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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 24, 2016 6:48:04 GMT -5
Google street view: goo.gl/maps/L8jVirNAbg32The press box extends almost to the fence line, and Fitton Ave. A new press box, not directly attached to the stadium (and allowing for demolition of the existing press box to create space) would be a very tight squeeze so as not to obstruct Fitton Ave. (unless one re-aligned Fitton Ave.). The barbed wire must have been introduced to prevent BC hooligans from engaging in destructive mischief.
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Post by timholycross on Aug 24, 2016 12:08:41 GMT -5
The only way to not impact the road below would be to cut out a few rows of stands and put the press box where those rows were. That might trigger ADA issues. They certainly don't need the seating they'd be eliminating if they did that.
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Post by crusader12 on Aug 24, 2016 12:18:09 GMT -5
1
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 24, 2016 14:54:32 GMT -5
The only way to not impact the road below would be to cut out a few rows of stands and put the press box where those rows were. That might trigger ADA issues. They certainly don't need the seating they'd be eliminating if they did that. That's why UMass built a new press box that didn't physically touch McGurk. IMO, renovating/replacing the press box above the south stands is probably very low on ADNP's to do list, particularly if it leads to spending tens of millions on Fitton. After Luth, and renovating the OFH (cost $10-15 million, apparently), the priorities, again IMO, are: 1.) an indoor track for track and field 2.) expanded seating capacity at the rink. 3.) another parking garage (though this may be funded by the college, writ large) 4.) renovating Fitton.
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Post by sarasota on Aug 24, 2016 16:10:56 GMT -5
Lot of memories in the OFH: Heinsohn playing pickup with students, Cousy practicing hook shots, Glen Miller Orchestra, Four Freshmen, MLK Jr, Barry Goldwater, Cattle Call (met my wife).......
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 24, 2016 16:30:55 GMT -5
Cattle Call was where I met my wife as well...nursing student at St V's.
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Post by hc6774 on Aug 25, 2016 6:40:02 GMT -5
OFH deserves its own thread... purchased from Navy in 1949... when did cattle calls begin at a school that once was considered a pipeline to the priesthood?
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Post by CHC8485 on Aug 25, 2016 8:00:38 GMT -5
Thought the OFH was acquired in 1946 for $1.
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 25, 2016 8:17:03 GMT -5
Thought the OFH was acquired in 1946 for $1. I believe it was, I thought it was because HC had an NROTC program.
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Post by hc6774 on Aug 25, 2016 8:18:30 GMT -5
Per Fr K's book; search for OFH began in '46, commitment from gov't for hangar at Camp Endicott RI in Jan '47, gov't would disassemble, then reassemble on campus at its expense; site prep est. $35k at college expense; opened in March '48; brick outside walls added in '55; maybe that's when it became suitable for cattle calls.
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Post by gks on Aug 25, 2016 10:19:22 GMT -5
LIke it or not, college football stadiums are a 'welcome center' to campus. Especially where Fitton sits. It is the first thing visitors see when arriving (unless you live in Auburn). Great field in need of some love. It's been over 30 years since anything has really been done to it. Needs an upgrade...
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Post by beaven302 on Aug 25, 2016 11:10:33 GMT -5
Lot of memories in the OFH: Heinsohn playing pickup with students, Cousy practicing hook shots, Glen Miller Orchestra, Four Freshmen, MLK Jr, Barry Goldwater, Cattle Call (met my wife)....... Also a junior prom event, an appearance by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and final examinations. As for the cattle calls,if memory serves the 100% cattle calls were those that were advertised on Worcester radio (e.g., WORC), which meant that local girls would show up. One such event was scheduled for the evening of Nov. 22, 1963, and was cancelled because of the JFK assassination. Some of these events even had names. One that was scheduled fo the anniversary of Napoleon fleeing Elba was called in promotional fliers, "Napoleon's Bolt."
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Post by sarasota on Aug 25, 2016 11:11:25 GMT -5
Agree about stadium. Mystery to me why it's been so neglected (including its out bldgs like locker room).
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Post by hc6774 on Aug 25, 2016 12:05:15 GMT -5
LIke it or not, college football stadiums are a 'welcome center' to campus. Especially where Fitton sits. It is the first thing visitors see when arriving (unless you live in Auburn). Great field in need of some love. It's been over 30 years since anything has really been done to it. Needs an upgrade... the baseball field was not neglected; although not for the purpose suggested, the upgrade 10 years ago hid if not enhanced the look of the football stadium for non football recruits approaching the campus. I believe well over 50% of visitors approach from the MAPike Auburn/290 Exit. A small perhaps growing number approach from McCarthy Way off McKeon Rd accessed from MAPike/Rt 146 exit. This leads to the upper campus after a hairpin turn away from remote controlled gate to Loyola Hall & St Joe's Chapel. The dribble that approaches from Auburn over the hill via College St encounter the OFH first.
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Post by timholycross on Aug 25, 2016 12:26:46 GMT -5
Seems to me that 10 years ago as part of the windfall from Hanover Ins/Tornadoes they could have done something about the game day dressing rooms. Much easier and less costly to build larger buildings (that accommodated the baseball and football teams) than to build separate buildings. The dressing rooms and press box have to be upgraded asap, IMHO.
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Post by hc6774 on Aug 25, 2016 13:13:53 GMT -5
windfall or joint venture... the school had a desirable piece of real estate that local investors, including an alum, proposed a compatible use... I'm in favor of improved locker rooms for the football team but hard to criticize this deal because it didn't include them...
using telescopic hindsight you could criticize the decision in the 1959 decision to hire Ropes & Gray to investigate/oppose the state over the routing of I290 through Fitton and turn down the offer to replace the stadium at the top of the hill... where all the other football faculties are now or soon will be located.
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Post by timholycross on Aug 25, 2016 14:57:17 GMT -5
windfall or joint venture... the school had a desirable piece of real estate that local investors, including an alum, proposed a compatible use... I'm in favor of improved locker rooms for the football team but hard to criticize this deal because it didn't include them... using telescopic hindsight you could criticize the decision in the 1959 decision to hire Ropes & Gray to investigate/oppose the state over the routing of I290 through Fitton and turn down the offer to replace the stadium at the top of the hill... where all the other football faculties are now or soon will be located. Not criticizing...merely pointing out that HC could have chosen to invest in the building at that point. Baseball certainly had no obligation to do anything other than they did...and I'm sure HC is grateful for the upgrade. Heard of the plan for 290 to go through Fitton...never heard that anyone proposed a new facility, thought it was more of an either-keep-it-or-drop-football type of scenario. All I know is that the HC of the time threw money around like manhole covers. Any expense the College would have incurred in such a move (even if it was 10 cents on the dollar) they would've fought to the death.
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Post by sarasota on Aug 25, 2016 16:09:53 GMT -5
The visitor's dressing room at Fitton Stadium is an embarrassment--as is the press box.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 25, 2016 16:12:46 GMT -5
I think I posted a similar map on the old board. This is a FEMA flood zone map, which indicates the area the Middle River would flood in a major storm. I can't remember the frequency for the dotted areas (less frequent) compared to the striped areas (greater chance, e.g. a 10 percent chance in any year that a storm would flood the striped areas?). It may have been the flood plain that put the kibosh on the original plan to build the football practice facility (with new locker rooms) east of the field, near McKeon Road.
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Post by sarasota on Aug 25, 2016 16:31:24 GMT -5
excuses excuses
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