Bison Forum

Enjoy apathy then

Lakes, I don’t think NDSU has the horsepower for FBS. Fargo won’t even take care of the Fargo Dome. New stadiums everywhere else. FBS player payroll is bigger that the NDSU athletic budget.

I say if they come calling consider the offer.

A few more FBS games would be fun though.

Fargo Dome
observed functional obsolescence:

• No club seating,

• Inadequate suits

• No viewing decks, lounging areas or bars

• No elevators,

• No escalators,

• Inadequate bathrooms,

• Concourses overcrowding

• Inadequate concession areas

Functional obsolescence is accelerating as competing venues are replaced or upgraded. They are adding revenue potential. NDSU Revenue potential is limited. All things considered, the stadium may not be a negative but I don’t think it’s a plus.

A LOOK AT OTHER STADIUMS

University Stadium of recent move-up to FCS West Georgia State*. Built 2009 capacity 10,000. #231 in Sagarin. Member United Athletic Conference led by Tarleton State, #125 in Sagarin. NOTE: room for expansion abundant.
* directional state

Cleveland Field at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium home of D2 runner-up the Valdosta state Blazers, Built 2003 it seats 10,100

Lubbers Field at potential future MVFC member and perennial D2 powerhouse Grand Valley State University, is a state of the art facility seating about 17,000 with expansion to 20,000 planned for the future
Ferris State, defending D2 champions, only seat 6,200 at home with lots of standing room. They have hockey Probably not a good move-up candidate

Stadiums in the Mountain West enter a new class. The FFD is stuck somewhere between the top of the FCS class stadium and the bottom of the FBS class

The Nevada Wolfpack play at Mackay. Although smaller the FFD is still competitive. The site has lots of expansion capabilities but 27,000 seems properly scaled for Reno. Note the large parking ramp and open grounds. Pretty much on par with the FFD but the grounds have more future utility.

War Memorial in Laramie, Wyo holds about 33,000 It was last renovated in 2010. It’s a nice stadium and grounds. Visited when the Bison dropped a close one to the Cowboys. Note attached field house to left and parking on right. This stadium has more revenue potential than the FFD.

This is Ching Athletics Complex, temporary home of the Hawaii Warriors. They will be here until Aloha Stadium is rebuilt or renovated, they are in the planning stages now I guess. This place holds 9,000. It is the smallest FBS stadium by 6,000 seats. Charlotte's Jerry Richardson Stadium holds 15,000.

This is just a temporary home but they have to hold on until the process with Aloha runs its course. Aloha will be brand new and beautiful. State of the art of course.

At 18,000, along with Charlotte the FFD would be among the smallest FBS home fields. That could be good or bad.
Ps. Hawaii would look good in the MVFC. With 9,000 seats it gets tough to compete against 30-40,000 seats or more without a money tree. NDSU is a rich FCS program. They are low income in FBS.