New Softball Facility

I think CDC himself once mentioned, as did someone else on this forum, that the original McCombs stadium was designed as a "double-decker", but that plan was scrapped before construction started. What this implies is that the foundation was designed (and poured) to take the weight of newer, bigger steel columns to support an upper deck. This two-fer would also provide shade to the lower decks as well as solve the answer as to where to put a new stadium.
 
Benny P said:
They have remodeled Gregory since 50 years ago... It still has that "older" look, but always fun to go there and watch the Longhorns win (if there are seats avail). But they do need more volleyball seating. :hookem: Does "Soccer or Swimming" sell out every game? I don't think we can point this to sports attendance. A new or renovating the Softball stadium should be in the works within a few years. This softball program is going in the direction we want to see. :hookem:
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Factoring in the much needed renovations, it is a much cooler (in the summer) & nicer dump than it was 50 yrs ago.
 
1sahorn said:
Facetious meter alert?!?!
Sorry, but the Greg was a dump when I was there 50 years ago.
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Im dead serious. Gregory underwent a massive renovation back in the 90s. It has a Duke Cameron Fieldhouse vibe, and it's literally in the center of campus. I attended a number of VB matches as a student and it was an awesome experience.
 
racerx5908 said:
I think CDC himself once mentioned, as did someone else on this forum, that the original McCombs stadium was designed as a "double-decker", but that plan was scrapped before construction started. What this implies is that the foundation was designed (and poured) to take the weight of newer, bigger steel columns to support an upper deck. This two-fer would also provide shade to the lower decks as well as solve the answer as to where to put a new stadium.
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There is also a big *** lot right next door to the current stadium. It looks like it could facilitate a new field easily.
 
2003TexasGrad said:
Im dead serious. Gregory underwent a massive renovation back in the 90s. It has a Duke Cameron Fieldhouse vibe, and it's literally in the center of campus. I attended a number of VB matches as a student and it was an awesome experience.
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I'm truly happy you like the Greg. I understand it rcvd a/c in the 90's (a MAJOR upgrade) but the site-lines haven't changed (iron arches haven't disappeared) & the wood-topped concrete bench seats haven't gotten any softer or grown any more leg room. And the Volleyball Team has to RENT it from the Rec Ctr. My son & dtr-in-law have season tickets. They love vball, but think the Greg is a dump. I understand it has a retro vibe to it, but it has never gotten the sock-hop feel/smell out of it. That said, I really am happy you like it.
 
1sahorn said:
I'm truly happy you like the Greg. I understand it rcvd a/c in the 90's (a MAJOR upgrade) but the site-lines haven't changed (iron arches haven't disappeared) & the wood-topped concrete bench seats haven't gotten any softer or grown any more leg room. And the Volleyball Team has to RENT it from the Rec Ctr. My son & dtr-in-law have season tickets. They love vball, but think the Greg is a dump. I understand it has a retro vibe to it, but it has never gotten the sock-hop feel/smell out of it. That said, I really am happy you like it.
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I unfortunately agree somewhat... I don't think Gregory Gym is really a dump. Just an old renovated bldg. with lots of good memories. After the embarrassing comparison to the first Nebraska game and the Cornhuskers bringing in 100K fans to game one, and the Longhorns only can bring in 4K fans... The local media and fans started pressing this for more attention to a larger stadium.
Afterall, we are TEXAS. It would be nice if CDC and the board would believe the Field of Dreams phrase "build it and they will come".
But also referring to McCombs stadium. :hookem:
 
Benny P said:
I unfortunately agree somewhat... I don't think Gregory Gym is really a dump. Just an old renovated bldg. with lots of good memories. After the embarrassing comparison to the first Nebraska game and the Cornhuskers bringing in 100K fans to game one, and the Longhorns only can bring in 4K fans... The local media and fans started pressing this for more attention to a larger stadium.
Afterall, we are TEXAS. It would be nice if CDC and the board would believe the Field of Dreams phrase "build it and they will come".
But also referring to McCombs stadium. :hookem:
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Yes we are Texas. Duke basketball is legendary and they aren't in a sparkling shiny NBA arena and they sell out and the atmosphere is amazing.

Nebraska is a different world from Austin. They can have their attendance record. I just don't see the practicality of VB only/specific new arena. How big do you want it? Will it truly be a revenue generator more than what we already get? What bells and whistles will make it more desirable?

Why not just play at Moody Center if all people want is bigger and newer? Because that's too big? Seems a lot of fuss for something not needed.
 
2003TexasGrad said:
Yes we are Texas. Duke basketball is legendary and they aren't in a sparkling shiny NBA arena and they sell out and the atmosphere is amazing.

Nebraska is a different world from Austin. They can have their attendance record. I just don't see the practicality of VB only/specific new arena. How big do you want it? Will it truly be a revenue generator more than what we already get? What bells and whistles will make it more desirable?

Why not just play at Moody Center if all people want is bigger and newer? Because that's too big? Seems a lot of fuss for something not needed.
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A VB specific arena will allow Texas Sports to sell alcohol. Since Gregory is a rented space from Texas Rec, they can't sell alcohol as they don't have a license. Beer = $$$

Why not play at Moody? It's too big. JE is not a fan of playing in caverns. We can fill it! He doesn't believe so. But I guess we'll find out. He's working on the contract with Stanford for a visit next year and aiming for it to be played in Moody.
 
racerx5908 said:
A VB specific arena will allow Texas Sports to sell alcohol. Since Gregory is a rented space from Texas Rec, they can't sell alcohol as they don't have a license. Beer = $$$

Why not play at Moody? It's too big. JE is not a fan of playing in caverns. We can fill it! He doesn't believe so. But I guess we'll find out. He's working on the contract with Stanford for a visit next year and aiming for it to be played in Moody.
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I have a hard time believing alcohol sales is enough motivation to build a VB specific arena. I'd love to see the data on that. And seems nuts the University can't work it out on its own property. Gregory isn't the Vatican. It's literally the UT campus. They need to fix whatever nonsense is preventing alcohol sales if that's literally the hangup.
 
2003TexasGrad said:
I have a hard time believing alcohol sales is enough motivation to build a VB specific arena. I'd love to see the data on that. And seems nuts the University can't work it out on its own property. Gregory isn't the Vatican. It's literally the UT campus. They need to fix whatever nonsense is preventing alcohol sales if that's literally the hangup.
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This is like asking the college of liberal arts, "Why can't you get your act together and get a liquor license?" Rec Sports is there for the benefit of the common student, not to generate revenue for Texas sports.

JE wasn't bugging CDC for a new arena. He wanted "something" but not something as big as the Erwin Center. He doesn't want to lose the effect of having fans 10 ft from the opposing team.

The reason that CDC wants a new facility independent of Rec Sports is that when we say, "Hey, we'd like a big video board installed in Gregory", Gregory says, "No thanks. We'd have to maintain that and we hold yoga classes in Gregory that don't need a giant LED screen."

We say, "Hey could you get a liquor license for us?" Rec Sports says, "Uhhh, no. We have to then train and vet the servers to follow TABC rules. We're focused on fixing the climbing wall and maintaining the racquetball courts and funding the camping program"

(there was a "store" in a strip shopping center near my house whose job was training and certifying wait staff to allow them to serve alcohol in their new job - we would have to send employees [over 21] working in Gregory to training to get their certificates)

[I don't mean to be argumentative. I'm just pointing out that there are many issues unrelated directly to volleyball that makes things more complicated]
 
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racerx5908 said:
This is like asking the college of liberal arts, "Why can't you get your act together and get a liquor license?" Rec Sports is there for the benefit of the common student, not to generate revenue for Texas sports.

JE wasn't bugging CDC for a new arena. He wanted "something" but not something as big as the Erwin Center. He doesn't want to lose the effect of having fans 10 ft from the opposing team.

The reason that CDC wants a new facility independent of Rec Sports is that when we say, "Hey, we'd like a big video board installed in Gregory", Gregory says, "No thanks. We'd have to maintain that and we hold yoga classes in Gregory that don't need a giant LED screen."

We say, "Hey could you get a liquor license for us?" Rec Sports says, "Uhhh, no. We have to then train and vet the servers to follow TABC rules. We're focused on fixing the climbing wall and maintaining the racquetball courts and funding the camping program"

(there was a "store" in a strip shopping center near my house whose job was training and certifying wait staff to allow them to serve alcohol in their new job - we would have to send employees [over 21] working in Gregory to training to get their certificates)

[I don't mean to be argumentative. I'm just pointing out that there are many issues unrelated directly to volleyball that makes things more complicated]
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Im also not trying to be argumentative, but Rec Sports isn't the Federal Reserve, a quasi independent body that can do whatever it wants.

If the College of Liberal Arts was hosting UT athletic events in one of their buildings, the University absolutely should have jurisdiction over it since it's literally the University.

Obviously you are correct that there is some massive red tape going on. I'm just suggesting that there shouldn't be. Gregory Gym is literally an arena with seating for thousands and a big *** court. It's been the home court for VB for years. It's not a yoga studio or a philosophy lecture hall. VB is not some kind of impediment to a greater goal of Rec Sports as a subsidiary of the University. Its just bizarre to me is all.
 
2003TexasGrad said:
Obviously you are correct that there is some massive red tape going on. I'm just suggesting that there shouldn't be. Gregory Gym is literally an arena with seating for thousands and a big *** court. It's been the home court for VB for years. It's not a yoga studio or a philosophy lecture hall. VB is not some kind of impediment to a greater goal of Rec Sports as a subsidiary of the University. Its just bizarre to me is all.
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They do have a picture of yoga mats laid out on the floor of the volleyball court and students participating in yoga. I think it was taken in the mid-2000's.

The point is, it's not gathering dust between volleyball seasons.
 
racerx5908 said:
They do have a picture of yoga mats laid out on the floor of the volleyball court and students participating in yoga. I think it was taken in the mid-2000's.

The point is, it's not gathering dust between volleyball seasons.
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And it shouldn't gather dust. The University needs to just get rid of the red tape and use/upgrade its facilities it owns without some shadowy independent body getting in the way. Gregory is a historic venue that gets loud! It's a great space for volleyball. Intradepartment drama should not be an impediment.
 
My wife works in the commercial construction business. In fact for a few years she worked onsite at UT in their engineering offices (state work doesn't agree with her). But, she has long contacts within UT. You might find this interesting.

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 1.01.53 PM.png
 
Benny, with all due respect, I have a hard time slapping a band-aide on a pusstulant festering boil (pfb) & calling that a "remodel". Yes, they added a.c. to the pfb, but seating remains uncomfortable as hell & site-lines still suck. The Greg remains a trailer park facility; not important that the trailer house was moved into a park with a pool.
I'll not comment on McCombs Softball park; I've never been. But re: the Greg, pls don't piss on my boots & tell me it's raining outside.
 
My wife hasn't called the informant back (he used to work at her company), but she said his message was that HOK was there. In the biz, they're a really big design and engineering company:

Sports + Recreation + Entertainment - HOK

HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment specialists design gathering spaces that build excitement, facilitate connections and leave fans wanting more.
www.hok.com www.hok.com
 


I believe that CDC has secretly gotten a rough design of a future replacement stadium done to figure out how much it would cost. That's why he said in his town hall meeting, "Well, it's if you have $10M or $15M you could give us, we'd build it TODAY! .......well, more like $25M".

The drawings they showed him tell him it's going to be $25M. That's the good news. The bad news is it's going to be $25M and he said he doesn't like to start a project unless he's got funding for it. Or funding towards a big project.

Remember, OU's new stadium was being fund-raised for several years and looked like they were stalled until Love (truck stop chain) stepped in and funded the rest of it. That's why it's called Love Field now.
 
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