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Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - Printable Version

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Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - Farm93 - 10-21-2012

OK,

I had seen the renovated stadium on TV, and was not too impressed.  Now that I have been there I know something is wrong.  Somebody in California must have pocketed $150 million or something.  Right?

The positives-
Concrete- Seriously!  The extensive use of concrete looked nice.  Nice outside the stadium and in the stands.
Sound System - The sound system speakers are behind the stands and the sound quality was very good with few echo problems.
Press Box! - Clearly designed to host recruits on visits and big donors during games.

The expected items-
A lot more ADA access and seating
An army of people willing to help people find seats
Improvements to the concourse area on the west side

The negatives -
The very unequal treatment of East and West
The Army style net support posts
The lack of pass through space (still) in the stands
The porta-potties on the East side
Excessive cost

I began to wonder if the year away from the facitility was intentional to mask the lack of change.  If someone took my car from me for a year, painted it a different color and put in a new sound system would I be more inclined to think it was a different or better car?

I heard many other people wondering where the money went.  I can imagine building today on a fault line costs a lot, but the game day experience for the masses seems to really only have a few benefits.  Small TVs, great sound, lights for night games and the removal of the wood seats.  All nice, but not $321 million nice.  Stanford Stadium always seemed like a bargain, but now I am more impressed than ever.  Definitely would take Stanford Stadium's seating equality over the UCB situation.

The UCB haves get more, though it is apparent that even the haves are not moved.  There are a lot of open seats available at the 50, so the donation requirement must exceed the benefits given to the elite.


Re: Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - FarmBoy - 10-21-2012

Wasn't the whole reason for the project, and the majority of the cost, to retrofit to be "earthquake proof?"

Re: Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - yvonne - 10-21-2012

Last year, when I looked at how the 59ers were renovating their stadium, I concluded that the result would be unequal. http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php/topic,4099.msg29519.html

A third stage of renovations is planned — the first was adding the performance center — but not scheduled. The third phase would upgrade the east side, but given the state of the funding situation for the past renovation, I can't imagine that it will be anytime soon, and who knows how the west side will look by then.

As much talk as there has been about getting rid of Tedford, the real regime change needs to come higher up.

Re: Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - Farm93 - 10-21-2012

(10-21-2012, 06:20 AM)FarmBoy link Wrote:Wasn't the whole reason for the project, and the majority of the cost, to retrofit to be "earthquake proof?"
Yes and no.  The reason for the project was to retrofit for the fault line.  A significant portion of the cost of the project was this obsession with adding in a bunch of goodies underground and making sure the stadium was some symbol of excellence.

Much like the Bay Bridge, cheaper options were rejected because the symbol needed to inspire.  In this case, the symbol needed to inspire recruits and donors.  Reasonable call if the funds are available, but the funds are not really there.

That East phase should not happen even with the inequality.  Though I can imagine a world where the UCB AD begs the Regents.  The Regents could then find and allocate discretionary funds to the project.  It would be a terrible use of very limited funds, but I can imagine that it COULD happen in a few years.

Re: Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - OutsiderFan - 10-21-2012

Here's the reality most California fans and alums won't admit or realize.

CMS should have been razed, a new sports training facility constructed, and the California football team should have leased the Oakland Coliseum and played its games there. 

Given how little California's alums and administrators are committed to a winning football program, The University of California does not need or deserve an on campus facility, and certainly not one that costs over $300 million and is built on an earthquake fault.  Look at it now.  You have a half-renovated stadium, the financing plan to pay for the first half was DOA (poorly conceived and based on fantasy projections), and now it is anyone's guess as to when the other side gets its face lift.  And oh, by the way, California tax payers are on the hook for the reckless spending orgy to build an incomplete stadium.

The reality is California football's brand is perfectly embodied by the debacle that is the CMS renovation.  Or is it the other way around?

Re: Is there a Mob Boss with $150 Million? - 71Bear - 10-21-2012

As noted, the bulk of the expense was invested in the retrofit.  Since I have not been to a game at the new stadium I can't comment on the amenity upgrades.

I can say that taxpayers will not be on the hook for many years to come.  Yes, it could come to that but we won't know for quite some time....

By the way, there are rumblings that the current AD may be on the way out (to Miami).  If that happens there will be a significant segment of Old Blues who will be rejoicing (myself included)......