The Bobcat Nation

I was just curious as to what everyones feelings were about the new roof being installed on the fieldhouse. I believe I read in the comical that the total cost was around 2.2 million. Is this new roof a big enough priorority right now that it is being done before any further improvements on the football stadium (i.e. a new south endzone)? I understand the concern for leaks etc., but the pricetag seems a little steep in my eyes. What does everyone else think on this issue?.........

Yes it is a huge priority, plus I think that the bill is being footed by Auxiliary Services and not athletics.

Has anyone ever heard a cost estimate for what it would take to replace the endzone seats with an earth berm or "real" seating?

It seems like it is a project that a lot of people would love to see happen, so perhaps a fundraising campaign for that specific purpose will happen? Of course, they probably want to pay down some of the existing bonds first.

Bay Area Cat wrote:Has anyone ever heard a cost estimate for what it would take to replace the endzone seats with an earth berm or "real" seating?

It seems like it is a project that a lot of people would love to see happen, so perhaps a fundraising campaign for that specific purpose will happen? Of course, they probably want to pay down some of the existing bonds first.

I'd be willing to donate some $$$ if they would promise it would ALL go into the south stands/closing in the BURM section. Private fund raiser might be the way to go?

As to whether the roof needed replacing:
Yes! The very samething that the dome a work of engineering marvel also makes it
susceptible to water damage, the wood structure. The dome structure made of relatively
small wood members any rot or wood damage has a domino effect. Also re-roofing a
dome structure is very labor intensive and is a OSHA inspectors nightmare. They are
also doing minor structural repairs and preventive maintenance at the same time.
Two other things to remember is that this is the very first major reroofing project since
it was designed 50 years ago. An extensive re-roofing job every 50 years is not that bad.
Finally MSU will be celebrating the 50 anniversary of the Field House next year with a
major event / program so they want to get the building all shiny and pretty for next year.

Football Seating: I have been told that once football games start averaging enough
attendance to justify their remodel they will be replaced. The administration does not
want to remodel seats that are not being used.

Yes, the work on the Fieldhouse roof absolutely is necessary. From what I understand they have already had substantial problems with leaks and without repairs it would just get worse and worse.

I don't know how I'll sleep at night knowing that "MANY" Griz fans will never come back to Bobcat Stadium again. I sure can't believe it considering the "friendly" welcome I get every time I show up in Missoula for a football or basketball game.

Thanks for the imput. When explained in detail this project does indeed sound necessary. I am baffled by the lack of detail that the comical included in their article. Nowhere in the article was it stated where the funding came from, or that it was an extremely necessary project. What would we do without bobcat nation?

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but griz fans who complain about the hospitality (or lack of) at last years game are complete hypocrites.

Can we make the dome gold color?

Wouldn't that make it Billings West High School's Golden Dome?

there's an old story out there regarding the dome and why msu did not have the first indoor football stadium...after all as i recall it would not have been that much of a "stretch" to make it large enough...as recall the story...

coach sweeney...that coach sweeney...was asked early on in the planning about playing football indoors and according to legend...sweeney was heard to say something like...(in a fifties mano a mano kind of way)...football is meant to be played outside in the elements...

can't vouch for it the accuracy...but it sounds logical...the thought must have passed through a few forward looking minds in the day....

the gold dome thing...perfect...it would be great to attract various religious cults from around the world...a new source of income for the gallatin valley...wonder why it wasn't thought of before...

Jim Sweeney was the head coach of the Flathead County Braves when the Fieldhouse was designed. He had no say in it's development.

Jim Sweeney was the head coach of the Flathead County Braves when the Fieldhouse was designed. He had no say in it's development.

I have been told that football indoors wasn't an option at the time. Astroturf wasn't invented yet so I don't think they even considered building the fieldhouse for football. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I have been told.

I know that the original design for the Fieldhouse was big enough to accomodate football, but was later changed to the current smaller size. I don't know if they were intending to play FB in the Fieldhouse right away or just wanted the building to be large enough so that they would have the option to do so in the future.

all rightteee then...

Let's weigh the options: $2M for a new roof, or replace the arena for $20-40M with something smaller. Tough call. If we don't maintain the fieldhouse, we could always move the games to Belgrade.

It's often been speculated that the building could have been big enough for football. I'm not so sure that was ever seriously considered, and what may not seem much of a stretch would have actually been a much bigger building that would probably be an albatross today - too expensive to heat and maintain. Other than being a great place for indoor track meets and tractor shows, I wonder if the folks in Pocatello wouldn't rather have a nice outdoor stadium and adequate basketball arena (5-6000 seats), rather than a shabby quonset hut. The arenas in Flagstaff and Moscow, which I have seen, are good for football, but lousy basketball arenas.

We're pretty lucky to have the facilities we have, and when they get payed for, plan some improvements. What Kramer would probably wish for would be another building, just like the new tennis center, for football practices.

i think there was one high school football game played there.

I remember a game being played there. It was 6 or 8 man, and a state championship, I believe. I think it was in the late 70s or early 80s. That's when the floor was dirt, so all they had to do is chalk on some lines and rig a goal post. I sure don't miss that dirt floor, when the put the basketball court on a platform 2 to 3 feet high and a big crowd would kick up dust.

Athletic Funding story:

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... bzbigs.txt

From the athletic funding story: " MSU added men's skiing for gender-equity reasons and hired assistants for weight and training rooms."
I never thought I would see the day that men get additional sports for gender-equilty reasons. Too bad MSU didn't add something with spectators.