Bob Stoops wants OU to have a better press box, but can OU afford it anytime soon?

[OU48A]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/spor...s_box/54-18537

1/13/2013 5:12 PM



NORMAN — Although Bob Stoops was the one sitting on the highstool and it was a handful of writers who were plopped comfortably in thetheater chairs of Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson Team Meeting Room, we were theones who just about fell out of our seats.

One of the questions to Stoops during Friday’s season-wrapinterview session was whether he wanted to see Memorial Stadium grow and addmore seats.
“No,” Stoops said. “Just a better press box.”

we all laughed, but he was serious.
“It'll make it a bigger stadium,” Stoops explained. “Theyjust need to go end zone to end zone kind of like Nebraska did.”

While OU in recent years has paid particular attention toimproving concourse amenities and video capabilities and luxury suites, theHarold Keith Press Box has become severely outdated. Press box facilities ofBig 12 newcomers West Virginia and TCU — modern dining areas, superiorunobstructed field views, cutting edge computer technology and unlimitedtelevision viewing options — showed just how far Oklahoma’s press boxfacilities have slipped.
Press row denizens have known this for years. Many in theFourth Estate spend up to 8-10 hours in the press box on game day, and whocould be opposed to making scores of writers and broadcasters and PR personneland NFL scouts more comfortable during their six or seven fall Saturdays inNorman?

I’ve never seen Stoops anywhere near the press box in nineyears covering OU, but somehow he has become aware of it, too.
“You look at how great the east side is,” Stoops said, “youhave to do something equal or better for you guys, more seating, more boxes.”

I like the way Stoops thinks.

[soonerson]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

[greensooner]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

if we build it, they will come?

[OU48A]

I would like to see OU add lights that run the length of thenew press box and also add them on the east side line.

[KCRuf/Nek]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

And this will improve the product on the field and the sidelines how?

[FiveOhSooner]

Smoozing up to the press.... Good idea.

Seriously, I have heard the press box sucks... They probably should try and compete with the better press boxes in the country...

[Nazgul]

**** the old media. Bunch of useless hacks.

[Yatahaze]

Also very high on my priority list. Bob speaks for the common man.

[ElGuapoSooner]

I want to see frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams in both end zones...

[OU48A]

Since the media has the power of the pin (or voice) and the ablity to create an impression on potential recruits and others, its best if you can leave a good impression on those who write and say things about the OU football program.

OSU had gotten great mileage out of its new facility’s and they are nice but
most of OU facilities are just as nice or very close.

But the media is influence by what they see;
they spend most of their time in the pressbox.
OSU’s press box is a lot nicer than OU’s

This needs to be an OU priority.

[OuachitaSooner]

Great, we will have the perfect facilities to allow the media to cover our slow decline.

[OU48A]

I want to see frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams in both end zones...

A laser beam show along with fireworks after a score would be cool.

[ElGuapoSooner]

A laser beam showalong with fireworks after a score would be cool.

I like where your head is at. Cutting edge, indeed.

[boomermagic]

Bob is almost always an **** to the press.. Hmm, Guess he's thinking he might prevent some of them from writing about his bad coaching staff. Bob needs to worry about fielding a team that can get it done on the field not the press box.

[OU48A]

Bob is almost always an **** to the press.. Hmm, Guess he's thinking he might prevent some of them from writing about his bad coaching staff. Bob needs to worry about fielding a team that can get it done on the field not the press box.

This will be needed long after Stoops has left OU.

[quatrogenerian]

When I first saw the headline, and saw that it was Hoover asking the question, I thought for sure Stoops was being a smart****. I'm still not sure he wasn't.

[AntiDean]

So, season ticket prices increase so Al ****crack can have a better place to watch the game?

[Plano78]

We could always go back to the press box from 1974? Don't know just how they could bring the current one down in one chunk.

[BobbyDMusic]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

Unfortunately, we CAN'T afford that.

[BoulderSooner]

we need to raise enough money to wipe out the west side upper deck and rebuild it to match the east with the press box built into one of the suite levels ..

this would add a few hundred seats but it would also add lots of club seats and some suites ..

[oucub23]

We could put the power of LT behind this if it came with several press passes for the board.

[Schnelly]

I want to see frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams in both end zones...

[xunil]

Where does the "but can OU afford it" come in?

[85sooners]

Ticket prices are already getting out of hand!

[SoonerSean03]

As much money as the ****lord's have given I'm surprised the pressbox hasn't already been updated. But they've sold The Oklahoman so that well is probably dry. I doubt any single donor could get them close to what a new pressbox would cost and not sure that excites a lot of smaller donors.

[OU48A]

Where does the "but can OU afford it" come in?

I believe the OU athletic department is in charge of paying 100% of the debt for the new student housing center that will house about 50% non-athletes. This athletic department debt would easily pay for a new press box.

On top of this the athletic department sends OU academics several million each year… It was 7 million the last I heard.
This too would over time easily pay for a new press box.

Large donations are not exactly falling out of the sky these days either.

I suppose it could be debated if it’s the right thing to do or not, but the athletic department is being used as a source of revenue to operate the university.

Hence can OU (athletics) afford it?






PS: there are a number of fan amenities that could be funded with the money in question

[OUrage]

Where does the "but can OU afford it" come in?

OU can't afford it but Bob could buy a bakers dozen.

[OU48A]

Even KSU will have a nicer looking press box side.

[OU48A]

TCU stadium slide show

http://www.stadium.tcu.edu/

[andymancan20]

As much money as the ****lord's have given I'm surprised the pressbox hasn't already been updated. But they've sold The Oklahoman so that well is probably dry. I doubt any single donor could get them close to what a new pressbox would cost and not sure that excites a lot of smaller donors.

Tim Headington says hello
...being worth a few billion he could just pay for it all with interest

[OU48A]

Tim Headington says hello
...being worth a few billion he could just pay for it all with interest

If he wants to he could?
There are others that could do it to….. If they wanted to?
But thus far nobody seems willing. This issue is not new.

[SoonerSean03]

True. I was thinking more along the lines of someone interested in journalism/press. But a guy like Headington could certainly give them enough to either complete it or get far enough along to not need a lot of other donors.

This clearly doesn't excite anyone or - as noted - it would have been done by now.

[OU48A]

Something like this press box is what OU needs to build

[andymancan20]

we need to win a few big games to get donors excited again...there is a correlation between winning and money coming in so Bob needs to get back to Bobby and the money will show up

[Mr. Pink]

Isn't that the sign kids in elementary school make to indicate that they didn't fart?

[OU48A]

we need to win a few big games to get donors excited again...there is a correlation between winning and money coming in so Bob needs to get back to Bobby and the money will show up

That’s completely true IMO.

But if the media has a good lasting impression of OU they are going to write and say good things about OU….
This might help Stoops recruit better players and win the big games.

[OU48A]

This is the outside of the Texas Tech press box.

It was built to fit into the architectural style of their campus.

OU would need to do the same.



t

[dainbramage]

If you can't please the people, please the Press. Sound politics. Stoops is learning how to hold onto power and a sinecure position.

[LASooner]

Everyone complains about how the national media treats OU, and a valid solution to that problem is presented and people complain about it.

[Straz1999]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

YYYYYYYOOOOOOWZA!!!!!!!

[OU48A]

You know what I'd like to see? A defense and a ****ing running game.

I would like to see it too…… but being a smart **** is so much easier, isn’t it.

Using your logic I guess we shouldn’t have improved ourprogram under John Blake…..
when we built the Switzer center or when we added lights to the stadium or paved the concourse under the east side of the stadium.

A new OU press box improves the program and adds new revenue via additional suits.

[Turk]

I would like to see it too…… but being a smart **** is so easier, isn’t it.

Using your logic I guess we shouldn’t have improved ourprogram under John Blake…..
when we built the Switzer center or when we added lights to the stadium or paved the concourse under the east side of the stadium.

A new OU press box improves the program and adds new revenuevia additional suits.

Smart ****? I thought it was a smart response. Bobby is a total **** to the media most if the time. All of the sudden? He's looking out for them? He cares about their comfort? No doubt, OU needs to update that old ****. But for Bob to be the guy spearheading it? Laughable. Jmo

Fvckin it live via tapatalk dos

[OU48A]

Smart ****? I thought it was a smart response. Bobby is a total **** to the media most if the time. All of the sudden? He's looking out for them? He cares about their comfort? No doubt, OU needs to update that old ****. But for Bob to be the guy spearheading it? Laughable. Jmo

I won’t disagree with you about the media.

However Stoops is the current man in charge of the football program….

It’s not at all out of the ordinary for a football coach at any university including several past OU football coaches to want something done that improves the football program.
In many cases it’s the football coach who heads the fundraising drive.

There is nothing wrong with Stoops either wanting a new press box or asking for donations because a new press box improves the football program and that’ part of his job.

[Yuck Fu]

I would like to see it too…… but being a smart **** is so easier, isn’t it.

Using your logic I guess we shouldn’t have improved ourprogram under John Blake…..
when we built the Switzer center or when we added lights to the stadium or paved the concourse under the east side of the stadium.

A new OU press box improves the program and adds new revenue via additional suits.

Ah heck, he was just trying to make a funny. I laughed.

But on a serious note, It looks to me that if they are going to buile a new press box they are likely going to have to tear down the parking garage behind it. I'm curious what options they have strutcurally to redo the press box.

[TittiezBeerNSoonerFB]

Sun Bowl payoff and Cotton Bowl attendance payoff last two seasons, here I'll give you a box:

[OU48A]

Ah heck, he was just trying to make a funny. I laughed.

But on a serious note, It looks to me that if they are going to buile a new press box they are likely going to have to tear down the parking garage behind it. I'm curious what options they have strutcurally to redo the press box.

I know he was, but it would be nice to sort of stay on the pressbox topic on post # 2 of this thread.

No need to remove the parking garage... they can build a pressbox while working around the parking garage.

In fact, I heard Boren say several years ago that they may even build something like a lobby on top of the parking garage.

[sOUltrain65]

Smoozing up to the press.... Good idea.

Seriously, I have heard the press box sucks... They probably should try and compete with the better press boxes in the country...

We would only be able to land a 2 or 3-star contractor to do the work. The 4 and 5-star contractors only work on SEC stadiums.

[SoonerSean03]

They should just do like Winstar and slap a fake facade over the existing structure. The avg fan couldn't give a **** about the interior.

[Slobber]

[Slobber]