Ummm, John Sharp is still here.

woodiewood said:

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The new renovations look really, really nice.

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can you describe what they look like if you can't show images? Like does seating go all the way down the line and in the outfield? Estimated capacity?

Original blue bell redesign was a failure. Reduce capacity? Limited premium seats? Total lack of vision.

We have been leaving massive amount of revenue on the table for over a decade.

Put seats on top of the rec center like wrigley field has in the out field. Roof top catered parties etc

I also thought it would be cool to have x marks on the rec center where home runs land.

Regents approve 80 million for Olsen renovation

https://wtaw.com/texas-am-system-board-of-regents-approve-a-new-capital-projects-plan-that-includes-an-80-million-dollar-renovation-of-blue-bell-park/

$80 MM sounds like some tearing down will take place

Now that a budget is in place, the only thing I ask for as a fan is that new bleachers (like the existing 2nd deck ones) have backs to them. Well, and a permanent seating capacity in the 11K to 12K neighborhood.

The berms. Save the berms. I must continue to feast for all eternity!

Death_Berm said:

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The berms. Save the berms. I must continue to feast for all eternity!

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Sorry, death to the existing death berms. Maybe a new db2 will be resurrected beyond the outfield wall.

They are going to reseat the place too like Kyle once it's all said and done. It's my understanding that I will have the ability to keep my seats but only if I pay the difference to catch up in points to secure them.

Not cool - I love my seats.

W said:

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$80 MM sounds like some tearing down will take place

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I would expect the guts of the offices, lockerooms, training facility, etc to the redone. I would also expect the current cages to be torn down and rebuilt bigger and better.

I've watched Fenway Park expand over the years, finding new pockets of seats all over the park while not disrupting the schedule. If anything, they've enhanced the character of the park by doing it the way they've done it. The most interesting seats in the park are in some those carved out areas. (One of these days, I'm going to try going to the Bleacher Bar in centerfield, which provides the ultimate opportunity to rag on the centerfielder.) After several "mini expansions", Fenway has never been so unique and fan friendly.

My point is that we need to recognize what is unique about the atmosphere at Olsen, and make sure that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater when we expand. Find pockets of new seats in the existing layout, make sure that new structures do not overwhelm the existing to the point that the park is no longer recognizable to the fans who have been going there for decades. Make it great, but keep it Olsen.

I think what defines Olsen from a structurally standpoint is the large double deck in the INF. As long as that is there and partially filled with the Raggies then Olsen will always have a bit of magic.

FYI, I think the CF bar closes the window into the stadium during the game. Or at least that was the case when I went many many moons ago.

Leander - Ag said:

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Original blue bell redesign was a failure. Reduce capacity? Limited premium seats? Total lack of vision.

We have been leaving massive amount of revenue on the table for over a decade.

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They had to solicit people to buy the premium seating they built. The RF bleachers were never going to survive a renovation. State has the best park in the country, and they got rid of 2 similar structures.

You can beat your chest about lack of vision, but it was lack of funds. They really would have been screwed had the Kruse family not come through with the Blue Bell naming rights deal.

$80 million is a lot of money. For most of us.

When I win the lottery, the stadium will be named C.E. "Pat" Olsen Field.

KaneIsAble said:

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They are going to reseat the place too like Kyle once it's all said and done. It's my understanding that I will have the ability to keep my seats but only if I pay the difference to catch up in points to secure them.

Not cool - I love my seats.

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They haven't said this yet to my knowledge. The reseating of Kyle was "justified" because the original seating was torn down. They reseated Olsen in 2012 and again argued that they had materially changed the configuration which was kind of true given they added the club and created a Row 1 in sections behind the dugouts. I doubt the lower deck gets much in the way of changes to how it is configured with this remodel.

They've used Hop as a sounding board of sorts and he has told them they're going to lose season ticket holders in the lower deck if those seats become tied to football priority points and they force long time ticket holders out over money. Big donors in Dallas/Houston will buy those seats and never use them which will kill the environment. For me all I've asked for is a legit opportunity to buy my seats where I've been for 30 years almost. If they double the price I'll consider that even knowing they just doubled it in 2023. If they give me a $20k+ bill just to buy priority points then double them I'll just check out and go join Kman at Messina Hof.

Baseball isn't football and tying the two together and telling the locals who have been there forever that their commitment to baseball doesn't matter anymore would be a poor decision. My 25 and 22 yo kids joke about wanting me to leave them my tickets in my will and I find myself wondering if A&M is going to run me off for more money long before that day comes. We'll see.