American Athletic Conference

[Mr. Obvious]

Agree, pipe dream, fantasy world, etc. For the sake off argument however, if football was brought back, Parcells would shoot down an offer to coach (because of age) but may agree to be as some sort of consultant in developing the program and hiring its staff. The time and energy it takes to be a successful coach in college is already mentally and physically taxing, the additional stresses of trying to build up a new program would be even more daunting.

But first things first, if you build it - they will come. I'll start getting my hopes up once we hear/see concrete plans to raze Cessna Stadium and construct a 150 million dollar 45K seat stadium with no infield track.

Except for Okie St and a few select games, attendance sucked. Why would they come now? To see UNI and Mo St?

[Kel Varnsen]

So, two options:

1) Renovate Cessna Stadium. Construction would cause (yay!) more parking concerns. We would have to keep the track. I guess you could do this, demolish the track, and build a separate track/soccer stadium on the Innovation Campus.
2) Build a new stadium that "anchors" the Innovation Campus. It's certainly possible, but considering the plans that Bardo and the administration have laid out, not too likely.

I'm also stating this assuming we don't buy property to the north or east of WSU and dig up the fine folks who are buried there. I wouldn't care if we did. But some folks would find it offensive. Freaking PC world man.

Either way, I don't see it being too likely that we bring football back. The only person with the resources to do it considering the astronomical cost (in my estimation $100 million when you take into account facilities, staff, scholarships, Title IX) would probably not see the value in it (media market, attendance, etc.) to fund this. But I could be wrong.

[ShockerPrez]

Except for Okie St and a few select games, attendance sucked. Why would they come now? To see UNI and Mo St?

The point with bringing football is to upgrade conferences, therefore playing Mo St and UNI would not be the case.

If WSU football is playing UNI and Mo St, the plan went horribly wrong.

[SHOCKvalue]

Supposedly there is room on the east side of campus for a stadium.

You don't have to say "supposedly." There's an entire abandoned 18 hole golf course that needs to be developed or it will turn into a massive eyesore. The current construction activity, along with what is likely over the next 5 years (business school, maybe another dorm) will only take care of like 15% of that land. And anyone in commercial RE in Wichita would tell you that the speculatory commercial stuff suggested out on the hard corners is only a hair away from a pipe dream. I'm a fan of the innovation campus overall, just don't get too excited about the commercial aspect ever happening.

Also, I've never understood the idea that bringing back football would absolutely require a new stadium. Cessna is obviously structurally sound, or state track wouldn't be happening, nor would the capacity crowd Rolling Stones concert a few years ago. It needs a severe update (cost of which would be drastically less than a new construction facility), but it is totally usable.

[molly jabali]

You don't have to say "supposedly." There's an entire abandoned 18 hole golf course that needs to be developed or it will turn into a massive eyesore. The current construction activity, along with what is likely over the next 5 years (business school, maybe another dorm) will only take care of like 15% of that land.

Also, I've never understood the idea that bringing back football would absolutely require a new stadium. Cessna is obviously structurally sound, or state track wouldn't be happening, nor would the capacity crowd Rolling Stones concert a few years ago. It needs a severe update (cost of which would be drastically less than a new construction facility), but it is totally usable.

I for one, miss the golf course and the many vehicles I almost or DID hit through the years!:)

[SHOCKvalue]

I for one, miss the golf course and the many vehicles I almost or DID hit through the years!:)

I'll miss the golf course - if it is not replaced by a full in-fill of development - simply for the aesthetic impact that a huge parcel of park-like land had on the east side of campus.

[WstateU]

WstateU’s quick thoughts on the return of football…

I’m not saying yes to football at this point, however there has never been a better time to explore the opportunity. I’ve mentioned before that we have a president with leadership and vision. If there was ever a time and person to make it happen, this might be the window of opportunity. The thought of a ‘new’ football stadium near the Innovation Campus is really exciting to me. I could live with an upgrade of Cessna; a ‘new’ stadium really gets my attention.

http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/home/?u=wsuinnovationcampus

Potential football benefits:
New conference – a higher profile conference could elevate university pride, growth and increase giving; without football, we may be stuck in the MVC forever
Increased enrollment – I’m estimating a potential 20% enrollment increase once football is established; only a gut feeling; I believe WSU’s enrollment was around 18,000 when football was dropped in 1986; we’re current around 15,000
School pride – fall football could energize the university to new levels and give it more of a traditional campus feel – Dr. Bardo has mentioned that we need something else in the fall to energize the campus; I’m not sure anything else could do this like football – I really miss homecoming Saturday’s; builds alumni pride
Marching band – I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come across that send their children north, south, east and west because they want to participate in marching band and a more traditional university. We have a quality music department, however a marching band seems logical and would have another positive affect on enrollment

Potential football drawbacks/challenges:
Negative financial impact; could be mitigated/offset with a major increase in enrollment, conference television revenue and major donations
No doubt football would have unique challenges; it’s much easier to control 15 basketball players, volleyball players, etc. – unfortunately football tends to bring a few hooligans and bad apples to campuses across the country; it’s a challenge, but can be overcome
Are there community leaders that would be interested in funding the start-up costs with a football endowment? Would football positively impact the quality of life in Wichita? We all know one individual and corporation that could fund the program with pocket change - I’m confident Dr. Bardo will have a sit-down conversation with that individual very soon; his opinion would be valuable and maybe he would consider a ‘new’ football stadium bearing his corporations name
Losing - Can we finance and operate a winning football program? Can we recruit quality players and individuals? We know we’re not getting in 4 and 5 star players
Attendance – if you build it, will they come? At some point you have to win some games
Would it impact the success of other sports?

Artist rendering - Texas State University - 30,000 seat stadium

[wuhog]

The point with bringing football is to upgrade conferences, therefore playing Mo St and UNI would not be the case.

If WSU football is playing UNI and Mo St, the plan went horribly wrong.

MoSt could be a good "buy" game prior to our Big 12 conference play. Lol.

[_kai_]

There's an entire abandoned 18 hole golf course that needs to be developed or it will turn into a massive eyesore.

As if it wasn't a massive eyesore prior to it's abandonment?

Without a doubt, it was the single worst maintained course within 50 miles of Wichita. It was a joke.

[RoyalShock]

WstateU’s quick thoughts on the return of football…

Marching band – I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come across that send their children north, south, east and west because they want to participate in marching band and a more traditional university. We have a quality music department, however a marching band seems logical and would have another positive affect on enrollment

As my younger son (a soph in HS) and I were walking to the arena for the UNLV game, I was explaining the newly announced athletics evaluation news. The potential for a marching band was one of the first things he brought up. Of course, marching band is a big deal in Buhler and he would love to have a chance to do that at WSU.

[wusphlash]

The FBS/FCS football landscape is so, so much different than it was in 1986. Much of the Wichita metro population only knows Shocker football by the stories of us old folk. I have a hard time trying to understand how it will be perceived by those not jaundiced by memories from the past.

[Veritas]

WstateU’s quick thoughts on the return of football…

I’m not saying yes to football at this point, however there has never been a better time to explore the opportunity. I’ve mentioned before that we have a president with leadership and vision. If there was ever a time and person to make it happen, this might be the window of opportunity. The thought of a ‘new’ football stadium near the Innovation Campus is really exciting to me. I could live with an upgrade of Cessna; a ‘new’ stadium really gets my attention.

http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/home/?u=wsuinnovationcampus

Potential football benefits:
New conference – a higher profile conference could elevate university pride, growth and increase giving; without football, we may be stuck in the MVC forever
Increased enrollment – I’m estimating a potential 20% enrollment increase once football is established; only a gut feeling; I believe WSU’s enrollment was around 18,000 when football was dropped in 1986; we’re current around 15,000
School pride – fall football could energize the university to new levels and give it more of a traditional campus feel – Dr. Bardo has mentioned that we need something else in the fall to energize the campus; I’m not sure anything else could do this like football – I really miss homecoming Saturday’s; builds alumni pride
Marching band – I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come across that send their children north, south, east and west because they want to participate in marching band and a more traditional university. We have a quality music department, however a marching band seems logical and would have another positive affect on enrollment

Potential football drawbacks/challenges:
Negative financial impact; could be mitigated/offset with a major increase in enrollment, conference television revenue and major donations
No doubt football would have unique challenges; it’s much easier to control 15 basketball players, volleyball players, etc. – unfortunately football tends to bring a few hooligans and bad apples to campuses across the country; it’s a challenge, but can be overcome
Are there community leaders that would be interested in funding the start-up costs with a football endowment? Would football positively impact the quality of life in Wichita? We all know one individual and corporation that could fund the program with pocket change - I’m confident Dr. Bardo will have a sit-down conversation with that individual very soon; his opinion would be valuable and maybe he would consider a ‘new’ football stadium bearing his corporations name
Losing - Can we finance and operate a winning football program? Can we recruit quality players and individuals? We know we’re not getting in 4 and 5 star players
Attendance – if you build it, will they come? At some point you have to win some games
Would it impact the success of other sports?

Artist rendering - Texas State University - 30,000 seat stadium

That looks very impressive. TSU's take the cake over my previous favorite in Akron

http://www.gozips.com/athletics/facilities/InfoCision

[Dave Stalwart]

My question would be how many years have to pass, how much bigger of a population of wichita, and how much bigger does the student body have to be before people will stop acting like the landscape is the same as it was in the late 80s for WSU?

People keep saying its a bad idea because 30 years ago, there was poor support. That's valid, but at what point do we say things are different now?

For example, in 1980, the city was 280K and now it's 380K. The metro area is 650K. There could be as many as 100-200K more people in his area than there were in the 80s.

[AZ Shocker]

Be totally awesome for Wichita St. to have football in the city again!!! Especially if done "right" with mucho dollars. Tough hill to climb...but if it gets us into a better conference and we can be a Top 50-75 football program....I think it would be a lot of fun going to Bowl Games and such.

[WstateU]

Be totally awesome for Wichita St. to have football in the city again!!! Especially if done "right" with mucho dollars. Tough hill to climb...but if it gets us into a better conference and we can be a Top 50-75 football program....I think it would be a lot of fun going to Bowl Games and such.

I’d consider giving my left nut (I’ll keep my ‘right winged’ nut) to attend a WSU Bowl game…