Montana had them from 20 to 20 on both sides of the stadium and they were filled. They weren’t that big or luxurious but they were warm!

so you are expecting some form announcement of stadium expansion before summer? What did rocko say? I wonder if Plough is using the renovation in recruiting

I don’t recall the wording exactly but when Rocko was talking about fund raising he said an announcement would be coming . I thought I heard summer but might be wrong. Maybe someone else there that night can confirm. No specifics other than the mention of their luxury suite envy ( good bye chancellors tent!)

but he said a stadium announcement specifically would be announced?

yes

Montana has 47 suites at $14000 each. And they are sold out. That’s a cool $660K in ticket revenue!

Here’s a link to South Dakota State’s suites. Big money!

https://www.backthejacks.com/your-experience/index.html

Montana and the directionals are one-horse towns. Like Fresno State.

The campus likely wanted to maximize parking spaces. Could a 25,000-seat stadium be squeezed into the Toomey site if the garage was smaller?

I don't think a stadium on the Russel IM fields would ever fly. Recall the city or campus proposed high-rise housing there, plans which were scuttled before the ink was dry. Foster and alums liked the tailgating options at our current site.

[We may have gotten a better stadium if the architect was challenged to fit it on a smaller site ...]

Good point. What do you think of the massive dorms across 113? They look like more concrete, repetitive, dull blocks to me. I don't know if it even qualifies as architecture. Steel sun dividers outside the windows. I haven't been up close, but need to take a look.

BTW, the Toom sure was torn down quickly w no final goodbye.

don’t disagree. I’m nit sure how many in our fan base is looking to pay big bucks for a box. Unless, we can get corporate support

I think selling stuff like this was Rocko’s thing before coming here so I’d assume he knows what he’s doing to right size the luxury to the market. Not sure what the wealthiest corporations are in Sacramento region, but maybe it’s about bundling. If there were 2 or 4 executive suites with year around access, what if they came with guaranteed landing rights and car service from the university airport. Paired with the right catering, Mondavi access, or whatever, you could create a package that nobody else has.

The track without Toomey's grandstands barely fits in the corner of Russell and A. I think people have very rosy memories of how big that corner of campus is(n't). Cal's Memorial Stadium takes up literally twice the footprint; the Aggie Stadium is about halfway between the two.

That's a creative thought to bundle in air service, but KEDU only has a 3000-ft runway. Maybe use private helicopters.

yeah I suppose you’d need 5000+ ft for many private jets. Would also have to figure out how to avoid TAPS doing anything dumb like putting a ticket under Larry Ellison’s wiper.

I saw a falcon 900 land at EDU (UC Davis airport) by accident. He was on his way to Yolo County airport. Its actually easy to make that mistake from the air. I got a tour of the cabin before he left. Nice plane. He took every inch of the runway getting out. But back on track. DWA, yolo airport, can handle any private jet and Davis air support has a first class catering and executive support. High rollers would land there.

Thanks, Mike. This is what we love to see!
Great to see a little movement, as a fan.

I appreciate the update!

This is an interesting excerpt I missed from the Big West commissioner’s blog post reacting to UC Davis leaving to join the Mountain West:

“ On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Big West Board of Directors and I were informed that UC Davis will depart The Big West after the 2025-26 academic year. It was unfortunate news, but each institution must do what they believe is best for their institution. The non-merger of the Pac-12 and Mountain West, combined with aspirations of FBS football, has continued to drive NCAA Division I western realignment. There is more information below, but I am thankful we get to keep UC Davis through 2025-26”.

Could he know something we don’t when it comes to future plans? We shall see.

at least if there’s no public animosity, maybe it bodes well for the sports that would like to remain affiliates with Big West. Interesting comment about aspirations.

I can see Cal Baptist to make it a 10-team all SOCal conference, but Utah Valley? That will create the same schedule issues we have now with Hawaii.

I think it may, but travel to SLC is easier than Hawaii IMO. Im conflicted on this idea for a few reasons. First of all, Utah Valley does have a large and growing enrollment, a good basketball program, nice arena, close to a big metro, and fits the football-less Big West. My issues pertain to UVU not having stellar attendance (although compared to the rest of the Big West its not bad), being a small fish in a big pond for SLC metro relevance, and with past reference to football (although that idea seems pushed back heavily), and geographic location, could be potentially temporary.

Now when it comes to Cal Baptist, I think it could be a good move, since they have decent facilities and donors, but I don't totally understand adding a private, religious university in the conference, especially with a smaller student population. I also don't see Cal Baptist having a historically big fan base or metro fanbase. More up in the air about that one.

My understanding why the Mountain West added Northern Illinois was to increase the footprint and another time zone since that is what linear TV wants to see. It's also my understanding that PAC-12 wants to add Texas State and the Mountain West wants to add Tarleton State for the same reason. Therefore, I could see why the Big West is adding Utah Valley.

I think the main reasons that the Big West are adding those two schools are because they are next best two available, and the Big West needs to be proactive or be left behind. Now the WAC is screwed.

SLC is definitely an easier trip. It’s just that they will be the outlier in a SOCal league which may cause issues with the Thursday/Saturday games. Much easier to deal with UCSB/Poly weekend than CBU/UVU.

I think our crappy schedule (42 days between Saturday home games, 3 weeks between home games of any kind) shows how much input/respect an outlier school (not located in Hawaii) gets at the BWC meetings.

I haven’t watched it yet but wanted to share

I'm impressed with Commissioner Gloria Nevarez after listening to her in this interview. I think she will be providing solid foresight and leadership for the conference during these turbulent times of conference reorganization and change in college athletics. I'll miss a playing a lot of the schools in the Big West Conference but I think our Athletics Department has made a good choice as we continue to grow and move forward.

https://x.com/rockodeluca_ad/status/1897108296689217972?s=46

Looks like rocko may have payed a visit to the Tahoe center.. and potentially unr, but what the heck does “exciting things ahead Aggie nation. Stay cool, think blue” mean?!?

I think it means, "Buy Season Tickets."

im curious if anyone here knows the history of season tickets/ how ticket prices looked at toomey? missed that whole era

i wasn't in the Season Ticket market back in the Toomey years.