October 25, 2006
Cards to expand stadium by 1/3?
The Louisville Cardinals have definitely got things going in the right direction these days, especially when you consider that UofL football was an distant runner-up to the Cards basketball team just a few years ago. And now Louisville wants to capitalize on the new-found football fever by expanding the stadium by one-third.
He said the $65 million project could give the stadium 63,600 seats -- all chairback -- and include 45 new luxury suites and 2,400 club seats.A refurbished Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, which was opened in 1998 at a $78.16 million price tag, could be ready for the 2009 season with a total of 75 luxury suites and 4,200 club seats. It would be about 4,000 seats shy of the University of Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium, which has a capacity of 67,606.
Jurich said yesterday's news conference did not constitute a formal kickoff to the building drive. In fact, he said, the feasibility study and architectural plan still are being developed and could be officially unveiled next week.
And, at least at the onset, the Cardinal fans seem to be all for it, with 78% of an online poll saying bring in the bulldozers.
Whoa. Slow down there. You've got a season ticket waiting list of 2,500 and you want to expand by 21,000? And the rest of the attendance will be from...?
I know football is becoming popular at UofL, but I don't think they've quite reached the "build it and they will come" platform just yet. A few down years and --instead of 30,000+ empty seats-- you've got 50,000+ empty seats, no?
Comments:
K Hat said:
posted on October 25, 2006 3:26 PM — 4.244.211.115 — link — abuse?
I'm sure Louisville didn't make this decision without doing the research first. They have Patrino locked up for the next six or seven years, with Kentucky football still struggling, they have a fan base they can tap into that's less than 100 miles away, and a bigger stadium increases the chances of getting home and home games with high profile schools. Sounds like a good move.
goodolnuma5 said:
posted on October 25, 2006 8:06 PM — 24.208.149.244 — link — abuse?
Anyone who has been to Louisville,(I have) knows that city needs something to identify itself with(other than bats). Ive read they thought they'd never fill a 70,000 seat Ohio Stadium. If its asthetic, it could put Louisville on the map ...again.
posted on October 25, 2006 8:18 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
@Butch - You don't build a program with a couple mediocre bowls, either. Sell out every game for...I don't know...three years and then see where you can go. Cart > Horse.
@K HAT - Having Petrino "locked up" hasn't stopped him from nearly falling out of the nest for a couple of years in a row.
thechad said:
posted on October 25, 2006 10:58 PM — 205.188.116.133 — link — abuse?
well its time to hear the truth about the expansion and it goes this way. ive been a season ticket holder for 8 years for louisville football and iam saying this to be the truth there no way where going to get that many people to go to the games . they need to add about 10,000 more seat and take it slow iam being honest . it took us almost eight years to fill the new stadium ive been there some times where you could just strech out and take it easy. i love my cards to death but 21.000 seat is too much hell for the louisville uk game they cant get that much cause must uk fans are tired of watching louisville kick the crap out of them every time . if you put 30 uk fans in a room you get a full set of teeth. anyways its too much too quick i think they need to build slow and take our time. the stadium can be expanded to 80,000 tops when the build it. its one top notch stadium too all chairbacks seats and not bad seat in the house . i just wish they lower beer prices 6 bucks is a little too high. plus the main louisville need s to do is get the die hards who suppport them threw thick and thin and gives us a pat on the back. the seat s that are not full are all the rich snobs who dont care and go threw for a social even t just like basketball and dont even sit in there seat . all i have to say is that expand slowly and take our time and everything will be ok
easternfan said:
posted on October 26, 2006 7:34 AM — 67.72.98.88 — link — abuse?
Kevin, your pretty sharp, but you cant expand a stadium by 10,000...ya gotta do it in chunks. By the way did you know they are so hard up for tickets next week that WVU cant bring their band. Really, check it out and get a post going on that.
posted on October 26, 2006 8:31 AM — link — abuse?
@easternfan - My only objection to the plan to expand is... I don't think they should expand at all. None. Why? Look at UofL attendance five years ago. And please don't point to one game and hope to make a point about a pattern. Quite a few empty seats in the crowd shots for Miami, FSU, et al. From a pure business standpoint, you do not build capacity for peaks - you build for averages. (That's why the mall parking lots are always too small around the holidays!)
TrojanHorse said:
posted on October 26, 2006 10:56 AM — 155.104.37.18 — link — abuse?
Of course there is high demand for the WVU game, BFD is that a surprise to you???? sheesh
When you sellout games against UConn, South Fla, Syracuse, and other lower end schools then maybe you should expand, ditto on years your not considered for a BCS game.
Look at schools like Nebraska, 280+ consecutive sellouts, not a title contender, haven't been for five years, now that is a place that should expand.
easternfan said:
posted on October 26, 2006 4:57 PM — 67.72.98.93 — link — abuse?
Ok guys fair enough. Does BFD stand for underwear? That the rules of construction point to doing it once and getting it done for twenty years was my point. Not so much that UL will need it. No doubt if this particular game was in Morgantown all 65,000 seats would be filled also. UL is about a 4 hr drive from my part of WV, and Morgantown is 2.5. 45,000 is too small for this venue.
goodolnuma5 said:
posted on October 26, 2006 8:33 PM — 24.208.149.244 — link — abuse?
Ditto Trojan Horse. Poor Husker fan, they deserve better than Callahan. Yeah I know, I know, you cant run the option forever, but they were so d@mn good at it!
Zac said:
posted on October 26, 2006 9:52 PM — 65.31.231.119 — link — abuse?
Why would any major college football university expand a stadium? It's all about the money!!! Not only will such a construction project assist in the local economy, but the benefits UofL will reap will eventually be substantial. So what, if it's expanded by 21,000 seats, but only 10,000 of them are sold on the average. That's still an extra $500,000.00/home game. Or, if you prefer, $3,000,000.00 extra/season. WVU didn't sell out every home game last year. (They did this year.) They still averaged over 55,000 people/game, and Morgantown is hardly the metropolis Louisville is.
(By the way, easternfan, I think it's ludicrous to suggest UofL would not allow WVU's band to play, that the school might benefit from selling the extra seats. It just so happens, in a practical sense, WVU pays for those seats; it's part of the contractual agreement between the schools. WVU's band can still attend the game; they just won't be allowed to play at half time.)
If Louisville's football team had only recently been a phenomenon, say the past two years, I might agree the school is jumping the gun. In fact, Louisville football has been decent in the past, but over the past five years in particular has been fantastic. Why shouldn't UofL be known for its Basketball and its Football teams (not to mention its women's volleyball team)? So, at the risk of sounding too cliché, build it and they will come. Hope to see you there!!!CardsFan said:
posted on October 27, 2006 11:43 AM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
Empty seats, especially for the Miami game? You've got to be kidding. It must have been in the Canes section for fans who didn't show/left early. I repeatedly tried to get seats to the Miami game--nothing available for less than hundreds. Don't believe me? Don't be ignorant. Read the link:
Sold out..sold out...sold out
This type of sell-out isn't an aberration, it's becoming a pattern. This isn't 2001, it's 2006, so why should one assume a negative outlook unless you don't like U of L's growing success over the years? The expanison is a good, necessary idea. Since it's a package deal linked to basketball season tickets, the sales success is guaranteed as there are dedicated fans for both.
CardsFan said:
posted on October 27, 2006 11:51 AM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
Post #6, goodolnuma5: Ever hear of a little horse race called the Kentucky Deby? The Churchill Downs steeples have been recognized internationally as an identifying symbol. How about a boxer named Muhammad Ali and a boxing/civil-rights museum honoring him? Only two examples that bring in sports fans, celebrities, and tourists on a regular basis in addition to big events. At least you mentioned the Louisivlle Slugger museum, but it's not the primary draw for most. Room for improvement? Sure, just like any city, but I don't think identification is a major issue. The football expansion would just be a bonus, not the city logo.
gatorhippy said:
posted on October 27, 2006 12:11 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?
CardsFan (#16):
No offense but don't confuse SOLD OUT with actual attendance...
Just because a game is sold out and the UL ticket office doesn't have any tickets does not mean all the seats will be filled in the stadium come game time...
As your link states, ticket brokers look a year in advance and purchase as many individual game tix as possible then run up the prices on them...
Point in case, UF has "Sold Out" every single home game for over the last twenty years, but I guarantee come the Western Carolina game there will be empty seats even though it is technically a "Sold Out" game already...
CardsFan said:
posted on October 27, 2006 12:34 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
#18, gatorhippy: Wasn't confusing anything...I realize your statement is true and think your point is valid, but I think it's true anywhere, even in the SEC. The demand for tickets is there, even if there are some empty seats at some games. Just the fact that ticket brokers are willing to take the risk illustrates support/demand. Even if it's not perfect, that support/demand will finance the expansion. BTW, the actual gate attendance figures (not just tickets sold) for the Miami game still indicate filled seats, at least for the home team. Of course, it will be easier to get a ticket for the South Florida game even when it's already "sold out," so I understand your thinking. At present, my family has to rotate our one season ticket seat. I hadn't added my name to the waiting list, figuring 2,500 ahead of me would make it a futile cause. However, with the expansion, I'll add my name with a more optimistic outlook.
Zac said:
posted on October 30, 2006 7:21 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?
I can't be more psyched about this game. This Thursday night, Louisville & West "By-God" Virginia are going to rock the BCS. No matter who takes it, I predict a great game; the next ESPN Classic. If you haven’t heard of the BCS, or have but lacked respect, you will change your mind after. I really feel this will be one for the books. I wish I could be there with you. Louisville is a great town: good food, good stay, great people. So, I guess I’ll be watching it from the tube. Till then, all the best to all! Now, please excuse me while I reveal my true colors. Go Mountaineers!!!!!
loupixie said:
posted on November 25, 2006 10:51 PM — 74.138.216.212 — link — abuse?
Ok. I don't know you people, but obviously you've got your heads up your a**. Louisville currently has one of the nicest stadiums in the country. It's the only stadium that has all chairback seating. Besides that, the city has a LOT going for it. And, sports are not the only thing. We have one of the best art communities in the country. We have a lot of live music venues. We have some of THE BEST restaurants in the country. I know. I travel a lot.
Louisville also has one of the lowest crime rates for a city of it's size.
So, what am I missing here? That some people need to get a life?
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gatorhippy said:
posted on October 25, 2006 2:52 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?I think I remember seeing empty seats at the Miami game when watching it...
But in consideration, the addition of luxury boxes and increased seating can help attract other types of events...
Just not sure what in Louisville...
Maybe they could move the UK/UL game into the stadium...