iowahawkeyes89
Well-Known Member
I don't think its a stretch to think we could sell out a 78-80 thousand seat stadium.
If Kinnick would get renovated again???
- Thread starter WDMHAWKEYE
- Start date
DesMoinesHawki
Well-Known Member
You know what that would be a good idea. Somebody should bring that up sometime.
What water tower?
I am with the majority. Overhaul the North end zone and add an upper deck to it. That would be pretty cool. The day will come when Iowa adds those extra seats. It might not be for another 10 years, but the day will come.
rschneider
Well-Known Member
One day probably in ten or more years they will need to build a new stadium, I love Kinnick but think of the possibilities of a new stadium I'd vote something like LSU's stadium.
Not going to happen, if a new stadium would have been built they would have been playing in it right now where the Field Hockey field, soccer field and HOF are by Finkbine further west down Melrose.
They looked at that before doing the latest renovations (at least got estimates) and it was WAY too expensive.
To do anything to the North End zone they would have to move a parking ramp, and the road at the very least and would cost a lot of money as well but think that that will likely be the next thing done in 10 years or so.
The biggest thing for Kinnick was the Hospital building the huge outpatient clinic right on 80 in Coralville that will allow the Hospital to expand like they have wanted to do without having to tear down anything around them.
I do think the Fieldhouse will be saying goodbye at some point (15+ years) with the new recreation center being finished I just don't see how that thing is making any money for the U and where it sits would be a no brainer for the hospital to take over the land at some point.
HAWKEYESTATE4ever
Well-Known Member
Texas, I thought you died? Come say hi to your boys! You know where to find us! I just became a legend over there!
raspberrytea
Well-Known Member
You can't really move parking ramp 3. It is also the home for a cooling plant that is essential to the health sciences campus.
Also, it seems that the water tower is painted white for safety purposes. I don't think that will change anytime soon...
Also, it seems that the water tower is painted white for safety purposes. I don't think that will change anytime soon...
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
With this level of hype surrounding the team, it isn't crazy to think that Iowa could have sold 80K seat this year.
But as all of us know, that isn't the case every year. Until demand exceeds supply for an (undetermined) period of time, further expansion isn't warranted.
I like the idea of completely restructuring the North-end zone and adding an upper deck (that looks aesthetically pleasing of course) with an attached parking ramp with diners club, etc. Moving the road or making it go under the stadium is definately a possibility so don't say it can't be done. Just look at Target Field in Minneapolis. There is a highway going under the stadium! Whatever Iowa wants dont to Kinnick it will get. I think it is in the near foreseeable future.
ColoradoHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
I like this plan - so that, and paint a Hawk or an I on the water tower, and one on the field. Only downside, of course, is the need for more security for that many more "knuckleheads"!
raspberrytea
Well-Known Member
I think you are underestimating the influence UIHC has on a Kinnick expansion. It isn't about what Iowa wants, it is about what UIHC will allow.
hawkfaninTX
Well-Known Member
and has been proven, or made known...... where exactly? Their only worry would be having accessible routes to and from the hospital. As long as this is maintained they could not "veto" any expansion effort. Previously mentioned "water tower" projects are the only thing that the UHIC can decide upon.
1) The water tower use to say Iowa on it, and i dont know how a simple tigerhawk hurts safety reasons
2) I got extremely bored at work and google mapped Kinnick Stadium. I was looking at the North endzone area. There is no need to build a tunnel for Stadium Drive. It can be rerouted to the north of parking ramp 3 and work its way to the west side of the Rec building. This would allow for the North End Zone to have enough room to look like the South side. The parking ramp could be expanded or rebuilt (yes I know about the cooling towers) to connect to Kinnick and create some shops and maybe even a restaurant somehow. They could create a cool entrance through the North from that parking lot in between the ramp and the Rec building. That parking lot would be smaller but the extended parking ramp would make up for that. the biggest expense would be reconstructing the North End zone and the parking ramp. Just from the North there is potential to add at least another 5-10k
2) I got extremely bored at work and google mapped Kinnick Stadium. I was looking at the North endzone area. There is no need to build a tunnel for Stadium Drive. It can be rerouted to the north of parking ramp 3 and work its way to the west side of the Rec building. This would allow for the North End Zone to have enough room to look like the South side. The parking ramp could be expanded or rebuilt (yes I know about the cooling towers) to connect to Kinnick and create some shops and maybe even a restaurant somehow. They could create a cool entrance through the North from that parking lot in between the ramp and the Rec building. That parking lot would be smaller but the extended parking ramp would make up for that. the biggest expense would be reconstructing the North End zone and the parking ramp. Just from the North there is potential to add at least another 5-10k
Saginawbay
Well-Known Member
This would be a great Idea add a small upper deck maybe 5k would be really nice and and adding clubhouse and retail and other things would really make a nice addition to the game day feel for sure. Also great idea for train station this is a unique thing and UofI great idea.
I can't imagine why anybody would want to abandon Kinnick. 1) It's one of the classic facilities in the B10, can't buy tradition; 2) it's already a perfect layout, with fans close to the action and no viewing obstructions; 3) $90M renovation just completed a couple of years ago; 4) people complain about how much better the BB game atmosphere in the Fieldhouse was compared with CHA, why do the same thing with football; 5) UI has other things to do with the money - finish the CHA renovation, new indoor practice facility, next raise for KF & staff, etc.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
The team has a lot to do with the atmosphere at CHA; it's not the building itself. We all know how quiet Kinnick can be when the team isn't playing very well.
That said, CHA itself gets a lot of the blame, as you know from these boards.
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
I get that, I'm just saying that the blame is misguided and unwarranted. We all know how loud it can get in there, and that's pretty f'n loud.
It's also a relatively new phenomenon, brought on by 3 years of boring basketball and losing. Even during the tail end of the [name redacted] era, CHA was a lively building.
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I might have posted here before that I once had a chance to sit in some Athletic Dept. seats down close, and it was in fact quite loud. This was in the mid 80s, when it was sold out on season tickets IIRC. I think sound dissipates the higher you sit in CHA due to the funneling effect of the bowl-shaped layout, so people sitting up there perceive less noise, which combined with the losing, leads to frustration and unhappiness.
I suppose my basic point was, since Kinnick already has great atmosphere and is in good shape, why mess with it?
The City of Iowa City might, just saying.
