Originally Posted by
NovaBison
I am also in the "Don't need a new dome to move-up now" Camp... Assuming you meet or exceed the average attendance requirement for FBS membership, what function does a football venue provide? Ticket revenue to fund the athletics program... using the USA Today database, here is how NDSU compares to the G5 and FCS Power 3 (MVFC, Big Sky, and CAA) for Ticket Revenue (for all sports, hence UNDs numbers for hockey):
1 Memphis $10,755,833.00
2 Nevada $9,683,290.00
3 Cincinnati $7,736,020.00
4 Boise State $7,016,928.00
5 San Diego State $6,596,027.00
6 Fresno $6,429,309.00
7 NDSU $6,379,573.00
8 ECU $6,190,857.00
9 UCF $5,984,236.00
10 Colorado State $5,784,735.00
11 Hawaii $5,602,360.00
12 Montana $5,588,367.00
13 New Mexico $5,042,302.00
14 UND $4,994,577.00
15 Houston $4,882,307.00
16 UNLV $4,726,304.00
17 USF $4,600,251.00
18 SDSU $4,131,288.00
19 Wyoming $3,971,848.00
20 ODU $3,789,906.00
If NDSU is already a solid Top 10 "non P5" program for Ticket Revenue, what does a huge capital investment provide, besides an insurmountable fundraising project, or unnecessary debt (assuming you could get a bond)? Recruits already say NDSU's crowd and their energy are a reason for their interest in the program -- most of those G5 programs cannot match the filled stadium NDSU has. The only other reason for a huge stadium is for perceived "status" of a bigger stadium (aka "dick measuring").
Could NDSU use additional seating, and some premium seating? Yes... but not at the expense of drowning in debt, or providing less funding to other athletic teams.