FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sflzman]

So with Albion, Alma, and Kzoo's renovations and re-surfacings everyone but Hope will have good fields, correct?

From what Formerd3db says, it could be awhile for Hope to have an updgrade since they do not own the stadium!

It amazes me that Hope doesn't just build their own stadium. I'm sure there is some contract for Hope using the Holland Municiple Stadium, does anyone know when it expires?

[sac]

Why does it amaze you?  Hope and Holland have always had a long standing close relationship for facilities use.  Holland Municipal Stadium is basically on the the campus directly adjacent to all of Hope's other outdoor athletic fields.

Unless they stick one in front of DeVos Fieldhouse (which I posted about a few pages ago), it would be really hard to find enough open space as close or closer to campus to build one on their own.

In my mind they have 3 options

1) Build in front of DeVos, which I believe they could easily do and wouldn't detract from the look of the area at all imo.  Probably not cheap.

2) Buy municipal stadium from the city, there is nothing functionally wrong with the stadium other than needing new locker rooms and a sketchy overused field.  It would be hard for most people to guess how old it is if they've never seen it.

3) Continue to play at Municipal Stadium and hope the city comes through with the necessary upgrades in field and locker rooms.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Why does it amaze you?  Hope and Holland have always had a long standing close relationship for facilities use.  Holland Municipal Stadium is basically on the the campus directly adjacent to all of Hope's other outdoor athletic fields.

Unless they stick one in front of DeVos Fieldhouse (which I posted about a few pages ago), it would be really hard to find enough open space as close or closer to campus to build one on their own.

In my mind they have 3 options

1) Build in front of DeVos, which I believe they could easily do and wouldn't detract from the look of the area at all imo.  Probably not cheap.

2) Buy municipal stadium from the city, there is nothing functionally wrong with the stadium other than needing new locker rooms and a sketchy overused field.  It would be hard for most people to guess how old it is if they've never seen it.

3) Continue to play at Municipal Stadium and hope the city comes through with the necessary upgrades in field and locker rooms.

#1 seems improbable to me - two football stadia essentially side-by-side?

Combining 2 and 3, how about Hope funding the improvements in return for a partial ownership stake?  Anyone have insight on the feasibility of this?

[sflzman]

Why does it amaze you?  Hope and Holland have always had a long standing close relationship for facilities use.  Holland Municipal Stadium is basically on the the campus directly adjacent to all of Hope's other outdoor athletic fields.

Unless they stick one in front of DeVos Fieldhouse (which I posted about a few pages ago), it would be really hard to find enough open space as close or closer to campus to build one on their own.

In my mind they have 3 options

1) Build in front of DeVos, which I believe they could easily do and wouldn't detract from the look of the area at all imo.  Probably not cheap.

2) Buy municipal stadium from the city, there is nothing functionally wrong with the stadium other than needing new locker rooms and a sketchy overused field.  It would be hard for most people to guess how old it is if they've never seen it.

3) Continue to play at Municipal Stadium and hope the city comes through with the necessary upgrades in field and locker rooms.

I also don't necessarily know the history of Hope and the city of Holland that well, but as I see it, there's a big difference of playing on a poorly conditioned field, that is not yours, then playing on a field that you own, and is up to you top take care of. Knowing how Hope's facilities are, you know that their own football field could be top-notch in the nation if it is anything like their other facilities.....

[Raider 68]

Why does it amaze you?  Hope and Holland have always had a long standing close relationship for facilities use.  Holland Municipal Stadium is basically on the the campus directly adjacent to all of Hope's other outdoor athletic fields.

Unless they stick one in front of DeVos Fieldhouse (which I posted about a few pages ago), it would be really hard to find enough open space as close or closer to campus to build one on their own.

In my mind they have 3 options

1) Build in front of DeVos, which I believe they could easily do and wouldn't detract from the look of the area at all imo.  Probably not cheap.

2) Buy municipal stadium from the city, there is nothing functionally wrong with the stadium other than needing new locker rooms and a sketchy overused field.  It would be hard for most people to guess how old it is if they've never seen it.

3) Continue to play at Municipal Stadium and hope the city comes through with the necessary upgrades in field and locker rooms.

#1 seems improbable to me - two football stadia essentially side-by-side?

Combining 2 and 3, how about Hope funding the improvements in return for a partial ownership stake?  Anyone have insight on the feasibility of this?

Mr. Ypsi,

Your idea of 2 and 3 is a good one! Now you should talk with formerd3db and he can go to the Board of Hope and the City of Holland!

[formerd3db]

Thanks for all the discussion and suggested ideas you guys.  What sac has outlined is the history.  sflzman probably inadvertenly missed some of our discussion on this several pages ago as well as my own "Dissertation Part I " on the history of the stadium issue, which I have followed for a very long time (actually since my own playing days there).  Indeed, as sac has mentioned, the City of Holland and Hope College have had a tremendous relationship for decades, and probably the best of all the MIAA schools and cities I would dare say (no disrespect intended towards any of our other MIAA schools/cities).  I think that has been borne out by the fact that the community attendance at Hope sporting events, obviously especially in basketball, football, volleyball, soccer and even baseball (and you will see this with lacrosse and hockey - it has already been happening with those) outdraws the support by other MIAA communities.

So here is "Dissertation Part II or The Re-cap ). Hope has played in a city owned stadium since the 1930's when old Riverview Stadium was built for the county fair as I understand it.  Prior to then, Hope played on campus, actually the field is where the modern DeWitt Student Center and Administration Building now stands, in front of the historic Pine Grove in central campus and next to the old now torn down Carnegie-Schouten Gymasium (which incidentally, was the first time ever that multi-millionare philanthropist and businessman Carnegie gave money to colleges or cities for anything other than libraries - he was a friend of the Hope College President Phellps...but I digress! ).  Anyway, the problem has always been the field because of the multi-sport use by the college and the high school. Which was why the new stadium was built in the first place back in 1979, but still has the same problem since they never put in the synthetic turf as we've previously discussed.  And...as sac said, the stadium is still modern looking with the neat "bowl shaped" type setting with students sitting on the "u"hill portion at the south endzone of the stadium, however, I will say that some of the new designed stadiums are better i.e. Trine, Adrian, Case Western, etc. etc..

So, the options are as have been nicely outlined by you guys previously:

1) With all due respect to sac (who is as knowledgable and and probably much more so than I about Hope), I seriously doubt that a stadium would be built in front of DeVos. I have to disagree with sac a bit here, as IMO, it would take away from the asthetics of this new area of entrance to the campus.  From what I understand, the grand plan was to have that as the "GateWay to the Campus" and I believe there are/were? even plans for a huge iron arch with the words "Hope College" to be set on brick columns to match that from the one on campus from th early 1900's class and also to match the wrought iron fencing and brick pillars now aligning Fairbanks Street along the athletic complexes. Plus, the stadium would take away from the asthetics of Devos, IMO and I also do not feel there really would be enough room for it there.  They want the "open green area".

2) So that leaves the other two options.  As always, the issue is $.  Hope could buy it, however, as I understand it, the City has concerns about loss of control and renvenues i.e. concessions and even rent.  sac can help us out with this here, but I believe that was exactly the issue as to why Holland Christian High School left DeVos and built their own basketball arean as they though Hope was charging to high of rent.  Holland Christian has enough $ themselves as they built their own football stadium with the new style turf as well.

It makes sense for Hope to buy the stadium as it is indeed right in the middle of all their other athletic facilities.  There have even been discussios on "land swaps".  Of course, as has been said, the stadum needs a new football building at the open end, the Press box could be upgraded and a new scoreboard and some improvement on the railings for safety.  With many of the other high schools in the immediate area and region that now have the new turf, it is my opinion that Holland and Hope are going to have to "pony up" for this new turf eventually, or they are going to be running far behind in that regard.  Also, the current football practice fields are very unsafe in that this past year, they were reduced to basic dirt and sand as the grass had some kind of fungus and it all died.

The other problem (er, challenge as I previousl mentioned (I think ) is that if they decide to add turf, it would be best to do all the fields and the stadium at once since it cost a ton of $ to bring that equipment in and it would be rather "not very smar" to do it twice inctead of once.  IMO, that would be a huge waste of $.  Also, by not doing the new turf regardless of who owns the stadium, as we've all discussed, it is very dangerous in the middle of the season in football.  Last year i.e. in 2009, we had a higher number of injuries due to the fild at that one game mid season as it was a "mine field"as I menioned, although not quite as bad this past season in 2010.  However, I will tell you that the coaching staff is very concerned about the practice fields.  I doubt that any attmepts at trying to cure that will be helpful - if it idoes work, it will only be temporary - unless they bring in that Jerry guy , you know the "Master Gardner" as seen on TV who had that "Garden Weasel" thing you could buy that was supposed to save your garden and grass?  Maybe he could help!  LOL  So there you have it, friends - the "state of Holland stadium and Hope College!  

[Raider 68]

formerd3db,

Great post! +k 

[formerd3db]

Thanks Raider68, you are very kind.

[Raider 68]

Any news from Olivet, no mention of them on anything?

[sflzman]

Any news from Olivet, no mention of them on anything?

I haven't heard any news out of Olivet camp so far.....

And OC_SID has been MIA the last month or so....

[sflzman]

And, silence..............

[Raider 68]

And, silence..............

It seems that all the boards are quiet! Maybe it is March Madness, or spring clean-up. No talk of Spring drills upcoming either!

[sac]

Sad news for fans of the great NFL archives

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/NFL-Films-President-Steve-Sabol-diagnosed-with-b?urn=nfl-wp385

[sflzman]

And, silence..............

It seems that all the boards are quiet! Maybe it is March Madness, or spring clean-up. No talk of Spring drills upcoming either!

Yes indeed some great march madness games, though my bracket always seems to he on the wrong side of the thrillers. Needed a Washington win today and a k state win last night....

[Raider 68]

And, silence..............

It seems that all the boards are quiet! Maybe it is March Madness, or spring clean-up. No talk of Spring drills upcoming either!

Yes indeed some great march madness games, though my bracket always seems to he on the wrong side of the thrillers. Needed a Washington win today and a k state win last night....

U of M gave Duke all they could handle!