Bridgeforth Stadium's Falling Down...

[mcveyrl]

To the tune of London Bridges...it works.

Here's the webcam.

http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/cmpa/bfwebcam/bfwebcam.jpg

Wrecking ball started falling yesterday.

[Ud1Hens]

I thought JMU usually waited until the 1st or 2nd Saturday of December to collapse. J/K xsmiley_wix

I kid, I kid...In all seriousness, that will be an awesome venue when completed. Here at UD we are still waited for 'updated' aka scaled back plan to be unveiled. Congrats to actually getting stuff done. I look forward to making the trip down when completed.

[mcveyrl]

I thought JMU usually waited until the 1st or 2nd Saturday of December to collapse.

I kid, I kid...In all seriousness, that will be an awesome venue when completed. Here at UD we are still waited for 'updated' aka scaled back plan to be unveiled. Congrats to actually getting stuff done. I look forward to making the trip down when completed.

Har har har...we decided to do the collapsing early...first week in October. xbawlingx

I'm really looking forward to sitting in the new seats next year and then seeing the upper deck the year after. It was a bit sad to watch (via webcam) our normal season ticket seats get demolished (wish they would've let us keep the bleachers or something).

[JMUNJ08]

Wow that was quick...do we know if the lower level will have more/less seats than this year's stands? I know overall will be 10K or so more but jw for tickets next year...

[mcveyrl]

Wow that was quick...do we know if the lower level will have more/less seats than this year's stands? I know overall will be 10K or so more but jw for tickets next year...

I heard that after the first year the capacity will be equal to what it has been and the addition of permanent end zone seating plus the upper deck will add the 10K.

[JMUNJ08]

I heard that after the first year the capacity will be equal to what it has been and the addition of permanent end zone seating plus the upper deck will add the 10K.

Stands will also be closer to the field. Should go right over the track correct? No walkway in the front? That was the best to stand in front. Easy to spot friends, see the game, etc.

[mcveyrl]

Stands will also be closer to the field. Should go right over the track correct? No walkway in the front? That was the best to stand in front. Easy to spot friends, see the game, etc.

Yep. The walkway will definitely be missed by my family. We parked the strollers there. :D

They had the new wall line marked. It will be much closer to the field.

[JMUNJ08]

Yep. The walkway will definitely be missed by my family. We parked the strollers there. :D

They had the new wall line marked. It will be much closer to the field.

Little young for the strollers myself but I did miss that one...

The stadium should look great in 2 years. I'm sure next year will be just as hard to get tickets. I sure hope they don't raise prices again. Family weekend and homecoming are getting steep!

Excited for the new stadium of course but hope it just keeps us as an FCS power and not FBS bottom feeder...

[Eight Legger]

Geez, miss the playoffs and you tear down your stadium? Hard core, man.

[mcveyrl]

Little young for the strollers myself but I did miss that one...

The stadium should look great in 2 years. I'm sure next year will be just as hard to get tickets. I sure hope they don't raise prices again. Family weekend and homecoming are getting steep!

Excited for the new stadium of course but hope it just keeps us as an FCS power and not FBS bottom feeder...

YOU'RE hoping they don't raise tickets? Right now I get four season tickets, plus four concession vouchers for each game (good for a drink and a dog or a pretzel) and it costs me $200 total. They didn't offer new ones this year, only let you renew. I'm afraid that price is going to go up shortly even if you'v purchased the packets for a couple of years.



Geez, miss the playoffs and you tear down your stadium? Hard core, man.

That's how we roll.

[JMUNJ08]

Geez, miss the playoffs and you tear down your stadium? Hard core, man.

If we had knocked it down after Hofstra we might have sent a message and made the playoffs...xsmhx

[JMUNJ08]

YOU'RE hoping they don't raise tickets? Right now I get four season tickets, plus four concession vouchers for each game (good for a drink and a dog or a pretzel) and it costs me $200 total. They didn't offer new ones this year, only let you renew. I'm afraid that price is going to go up shortly even if you'v purchased the packets for a couple of years.


Recent alums don't have the money:(

From my distance (5 1/2 hours) and job I can't make every game so season pass ($30-40 for all 4 right now in your case for example) which isn't horrible isn't feasible. A game or 2 every year $20-30 a ticket puts me at 1/2 your costs (me and 1 guest). I know they are going up but they better make sure the xazzx are in most/all those seats for games other than HC or FW before the $$$$ goes up.

[mcveyrl]

Recent alums don't have the money:(

From my distance (5 1/2 hours) and job I can't make every game so season pass ($30-40 for all 4 right now in your case for example) which isn't horrible isn't feasible. A game or 2 every year $20-30 a ticket puts me at 1/2 your costs (me and 1 guest). I know they are going up but they better make sure the xazzx are in most/all those seats for games other than HC or FW before the $$$$ goes up.

That's the one thing that might save us. Depending on how demand goes, you might be able to get upper deck seats pretty cheap in a couple of years.

[JMUNJ08]

That's the one thing that might save us. Depending on how demand goes, you might be able to get upper deck seats pretty cheap in a couple of years.

That's my goal. Get upper season tickets which will be cheaper and just as funxthumbsupx. Maybe an extra student section up top or just more in the endzone? No way can we only allow 5 or 6K in per game with 23,000 students. It doesn't work too well now with only 17/18,000

[andy7171]

Geez, miss the playoffs and you tear down your stadium? Hard core, man.

[xlolxxlolxxlolx

at least they covered up the ugly two tone brown and green field for these pictures. :D

[DFW HOYA]

Here at UD we are still waited for 'updated' aka scaled back plan to be unveiled.

Hey, get in line...

http://www.georgetownvoice.com/2004/08/26/new-athletic-facility-plans-released/

[th0m]

Hey JMU fans have been waiting for this a long time as well!

[smcwildcat]

thats kinda sad

[andy7171]

thats kinda sad

I agree.

It seems like just yesterday I was standing mid field staring at the JMU dance team on the sidelines. xlolx

[89Hen]

Yep. The walkway will definitely be missed by my family. We parked the strollers there. :D
You will NOT miss the track or walkway. xrulesx :)

[89Hen]

I agree.

It seems like just yesterday I was standing mid field staring at the JMU dance team on the sidelines. xlolx
If you were standing midfield, then you were looking at the top of their heads. That field had the steepest pitch I've ever seen on a football field. :p

[mcveyrl]

You will NOT miss the track or walkway. xrulesx :)

You are right, so long as I have adequate stroller parking. :D


If you were standing midfield, then you were looking at the top of their heads. That field had the steepest pitch I've ever seen on a football field. :p

No joke. Somehow corners had great recovery speed when they were chasing an outside route...xlolx

Not to mention it was glorified concrete.

[andy7171]

If you were standing midfield, then you were looking at the top of their heads. That field had the steepest pitch I've ever seen on a football field. :p

You ain't kidding. It was actually the first year of their new carpet(1991). You got sandy if you fell.

[JMUNJ08]

You ain't kidding. It was actually the first year of their new carpet(1991). You got sandy if you fell.

Students used to be allowed on the field as well. I played pick up football my frosh year and now its all closed off cuz of the new turf....xsmhx

[GannonFan]

If you were standing midfield, then you were looking at the top of their heads. That field had the steepest pitch I've ever seen on a football field. :p

I forgot about that - did they ever fix the pitch on the field, maybe when they changed the surface a few years back?

[mcveyrl]

I forgot about that - did they ever fix the pitch on the field, maybe when they changed the surface a few years back?

Yes, I think they did that with the new surface.

[BDKJMU]

Most updated pic, timeline, and new youtube video:
http://www.jmu.edu/bridgeforthstadium/?KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=14400&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

[BDKJMU]

Still cam:
http://134.126.89.164/

[BDKJMU]

Slide show so far:
http://members.cox.net/ecorf/Bridgeforth.html

[89Hen]

So if I'm reading this right, they are tearing down the visitor side and basically just replacing it this year. Then after 2010 season they build the endzone, upper deck and boxes in time for 2011?

[mcveyrl]

So if I'm reading this right, they are tearing down the visitor side and basically just replacing it this year. Then after 2010 season they build the endzone, upper deck and boxes in time for 2011?

That's my understanding.

[Dukie95]

So if I'm reading this right, they are tearing down the visitor side and basically just replacing it this year. Then after 2010 season they build the endzone, upper deck and boxes in time for 2011?

More or less...the entire new lower section won't be complete, because they need to get construction equipment in to complete the upper sections after the 2010 season.

The first few rows of the new lower section will be temporary bleachers.

[mcveyrl]

More or less...the entire new lower section won't be complete, because they need to get construction equipment in to complete the upper sections after the 2010 season.

The first few rows of the new lower section will be temporary bleachers.

Which makes sense since the line they have drawn now says "Stadium Wall - 2011." That's confused me all year.

[JmuSkinsfan]

She's about to come all the way down. Weird to see.

[mcveyrl]

She's about to come all the way down. Weird to see.

Yep. Not much left of the ole girl.

[89Hen]

That's my understanding.


More or less...the entire new lower section won't be complete, because they need to get construction equipment in to complete the upper sections after the 2010 season.

The first few rows of the new lower section will be temporary bleachers.
That's good news though. A plan that allows you to use most of the side for 2010 is a good one. Seems like when The Citadel tore down one side, they lost it entirely for a season (seemed like two).

[mcveyrl]

That's good news though. A plan that allows you to use most of the side for 2010 is a good one. Seems like when The Citadel tore down one side, they lost it entirely for a season (seemed like two).

Very true. Losing half of the stands for a whole year would not be good, even if they put up some kind of temporary system.

[mcveyrl]

Aaaaaand, scene.

14876

[WUTNDITWAA]

Aaaaaand, scene.

14876

Halfway to looking like Northeastern. xsmiley_wix

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

Where did my seats go?

I'll be up there next week for my son's graduation. I bet the stadium looks really weird. I'm excited about the expansion and where my new seats my be located.

Go Dukes!

[ASU_Fanatic]

wow

[mcveyrl]

Where did my seats go?

I'll be up there next week for my son's graduation. I bet the stadium looks really weird. I'm excited about the expansion and where my new seats my be located.

Go Dukes!

Mine better be on the lower level. That's all I'm asking.

[JMUNJ08]

Aaaaaand, scene.

14876

Take a good look at the parking deck. Last time you will see that too before the new stadium swallows it up.

[jmufan999]

I thought JMU usually waited until the 1st or 2nd Saturday of December to collapse. J/K xsmiley_wix

that's actually pretty clever, well played.

[mcveyrl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0w_v1gevOY&feature=player_embedded

Time Lapse of the first week. Beacause of the time of year and the sunset it's not the best quality, but it's all I got.

[Dukie95]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0w_v1gevOY&feature=player_embedded

Time Lapse of the first week. Beacause of the time of year and the sunset it's not the best quality, but it's all I got.

Chomp, Chomp, Chomp!

[GoneTribal]

time lapse was cool to see. thanks for sharing.

[JMUNJ08]

Looks like construction maybe starting for Micropiling! A little ahead of schedule!

[mcveyrl]

Looks like construction maybe starting for Micropiling! A little ahead of schedule!

The schedule that was updated yesterday said it still wouldn't start until the 21st.

[soccerguy315]

for next year the plan is for you guys to be back to 15,000, and then at 25,000 (the upper deck?) for kickoff in 2011, yes?

[mcveyrl]

for next year the plan is for you guys to be back to 15,000, and then at 25,000 (the upper deck?) for kickoff in 2011, yes?

Yep. The stadium will be back to its "regular" capacity for next year and then 25K after that.

[JMUNJ08]

The schedule that was updated yesterday said it still wouldn't start until the 21st.

Yeah just looks like prep work but at least on schedule. Not something you can normally say with construction...

[mcveyrl]

Yeah just looks like prep work but at least on schedule. Not something you can normally say with construction...

Yep. As far as I'm concerned, on schedule is early.

[jmufan999]

am i the only one that WANTS upper deck tickets? because here's the thing.

i'm done, i repeat DONE... with sitting on the east side. DONE. the reason? i'm tired of the sun getting in my eyes. that may sound like a bad excuse, but until you've done it, you don't really know. the sun is DIRECTLY in your face for every day game. even when it's setting, the other side is "short" enough where you still have to deal with it for a long time. yes, i realize when the upper deck is built, the "sun will set quicker" (quickest way i could explain that). but i can't do another year of that. but i'd really love upper deck seats with the sun behind me...

[JMUNJ08]

That's my goal. Get upper season tickets which will be cheaper and just as funxthumbsupx. Maybe an extra student section up top or just more in the endzone? No way can we only allow 5 or 6K in per game with 23,000 students. It doesn't work too well now with only 17/18,000


am i the only one that WANTS upper deck tickets? because here's the thing.

i'm done, i repeat DONE... with sitting on the east side. DONE. the reason? i'm tired of the sun getting in my eyes. that may sound like a bad excuse, but until you've done it, you don't really know. the sun is DIRECTLY in your face for every day game. even when it's setting, the other side is "short" enough where you still have to deal with it for a long time. yes, i realize when the upper deck is built, the "sun will set quicker" (quickest way i could explain that). but i can't do another year of that. but i'd really love upper deck seats with the sun behind me...

I was thinking more on cost but yes I do. I cannot find the post by I had another JMU poster or 2 with me!

[mcveyrl]

I just want my regular seats. Section 16, Row X. For one, I've made friends there and secondly the view will be better once they bend it.

[Longhorn]

So if I'm reading this right, they are tearing down the visitor side and basically just replacing it this year. Then after 2010 season they build the endzone, upper deck and boxes in time for 2011?


Just a minor correction....it's not the "visitor's side" that's been torn down, it's the home "M" side. The visitors and student sections (the original stands seating about 6k) will remain until some future date, when and if there is a need to duplicate the new home side and upper deck, as well as finish out enclosing the endzone creating a horseshoe shape.

[WUTNDITWAA]

Just a minor correction....it's not the "visitor's side" that's been torn down, it's the home "M" side. The visitors and student sections (the original stands seating about 6k) will remain until some future date, when and if there is a need to duplicate the new home side and upper deck, as well as finish out enclosing the endzone creating a horseshoe shape.


So once the new side is finished, will they tear out that two-story singlewide they call a press box?

[JMU Newbill]

So once the new side is finished, will they tear out that two-story singlewide they call a press box?


Oh come on.... it's atleast a hybrid single-wide.

[WUTNDITWAA]

Oh come on.... it's atleast a hybrid single-wide.

Maybe you could sell it to whomever took our 300 porta-potties.

[JMUNJ08]

Maybe you could sell it to whomever took our 300 porta-potties.

I was just "borrowing" them.xsmiley_wix

[WUTNDITWAA]

I was just "borrowing" them.xsmiley_wix

Ha! You can have them. xsmiley_wix