Complete Idiot said:

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So sun is the primary reason our baseball field needs to be relocated? Too much sun for baseball fans? I sat on the berm for all the playoff games last year and yes it was brutal, but it was also full of fans and my teen and pre-teen kids made it through somehow.

Perhaps change from a stadium known for having winds that push fly outs to HR's to a stadium where the wind blows in?

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The sun is not the primary reason the field needs to be relocated. However, it is a factor.

The problem is selling whatever armchair seats we build as season tickets. Folks are not going to pay top dollar for season tickets where they are looking into the sun at that severe of angle. The field orientation at Olsen is a bit unusual in that, normally, you try to have a baseball field oriented so that the line from home plate to second base runs either northeast (which puts the 3rd base stand on the west side, which becomes shady side for afternoon and evening) or southeast (which puts the first base side on the west, making 1st base the shady side). Olsen is oriented so that the line from home plate to second base is rather close to due north (maybe 5 degree on the compass; northeast would be 45 degrees). If the field was oriented northeast, instead of north, even the "sunny" side would have less sun issues, and the roof and second deck overhang would provide more shade protection as the sun goes down than is the case now.

Ideally, we would put more seating on the shady side of the park, whether that's Olsen or a new park, but doing so in the current configuration won't be easy because of the player and coaching facilities located along the 3rd base line.

People would probably buy those tickets but just not come that often. There are two upper deck sections that are sold out to season ticket holders, but they are never terribly full of people when you compare to the mostly-full GA sections.

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player and coaching facilities located along the 3rd base line.

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That's why I'm thinking the location of these facilities will be moved from the 3rd base line and placed down the 1B line.

They probably have a target time to live for the BBP improvements. Would take a generous gift to change that timeline.

twk said:

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Complete Idiot said:

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So sun is the primary reason our baseball field needs to be relocated? Too much sun for baseball fans? I sat on the berm for all the playoff games last year and yes it was brutal, but it was also full of fans and my teen and pre-teen kids made it through somehow.

Perhaps change from a stadium known for having winds that push fly outs to HR's to a stadium where the wind blows in?

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The sun is not the primary reason the field needs to be relocated. However, it is a factor.

The problem is selling whatever armchair seats we build as season tickets. Folks are not going to pay top dollar for season tickets where they are looking into the sun at that severe of angle. The field orientation at Olsen is a bit unusual in that, normally, you try to have a baseball field oriented so that the line from home plate to second base runs either northeast (which puts the 3rd base stand on the west side, which becomes shady side for afternoon and evening) or southeast (which puts the first base side on the west, making 1st base the shady side). Olsen is oriented so that the line from home plate to second base is rather close to due north (maybe 5 degree on the compass; northeast would be 45 degrees). If the field was oriented northeast, instead of north, even the "sunny" side would have less sun issues, and the roof and second deck overhang would provide more shade protection as the sun goes down than is the case now.

Ideally, we would put more seating on the shady side of the park, whether that's Olsen or a new park, but doing so in the current configuration won't be easy because of the player and coaching facilities located along the 3rd base line.

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About the crudest analysis possible, but using Google Earth I went back to images from before the Blue Bell concourse expansion to get a measurement on the Olsen seating decks footprint from dugout to top row. Given the realignment of the third base wall, that old footprint should be able to squeeze in on the third base line between field and offices and indoor batting facility. Quite difficult to work with, but seating could be designed rom top of wall to left field to the fire lane, perhap a stacked, not tiered, lower and upper deck of 15-20 rows? Add that seating down third base (not sure how seats would be angled but would need to be) and beyond left field, covert all current Olsen upper deck seats to chairback. I think it could be engineered.

If the goal is to build NICE seats, or even suites, to grow revenue (does that revenue go into general AD use or get dedicated to Baseball?) then that is at least a goal I understand. Much of the fan chatter just seems to be "I want a bigger louder nicer stadium for us fans", I am more focused on how does any facility improvement help the success of the program.

Upgraded player amenities. Its what is said to be so great about Arkies facility.

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If the goal is to build NICE seats, or even suites, to grow revenue (does that revenue go into general AD use or get dedicated to Baseball?) then that is at least a goal I understand. Much of the fan chatter just seems to be "I want a bigger louder nicer stadium for us fans", I am more focused on how does any facility improvement help the success of the program.

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Well if you want donors to plow money into the program (NIL), then you better at least try to get them a seat. How many people wanna donate big money yet have no ability to actual watch the team. Also players don't want to be in crappy locker room, they want nice locker rooms, training facility, etc.

That's why you can't just say hey plow all that money to NIL and ignore facilities. You will always have to do both.

Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

I love that pool table in the locker room

TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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It's isn't. And the people saying a renovation is putting lipstick on a big is nuts too. We have a top 15 ballpark, easily. Probably higher.

Without a doubt we are behind some of our SEC peers on player facilities.

TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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yes many times, it's tiny esp compared to others.

My point was you have to do both, nil and facilities.

Farmer1906 said:

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TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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It's isn't. And the people saying a renovation is putting lipstick on a big is nuts too. We have a top 15 ballpark, easily. Probably higher.

Without a doubt we are behind some of our SEC peers on player facilities.

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Then tell the coach to quit whining about them

BQ_90 said:

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TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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yes many times, it's tiny esp compared to others.

My point was you have to do both, nil and facilities.

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Agree completely.

BQ_90 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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It's isn't. And the people saying a renovation is putting lipstick on a big is nuts too. We have a top 15 ballpark, easily. Probably higher.

Without a doubt we are behind some of our SEC peers on player facilities.

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Then tell the coach to quit whining about them

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They can whine about it or praise it, it doesn't change what they are. They're good. They're not good enough if we want to be the best college program. We haven't invested to be the best like in football yet. Too much exaggeration in this thread.

Farmer1906 said:

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BQ_90 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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TXAGBQ76 said:

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Have you toured the facilities? What they have now is not "crappy".

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It's isn't. And the people saying a renovation is putting lipstick on a big is nuts too. We have a top 15 ballpark, easily. Probably higher.

Without a doubt we are behind some of our SEC peers on player facilities.

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Then tell the coach to quit whining about them

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They can whine about it or praise it, it doesn't change what they are. They're good. They're not good enough if we want to be the best college program. We haven't invested to be the best like in football yet. Too much exaggeration in this thread.

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which was my point but poster like you wanna argue semantics.

the irony is this thread is titled easy fixes. Basically that laid out the thread would be exaggerations

I agree it's not as big as others, I agree there is room for improvement, but it is not horrible.

It takes two to argue. One can disagree without being disagreeable. Considering different ideas and points of view help to arrive at consensus. They needn't be dismissed out of hand nor disrespected. "If the shoe fits, wear it".

BoerneGator said:

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It takes two to argue. One can disagree without being disagreeable. Considering different ideas and points of view help to arrive at consensus. They needn't be dismissed out of hand nor disrespected. "If the shoe fits, wear it".

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Fits like a glove brother.

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They're good. They're not good enough if we want to be the best college program. We haven't invested to be the best like in football yet.

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With regard to player facilities. Hits the nail on the head.

I was at A&M /MS series this past weekend. What a facility! Sure would like to see us copy it.

Agree!!!

Level all the silly little league berms and bleachers down each fowl line, level and rebuild player lounge and rebuild further back, and add permanent chair back seating down each fowl line like tu and other parks.