a-pot at Michigan because they have 100k people and who has THAT many restrooms? Prefer to stand in somebody's maize and blue pi$$ whilst you go?

I've not been to Duke/Cameron for basketball, but I understand that it is a cramped old barn with, well, 'crazies' in it. That's what it is known for. Perhaps we will never be "Willie's wacko's", but I love the old-school charm and quirkiness that is Ryan/Dyche. Sure, improve some stuff but keep the basics unchanged. It's beautiful

Of course, I live in a 130 year old place in Baltimore City, so go figure

 

[Styre]

Inside, you feel like you have been transported to the 1940's. Are any of you complaining about Ryan/Dyche yet kneeling at the altar of Wrigley? Basically, we are the B1G's Wrigley.

Why are we the "B1G's Wrigley" and not, say, Michigan Stadium or Ohio Stadium or Camp Randall or Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) or any of the others that are just as old as Ryan Field but have 10x the tradition and fan support?

 

[NJCat83588]

Why are we the "B1G's Wrigley" and not, say, Michigan Stadium or Ohio Stadium or Camp Randall or Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) or any of the others that are just as old as Ryan Field but have 10x the tradition and fan support?

My guess is that it is because unlike all the others, Ryan has not changed appreciably since the 1949 addition of the south stands and extension of the northeast stands. It doesn't have the character changing luxoboxes surrounding the rim of the stadium a la Camp Randall, or the numerous capacity expansions of NE or OSU. It actually has some architectural character, unlike MI Stadium. As the smallest stadium in the Big 10, it draws a parallel to the small Wrigley, although newer baseball stadia aren't much larger than Wrigley.

And NU has a similar tradition to the team calling Wrigley home, a tradition of losing. In fact, NU has way more recent success that the lovable losers on the North Side!

 

[willycat]

My guess is that it is because unlike all the others, Ryan has not changed appreciably since the 1949 addition of the south stands and extension of the northeast stands. It doesn't have the character changing luxoboxes surrounding the rim of the stadium a la Camp Randall, or the numerous capacity expansions of NE or OSU. It actually has some architectural character, unlike MI Stadium. As the smallest stadium in the Big 10, it draws a parallel to the small Wrigley, although newer baseball stadia aren't much larger than Wrigley.

And NU has a similar tradition to the team calling Wrigley home, a tradition of losing. In fact, NU has way more recent success that the lovable losers on the North Side!

Could it be that it's the conference Wrigley because it's in the same state and very close to Chicago. Hope NU can follow the success of the Cubs , who are no longer the loveable losers. Also Ryan Field could take some lessons from the Cubs regarding modernizing and making the facility more fan friendly.

 

[phatcat]

Why are we the "B1G's Wrigley" and not, say, Michigan Stadium or Ohio Stadium or Camp Randall or Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) or any of the others that are just as old as Ryan Field but have 10x the tradition and fan support?

Small, quirky, largely unchanged, Chicago, not a lot of modern visible glitz. Crappy weather. And, IMHO, very scenic

 

[shakes3858]

I'd like to clearly hear the PA announcer, personally. And while we're on the subject, a PA announcer that isn't constantly making mistakes would be nice, too.

Does he really say anything of importance? 2nd and 8 wildcats... no correction 3rd and 3 Northwestern on the Stanford 27 yard line make that the Northwestern 43 yard line. Correction. Really, just look at the scoreboard. It tells you everything.

You do realize that "I don't want to eat and I don't want my phone to work!" represents about 0.001% of the people in the building, right? Why would you object to an improvement that makes the game more enjoyable for other people if, by your own admission, you won't pay attention to it one way or the other?

Because I think more people should be like me and enjoy the game of football for what it is. It's a football game. It's fun to watch regardless of scoreboards, concessions, and bathroom amenities. When I hear people whining about the lack of those things, I feel a need to tell them that they're being silly.

Additionally, I will pay attention to them when the price of the tickets increase to handle all the additional amenities. Let's say we get super nice bathrooms with bathroom attendants handing out paper towels and gum and cologne and turning on your faucet and all that jive. Now you have to pay for someone to do that job which filters into the ticket prices. I'm being facetious, but you get the point. If you bring in WIFI for everyone, then someone has to pay for it... which will be ticket holders ie. me who doesn't want to pay for something I don't want to use.

Do you know why ND fans embrace tradition and pack the stadium and make noise and ours don't? The answer is really obvious. It's also the answer to the question "why is half the stadium red when we play Ohio State or Nebraska or Wisconsin?" Did you notice there wasn't as much bitching about Hands in the Air and the other "traditions" in 2012 as there was in 2013 and 2014?

So what you're saying is that you're displacing your anger on having 2 losing seasons (which is really displaced anger about being injured plagued for 2 years, but I don't want to put too many words in your mouth) onto our newly started traditions? Therefore, the only way we're every going to have traditions is to win non-stop because if we lose ever then the fun traditions that we're trying are stupid and we should quit doing them.

 

[shakes3858]

Perhaps we will never be "Willie's wacko's",

I hope it will be Willie's Wacko's BECAUSE THAT'S AN AWESOME NAME!!!!

 

[hdhntr1]

I partly disagree. A major overhaul of the facility which is heavily advertised coupled with a good season after the re-opening would probably sell quite a few new season tickets. At that point, the product on the field would have to maintain at a solid level to keep the increases. So, while in the long term it does tie to the success of the team on the field, a short term gain can be made through a stadium improvement coupled with a good competitive team.

And economically it would still not make sense. It is likely that the current structure limits what can be done for significant improvement (beyond better sound system, stadium seating and the like. Plus with the amount that would have to be raised would probably require PSLs or significantly increased ticket prices. And likely the new draw and ST sales of the enhanced facility would only last 2-4 years. The only thing that would improve attendance longer term is consistent performance in at least the 8-10 win range.

Look at the math. We probably average between 35-40k depending on the year and opponents. A big increase do to upgrades might be 5K per game. 35k additional tickets at an average price of $50. That would mean that the total additional revenue would be $1,750,000 per year. Hard to justify any major expenditure for that kind of return. And the general cost of "major overhauls" is generally well over $100 million. Interest or lost opportunity cost of even 5% would be over $5 million so it is a money losing proposition no matter how it is figured. So the alternative is big donors and PSL and the like potentially alienating long time fans that suddenly have other things to do with their money. We do not have enough of a local alumni base to replace those lost. Just saying I would not expect major upgrades for a while. The improvement of the practice facility is justified because it can be used for other purposes but with it additional uses for Ryan are more limited

 

[Styre]

Does he really say anything of importance? 2nd and 8 wildcats... no correction 3rd and 3 Northwestern on the Stanford 27 yard line make that the Northwestern 43 yard line. Correction. Really, just look at the scoreboard. It tells you everything.

Part of the problem is that, in many parts of the stadium, you can't see the scoreboard.

Because I think more people should be like me and enjoy the game of football for what it is. It's a football game. It's fun to watch regardless of scoreboards, concessions, and bathroom amenities. When I hear people whining about the lack of those things, I feel a need to tell them that they're being silly.

Generally speaking I agree with you -- I don't need a ton of bells and whistles to enjoy the game. But the way that the average person consumes sports is changing, and since we don't have the ability to draw fans by reputation alone, I think it would be nice to be at the forefront of those changes.

Additionally, I will pay attention to them when the price of the tickets increase to handle all the additional amenities. Let's say we get super nice bathrooms with bathroom attendants handing out paper towels and gum and cologne and turning on your faucet and all that jive. Now you have to pay for someone to do that job which filters into the ticket prices. I'm being facetious, but you get the point. If you bring in WIFI for everyone, then someone has to pay for it... which will be ticket holders ie. me who doesn't want to pay for something I don't want to use.

Sure, and I don't think we need marble hallways and gold-plated faucets in any case. But I do think that cleaning the place up is a good idea. Renovating the concession areas, for example, could easily be done through donations, and any resultant increase in operating costs would be negligible when spread over the entire ticket base.

So what you're saying is that you're displacing your anger on having 2 losing seasons (which is really displaced anger about being injured plagued for 2 years, but I don't want to put too many words in your mouth) onto our newly started traditions? Therefore, the only way we're every going to have traditions is to win non-stop because if we lose ever then the fun traditions that we're trying are stupid and we should quit doing them.

I'm talking about fans in general, not me -- my only complaint about Hands in the Air is the celebrity guest well has already dried up.

But yes, the more we win, the more amenable our fans will be to participating in traditions. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is great to fire up the crowd on third downs in a close, meaningful game, or when we're curb-stomping Illinois. It's less great when we're 0-6 in the Big Ten and down 30-6 in the fourth quarter to Michigan State.