Thoughts on the Practice Facility?

i never saw this article before. i had no idea where this idea to build out on mortenson came from. this at least sheds light on that.

i still think an addition to Hilton would be the "jaw-dropping" way to go...for both fans AND recruits...but i now understand the origin of this "quick fix"
 
The article mentions it would be moved away from campus instead of joined to Hilton. This is the first I have heard of it (then again, I don't follow ISU that much).

Seems pretty low $ figure compared to the U of I's project. I wonder the effects of having it so far from the athletic buildings will be.
 
Its a good deal for the university. Have something functional that will help recruiting in less than 13 months or potentially wait 10 years for the 30+ million dollar project to get funding. While the 30 million dollar project has the potential to wow recruits that potential does not do much for you while we wait ten years.
 
The article mentions it would be moved away from campus instead of joined to Hilton. This is the first I have heard of it (then again, I don't follow ISU that much).

Seems pretty low $ figure compared to the U of I's project. I wonder the effects of having it so far from the athletic buildings will be.

That was part of the original release - that it would be built out west.

Effects being away from Hilton are expected to be minimal. From what we understand, some players already live out there and it's expected the rest will relocate there. It'll be a 24/7 facility for them to use, which they do not have today.
 
Highlights of previous discussions...

*Get everything they need for $8M instead of $35M.
*Location not an issue...lots of housing in that area.
*5 minute drive, maybe, from Jacobson/Hilton.
*All the players have cars/transportation anyway.
 
Are the numbers in that story true ? It appears that we have $1.6 million in donations for it and that we are going to borrow $6.4 million.

I thought we were going to wait until we had the donations to do all these facility improvements?+-

It seems kind of risky with the economy slowing and ticket football ticket sales being off to adopt a 'build it and they will donate it' approach.

I will say that it appears we are getting a really nice deal on this facility...
 
Are the numbers in that story true ? It appears that we have $1.6 million in donations for it and that we are going to borrow $6.4 million.

I thought we were going to wait until we had the donations to do all these facility improvements?+-

It seems kind of risky with the economy slowing and ticket football ticket sales being off to adopt a 'build it and they will donate it' approach.

I will say that it appears we are getting a really nice deal on this facility...

I think if we were still talking about a $30+ million dollar project here we'd have to wait until funding is in place. However, for an organization like ISU Athletics, $8 million is closer to "chump-change," probably much easier just to get a loan to cover whatever immediate funding won't cover, and probably fairly easy to pay off to boot.
 
i still think an addition to Hilton would be the "jaw-dropping" way to go...for both fans AND recruits...but i now understand the origin of this "quick fix"

I love Hilton...but is anyone else ready to consider that replacing it, rather than refurbishing it, needs to begin to be considered over the next decade or so?
 
I don't think taking out a $6 million loan will be that much of a issue for the athletic dept. The current JT project is being paid for with donations and added revenue from suite sales, so as long as they can sell the suite (which they have) that project is paying for it's self. The future JT expansions may be postponed because of this practice facility.
 
I love Hilton...but is anyone else ready to consider that replacing it, rather than refurbishing it, needs to begin to be considered over the next decade or so?

You got to be kidding? That place is built like a bomb shelter. If the rest of the country regularly sat 20,000 plus at games, I'd say maybe do it.

If KU can get along with their same "old" facility, I most certainly think we can too...
 
Here is basically what it comes down to.

If somebody has $35 million to put towards a practice facility attached to Hilton then we are set. I mentioned in a previous post that most major BCS teams are spending about $10-$15Million on their basketball facilities. Ours is $8 million with the land for free which put just about right in that category. Keep in mind, that recruits don't really care what the building looks like on the outside, they honestly care about the coaches, and when you walk inside that facility if it has a PlayStation 3 and a couple flat screens in the players lounge. that's all they care about. What people are failing to notice is that in West Ames, there is about a billion student apartments in place and being built so in theory this practice facility is right across the street from some of the hottest student housing in Ames.
It's also only 3 miles from Hilton Coliseum with one stoplight. This isn't the same as 3 miles away in Chicago. I mean seriously what is it like two minutes.

So what this gives us for the future if all these phase become completed....

We will have one of the best indoor football practice facilities...
One of the best college basketball venues in the country...Don't think about replacing this or bad things will happen.
A great BB Only facility with 24hour access directly across the street from apartments......
Middle of the conference Football stadium due the upgrade. (This includes 65million upgrade) This is a big increase from pretty much last place.
A 53 million upgrade in ISU faciliies on campus which can not hurt recruiting. It will make the place look a tone better and you can't argue that.

I am sure there is more to come, but you have to remember that this is all being done on a pretty limited budget.

My 2 cents.
 
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I love Hilton...but is anyone else ready to consider that replacing it, rather than refurbishing it, needs to begin to be considered over the next decade or so?

Why? Most schools would love to have Hilton. Yes, it needs some renovation but you have to be crazy to want to replace it.
 
Close...... and nice reference:)
Belushi_in_Animal_House.jpg
 
Why? Most schools would love to have Hilton. Yes, it needs some renovation but you have to be crazy to want to replace it.


Agreed. Look at the Husker tin can in Lincoln if you want class. Looks like a trailer.
 

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