Here's one outsider's opinion: Link
There's room on the UNA campus for a new stadium, but money?
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That guy must have never seen the place before the new seats on the visitor side! 
When I played at UNA the game was held in McAllen, TX. The new Braly Stadium was a jam up stadium compared to McAllen, TX. I agree with the guy in the article about the stadium needing updating. If you snooze you lose and Florence is doing just that. The pre game activities are lacking as well as the half time shows. The Stadium is way overdue for a face-lift. Florence will wind up without the game if something does not happen soon!
there was talk several years ago about placing a stadium in the natural bowl behind the public saftey building.
That would be a beautiful place. I remember seeing the drawings on the Media Guide back in 1974, I think. I couldn't wait to see the Lions come charging out in that stadium! Well, 34 years later.....
Maybe they should move the game to The University of Russellville (Bedford University). From what I understand, their facilities are much nicer than UNA's, and the stadium easily seats the 6,000 to 7,000 fans the game usually draws. Russellville also has a Jumbo tron for replays.
Yes, the Bedford Bowl is a thing of beauty. I'm sure Roger's subterranean lair and the missile silo beneath it are even more impressive.
Back to Braly, the problem as I see it, is that the visitor's side the writer complains about is very rarely occupied by anyone other than the UNA band. Re-read the T/D article from Sunday and tell me how many fans from both teams made the trip to the championship??? That's not enough to fund a new spool of barbed-wire down to the co-op. Attendance provides the cash; I'm right sure we'd know how to spend it.
Back to Braly, the problem as I see it, is that the visitor's side the writer complains about is very rarely occupied by anyone other than the UNA band. Re-read the T/D article from Sunday and tell me how many fans from both teams made the trip to the championship??? That's not enough to fund a new spool of barbed-wire down to the co-op. Attendance provides the cash; I'm right sure we'd know how to spend it.
Not to bring up a sore subject, BUT, some of the money used for the boondoggle of a "sportsplex" would have been well invested in Braly it appears.
quote:Originally posted by redbull:
Not to bring up a sore subject, BUT, some of the money used for the boondoggle of a "sportsplex" would have been well invested in Braly it appears.
Yes since hardly anyone plays baseball or softball around here anymore. As that sink hole swallows the fields, maybe they could use it as a wading pool. Then as it deepens it can be an Olympic sized pool and even deeper still, a wave pool. If you get lemons, make lemonade. Words to live by in the Shoals.
It would be nice to have a new stadium. Something along the lines that they have at Normal, Alabama on campus at A&M. I just don't think the money is there. I'd rather see them do more to enhance the academic facilities at this time rather than the football field. I hear Wesleyan is up for renovations. I doubt it will be completed before I finish, but maybe in time for the new Geoscience graduate program in the Fall of '09.
I don't think Braly needs to be replaced, but I can think of several improvements that could be made. Where the money would come from is not something I'll go into; but with the way that Florence loves to spend money and UNA loves to raise tuition, you would think it could get done. My ideas:
1.) In this day of college football, two stadium amenities come to my mind more than any others: the scoreboard and "luxury boxes". Especially in a smaller stadium such as Braly, the scoreboard is THE focal point of the crowd. When the current scoreboard was installed somewhere around 1996, it was close to state-of-the-art. Over a decade later it is badly showing its age. I would leave it in place, but add a new High-Definition replacement on the south end of the stadium.
2.) As for luxury boxes, there is definitely a market for them in college football. Is there a market here, when we rarely fill the home stands? I'm not sure. I think boxes flanking the current press box on both sides could be a good addition if there are people willing to use them. At the very least, I think the press box needs a *major* overhaul. The two-color approach looks very bush league. Compare it to other press boxes, even around D2, and it is almost embarrassing.
3.) I think there needs to be some kind of formal entrance to Braly, a plaza area where fans can tailgate, mingle, or even watch the game. Obviously, lack of space is a problem. How about building new dressing rooms for both teams on the south side of the stadium, raze the current ones on the north end, and construct a plaza there? Have a nicely landscaped area with statues of former Lion greats, tributes to championship teams, etc. Allow fans to watch the game here if they want.
Finally, just do the little things. Fix broken concrete around the stadium. Put on some new coats of paint. Continue to offer better concessions (I do love the Chick-fil-A though). Landscape better. A little effort here can improve the stadium with little monetary investment.
These are my ideas, as far-fetched as they might be. Braly still has potential, it just needs a makeover.
1.) In this day of college football, two stadium amenities come to my mind more than any others: the scoreboard and "luxury boxes". Especially in a smaller stadium such as Braly, the scoreboard is THE focal point of the crowd. When the current scoreboard was installed somewhere around 1996, it was close to state-of-the-art. Over a decade later it is badly showing its age. I would leave it in place, but add a new High-Definition replacement on the south end of the stadium.
2.) As for luxury boxes, there is definitely a market for them in college football. Is there a market here, when we rarely fill the home stands? I'm not sure. I think boxes flanking the current press box on both sides could be a good addition if there are people willing to use them. At the very least, I think the press box needs a *major* overhaul. The two-color approach looks very bush league. Compare it to other press boxes, even around D2, and it is almost embarrassing.
3.) I think there needs to be some kind of formal entrance to Braly, a plaza area where fans can tailgate, mingle, or even watch the game. Obviously, lack of space is a problem. How about building new dressing rooms for both teams on the south side of the stadium, raze the current ones on the north end, and construct a plaza there? Have a nicely landscaped area with statues of former Lion greats, tributes to championship teams, etc. Allow fans to watch the game here if they want.
Finally, just do the little things. Fix broken concrete around the stadium. Put on some new coats of paint. Continue to offer better concessions (I do love the Chick-fil-A though). Landscape better. A little effort here can improve the stadium with little monetary investment.
These are my ideas, as far-fetched as they might be. Braly still has potential, it just needs a makeover.
All good ideas.
I can't wait for the wailing to start. Remember the wailing when they upgraded the visitors' stands?
I can't wait for the wailing to start. Remember the wailing when they upgraded the visitors' stands?
I agree they need to build new and state of the art dressing rooms. The ones there are just high school bathrooms. I think they should wrap stands around the North endzone and construct the new dressing rooms underneath the stands. Have a tunnel for the players to enter the field and (remove) the current scoreboard and put a new one above the North stands. Also put a scoreboard in the south endzone.
There is still talk of the natural lay of the land behind the baseball field. Let the college have their own home field and update and use the current (Braly) stadium for high school and the D-II National championship game. That stadium is the center asset of the economic boost this area gets from this event.
Congrats to new Coach Terry Bowden
GO LIONS!!
There is still talk of the natural lay of the land behind the baseball field. Let the college have their own home field and update and use the current (Braly) stadium for high school and the D-II National championship game. That stadium is the center asset of the economic boost this area gets from this event.
Congrats to new Coach Terry Bowden
GO LIONS!!