Are we seeing a building boom in the SWAC?


Journalist

Journalist

Listen up maggots! And that's an order!
Maybe @Kenn Rashad and others can discuss this more than me.

Looking at new construction/facility upgrades (over the last seven years) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama State, Mississippi Valley, Prairie View and Southern, does it seem like the SWAC is in the midst of a boom of new construction/facility upgrades? Is it fool's gold?

What would be your suggestions for facility upgrades at your schools?
 
Journalist said:
Maybe @Kenn Rashad and others can discuss this more than me.

Looking at new construction/facility upgrades (over the last seven years) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama State, Mississippi Valley, Prairie View and Southern, does it seem like the SWAC is in the midst of a boom of new construction/facility upgrades? Is it fool's gold?

What would be your suggestions for facility upgrades at your schools?
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As I stated in another thread earlier today; the issue of getting new facilities built is only the first step. Once it's done, the real challenge is to see how well those facilities can be maintained over time. All I have to do is look at the facilities at my alma mater.
 



Only thing left at Valley is the other half of the stadium and scoreboard (alleged zoning issues might be holding it up). Softball, baseball and soccer have all have upgrades within the past 2-3 years and we know about the New Gym.

As mentioned, it's keeping them up that will be the issue (hopefully in my lifetime we'll get a Democrat or Independent as governor who will properly fund our schools). A SCG/Celebration Bowl or Big Dance appearance doesn't hurt either with getting alums to give and show up at the games
 
W/in the last 10 years, who has upgraded their athletic facilities?

1. GSU - new bball arena
2. SU - upgrading football venue, soccer venue, baseball venue (? did I miss another)
3. UAPB - completed football fieldhouse addition
4. AlaSU - new football venue
5. PVAMU - new football venue, new soccer venue, new t&f venue, new baseball venue, new softball venue
6. MVSU - new basketball arena
7. sTu - upgraded football venue
8. AAMU - ?
9. Alcorn St - ?
10. JSU - ?
 
Bewildered said:
W/in the last 10 years, who has upgraded their athletic facilities?

1. GSU - new bball arena
2. SU - upgrading football venue, soccer venue, baseball venue (? did I miss another)
3. UAPB - completed football fieldhouse addition
4. AlaSU - new football venue
5. PVAMU - new football venue, new soccer venue, new t&f venue, new baseball venue, new softball venue
6. MVSU - new basketball arena
7. sTu - upgraded football venue
8. AAMU - ?
9. Alcorn St - ?
10. JSU - ?
Click to expand...

Again.. i don't see a lot.

JSU has all of that stuff. ...and some of the things people are building are out of necessity. PV didn't have a football stadium and Valley didn't have a place to play bball.
 
Bewildered said:
W/in the last 10 years, who has upgraded their athletic facilities?

1. GSU - new bball arena
2. SU - upgrading football venue, soccer venue, baseball venue (? did I miss another), Basketball, softball, Track
3. UAPB - completed football fieldhouse addition
4. AlaSU - new football venue
5. PVAMU - new football venue, new soccer venue, new t&f venue, new baseball venue, new softball venue
6. MVSU - new basketball arena
7. sTu - upgraded football venue
8. AAMU - ?
9. Alcorn St - ?
10. JSU - ?
Click to expand...
...
 
Alcorn St - Baseball stadium 2006, tennis court resurface 2016, track resurface in progress now, Whitney complex arena seating upgrade 2009, Spinks/Casem stadium scoreboard in progress
 
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Bewildered said:
W/in the last 10 years, who has upgraded their athletic facilities?

1. GSU - new bball arena
2. SU - upgrading football venue, soccer venue, baseball venue (? did I miss another)
3. UAPB - completed football fieldhouse addition
4. AlaSU - new football venue
5. PVAMU - new football venue, new soccer venue, new t&f venue, new baseball venue, new softball venue
6. MVSU - new basketball arena
7. sTu - upgraded football venue
8. AAMU - ?
9. Alcorn St - ?
10. JSU - ?
Click to expand...
The new track in the stadium, softball stadium , football practice field , the mini-dome, and the Intramural Sports Fitness Center.
 



Tigerpride said:
Again.. i don't see a lot.

JSU has all of that stuff. ...and some of the things people are building are out of necessity. PV didn't have a football stadium and Valley didn't have a place to play bball.
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PV did have a stadium. It was crappy, so they put forth the effort to replace it.

Valley had a gym. It was crappy, so they put forth the the effort to replace it.

Mumford's field was crappy, so they put forth the effort to replace it.

Alabama State must not have liked what they had with the city and he Crampton Bowl, so they went and got their own place.

Grambling had a gym. It was outdated, so they had to replace it.

Necessity is the primary motivator to make physical improvements and renovations. The question now is will the schools be diligent in maintenance.
 
I do think for many of our institutions there comes a time in which a Band-Aid approach to athletic facilities isn't enough. . Many schools want their own like Alabama St Football. Great to see PVU get a stadium. Rice Totten was renovated for safety reasons. I am glad to see it happen. Hopefully it will help in recruiting when you can show off your facility.
 
I've been touting this for the last five years on that other board that thought the playoffs were going to be the doorway to them improving in everything.
 
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When did/or when is the mini dome getting renovated, I know the talks about the FEMA money , but that has not come in yet.....
 
JAGSC said:
When did/or when is the mini dome getting renovated, I know the talks about the FEMA money , but that has not come in yet.....
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The Minidome has been renovated for a few years now. Might be something going on at the state/federal level about the roof.

NOTE: Minidome is 41 years old now (opened in 1975) and will increasingly become outdated. Now you have to ask what's the plan to eventually replace it. A newer facility could also hold conference/convention space, as well as offer more modern accommodations for basketball, concerts, etc.
 
AAMU is building a new 600 resident living complex. Lot of athletes will be living there and the apartment complex. That will help with recruiting.
 
JAGSC said:
When did/or when is the mini dome getting renovated, I know the talks about the FEMA money , but that has not come in yet.....
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The mini was renovated after that fire some time ago. Both locker rooms were done maybe two to three season or so ago I think, but they are currently renovating the men's locker rooms again. I hear they are humongous.
 
we will probably be next with a new bball arena/student union..that's phase 2 of these construction plans from my understanding! The new dorm opens fall 2017...

2kool said:
AAMU is building a new 600 resident living complex. Lot of athletes will be living there and the apartment complex. That will help with recruiting.
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