Have we seen any renderings or updates

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dermdoc
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BQ_90 said:

Captain Pablo said:

annie88 said:

I think it will eventually happen, but I'm glad the players are getting the advantages first.


Yes, that is a good thing.

I hope stadium improvements happen sooner rather than later. In my opinion, it doesn't even need to be something fancy. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see something like Dudy Noble. That place is absolutely incredible

I suppose that ship has sailed, with resources being shifted toward player compensation

That said, I think bluebell could be a much better experience for the fans with just a few improvements

I have long advocated leveling the berms and simply adding a couple of sections of exact conforming permanent, concrete grandstands down the lines. Just expand what you already have, and get permanent infield/baseline seating to about 8000 or so.

Clean up the rest, and a few amenities if you want, keep a little outfield seating and be done

I do not believe that would cost anywhere near $70 million. It could probably be done fairly inexpensively, relatively speaking, and you would have a very good facility with plenty of seating for the fans, and top-notch facilities for the players.



it won't cost that, but do that and the player facility it will cost that. twk has said it over and over.

Trev basically said they're not taking on new debt. So those of you begging for improvements, you're still not getting a seat. If you're not donating now, you're not getting a seat. They will try to create new seats that maximize revenue, that's suites/club seating.

Agree.
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twk
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Renn_dls said:

I want there to be a balance for everyone. I'm someone who goes to every game, but I want to be in GA with my friends. I don't like sitting with the old people. It's not enjoyable for me. I'm all for seat availability for both people who go to every game, but I want people who go when they can to have seat availability. There are a lot of games, so i completly understand if most poeple can't go to very game.

They aren't going to build seats that they can't sell as season tickets, because empty seats don't generate revenue, and, Alberts made it clear that we are going to be looking to the revenue from any new seating to pay for itself (mitigated only by however much we raise in donations).

Mississippi State spent $68 million (pre-Covid) to rebuild their ballpark, which has about 8000 permanent seats. If you add in the left field lounge, lets say they build 10,000 seats (they can squeeze in more than that with SRO and berm seating). That means they spent $6800 per seat to rebuild their park. If you finance that with 30 year bond debt at 6% interest, then each seat has to generate $500 per year just to make the debt payments at $6,800 per seat. With construction costs having gone up considerably, lets change that to $9000 per seat. Now, you've got to generate $650 per seat. Yes, we will have some luxury seating that generates four or five times that, but you still are needing to generate significant revenue from every seat if you do an expansion with debt that has to be paid from baseball revenue. And, if you think the MSU numbers are high, Oklahoma State spent about the same amount to build a ballpark with less than 4000 permanent seats.

We could just put in some general seating where the berms are currently located for less, but even that won't be as cheap as people think, and the capacity of the park would remain the same (or possibly shrink a bit).
BQ_90
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but twk its easy, just ask people on here. Also it should only cost $5 and we triple capacity
Renn_dls
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My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel
twk
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Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel

I don't think that will happen. If you host the super regionals, you have to provide the visiting team with up to 600 tickets between 1st and 3rd base. When we host a super regional, we take these seats out of the GA allotment, while other schools have to displace season ticket holders. I think everyone concerned at A&M would prefer to keep things the way they are, rather than open this can of worms.
Captain Pablo
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Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel


I agree. I totally expect any new seating to go to season ticket holders. And that's fine. They have to pay for the thing.

I'm just hoping they keep a couple sections available for general admission along the first baseline. Even if they have to raise prices
Lady Aravis
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twk said:

Renn_dls said:

I want there to be a balance for everyone. I'm someone who goes to every game, but I want to be in GA with my friends. I don't like sitting with the old people. It's not enjoyable for me. I'm all for seat availability for both people who go to every game, but I want people who go when they can to have seat availability. There are a lot of games, so i completly understand if most poeple can't go to very game.

They aren't going to build seats that they can't sell as season tickets, because empty seats don't generate revenue, and, Alberts made it clear that we are going to be looking to the revenue from any new seating to pay for itself (mitigated only by however much we raise in donations).

Mississippi State spent $68 million (pre-Covid) to rebuild their ballpark, which has about 8000 permanent seats. If you add in the left field lounge, lets say they build 10,000 seats (they can squeeze in more than that with SRO and berm seating). That means they spent $6800 per seat to rebuild their park. If you finance that with 30 year bond debt at 6% interest, then each seat has to generate $500 per year just to make the debt payments at $6,800 per seat. With construction costs having gone up considerably, lets change that to $9000 per seat. Now, you've got to generate $650 per seat. Yes, we will have some luxury seating that generates four or five times that, but you still are needing to generate significant revenue from every seat if you do an expansion with debt that has to be paid from baseball revenue. And, if you think the MSU numbers are high, Oklahoma State spent about the same amount to build a ballpark with less than 4000 permanent seats.

We could just put in some general seating where the berms are currently located for less, but even that won't be as cheap as people think, and the capacity of the park would remain the same (or possibly shrink a bit).


I know that Levy runs concessions and gets the bulk of that revenue, but I assume Levy has to pay rent or a percentage of sales to the university? And I also assume that would be counted toward the per seat revenue that you're talking about? Just trying to understand how all this works.
Lady Aravis
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Captain Pablo said:

Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel


I agree. I totally expect any new seating to go to season ticket holders. And that's fine. They have to pay for the thing.

I'm just hoping they keep a couple sections available for general admission along the first baseline. Even if they have to raise prices


Same. I've sat in 203, berms, season ticket seats on 1st and 3rd base sides, and row 2 behind home plate (only missing Section 12 and Aggie Alley). The magic and excitement from fans comes almost exclusively from GA. Premium ticket holders are lame fuddy duddies.
TXAggie2011
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twk said:

Renn_dls said:

I want there to be a balance for everyone. I'm someone who goes to every game, but I want to be in GA with my friends. I don't like sitting with the old people. It's not enjoyable for me. I'm all for seat availability for both people who go to every game, but I want people who go when they can to have seat availability. There are a lot of games, so i completly understand if most poeple can't go to very game.

They aren't going to build seats that they can't sell as season tickets, because empty seats don't generate revenue, and, Alberts made it clear that we are going to be looking to the revenue from any new seating to pay for itself (mitigated only by however much we raise in donations).

Mississippi State spent $68 million (pre-Covid) to rebuild their ballpark, which has about 8000 permanent seats. If you add in the left field lounge, lets say they build 10,000 seats (they can squeeze in more than that with SRO and berm seating). That means they spent $6800 per seat to rebuild their park. If you finance that with 30 year bond debt at 6% interest, then each seat has to generate $500 per year just to make the debt payments at $6,800 per seat. With construction costs having gone up considerably, lets change that to $9000 per seat. Now, you've got to generate $650 per seat. Yes, we will have some luxury seating that generates four or five times that, but you still are needing to generate significant revenue from every seat if you do an expansion with debt that has to be paid from baseball revenue. And, if you think the MSU numbers are high, Oklahoma State spent about the same amount to build a ballpark with less than 4000 permanent seats.

We could just put in some general seating where the berms are currently located for less, but even that won't be as cheap as people think, and the capacity of the park would remain the same (or possibly shrink a bit).

Mississippi State sells season tickets to their general admission area (berms, pavilion, and other standing areas) that come out to about $7 to $7.50 a game, which I think would help address exactly what that poster would like to see.

That might be where a possible balance lies: no frills seating (ala LSU's Home Run Bleachers) somewhere that's an unreserved mix of single game and season tickets.
Captain Pablo
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TXAggie2011 said:

twk said:

Renn_dls said:

I want there to be a balance for everyone. I'm someone who goes to every game, but I want to be in GA with my friends. I don't like sitting with the old people. It's not enjoyable for me. I'm all for seat availability for both people who go to every game, but I want people who go when they can to have seat availability. There are a lot of games, so i completly understand if most poeple can't go to very game.

They aren't going to build seats that they can't sell as season tickets, because empty seats don't generate revenue, and, Alberts made it clear that we are going to be looking to the revenue from any new seating to pay for itself (mitigated only by however much we raise in donations).

Mississippi State spent $68 million (pre-Covid) to rebuild their ballpark, which has about 8000 permanent seats. If you add in the left field lounge, lets say they build 10,000 seats (they can squeeze in more than that with SRO and berm seating). That means they spent $6800 per seat to rebuild their park. If you finance that with 30 year bond debt at 6% interest, then each seat has to generate $500 per year just to make the debt payments at $6,800 per seat. With construction costs having gone up considerably, lets change that to $9000 per seat. Now, you've got to generate $650 per seat. Yes, we will have some luxury seating that generates four or five times that, but you still are needing to generate significant revenue from every seat if you do an expansion with debt that has to be paid from baseball revenue. And, if you think the MSU numbers are high, Oklahoma State spent about the same amount to build a ballpark with less than 4000 permanent seats.

We could just put in some general seating where the berms are currently located for less, but even that won't be as cheap as people think, and the capacity of the park would remain the same (or possibly shrink a bit).

Mississippi State sells season tickets to their general admission area that come out to about $7/game, which I think would address exactly what that poster would like to see.

$7 per seat is too low.

I used to like the idea of GA season tickets in 202 and 203, but I think more revenue can be generated with single game tickets -- because GA tickets SELL BIGLY. 202 and 203 are filled every game

202 and 203 hold what, 400 people each? (I'm sure I will be corrected on that)

If you sell tickets for $30 per game, and average each seat sold 30 times per season, that's 400 seats x 2 sections x 30 butts (or 60 butt cheeks) per seat per year x $30 for $720,000 gross revenue

That's not too bad is it?

If I am wrong about the capacity of 202 and 203, fine, plug that number in

And unlike season ticket holders, GA people actually attend games. So that's revenue from concessions, beer, souvenirs, etc




TXAggie2011
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If you can reliably sell a seat as a single game general admission ticket, then yeah, you'll make more money from that seat than selling it as a season ticket. That's part of why many pro sports teams keep single game seats available that they could sell as season tickets.

We're selling 201 and 204 for about $550/year right now, so that's what, about $15-16 a game? If you can reliably sell out 202 and 203 at $30 a pop for half the season (conference games), then your math comes out OK. But that might be some tough math.
Captain Pablo
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TXAggie2011 said:

If you can reliably sell a seat as a single game general admission ticket, then yeah, you'll make more money from that seat than selling it as a season ticket. That's part of why many pro sports teams keep single game seats available that they could sell as season tickets.

We're selling 201 and 204 for about $550/year right now, so that's what, about $15-16 a game? If you can reliably sell out 202 and 203 at $30 a pop for half the season (conference games), then your math comes out OK. But that might be some tough math.


I dunno. Maybe

But 202 and 203 are full every game

36 home games, but we'll call it 30 for some wiggle room

Tickets are already $20 or so. Those seats are prime. $30 isn't unreasonable

It would be interesting
Lady Aravis
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Captain Pablo said:

TXAggie2011 said:

If you can reliably sell a seat as a single game general admission ticket, then yeah, you'll make more money from that seat than selling it as a season ticket. That's part of why many pro sports teams keep single game seats available that they could sell as season tickets.

We're selling 201 and 204 for about $550/year right now, so that's what, about $15-16 a game? If you can reliably sell out 202 and 203 at $30 a pop for half the season (conference games), then your math comes out OK. But that might be some tough math.


I dunno. Maybe

But 202 and 203 are full every game

36 home games, but we'll call it 30 for some wiggle room

Tickets are already $20 or so. Those seats are prime. $30 isn't unreasonable

It would be interesting


Isn't 202/203 also where students with sports passes sit? If so, that interferes with the math quite a bit.

Also, single game tickets vary between $8 and $15 most of the time. I went to quite a few games this year and don't recall ever paying $20 per ticket -- that's too high for me, husband, and kids to all go on a regular basis. $30 per ticket means we won't go as a family ever again unless our income drastically increases.
Captain Pablo
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Lady Aravis said:

Captain Pablo said:

TXAggie2011 said:

If you can reliably sell a seat as a single game general admission ticket, then yeah, you'll make more money from that seat than selling it as a season ticket. That's part of why many pro sports teams keep single game seats available that they could sell as season tickets.

We're selling 201 and 204 for about $550/year right now, so that's what, about $15-16 a game? If you can reliably sell out 202 and 203 at $30 a pop for half the season (conference games), then your math comes out OK. But that might be some tough math.


I dunno. Maybe

But 202 and 203 are full every game

36 home games, but we'll call it 30 for some wiggle room

Tickets are already $20 or so. Those seats are prime. $30 isn't unreasonable

It would be interesting


Isn't 202/203 also where students with sports passes sit? If so, that interferes with the math quite a bit.

Also, single game tickets vary between $8 and $15 most of the time. I went to quite a few games this year and don't recall ever paying $20 per ticket -- that's too high for me, husband, and kids to all go on a regular basis. $30 per ticket means we won't go as a family ever again unless our income drastically increases.


I thought conference games were around 20 bucks. Maybe I am misremembering

Early season games were probably less.

I think one thing they could do is completely separate out 202 and 203 from the grass and SRO. I think you could pretty easily get at least $20 per game for nonconference, and $30 per game for conference for dedicated 202 and 203 general admission

Then charge $10-$15 for grass and SRO
dermdoc
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twk said:

Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel

I don't think that will happen. If you host the super regionals, you have to provide the visiting team with up to 600 tickets between 1st and 3rd base. When we host a super regional, we take these seats out of the GA allotment, while other schools have to displace season ticket holders. I think everyone concerned at A&M would prefer to keep things the way they are, rather than open this can of worms.

Agree. I think GA will remain the same.
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Renn_dls
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202/203 is GA. Student tickets are GA, but GA is also for non-students. Only 300 students are allowed within the stadium before the rest are sent to Section 12. Thats why Section 203 has the old guys who we love very much
TAMU1990
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twk said:

Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel

I don't think that will happen. If you host the super regionals, you have to provide the visiting team with up to 600 tickets between 1st and 3rd base. When we host a super regional, we take these seats out of the GA allotment, while other schools have to displace season ticket holders. I think everyone concerned at A&M would prefer to keep things the way they are, rather than open this can of worms.

That's good news. The student sections should remain as is.

Are we looking at expanding both decks down the 3rd base berm? I would just do a single deck expansion down the 1st baseline.
greg.w.h
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"According to terms of the agreement, Levy will help inform the Kyle Field redevelopment project with a priority on expanding dining options, enhancing menus and elevating hospitality for all guests. The 12-year deal includes $1.75mm in capital investment and over $18mm in bonuses and advance commissions and is believed to be the largest and best athletic facility agreement in the US collegiate market, according to a Texas A&M pores release."

https://www.foodservicedirector.com/foodservice-industries/texas-a-m-announces-outsource-deal-with-levy

I think the bonuses and commissions flow to the University and were paid upfront. So I'm not sure what the franchise/concession rate is or how much more the school receives.l, but this is also claimed in this article:

"Phillip Ray, chief business development officer for the A&M University System, said the 12-year deal will net the university $50 million over the course of the contract. The university had been providing food services at the athletics facilities in-house and put the services out for bid. This contract tops Levy's contract with Ohio State University, which was considered the largest among the nation's colleges.""

https://www.foodservicedirector.com/foodservice-operations/levy-restaurants-to-outsource-foodservices-at-a-m-athletic-facilities

Note the deal originally completed in 12 years and was announced in 2014 and I do not remember if there has been an extension. So may expire as early as 2026.
greg.w.h
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I should note I have zero contacts with the University. All publicly available information.
ReelAg6
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TAMU1990 said:

twk said:

Renn_dls said:

My main concern is that removing GA from the grandstands would kill Olsen Magic and the impact that students and the guys in 203 can have on the opposing team. If they all got shoved to Section 12, Olsen wouldn't have the same feel

I don't think that will happen. If you host the super regionals, you have to provide the visiting team with up to 600 tickets between 1st and 3rd base. When we host a super regional, we take these seats out of the GA allotment, while other schools have to displace season ticket holders. I think everyone concerned at A&M would prefer to keep things the way they are, rather than open this can of worms.

That's good news. The student sections should remain as is.

Are we looking at expanding both decks down the 3rd base berm? I would just do a single deck expansion down the 1st baseline.
Agree. I'd go with both decks down the 3rd base line and suites along the top of the second deck, replace both berms with seats, and then something more permanent in the outfield, probably berms depending on where the permanent seat count is without the outfield. 202/203 stay as is.
ReelAg6
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greg.w.h
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I'm not sure increasing supply of seats quickly is wise at all. I would pair new seats with new meaningful funding which should be special tier / club seats because of the demand and funding possibilities.

The lack of personal seat license style control of access to season tickets is a democratizing notion though not in the way most of us think: it allows baseball fans to select their seat through donations rather than through other transfer means. It makes the most sense because we the school must fund athletics. And to win they must derive much more revenue than the past.

If you want winning, spend less time pinching pennies. Or since we are getting rid of the penny nickels, dimes, quarter, and dollars.

Similarly, though not directly related, the Levy relationship forced an up front capital / contract closure cost in millions upfront. And the goal was to extract $50 million total from Levy as a concession. But won't challenge fan concerns about the quality of the goods, but that puts tremendous cost at pressure on Levy and likely the deal with a ballpark company was aggressive for Bryan/College Station. But the revenue is about $4 million to the school per year across all provided services. Try to find the balance.
 
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