Hens at UVA 2026

[Hensfansince03]

We REALLY need the Endzone project and expanded facilities to attract exciting non-conference home games. None of the local FBS schools are less than 35k Navy...10 years ago did anyone think we would be going FBS with a smaller stadium capacity? What would be the goal to expand capacity too? 25 to 30k with NEZ? Could we knockdown and rebuild the entire east stands along with the NEZ?

We went from a pretty big fish is a small pond to a really small fish in the large pond.... Our facilities were upper Eschelon of FCS, now we are lower tier FBS.....

[topstraight]

Congrats on Virginia to the schedule!!

IMO--I know-nobody asked-- UD should get their capacity up to the 20-25,000 range.

Also should build new structure/foundation in such a way as to make any later additions easily feasible.

Could be done in two stages--with ALL "prep" work for stage two done initially.

[Udforever1]

We REALLY need the Endzone project and expanded facilities to attract exciting non-conference home games. None of the local FBS schools are less than 35k Navy...10 years ago did anyone think we would be going FBS with a smaller stadium capacity? What would be the goal to expand capacity too? 25 to 30k with NEZ? Could we knockdown and rebuild the entire east stands along with the NEZ?

We went from a pretty big fish is a small pond to a really small fish in the large pond.... Our facilities were upper Eschelon of FCS, now we are lower tier FBS.....

Maybe stadium wise, but the Whitney rivals P4 programs if we’re talking all facilities.

[72 Hen]

I hope we get some out of conference FBS home game besides JMU. I believe we can schedule home and away games with Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach. Coastal moved up several years ago and has not been able to schedule an out of conference home game with a FBS school.

and they have a much nicer stadium than us that seats 3000 more fans!

Well, they do have more seats. I live about 10 miles from CCU stadium and recently attended their game against JMU. I'll take Delaware stadium every day of the week. To me CCU is not a comfortable stadium and the sight lines can't compare with Delaware Stadium.. The original home section is decent but the rest is pre-fab metal seating. Parking is a real issue.

On the other hand the stadium is only 10 miles to the ocean. Lot's of hotels, great golf packages, every kind of food option, etc...

[mpwerrell]

I hope we get some out of conference FBS home game besides JMU. I believe we can schedule home and away games with Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach. Coastal moved up several years ago and has not been able to schedule an out of conference home game with a FBS school.

Coastal would be a great home and home! However, Coastal has been able to schedule FBS ooc home games:
2021: Kansas and UMass
2022: Army and Buffalo
2023: Jaxx St.

I was going off memory rather than checking. Did all these teams play in Myrtle Beach? If so, then we need to schedule similar.

Yes

[finpxz1]

Give me UVA, Wake, and Colorado on the road vs. Bryant, NC A&T, and Sacred Heart at home any day. Time to spread our wings and leave the dreck that is FCS behind. I do agree we need to get stadium capacity up to 25k or more as soon as possible. Also totally agree that any expansion project should be done in a way that would make future expansion more feasible leveraging the existing facilities footprint. CUSA can’t get here soon enough!!!

[jd of de]

The NEZ project has a stadium component but it’s largely focused on building a new indoor practice facility and locker rooms.

When you see sellouts other than parents weekend, you will see stadium expansion. When you see premium seating has a waiting list, you will hear about remodeling the east side. Until one or both of those things start happening, not only does it make no sense economically, I don’t see how you fundraise to make it happen.

If fans want expanded capacity, there needs to be examples of the need for those additional seats and the expense to put them there.

[Hens79]

[*] I

The NEZ project has a stadium component but it’s largely focused on building a new indoor practice facility and locker rooms.

When you see sellouts other than parents weekend, you will see stadium expansion. When you see premium seating has a waiting list, you will hear about remodeling the east side. Until one or both of those things start happening, not only does it make no sense economically, I don’t see how you fundraise to make it happen.

If fans want expanded capacity, there needs to be examples of the need for those additional seats and the expense to put them there.

Jd, how about UD betting on the come that attendance rise will happen?

UD finally took the gargantuan step of moving to FBS. And they already have plans for a major infrastructure upgrades that includes modifications to the NEZ. And all that was BEFORE the FBS move. Why not have a modest increase in NEZ capacity of a few thousand and do something more than the underwhelming last publicly available concept? I mean, it would likely cost 2O or so million extra. Just come up with the money. UD is moving up to the big(ger) time. Why not continue to go for it?

[72 Hen]

I think Army and Navy are doable and would generate packed stands.

[bluehenbillk]

JMU is yet to get a P4 school to commit to play a road game. Temple gets them but plays in a pro stadium.

[rooneyguy]

[*] I

The NEZ project has a stadium component but it’s largely focused on building a new indoor practice facility and locker rooms.

When you see sellouts other than parents weekend, you will see stadium expansion. When you see premium seating has a waiting list, you will hear about remodeling the east side. Until one or both of those things start happening, not only does it make no sense economically, I don’t see how you fundraise to make it happen.

If fans want expanded capacity, there needs to be examples of the need for those additional seats and the expense to put them there.

Jd, how about UD betting on the come that attendance rise will happen?

UD finally took the gargantuan step of moving to FBS. And they already have plans for a major infrastructure upgrades that includes modifications to the NEZ. And all that was BEFORE the FBS move. Why not have a modest increase in NEZ capacity of a few thousand and do something more than the underwhelming last publicly available concept? I mean, it would likely cost 2O or so million extra. Just come up with the money. UD is moving up to the big(ger) time. Why not continue to go for it?

I understand that the fund-raising for the north endzone project is not going so well. I was made aware of the project long well before the information was "leaked out" and made a pledge at that time. There won't be a public announcement about the project because they have not received the kind of support they want to show when that happens (e,g., "look how much we have already raised") I asked about when that would happen and got a shoulder shrug in response.

Maybe the posters who have such great visions on what UD should build need to consider that the projected costs are not close to being covered. And I would be on JD's side of that bet regarding attendance. See what happens in the MAC for the night games on weekdays that are televised. Why would CUSA be different? Just saying.

[Bluewyn Gold]

UD finally took the gargantuan step of moving to FBS. And they already have plans for a major infrastructure upgrades that includes modifications to the NEZ. And all that was BEFORE the FBS move. Why not have a modest increase in NEZ capacity of a few thousand and do something more than the underwhelming last publicly available concept?

Instead of adding additional cost to the existing conceptual design, wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate more seating INTO the design and minimize the standing room "fan zone" concept? Devoting additional space to ticket buyers who've already paid for seating makes less sense/cents when the space could be utilized to seat additional paying customers.

Regardless, UD is not going to fill seats until/unless they bring in teams that interest ticket buyers, win games, and create excitement in the FBS. That's just an inarguable, proven fact. One without the other is not going to cut it for long...at any level.

This is not meant as a criticism, because I think the AD has done things the right way since announcing the move, including scheduling and the transition. That said, the reality is that the 2024 slate stinks again; that's largely a function of being tied to the Coastal rock. Despite any excitement about 2025 and beyond, selling tickets in '24 is going to be a chore.

Finally, the pressure is going to be turned up to about 8 for Carty and staff in the coming season. They've got to demonstrate that they are moving dramatically in the right competitive direction. It'll be too late to start playing catch up in '25. The head coach will be under the gun in '25 and '26 to make considerable progress and prove he deserves to remain in his position beyond that. Most coaches aren't given more than a couple seasons after transitions to prove themselves. There's no coasting at the next level, chaps.

Kudos to the staff for scheduling a game at Scott Stadium. It's a phenomenally beautiful structure, as is much of the UVa campus. I look forward to a return trip there. It's been many years.

[bluehens2005]

UD finally took the gargantuan step of moving to FBS. And they already have plans for a major infrastructure upgrades that includes modifications to the NEZ. And all that was BEFORE the FBS move. Why not have a modest increase in NEZ capacity of a few thousand and do something more than the underwhelming last publicly available concept?

Instead of adding additional cost to the existing conceptual design, wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate more seating INTO the design and minimize the standing room "fan zone" concept? Devoting additional space to ticket buyers who've already paid for seating makes less sense/cents when the space could be utilized to seat additional paying customers.

Regardless, UD is not going to fill seats until/unless they bring in teams that interest ticket buyers, win games, and create excitement in the FBS. That's just an inarguable, proven fact. One without the other is not going to cut it for long...at any level.

This is not meant as a criticism, because I think the AD has done things the right way since announcing the move, including scheduling and the transition. That said, the reality is that the 2024 slate stinks again; that's largely a function of being tied to the Coastal rock. Despite any excitement about 2025 and beyond, selling tickets in '24 is going to be a chore.

Finally, the pressure is going to be turned up to about 8 for Carty and staff in the coming season. They've got to demonstrate that they are moving dramatically in the right competitive direction. It'll be too late to start playing catch up in '25. The head coach will be under the gun in '25 and '26 to make considerable progress and prove he deserves to remain in his position beyond that. Most coaches aren't given more than a couple seasons after transitions to prove themselves. There's no coasting at the next level, chaps.

Kudos to the staff for scheduling a game at Scott Stadium. It's a phenomenally beautiful structure, as is much of the UVa campus. I look forward to a return trip there. It's been many years.

+100 on we have to figure out how to get some decent or more regional teams to play a home game with us unfortunately I don’t think games against C-USA opponents especially on weeknights is going to move the needle. Even on a Saturday attendance might look like what it is now we will see increased revenue from the media, but that won’t satisfy the folks that actually like to go to a live game we might take our Knocks a lot of of these road games, we will have to figure out how to win on the road in order to succeed and also get used to potentially having less home games in general.

[jd of de]

Like Rooney, I too signed a donation commitment for the NEZ project. Expecting the Flaccos and Whitneys and the deeper pockets to carry the whole load strikes me as welfare state-ish. I welcome everyone to join us at whatever level you can.

[Hens79]

UD finally took the gargantuan step of moving to FBS. And they already have plans for a major infrastructure upgrades that includes modifications to the NEZ. And all that was BEFORE the FBS move. Why not have a modest increase in NEZ capacity of a few thousand and do something more than the underwhelming last publicly available concept?

Instead of adding additional cost to the existing conceptual design, wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate more seating INTO the design and minimize the standing room "fan zone" concept? Devoting additional space to ticket buyers who've already paid for seating makes less sense/cents when the space could be utilized to seat additional paying customers.

Regardless, UD is not going to fill seats until/unless they bring in teams that interest ticket buyers, win games, and create excitement in the FBS. That's just an inarguable, proven fact. One without the other is not going to cut it for long...at any level.

This is not meant as a criticism, because I think the AD has done things the right way since announcing the move, including scheduling and the transition. That said, the reality is that the 2024 slate stinks again; that's largely a function of being tied to the Coastal rock. Despite any excitement about 2025 and beyond, selling tickets in '24 is going to be a chore.

Finally, the pressure is going to be turned up to about 8 for Carty and staff in the coming season. They've got to demonstrate that they are moving dramatically in the right competitive direction. It'll be too late to start playing catch up in '25. The head coach will be under the gun in '25 and '26 to make considerable progress and prove he deserves to remain in his position beyond that. Most coaches aren't given more than a couple seasons after transitions to prove themselves. There's no coasting at the next level, chaps.

Kudos to the staff for scheduling a game at Scott Stadium. It's a phenomenally beautiful structure, as is much of the UVa campus. I look forward to a return trip there. It's been many years.

If more seats can be added to the NEZ concept design without any additional cost, I am all for it. Not sure how that happens, but great if it does.

And yep. The Hens have to start winning right away in FBS or nothing else will matter. And going at least 8-3 at an absolute minimum with that crappy (but understandable) 2024 schedule is very important too.