Jamie Pollard on KXNO today

[KnappShack]

It's been an important and special building since it was built. The rest of the ISC doesn't exist without it.

I'm cool with that. If we aren't paying to keep a structure built in the mid 1900s up to speed then it's time to go.

The ISC hasn't aged well. It wasn't in great shape when I was in school.

Keep Hilton. The rest is up for debate. CyTown Part II

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Maybe the Art community should have stepped up to support it like the ISU athletic community supports athletics.

Honestly it’s a two way street. The concert business is boom or bust and if you don’t put the right people at the helm or give them resources then it’s very difficult. I went to a handful of shows when I was in college. With that many people to draw from along with your average concert goers someone should be able to come up with a lineup of acts that makes money. Des Moines is hard to compete with but it’s not the nail in the coffin

 

[Nor'easter]

I mentioned the moody center in the facilities thread after I saw a concert there a couple of weeks ago. Holy cow does that place make Hilton look like an ancient artifact. I know we don’t have the 30 or so corporate sponsons throwing down 5-10 mil a piece but a Hilton renovation is overdue.

No doubt it's probably amazing in person but everytime I saw it on TV it looked very meh, mainly because they have to tarp the top level of seats and it doesn't look great on tv. Imo

 

[BigTurk]

The deferred maintenance issue isn’t just an ISU problem. Many Universities have the same issue. It all boils down to money. With state appropriations declining there is only so much money to go around.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Because ISU doesn't have enough money to deal with it annually, pretty simple. You could argue part of it is due to growing too fast under Leath, but it mostly due to lack of legislature support for the 3 state universities. I'm sure Iowa and Uni have similar problems with their old buildings.

We wlso have the cheapest tuition in the big 12. It was that way until 5 years ago. I hope someone can prove me wrong.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

No doubt it's probably amazing in person but everytime I saw it on TV it looked very meh, mainly because they have to tarp the top level of seats and it doesn't look great on tv. Imo

I get that. The one cool thing that they do with the upper deck is instead of a tarp it’s actually giant acoustic panels that push the sound down. The concert I went to was not sold out and they had those in place. Granted there is floor seating and standing GA so a complete sell out would need to be like a T Swift concert.

 

[Cy94]

Stephens is a dump - threadbare carpet, bathrooms are missing urinals and just the pipe sticking out of the wall...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers/Pearl Jam/Smashing Pumpkins concert was rough on Stephens.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Honestly it’s a two way street. The concert business is boom or bust and if you don’t put the right people at the helm or give them resources then it’s very difficult. I went to a handful of shows when I was in college. With that many people to draw from along with your average concert goers someone should be able to come up with a lineup of acts that makes money. Des Moines is hard to compete with but it’s not the nail in the

Honestly it’s a two way street. The concert business is boom or bust and if you don’t put the right people at the helm or give them resources then it’s very difficult. I went to a handful of shows when I was in college. With that many people to draw from along with your average concert goers someone should be able to come up with a lineup of acts that makes money. Des Moines is hard to compete with but it’s not the nail in the coffin

Hoyt Sherman has 10 events listed in July. CY has 0, must be booked for kids dance recitals.

 

[Hoggins]

What do you know about the Arts community in Ames?
Also, do all University department support themselves and their buildings financially? Is that was a University is for?
Furthermore, the Arts are essential to the human experience. We don't need more bean counters.

**** the arts.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Hoyt Sherman has 10 events listed in July. CY has 0, must be booked for kids dance recitals.

I don’t understand your point. It’s not the audience that books the shows. It’s the AD and CY staff. It wasn’t making money which is why they stopped trying altogether. My contention is that it can make money with the right lineup, advertising, and capital. Hoyt has become a brand with a story. CY should have that same recognition at least among Iowans.

 

[BigTurk]

Hoyt Sherman has 10 events listed in July. CY has 0, must be booked for kids dance recitals.

Size matters too. Hoyt Sherman is a much smaller venue and there are acts that want that size of venue.

 

[theshadow]

I don’t understand your point. It’s not the audience that books the shows. It’s the AD and CY staff. It wasn’t making money which is why they stopped trying altogether. My contention is that it can make money with the right lineup, advertising, and capital. Hoyt has become a brand with a story. CY should have that same recognition at least among Iowans.

And VenuWorks.

 

[KnappShack]

**** the arts.

That's the spirit!

 

[Sousaclone]

That's the spirit!

Yep. **** the Univeristy part of ISU! Let's just level and pave everything within 2500' of JTS! Hell, Central campus is nice and big and flat. We could pave that and then run a cable car to JTS!

Crazy that people forget that not to long ago ISU athletics was not very successful.

 

[Pope]

Here's a photo I took not that long ago from the CY Stephens stage looking out to the seats. Yes, it's sadly in need of maintenance, but it's not a dump as some are claiming. It's still one of the most beautiful performance venues around with unmatched acoustics, and it can return to it's original state if it becomes enough of a priority for the university.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

And VenuWorks.

Hope they arent being paid much.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Here's a photo I took not that long ago from the CY Stephens stage looking out to the seats. Yes, it's sadly in need of maintenance, but it's not a dump as some are claiming. It's still one of the most beautiful performance venues around with unmatched acoustics, and it can return to it's original state if it becomes enough of a priority for the university.

View attachment 113864

Awesome picture. It holds a special place in my heart, that is for sure. Someone mentioned its size compared to Hoyt and I think that’s a fair point. I‘ve been to shows when it was packed but I’m not sure it’s ever been a sellout. Taking over a back balcony to do some VIP sections would be a great way to update it while reducing capacity a bit and creating some higher dollar tickets.

 

[jcf817]

Here's a photo I took not that long ago from the CY Stephens stage looking out to the seats. Yes, it's sadly in need of maintenance, but it's not a dump as some are claiming. It's still one of the most beautiful performance venues around with unmatched acoustics, and it can return to it's original state if it becomes enough of a priority for the university.

View attachment 113864

Simply magnificent. The stage curtain is a one-of-a-kind work of art, as well.

 

[theshadow]

Here's a photo I took not that long ago from the CY Stephens stage looking out to the seats.

Now do the back of house.

 

[cyfan92]

The deferred maintenance issue isn’t just an ISU problem. Many Universities have the same issue. It all boils down to money. With state appropriations declining there is only so much money to go around.

It's easy to get a major gift to construct a new building. No one is making significant gifts to maintain something unless they re-name the property