Miami wants out of pro stadium...

[geeman2001]

The point is, the case for what school A should do is properly based on an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses--NOT smugly and arrogantly knocking school B (which is assessing its own strengths and weaknesses, from its own perspective, and taking the initiative accordingly). If some supporters of school A are EMBARRASSED by school B's initiatives, then so be it.

The two situations actually aren't comparable. Temple actually CAN justify its own stadium because it has been faced, from the day the ribbon was cut at Lincoln Financial, with a far more adver$arial relationship with the Eagles over the use of that stadium than does Pitt with the Steelers re Heinz. Temple has now had enough. Contrary to previous administrations that simply LET things happen (perfect example: the Big East saga), there now is in place a regime committed to MAKING things happen.

Again, for the reading-impaired, I fully acknowledge that Pitt could indeed be in the same situation (aka, hopeless) as Temple. By miraculous luck (I'm sure Nordy/Pedey had some impact, but it was more luck), Pitt is in a place where it could more realistically be a real player for a championship. But it has to capitalize on it.

If any consolation, I started in my first post by saying nothing is set in stone. If Temple's new attitude resulted in becoming a formidable third-world football power, and it kept up its hoops ... and if Pitt allowed its sports to actually deteriorate, rather than grow them (all too possible) ... Temple would eventually be more deserving of an ACC spot than Pitt. I'd have to applaud it, too. If Pitt has no commitment to win, it shouldn't have the privilege of dinner at the big table.

 

[Pitt is #1]

We got HF & PNC because Smurphy back-doored the citizens, who voted 2-1 to NOT build new stadiums. So we get a gem (PNC) and a hot mess (HF). The Pete was a nice addition, for sure, but it wasn't all state funding. It's one thing to fund stadiums for pro teams, quite another to fund a college stadium. PA has shorted the state-related schools for years, resulting in embarrassingly high tuition rates for public universities.. Temple can't justify a new FB stadium, and neither can Pitt. Sad, but true. Pitt's willingness to raze Pitt Stadium was conditioned on the Rooneys renting the Southside facility. HF sux, but we'll survive.

Nowhere do I state I'm advocating this...lol. I'm just telling you the facts. If new stadiums are built at Pitt and Temple...this is how it will be done.

 

[Begbie_Nole]

Miami needs to pump the breaks big time on this. Sun Life is getting a $400M renovation with phase 1 to complete this year. Thats $400M with an M! And Miami will pay none of it. The renovation addresses a lot of the problems that the U has faced there with the atmosphere and capacity. Here is what it will address:

- Reduce capacity from 75K to 65K for the Dolphins
- Further reduce capacity to 55k for most U games by covering the upper end zone seats (EARTH TO PITT!)
- moves the sidelines 25 feet closer on either side (Shouls have moved even further! but the are still hoping to have a major soccer match once in a blue moon... dumb)
- Adds a roof in 2016. After this is up they will quesitons why it was never there. September in Miami is hot as hell.
- Current 17% seats are in the shade for a noon kick off... will be 92% going forward (the visiting team will be in the sun
- tons of amenities
- lots of VERY expensive seats. People buy these now.. they may not go to the game but this stadium will generate a lot of cash.

If they do a deal with an MLS team they may be closer to the campus.. but perhaps not for the traveling fans coming from all over.
- MLS fields are WIDE... sidlines will be far away. The stadium will be soccer first and football second. Unlike what Sun Life will become.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I'm not sure I agree. How much do those amenities mean if people can't (or won't) get to the game to experience them?

By all accounts, the primary problem with Sun Life Stadium is its location. Now, it also sucks everywhere else but from what I've heard the biggest problem with it is that it is just too far from campus.

If they build a 44,000 seat soccer stadium in Little Havana, where the team played for decades, it is difficult for me to imagine any scenario that would be better for the U. All of this presumes they are going to build an actual stadium and not some prefab crap like they built at Connecticut and Central Florida? Hell, even if it is a prefab stadium, that still might be a better deal for the Canes than playing games 30 minutes away from campus.

I'm open-minded about it and I can be swayed otherwise. However, in judging by the actions of the Miami brass towards this issue, I think they agree with me on this one.