Rumored south upper expansion sometime between 2012 and 2025??!!

I think the only thing that LSU would do to the south end is a tear down and rebuild. it could use it.

 

Am I in the minority in thinking that LSU shouldn't ever consider building a new stadium even if it makes more financial sense? It's not like LSU has a really tight budget. I think TS, it's history, tradition, and mystique are worth much more to the fans and the school than the difference in money that it would cost to renovate as opposed to build new.

Have any of you seen what most modern stadiums look like now? Most have tons of exposed steel and look like some kind of erector set. Sure you can brick in a few columns but TS is built like a freaking bank vault and I love that. It has a feel to it that new stadiums never duplicate. It's the difference b/w that the lobby of the big old downtown branch of a bank, with it's high ceilings, thick bars of metal, marble, all around solid vs that new bank feel that has the carpeting, built more like a McDonalds, feels hollow, and you question whether any of that marble is real or if it's .2" thick with drywall behind it.

We'll always have the money to keep TS up, it's just a matter of people wanting it. I think with a good thorough renovation of some lower bowl areas, using some newer materials to keep the environment at bay, TS could last as long as we want with periodic maintenance. I'm more than happy to put-up with the current traffic conditions and such as long as it means I'm getting my same old TS.

Also, the trend with new stadiums has been to reduce capacity, if not overall then certainly in the sideline areas so big spenders with fat asses can practically have a recliner to sit in. Even if capacity would remain the same or more I'd put my money on the designers making up for it in the upper decks. The only way I'd even entertain wanting a new place is if they kept the same field and that can't really happen b/c there really isn't anywhere I can think of for LSU to play while that goes on. Show me a design that resembles TS in style and construction, has the same or more capacity even closer to the field, and has an unbelievably amazing surrounding and I'd listen to ya. Having more hot dog stands, bathrooms, gift shops, is such a cop out thing for building a new stadium. It's supposed to be for football not designed around how fast you can fill your fat ass with nachos and make it to the bathroom and back to your lounge chair on the 45 yd line.

PS: Not to say that this would for sure happen but up in Pittsburgh people go to the Pirates game more for the experience than the game now. Hardly anyone watches or cares about what's happening on the diamond. They're there with their family, staring at the skyline, having conversation about this and that, sending their kids to the in stadium "kid's area", and participating in stupid stadium games in during the 7th inning. Everyone goes home happy win or lose b/c no one watched or cared. Even in LSU's worst year's that wouldn't happen. Basically, Pirates games have become a way for Dad to blow a lot of money to keep the family entertained for the day and not about the game.

 

Down on the ground in the N endzone, only the East and West sidelines would be able to hear the band. The sound would not carry all the way across to the south endzone, and neither upper deck would have any chance to hear anything.

Thorny brought up a good point about the down cheers. At away stadiums, we frequently miss downs because no one knows what down it is until too late on close yardage situations, trying to watch the screens.

 

All of your points make a lot of sense, but I would definitely miss the mystique and history of Tiger Stadium. Most of us here have a very serious attachment to the place.

I've noticed, too, that the new trend is for a sports venue to BE the attraction, rather than what you're there to watch. Something about that seems so fake to me.

 

So why not renovate those old sections in pieces... As soon as the season is done, tear down one sideline part, maybe except for the facade, and redo it. At worst you start the next season without sideline seats on one side.... Then do it on the other side the year after. TS would still keep it's aura and feel the same and be using the same plot of grass to play on. Something about building a new stadium somewhere else doesn't sit right with me. I'm sure one could get used to it but why just "get used to something" if you can keep something great? I guess my vote is for piece by piece renovations keeping the facades and general atmosphere the same as long as LSU is fielding a football team. You think any new stadium design would actually get more fans closer to the game without pissing off the old fat cats who want their double-wide chairs with cup-holders? Do big D1 schools who have built new stadiums recently even install bench seating anymore?

 

What do you think that would put our capacity to? 108,000 or so?

 

the only problem i'd have would be losing the aesthetics of the dormitories in each endzone. You already can't see the sides, but we need to leave the endzones open for storytelling.

 

Let's hope that if the band moves to the middle of the North endzone, that they are placed at the top, in the existing student section. If ticketing tries to move the season ticket holders in the middle of the NEZ, a riot may break out. I, for one, love my seats and don't care to relocate.:cuss: