NDSU to AAC prepare theyself.

[HerdBot]

Not sure I would agree with minor inconveniences, FD is basically Target Center for football. View lines and usefulness of the structure are fine but updates to vanquish the early 90s are needed. This isn’t really a NDSU football issue, FD is the major regional venue and should be renovated. The real unfortunate part of putting the renovation out this long is we have real interest rates to deal with, but it might be a public development opportunity if we hit a recession and construction labor need a bump. I haven’t lived in State for years but does the city have gambling options as a funding source? I’m shocked how fast the Vikings were able to payoff US Bank with Epulltabs.

Yep. The Target Center is basically the same age as the dome and its already had 2 major rennovations. Even the Alerus Center is already working on adding a giant aquatics center and indoor sports facility to the existing building. https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/...e-grand-forks/
Details forthcoming. (Thats going to fuck their already miserable parking, but thats another story) Meanwhile we've added the west side addition since 1993 and that's it. If the dome doesnt get rolling, its going to fall further behind.

Its a solid building but the lack of suites will cap any future revenue. The lack of concourse space, restrooms, wifi, and better concessions need to be addressed. We need to get the ball rolling. Dave Piepkorn said back in August an announcement is coming. 5 months later https://kfgo.com/2022/08/24/city-com...a-great-thing/

[56BISON73]

As someone else said, most college football stadiums have mostly bench seats. I've been in Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, IU, Purdue, Arizona State. All mostly bench. The Michigan stadium claims to have a capacity of 108k. I contend you can't SEAT 108k. The game I attended, we stood sideways the entire game. If we were asked to turn and sit, there would not have been room.

I have no idea how many extra people you squeeze in if you put bench seats in the end zone and upper level sidelines, but I bet it's a significant number. That may not be good for concert goers, but all those stadiums I mentioned do occasionally hold concerts.

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When Iowa reseated they lost seating because they made the seats on the bench seating bigger because if you came late to the game you couldnt find a place to sit.

[CyPanth]

I need something to HAPPEN

I'm bored with the MVFC and FCS---especially since great competition bailed to FBS

I thought our team this year was 2nd worst (spring worst) in last 11 years and STILLLLLLL we made the FCS title game

CMON NDSU----find some new competition that keeps CHALLENGING the PROGRAM to grow!!!

Which of the AAC teams will draw more Bison fans to Fargo than SDSU, UNI, even Illinois State? I don't see Bison fans getting all that excited about Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Temple, USF, or Rice. Navy might be the only one to get a sellout.

[NDSU92]

Which of the AAC teams will draw more Bison fans to Fargo than SDSU, UNI, even Illinois State? I don't see Bison fans getting all that excited about Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Temple, USF, or Rice. Navy might be the only one to get a sellout.

Besides SDSU you would have a hard time finding an FCS team that I care about. If I’m in town I’ll go because I love SU, but beating UNI for the 18th time in a row or whatever it is at this point ain’t it anymore

[EC8CH]

Besides SDSU you would have a hard time finding an FCS team that I care about. If I’m in town I’ll go because I love SU, but beating UNI for the 18th time in a row or whatever it is at this point ain’t it anymore

Fresh FBS Fish! Bring it to Fargo!

[HerdBot]

Which of the AAC teams will draw more Bison fans to Fargo than SDSU, UNI, even Illinois State? I don't see Bison fans getting all that excited about Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Temple, USF, or Rice. Navy might be the only one to get a sellout.

You forgot Tulane, just beat USC in the Cotton Bowl. Most of those teams are more interesting. But you're asking the wrong question. What excites Bison fans about Western Illinois, Indiana State, Murray State and Misery State?. Those are road games that have 1,000 fans. In the AAC it would qctually be a road crowd

The biggest draw is non conference games vs the likes of Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Wyoming, Boise, JMU, etc

Also were actually going to lose more than 1 or 2 games a year, which ironically is a good thing because it makes games important and must win

The regular season conference championship winner hosts the AAC Championship Game on ABC, on a Saturday. Fans would love that

UNI, unfortunately doesnt excite Bison fans anymore. Havent won in Fargo since 2009 and most of the games are blow outs.

I think if NDSU goes, its a 2 for 1 with SDSU

[TAILG8R]

Also were actually going to lose more than 1 or 2 games a year, which ironically is a good thing because it makes games important and must win

I have started to realize that a couple losses or three a year could actually be a good thing for the state of apathy in NDSU's fanbase. Going to games, even in the playoffs where 90% of your fans "know" you're going to win creates such a lack of excitement and atmosphere. Personally I think games being decided before they even start is the biggest reason for the drop off in attendance.

So when the argument is made "what will happen when NDSU goes FBS and has nothing to play for and start losing games ..." My thought is, good, maybe people would actually care to go cheer for a team like that.

[EndZoneQB]

[/b]

Tailgating has fallen off in recent years. Since the whole west side is reserved, it would be smart to allow people to tailgate on the east side or the RP lot with beer. When did they stop selling GA tailgating on the west? People used to wait in line for them

I've seen people do it east because they couldnt get a spot on the west and they dont know anyone. Its so dumb because they are setting up and trying to hide a beer

This is honestly why we stopped going. It became the haves vs the have nots, despite the fact we were there very early on in the small west lot when it was GA. I'll admit we could have had the pick of our spots over there when they expanded reserved, but at the time, it didn't seem like the right move. After that initial wave, I didn't have enough points to basically get a seat at the table, so to speak, despite having season tickets for ~20 years at the time. We got pushed out to the auxiliary lot by the softball fields. It was our oversight for not getting reserved right away, but it escalated so quickly and we liked the GA stuff.

I get that's how it goes, it just feels like the little guy is left out - and that doesn't mean my crew, we are aware of the options...the regular people that want to go to games just don't even know what they don't know.

Not sure I would agree with minor inconveniences, FD is basically Target Center for football. View lines and usefulness of the structure are fine but updates to vanquish the early 90s are needed. This isn’t really a NDSU football issue, FD is the major regional venue and should be renovated. The real unfortunate part of putting the renovation out this long is we have real interest rates to deal with, but it might be a public development opportunity if we hit a recession and construction labor need a bump. I haven’t lived in State for years but does the city have gambling options as a funding source? I’m shocked how fast the Vikings were able to payoff US Bank with Epulltabs.

That epulltabs thing was a HUGE question mark at first - I actually had to look it up after you said something because I remember early returns were not good. Glad to see it turned around, but there shouldn't have been public money involved in that extortion anyway. But that's a conversation for another time.

As someone else said, most college football stadiums have mostly bench seats. I've been in Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, IU, Purdue, Arizona State. All mostly bench. The Michigan stadium claims to have a capacity of 108k. I contend you can't SEAT 108k. The game I attended, we stood sideways the entire game. If we were asked to turn and sit, there would not have been room.

I have no idea how many extra people you squeeze in if you put bench seats in the end zone and upper level sidelines, but I bet it's a significant number. That may not be good for concert goers, but all those stadiums I mentioned do occasionally hold concerts.

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Had a similar experience at Memorial in Lincoln. Your knees are in the back of the people in front of you and same for the people behind you. You CAN sit, but it's like everyone sits and stands as a group or you are in trouble lol

I agree also about having tailgating allowed throughout the game. This could potentially attract new Bison fans, of which we do need. The new fans (or old fans, whatever) could get a taste of Bison fan life without tickets and might be able to be inspired enough to purchase tickets in the future. We need to constantly regenerate the fan base, bringing in a wide demographic, not just younger fans but anyone. Making the Bison Gameday experience more fun does not have to necessarily cost anything. What are other FCS or FBS fan bases doing in order to make their own Gameday experiences better. Those of you who travel for the Bison away-games might see some ideas. I hope the AD and others in charge of the FargoDome experience would be receptive to your ideas. NDSU has to meet the fans halfway. I see complacency in our fan base but I also see it is the Athletic department. Don't take the fans for granted!

Exactly - it seems the powers that be really want NDSU football to be exclusive and not inclusive. Basically, if you have a ticket, you are part of the club, if not - we don't need your support. It's weird and honestly VERY North Dakota.

I have started to realize that a couple losses or three a year could actually be a good thing for the state of apathy in NDSU's fanbase. Going to games, even in the playoffs where 90% of your fans "know" you're going to win creates such a lack of excitement and atmosphere. Personally I think games being decided before they even start is the biggest reason for the drop off in attendance.

So when the argument is made "what will happen when NDSU goes FBS and has nothing to play for and start losing games ..." My thought is, good, maybe people would actually care to go cheer for a team like that.

Yes. The 2019 year, with the "unknown" at QB(laughable now) made me far more excited for the season than watching Easton Stick just be better than everyone else. I had no idea we had someone as good(probably better, but *really* hard for me to put someone above Stick - one of the best college football players I've seen) waiting in the wings. I was like hey we might have some struggles and games will be close. 16-0 later lol but yeah, some adversity is fine - just not what we experienced in Frisco. That looks like we are falling, and not upwards.

[tony]

A tailgating area set aside so people can transition from tailgating to a controlled beer garden to watch the game would be pretty cool.

[Kujava23]

Which of the AAC teams will draw more Bison fans to Fargo than SDSU, UNI, even Illinois State? I don't see Bison fans getting all that excited about Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Temple, USF, or Rice. Navy might be the only one to get a sellout.

I couldve said something similar when moved from D2 to FCS---when went to Great West