It looks like UCF is making their play

[bearcat29]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...0,772441.story

$70 million dollar upgrade for sports facilities over the next 10 years.

"UCF would expand Roth Tower to include more suites and club seating during the first phase of Bright House Networks Stadium renovation. The school would add 10,000 seats during the second phase, bringing the stadium's capacity to 56,000 seats."

They are making a strong case for someone to invite them to the BCS.

I hope UC has something like this in the works.

[red_n_black_attack]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...0,772441.story

$70 million dollar upgrade for sports facilities over the next 10 years.

"UCF would expand Roth Tower to include more suites and club seating during the first phase of Bright House Networks Stadium renovation. The school would add 10,000 seats during the second phase, bringing the stadium's capacity to 56,000 seats."

They are making a strong case for someone to invite them to the BCS.

I hope UC has something like this in the works.

Nippert cannot get that big. We can get 45-48,000 in a renovation at most. The problem is getting dollars.

[bearcatbret]

I have also hear that the Nippert expansion could be as much as $100M. UCF is very aggressive in many areas of improvement for $70.

[bobestes]

I am not sure if you've ever been to UCF, but it's probably one of the ugliest commuter schools in the entire country. Think Wright State x10. Sure, they've got facilities, but from an identity standpoint, they're a glorified community college. They're basically an astroturf athletic program.

One of the things that UC has done right, in my estimation, is to spend its money making the campus a place where students want to learn and live. UC has made tremendous progress in the past 20 years changing the perception that it's a commuter school, which really matters.

Why? When students live on/near campus, they forge a stronger bond with their University, and are more likely to be the donors of the future than someone who simply "got my degree from there".

I'm glad that UC went into debt to fix the campus instead of building athletic facilities, which seems to be UCF's approach.

[shaunsimpson]

From a size of university, alumni base and pretty soon direct facilities will look better than Cincinnati's.

I have said for along time that we will be held back by three things. Our stadium, our city and the basketball only part of our conference. Until we can figure out a way to improve these situations then we will be at the mercy of those who are doing the expanding.

I think our city is much better than it has been, but still needs to be better.

[#41]

I've been by UCF's stadium before -- the thing looks like it was built from a giant erector set. Ugly would be a kind word for it.

[Cats4Ever]

Stadium photos

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools...ipage-250w.jpg

http://www.stadiumbleachers.com/Imag..._Stadium_1.jpg

Proposed upgrade 'photo'

http://willbale.files.wordpress.com/...-rengering.jpg

[BigCat]

I have also hear that the Nippert expansion could be as much as $100M. UCF is very aggressive in many areas of improvement for $70.

$70 mil is not a lot of dough for construction in today's world. I assume that it would be spread out over a few different facilities. Not a huge impact. Sounds like more out of necessity with minor upgrade.

[udonkey]

I've been by UCF's stadium before -- the thing looks like it was built from a giant erector set. Ugly would be a kind word for it.

This fall, I'll be a UCF season ticket holder (in addition to my 2 seats at Nippert). You should check out a game at BHNS...it's not nearly as bad as folks in this thread are making it out to be.

[#41]

This fall, I'll be a UCF season ticket holder (in addition to my 2 seats at Nippert). You should check out a game at BHNS...it's not nearly as bad as folks in this thread are making it out to be.

Admittedly, I haven't been in for a game -- so I probably should reserve judgment until I get inside.

I'm originally from Tampa and I'm going down there for at least one Buccaneers game this year -- if it coincides with a UCF game, I'm not adverse to renting a car and heading over to check the place out.

[udonkey]

Admittedly, I haven't been in for a game -- so I probably should reserve judgment until I get inside.

I'm originally from Tampa and I'm going down there for at least one Buccaneers game this year -- if it coincides with a UCF game, I'm not adverse to renting a car and heading over to check the place out.

Feel free to give me a yell if you do - I've got an extra ticket with your name on it.

[ODDMANOUT]

I've been by UCF's stadium before -- the thing looks like it was built from a giant erector set. Ugly would be a kind word for it.

Isn't their stadium the old Citrus Bowl renovated?

[udonkey]

Isn't their stadium the old Citrus Bowl renovated?

Nope - they moved out of the Citrus Bowl 3 years ago - this coming season will be their 4th at Bright House Networks Stadium:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_...tworks_Stadium

[CDS86]

I am not sure if you've ever been to UCF, but it's probably one of the ugliest commuter schools in the entire country. Think Wright State x10. Sure, they've got facilities, but from an identity standpoint, they're a glorified community college. They're basically an astroturf athletic program.

One of the things that UC has done right, in my estimation, is to spend its money making the campus a place where students want to learn and live. UC has made tremendous progress in the past 20 years changing the perception that it's a commuter school, which really matters.

Why? When students live on/near campus, they forge a stronger bond with their University, and are more likely to be the donors of the future than someone who simply "got my degree from there".

I'm glad that UC went into debt to fix the campus instead of building athletic facilities, which seems to be UCF's approach.

Are you serious (in regard to UCF's facilities)? Brand new in door practice facility, brand new basketball arena, brand new football stadium, a few HUGE on-campus student housing buildings and more in the works, a resort style leisure pool, $3+ mil rec center, sand volleyball courts all around campus, a lake on campus where you can fish/rent kayaks/canoes etc., tons of off campus housing within a 2 or 3 mile radius, and a gorgeous campus/efficient layout. The "identity" of being a commuter school has changed drastically (like UC's) in the past decade or so. I'm sure there's been plenty more upgrades since the last time I've been down there as well.

They have quite a few decent academic programs (hospitality and some of their IT stuff comes to mind) and do a lot of work with the military/space contractors in the area.

I'm still against them joining the big east due to their less than competitive athletic programs, but their facilities would fit in just fine in the league.

[cmm27]

I'm still against them joining the big east due to their less than competitive athletic programs, but their facilities would fit in just fine in the league.

Since this is in the football part of the forum I'll assume we are not talking their basketball team (which probably wouldn't be a top tier Big East basketball team anyway). Before entering a BCS conference I am sure the consesus for UC was that their program was less than competitive and their facilities, as far as stadium capacity, were less than standard. It is amazing what a change in conference can do for a program.