Cal saved its historic stadium wracking up very long-term debt

[PittMiamiRivalry]

Cal's Memorial Stadium opened in 1923. Pitt Stadium opened in 1925. Both were built on dense, urban campuses. Both designs were typical of 1920's stadiums, a closed oval with 60,000 wooden bleachers for fans.

This article from Deadspin depicts the costs involved for cal. Cal had the option of moving into a pro stadium instead of completing renovations on a stadium splitting apart by the Hayward Fault. The trustees believed in tradition. They opted to spend the millions required to update their facility,

What resulted is a historic, first-classic, iconic college football stadium on Cal's campus. For those of us who love historic college venues, Cal Memorial Stadium is beautiful. Seeing it does evoke thoughts of what Pitt could have done.

Pitt's financial hurdles would have been much less than those Cal faced. Pitt did commission studies, but Pederson was sure Pitt could save money and not lose anything in the process of moving to Heinz Field. Doming PItt stadium would have costs millions. But adding suites and removing center field bleacher seating would have been possible. Pitt would have to remove the track. Division 1 Power Five programs no longer have tracks - Kansas was the last to remove theirs.

Watching this YouTube clip you have to wonder what if Pitt had had more dynamic leadership in the late 1990s. What if Pitt had reached out to donors for cash with the dare to pay up to keep Pitt Stadium. Many of us would have opened up our wallets.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

More & more, my feelings are mixed on the stadium issue. We are the University of Pittsburgh, and being an urban campus the city/downtown Pittsburgh is an extension of the campus. So the costs of playing at Heinz field, plus having the ease of access, parking, restaurants, state of the art stadium, tailgating....all make Heinz an attractive option. And it doesn't feel like you are playing in a Steeler stadium. Everything is done to make it feel like it is a true home to Pitt. Plus not having Steeler tickets this is my only chance to get to Heinz on a regular basis.

But the Pitt admin grossly misjudged their ability to sell tickets. Pedersons first ad campaign during the move to Heinz was "Sundays are sold-out, Saturdays aren't....yet. Get your tickets now!". Obviously thinking the move alone to Heinz would be responsible for a jump in ticket sales. As we have seen there is way too much capacity. And the optics of the bright yellow seats just makes things worse.

Also, ease of access is still good, but it is still a jam to get students in & out on the buses. Hence the reason many leave early to avoid crowds, once again creating bad optics. So the logistics of moving students is bad and has never got any better. Only potential hope on that one is they extend the T to Oakland or that express bus they have been proposing.

So in hindsight, a major renovation to Pitt Stadium should have been the course of action. Just as not sticking with the Big East, forming an all sports eastern conference, hiring Alvarez instead of Hackett, hiring Welsh or Johnson instead of Foge.....the list goes on & on.

But it ain't ever coming back. The city won't even close Bigelow, you think Nitters like Peduto & Fitzgerald would ever get behind a new Pitt Stadium? So we made our bed, just really need to work on improving the situation. Personally I'd like to see any money allocated for a new stadium go towards coaching salaries as we have seen the right coach can make all the difference. Work on connecting North Shore with Oakland.....if students can get there easily on non-gamedays and hang out at the bars, they will want to go to the games more readily. Need to think out of the box here on solutions that don't involve 200 million on a new stadium.

 

[ThePanthers]

Cal's Memorial Stadium opened in 1923. Pitt Stadium opened in 1925. Both were built on dense, urban campuses. Both designs were typical of 1920's stadiums, a closed oval with 60,000 wooden bleachers for fans.

This article from Deadspin depicts the costs involved for cal. Cal had the option of moving into a pro stadium instead of completing renovations on a stadium splitting apart by the Hayward Fault. The trustees believed in tradition. They opted to spend the millions required to update their facility,

What resulted is a historic, first-classic, iconic college football stadium on Cal's campus. For those of us who love historic college venues, Cal Memorial Stadium is beautiful. Seeing it does evoke thoughts of what Pitt could have done.

Pitt's financial hurdles would have been much less than those Cal faced. Pitt did commission studies, but Pederson was sure Pitt could save money and not lose anything in the process of moving to Heinz Field. Doming PItt stadium would have costs millions. But adding suites and removing center field bleacher seating would have been possible. Pitt would have to remove the track. Division 1 Power Five programs no longer have tracks - Kansas was the last to remove theirs.

Watching this YouTube clip you have to wonder what if Pitt had had more dynamic leadership in the late 1990s. What if Pitt had reached out to donors for cash with the dare to pay up to keep Pitt Stadium. Many of us would have opened up our wallets.

And they did this at what cost? The deadspin article you linked sums it up perfectly "Cal athletics are f*cked"

 

[RHS14]

Cal Berkeley is really bad at Football and hasn't been even remotely decent since Aaron Rodgers.

Jared Goff's best year was 7-5 and a Bowl Win.

#PittScriptTarp and just make Heinz Pitt's on Saturdays. Easy-Peasy, Lemon-Squeezy

 

[HailtoPitt]

Cal's most recent game:



Pitt:

Now, tell me what students are more likely to donate to the program for the next 50 years?

 

[RHS14]

Cal's most recent game:

View embedded media

Pitt:

Now, tell me what students are more likely to donate to the program for the next 50 years?

LOL -- you do not follow Cal very closely.

Like a CAL fan showing a post PITT v psu video last year when they went 4-8 and saying, "How can we ever compete" or someting OY-VEY

 

[srpst23]

I find it odd that the article you link to trying to show why this was so smart of Cal to do and dumb of Pitt for not doing is titled "Cal is F**ked because of its Stupid Stadium Deal". Is that really the best article that you could find to support your argument?

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Cal's most recent game:

View embedded media

Pitt:

Now, tell me what students are more likely to donate to the program for the next 50 years?

If you poll the posters on this site most agree that you should stay in your seats, its way to dangerous to go on the field or court??? Someone might get hurt? Yea that's way the "stormers" do it , its an adrenal rush and yes they might get hurt. It's exciting!

What a fanbase!

People need excitement once in a while that's why they parachute, rock climb, bridge jump, ski, snowboard etc.

Mrs Buffett an experienced snowboarder broke her shoulder ( requiring surgery & f/u surgery) but we're going back to the exact same place out West, to the exact same extreme terrain again this year! Because its exciting and its dangerous!

How do some of you live? Or not!

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

.

This article from Deadspin depicts the costs involved for cal. Cal had the option of moving into a pro stadium instead of completing renovations on a stadium splitting apart by the Hayward Fault. The trustees believed in tradition. They opted to spend the millions required to update their facility,

What pro stadium? The new one in Santa Clara? That's probably further away from campus than the Rose Bowl is from UCLA. They'd draw what there? Hell, Stanford's stadium is closer.

 

[BFo8]

What pro stadium? The new one in Santa Clara? That's probably further away from campus than the Rose Bowl is from UCLA. They'd draw what there? Hell, Stanford's stadium is closer.

I hope he’s not referencing the Oakland Coliseum, which is probably the absolute worst venue in pro sports today.

 

[PittMan 72]

Cal's Memorial Stadium opened in 1923. Pitt Stadium opened in 1925. Both were built on dense, urban campuses. Both designs were typical of 1920's stadiums, a closed oval with 60,000 wooden bleachers for fans.

This article from Deadspin depicts the costs involved for cal. Cal had the option of moving into a pro stadium instead of completing renovations on a stadium splitting apart by the Hayward Fault. The trustees believed in tradition. They opted to spend the millions required to update their facility,

What resulted is a historic, first-classic, iconic college football stadium on Cal's campus. For those of us who love historic college venues, Cal Memorial Stadium is beautiful. Seeing it does evoke thoughts of what Pitt could have done.

Pitt's financial hurdles would have been much less than those Cal faced. Pitt did commission studies, but Pederson was sure Pitt could save money and not lose anything in the process of moving to Heinz Field. Doming PItt stadium would have costs millions. But adding suites and removing center field bleacher seating would have been possible. Pitt would have to remove the track. Division 1 Power Five programs no longer have tracks - Kansas was the last to remove theirs.

Watching this YouTube clip you have to wonder what if Pitt had had more dynamic leadership in the late 1990s. What if Pitt had reached out to donors for cash with the dare to pay up to keep Pitt Stadium. Many of us would have opened up our wallets.

Interesting situation. Cal Memorial Stadium is the college stadium that reminds me a lot of Pitt Stadium. To make a reasonable comparison between the situations at Cal and Pitt it would probably be best to compare what options were available to both Cal and Pitt w/r/t their stadium situations. Same is true in comparing Pitt's situation with any other school that has spent a lot of $$$$ in either refurbishing an old stadium or building a new on-campus stadium. What were the realistic and viable options and alternatives as to a suitable place to play their home games long term?

So it would help to know where and when the closest brand new stadium was built in relation to the Cal Berkley campus by others that Cal would have had the option to use permanently in lieu of refurbishing Cal Memorial Stadium and incurring the capital expense and debt load they now have. Google says the distance is 11.5 miles to the pro stadium in Oakland (44.2 miles to the much newer Levi's Stadium where the 49'ers now play). Also the stadium in Oakland is pretty old itself; certainly not brand new at the time Cal made their decision. Would imagine Cal didn't think that was a reasonable option, so they spent the $$$$ and now have to deal with the debt.

Whether or not a particular school makes a decision that is favorable is up to the individual to determine. It likely comes down to the school's priorities and a comparison as to what alternatives they realistically have vs cost and also proximity. For a venue for which full capacity is likely demanded for football games 7 times a year those some are things that have to be considered.

Hindsight is always a great benefit. Unfortunately it is never available at the time when a decision is made. So today Cal is where they are and Pitt is where they are. Neither is setting the world on fire in football. That's for sure.

 

[ThePanthers]

I find it odd that the article you link to trying to show why this was so smart of Cal to do and dumb of Pitt for not doing is titled "Cal is F**ked because of its Stupid Stadium Deal". Is that really the best article that you could find to support your argument?

I laughed as well.

 

[PittMan 72]

What pro stadium? The new one in Santa Clara? That's probably further away from campus than the Rose Bowl is from UCLA. They'd draw what there? Hell, Stanford's stadium is closer.

I guess the old dump in Oakland? And Google says it's 11.5 miles away from Cal-Berkeley. Still almost 3x further from Cal's campus than HF is from Pitt's. Levi's (49'ers stadium) in Santa Clara is 44.2 miles away from Cal campus per Google.

Pitt needs to get their football program fixed and in contention to win the ACC Coastal as the top priority right now. People can argue about a stadium decision made 20 years ago if they so choose. But winning football games needs to be the primary emphasis with the Pitt athletics administration right now.

 

[HailtoPitt]

What's funny here... both Pitt and Cal didn't want to play in Oakland.

 

[Delpanther]

More & more, my feelings are mixed on the stadium issue. We are the University of Pittsburgh, and being an urban campus the city/downtown Pittsburgh is an extension of the campus. So the costs of playing at Heinz field, plus having the ease of access, parking, restaurants, state of the art stadium, tailgating....all make Heinz an attractive option. And it doesn't feel like you are playing in a Steeler stadium. Everything is done to make it feel like it is a true home to Pitt. Plus not having Steeler tickets this is my only chance to get to Heinz on a regular basis.

But the Pitt admin grossly misjudged their ability to sell tickets. Pedersons first ad campaign during the move to Heinz was "Sundays are sold-out, Saturdays aren't....yet. Get your tickets now!". Obviously thinking the move alone to Heinz would be responsible for a jump in ticket sales. As we have seen there is way too much capacity. And the optics of the bright yellow seats just makes things worse.

Also, ease of access is still good, but it is still a jam to get students in & out on the buses. Hence the reason many leave early to avoid crowds, once again creating bad optics. So the logistics of moving students is bad and has never got any better. Only potential hope on that one is they extend the T to Oakland or that express bus they have been proposing.

So in hindsight, a major renovation to Pitt Stadium should have been the course of action. Just as not sticking with the Big East, forming an all sports eastern conference, hiring Alvarez instead of Hackett, hiring Welsh or Johnson instead of Foge.....the list goes on & on.

But it ain't ever coming back. The city won't even close Bigelow, you think Nitters like Peduto & Fitzgerald would ever get behind a new Pitt Stadium? So we made our bed, just really need to work on improving the situation. Personally I'd like to see any money allocated for a new stadium go towards coaching salaries as we have seen the right coach can make all the difference. Work on connecting North Shore with Oakland.....if students can get there easily on non-gamedays and hang out at the bars, they will want to go to the games more readily. Need to think out of the box here on solutions that don't involve 200 million on a new stadium.[/QUOTE
Heinz is an attractive option? 90% of alums hate it. Congrats on being part of the 10% minority who enjoys the stinking north side of Pittsburgh. The Rooney’s also thank you. And it doesn’t feel like a Steelers stadium? What? You have to be joking...from the stinking yellow seats, to the Steelers logo everywhere, to the Steelers paraphernalia in all the shops, to the stinking quarter size Pitt logo at midfield , to the Art Rooney statue outside the stadium and to the contents of the Great Hall it all says Steelers stadium!

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Heinz is an attractive option? 90% of alums hate it. Congrats on being part of the 10% minority who enjoys the stinking north side of Pittsburgh. The Rooney’s also thank you. And it doesn’t feel like a Steelers stadium? What? You have to be joking...from the stinking yellow seats, to the Steelers logo everywhere, to the Steelers paraphernalia in all the shops, to the stinking quarter size Pitt logo at midfield , to the Art Rooney statue outside the stadium and to the contents of the Great Hall it all says Steelers stadium!

Looking forward to you sharing the results of the alumni survey showing a 90% against Heinz rate Del!

 

[Delpanther]

Looking forward to you sharing the results of the alumni survey showing a 90% against He

I don’t need a survey.. I have common sense and can look at the empty seats every week and make the logical inference what those emptyseats mean in terms of the fans’ affinity for the dump known as Heinz Field. By the way are you a Pitt alum? And how many games do you attend?

 

[jaygeekray]

I don’t need a survey.. I have common sense and can look at the empty seats every week and make the logical inference what those emptyseats mean in terms of the fans’ affinity for the dump known as Heinz Field. By the way are you a Pitt alum? And how many games do you attend?

The empty seats have nothing to do with the venue. I was at Pitt from '76-'80 and there were many empty seats at most games. Same as now - UPS, ND & WVU were the only teams that filled Pitt Stadium. Same as in 2000. Same as in 2017 and Same as will be in 2030. To blame the poor attendance on Heinz Field is a joke. UConn '09 meant something so the stadium was full. We need to play meaningful games in November to get folks to show up. Besides, Heinz is infinitely easier to get in and out of for the 40,000 non-student ticket holder fans.

BTW: Pitt alum and have only missed 4 games since the move to Heinz. In my seat for kickoff and stay until :00 on the game clock every game - even OkState this year.

 

[Delpanther]

The empty seats have nothing to do with the venue. I was at Pitt from '76-'80 and there were many empty seats at most games. Same as now - UPS, ND & WVU were the only teams that filled Pitt Stadium. Same as in 2000. Same as in 2017 and Same as will be in 2030. To blame the poor attendance on Heinz Field is a joke. UConn '09 meant something so the stadium was full. We need to play meaningful games in November to get folks to show up. Besides, Heinz is infinitely easier to get in and out of for the 40,000 non-student ticket holder fans.

BTW: Pitt alum and have only missed 4 games since the move to Heinz. In my seat for kickoff and stay until :00 on the game clock every game - even OkState this year.

The quality of the team plays into it but so does the venue...to ignore this is foolish. Heinz is a shithole.

 

[srpst23]

I always laugh when people say that Heinz is the reason that no one show up to games. I remember my parents coming down for the Homecoming game in 98' at old Pitt Stadium. Granted it was against Rutgers, and we were beyond terrible that year, but we were the only people in our section within a 50 foot radius, for Homecoming. I'm willing to bet that most of the people bitching about attendance weren't at that game, or any game that season except Penn State.

Fun Trivia about the 1998 season: We were the only team ever for the existence of the Big East to lose to both Temple and Rutgers in the same season (and we managed to lose to both of them at home to boot).

 

[ThePanthers]

In a perfect world, I would LOVE for Pitt to have an on campus stadium. Something that is 45-50K capacity. It would be ideal.

The problem is there are so many obstacles, and like this article has shown, and in the case of UMD and Rutgers, if you go over your head, it can have significant consequences down the line that you can't dig out of. If people actually read the article, the interest payments alone are supposed to surpass the entire Cal athletic revenue by 2030 if they can't make their principle payments, which right now they can't.

You have to be careful. If some deep pocket donor came and dropped $500M, then awesome. But it ain't going to happen.

So today, with what he have, Heinz is the best option and will continue to be for a very long time.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

In a perfect world, I would LOVE for Pitt to have an on campus stadium. Something that is 45-50K capacity. It would be ideal.

The problem is there are so many obstacles, and like this article has shown, and in the case of UMD and Rutgers, if you go over your head, it can have significant consequences down the line that you can't dig out of. If people actually read the article, the interest payments alone are supposed to surpass the entire Cal athletic revenue by 2030 if they can't make their principle payments, which right now they can't.

You have to be careful. If some deep pocket donor came and dropped $500M, then awesome. But it ain't going to happen.

So today, with what he have, Heinz is the best option and will continue to be for a very long time.

Let me ask you this? How is the debt going to affect Cal, Rut, and Md football and men's basketball? Are they going to drop the programs? Are they going to have to hire HS coaches and have assistants be volunteers?

I'll answer it for you. The debt will not effect the win totals for those teams at all. And that's the only thing that matters. I'd take on that debt in a minute of it meant we can move out of the Mustard Bowl.

 

[PITTLAW]

Interesting situation. Cal Memorial Stadium is the college stadium that reminds me a lot of Pitt Stadium. To make a reasonable comparison between the situations at Cal and Pitt it would probably be best to compare what options were available to both Cal and Pitt w/r/t their stadium situations. Same is true in comparing Pitt's situation with any other school that has spent a lot of $$$$ in either refurbishing an old stadium or building a new on-campus stadium. What were the realistic and viable options and alternatives as to a suitable place to play their home games long term?

So it would help to know where and when the closest brand new stadium was built in relation to the Cal Berkley campus by others that Cal would have had the option to use permanently in lieu of refurbishing Cal Memorial Stadium and incurring the capital expense and debt load they now have. Google says the distance is 11.5 miles to the pro stadium in Oakland (44.2 miles to the much newer Levi's Stadium where the 49'ers now play). Also the stadium in Oakland is pretty old itself; certainly not brand new at the time Cal made their decision. Would imagine Cal didn't think that was a reasonable option, so they spent the $$$$ and now have to deal with the debt.

Whether or not a particular school makes a decision that is favorable is up to the individual to determine. It likely comes down to the school's priorities and a comparison as to what alternatives they realistically have vs cost and also proximity. For a venue for which full capacity is likely demanded for football games 7 times a year those some are things that have to be considered.

Hindsight is always a great benefit. Unfortunately it is never available at the time when a decision is made. So today Cal is where they are and Pitt is where they are. Neither is setting the world on fire in football. That's for sure.

So why do you think Pitt is playing hoops on campus versus at the PPG Paints Center? Everyone knows playing on campus is ALWAYS the best option. Unfortunately Pitt did not invest, and then compounded the mistake by tearing down the old football stadium and building something new there so that renovation would never be an option in the future. Trust me, the guys that made this decision had their heads so far up.... Such a shame. But it is old history now...live in the present. Hail to Pitt!

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I don’t need a survey.. I have common sense and can look at the empty seats every week and make the logical inference what those emptyseats mean in terms of the fans’ affinity for the dump known as Heinz Field. By the way are you a Pitt alum? And how many games do you attend?

Every home game for 30 years. Several away ones. 3 degrees. How bout you? Wanna compare w2s at Heinz someday?

 

[Delpanther]

Every home game for 30 years. Several away ones. 3 degrees. How bout you? Wanna compare w2s at Heinz someday?

Sure...I have 4 degrees(3 grad degrees) and would be happy to share my w-2 with you

 

[ThePanthers]

Let me ask you this? How is the debt going to affect Cal, Rut, and Md football and men's basketball? Are they going to drop the programs? Are they going to have to hire HS coaches and have assistants be volunteers?

I'll answer it for you. The debt will not effect the win totals for those teams at all. And that's the only thing that matters. I'd take on that debt in a minute of it meant we can move out of the Mustard Bowl.

Wow.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

That Levi's Stadium is so far away that it would be more accurate to call the 49ers the San Jose 49ers.

 

[PittMan 72]

So why do you think Pitt is playing hoops on campus versus at the PPG Paints Center? Everyone knows playing on campus is ALWAYS the best option. Unfortunately Pitt did not invest, and then compounded the mistake by tearing down the old football stadium and building something new there so that renovation would never be an option in the future. Trust me, the guys that made this decision had their heads so far up.... Such a shame. But it is old history now...live in the present. Hail to Pitt!

Pitt’s playing on campus in basketball because they were able to get into a new facility without having to make an extremely large capital investment and take on a relatively huge debt service.

That’s due to the John Petersen donation and the funding from the state of PA that was made because the state appropriated large sums to PSU and Temple for their new basketball arenas. Plus Pitt didn’t have to buy land for the Pete by using the stadium land.

No doubt Pitt has typically sought the most frugal means when it comes to athletics spending. By doing what they did they evidently felt they got into 2 brand new facilities for the price of one. And the one that involved far less direct cost to Pitt at that.

Like you said it’s history and living in the present is what Pitt is faced with.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

Pitt’s playing on campus in basketball because they were able to get into a new facility without having to make an extremely large capital investment and take on a relatively huge debt service.

That’s due to the John Petersen donation and the funding from the state of PA that was made because the state appropriated large sums to PSU and Temple for their new basketball arenas.

.

No, no, no. Everybody knows that Temple built its basketball arena with its "Big" East football revenues. At least that was the lie that was widely told and apparently widely believed.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Let me ask you this? How is the debt going to affect Cal, Rut, and Md football and men's basketball? Are they going to drop the programs? Are they going to have to hire HS coaches and have assistants be volunteers?

I'll answer it for you. The debt will not effect the win totals for those teams at all. And that's the only thing that matters. I'd take on that debt in a minute of it meant we can move out of the Mustard Bowl.

Wow.

Seriously. How many wins is the debt going to cost Cal, Md, and Rutgers. My answer is ZERO. What is yours?

 

[California Panther]

That Levi's Stadium is so far away that it would be more accurate to call the 49ers the San Jose 49ers.

The stadium is in Santa Clara and a lot of papers/reporters at times tend to call them the Santa Clara NFL team avoiding the name San Francisco or 49ers.

 

[PITTLAW]

Pitt’s playing on campus in basketball because they were able to get into a new facility without having to make an extremely large capital investment and take on a relatively huge debt service.

That’s due to the John Petersen donation and the funding from the state of PA that was made because the state appropriated large sums to PSU and Temple for their new basketball arenas. Plus Pitt didn’t have to buy land for the Pete by using the stadium land.

No doubt Pitt has typically sought the most frugal means when it comes to athletics spending. By doing what they did they evidently felt they got into 2 brand new facilities for the price of one. And the one that involved far less direct cost to Pitt at that.

Like you said it’s history and living in the present is what Pitt is faced with.

Yeah, but your logic is faulty, even as you look at the past. Pitt could have had a nearly free professional quality arena for basketball [even closer to campus than the football stadium]...but they went another direction because they knew playing downtown in a professional arena would be bad for the program. They should have known the same thing for football. Pitt did not need to tear down Pitt Stadium to build the Pete....there were plenty of plans to build the new arena on a number of spots that Pitt already owned. But be certain, they tore down the stadium so the decision could never be reversed. Little did they imagine that the decision would be debated on nearly a daily basis by Pitt fans some 20 years and running. The new football stadium has not solved attendance problems, recruiting challenges or returned the program to glory...and ironically, the new basketball arena seems only to have been a short term shot in the basketball program's arm. I totally support the new AD, but man, does she have her hands full with the three major programs teetering on the brink. Hail to Pitt!

 

[ThePanthers]

Seriously. How many wins is the debt going to cost Cal, Md, and Rutgers. My answer is ZERO. What is yours?

I don't know. They lose a lot now. Especially rutgers.

Ps don't ever touch my money.

 

[PittMan 72]

Yeah, but your logic is faulty, even as you look at the past. Pitt could have had a nearly free professional quality arena for basketball [even closer to campus than the football stadium]...but they went another direction because they knew playing downtown in a professional arena would be bad for the program. They should have known the same thing for football. Pitt did not need to tear down Pitt Stadium to build the Pete....there were plenty of plans to build the new arena on a number of spots that Pitt already owned. But be certain, they tore down the stadium so the decision could never be reversed. Little did they imagine that the decision would be debated on nearly a daily basis by Pitt fans some 20 years and running. The new football stadium has not solved attendance problems, recruiting challenges or returned the program to glory...and ironically, the new basketball arena seems only to have been a short term shot in the basketball program's arm. I totally support the new AD, but man, does she have her hands full with the three major programs teetering on the brink. Hail to Pitt!

No. Looking at the past the logic is not faulty. PPG Paints Arena didn’t open until 2010. Long after all those other decisions were made and facilities built.

As far as the AD, she does have a tough job. She’s AD at Pitt. So she’s got to figure out how to compete with programs that have far greater financial resources at their disposal.

Largely due to boosters making donations earmarked specifically for athletics in much larger amounts than Pitt gets. Just the way it is. She took the job with her eyes open, knowing what she was getting into.

 

[PITTLAW]

No. Looking at the past the logic is not faulty. PPG Paints Arena didn’t open until 2010. Long after all those other decisions were made and facilities built.

As far as the AD, she does have a tough job. She’s AD at Pitt. So she’s got to figure out how to compete with programs that have far greater financial resources at their disposal.

Largely due to boosters making donations earmarked specifically for athletics in much larger amounts than Pitt gets. Just the way it is. She took the job with her eyes open, knowing what she was getting into.

I guess you are counted in the small number of people that believe that a college football program can compete on a national basis year in and year out playing off campus. Not sure why anyone believes this....but everyone is entitled to an opinion. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed investment that Duke made in its football program when I enter the stadium tomorrow [was under construction when we were here two years ago]. Love to see investment in a program. As for finances and fund raising...I've been singing in that choir for years now...so I know the song all too well. Hail to Pitt!

 

[PittMan 72]

I guess you are counted in the small number of people that believe that a college football program can compete on a national basis year in and year out playing off campus. Not sure why anyone believes this....but everyone is entitled to an opinion. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed investment that Duke made in its football program when I enter the stadium tomorrow [was under construction when we were here two years ago]. Love to see investment in a program. As for finances and fund raising...I've been singing in that choir for years now...so I know the song all too well. Hail to Pitt!

Oh, ideally I’d love to see Pitt play football in a right sized, state of the art, on campus facility.

But I just don’t see it happening. At least not in any amount of time I can reasonably foresee. Do you?

 

[HailtoPitt]

But be certain, they tore down the stadium so the decision could never be reversed.

Sad, but true.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Oh, ideally I’d love to see Pitt play football in a right sized, state of the art, on campus facility.

But I just don’t see it happening. At least not in any amount of time I can reasonably foresee. Do you?

He has repeatedly said, on this site for years, that they aren't going to build a stadium any time soon.

 

[PITTLAW]

Oh, ideally I’d love to see Pitt play football in a right sized, state of the art, on campus facility.

But I just don’t see it happening. At least not in any amount of time I can reasonably foresee. Do you?

Nope. I warned before Pitt Stadium came down that it was a decision that could/would never be reversed in my lifetime, and I still believe that. But unlike some, I am not going to pretend it was a smart or good decision. I have come to terms with dealing with Pitt football at Heinz Field for my lifetime and attempt to make the best of it. I have not missed a game that Pitt has played there [Heinz] yet....and imagine I will keep that string alive for a while. Hail to Pitt!

 

[HailtoPitt]

. But unlike some, I am not going to pretend it was a smart or good decision.

Isn't it sad that some are still pretending. Sort of like Trump voters who keep refusing to see the truth.