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Nov 24, 2015
2:26:10pm
Bucko All-American
Ponderizing football

As I get ready to renew my CC membership . . much like tithing settlement I get a moment to reflect on the previous year.  I have to credit BYU on some of the changes they have made to the game day experience.  Much improved this year as compared to previous years, it was noticed.  As I look forward, here are thoughts for more ways to improve the whole experience.

Lavell Edwards Stadium

If I could wave my magic wand (or open a magic checkbook) I would rebuild the whole thing, while still incorporating some elements of the current stadium for nostalgia purposes.  Lets face it, the place is both run down and uncomfortable.  Paint is nice, but in the end its age is starting to show.  In addition, there is very little space between the rows for the sideline benches, the guy in front of me had a choice, have my knee in his back, or if I moved my legs apart his head in my lap.  Both uncomfortable propositions.  Along with those changes . . bigger screens and more of them, filled in corners, more boxes possibly added to end zones, better sound system, a true tunnel for the team, seats throughout most of the stadium, maybe make it look more like a coliseum, maintain the view to the east, and most importantly cupholders!

Now recognizing that this is not likely to be financially feasible here are some medium level upgrades that could be accomplished with a large checkbook instead of the magic one.

  • Maybe knock down one endzone and make a horseshoe design stadium.  Yes I know pricey, but there may be some box options, bigger screen options, “game day plaza” options, and even design options at a lower cost than entire stadium.  You might even get a tunnel out of it . .or even a “hall of fame” . . or even a facility better than the rent a tent for the big $$ donors.
  • A larger than life statue of the man the stadium is named after.
  • Televisions.  Seriously, those things are cheap now days.  How about placing a few in the bathrooms, concession stands, and throughout the concourses.  That way when someone goes to buy their 3rd cougartail, reload their refillable soft drink, and take a leak . . they are not missing anything.
  • What about a new façade?  I will finally admit the stadium looks better with those two grain storage towers painted blue, and those should be incorporated any future design, but from the street, the stadium looks like oversized temporary bleachers.
  • How about replacing the sideline benches with seats that have hard backs? This will keep the unwanted honor code violations from the big dude in front of me to a minimum.  While you are at it . . cup holders.
  • Still too expensive?  Then at least replace those stupid rental seats made from vinyl and a coat hanger with rigid plastic seats where the back can’t bend.

OK, so most of us are Mormon, and still too cheap to do any of the above (lets be real, how many people get trampled in pursuit of a free poor quality TShirt shot from an air gun).  Here are some low cost ideas:

  • How about changing the color of the usher’s shirts?  It seems that all too frequently we play a team which has orange in their colors . . .why cant we incorporate a better usher color than that of the opposing team.  Maybe neon green . . or even better . . why not that awful tan we loved so much in the Crowton years?
  • Mandatory sippy cups for all sodas sold to anyone that are to be consumed by a child under the age of 15.  They will pay for themselves in mop usage alone.
  • Cup holders, maybe even a ridge or railing on the floor below the bench to keep those cups from tipping over.
  • Those security dudes use a chop stick to check purses and bags right?  Replace the chop stick with a ruler, and measure all chairs being brought into the stadium.  No more lawn chairs!!!
  • While you are measuring the chairs,  consider measuring people’s backsides . . if they are bigger than one seat, they need 2 tickets to get in.  Maybe even require 15 minutes on a treadmill before any cougartail purchases.
  • Drop the rental agreement with the seat people, and replace with hard back seat rentals.  Those current seats are worthless in terms of comfort or keeping jumbo from snuggling in my lap.

 

Traffic Management

Bravo.  I did notice a difference.  Its still a bit of a pain getting out of the CC lots, but once out, things seem to move pretty well.  Here is my complaint though, since we play so many Thursday and Friday games, it would be nice to have an option to get to/from the game without having to take a day off work.  I would love to use Frontrunner . . but once I get to Provo, I am stuck in the same traffic as everyone else, but less flexibility on when I go to the game or return from it.   A monorail is probably out of the question, but I know the MAX bus in in the plan, and in the famous words of Captain Picard . . make it so.  The dedicated bus lane from the train station to the stadium and adding few more trains before and after the game would be a complete game changer for me traveling to/from games.

Also, a pedestrian bridge over the roads to the south and to the west of the stadium would make a world of difference . . . and be safer too!

Tailgating

Why don’t we use the intermural field?  Sure we lose some parking, but that is seriously a prime location.

The ROC

Best student section in the history of BYU, but you kind of sucked at the Fresno game.

Concessions

Love the food trucks, hate the volunteers at BYU concessions who are likely not smart enough to gain admission to SLCC.

Uniforms

Royal blue. I would like to return to Royal, but I like the slightly darker royal of the Sarkisian years not the lighter powdery blue we have used lately.

Pro Combat uniforms for a game.

Will we ever see black again?

Scheduling

How about some long term contracts with one or two more teams.  I would like to see some rivalries form in addition to BSU and USU.  I miss conference affiliation for this reason.  I am not proposing a return to the MWC, but I would like a long running series with at least one more team . . even if it is a team from a G5 conference.

As I said previously, Tom has done an amazing job. Keep up the good work, and bring some more big names to Provo. I know it’s hard, but I would like to see a few return trips from the likes of ND, Nebraska, Michigan and the others. No Critism . .and Go Cougs.

Bucko
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Bucko
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Bucko All-American
11/24/15 2:26pm

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