OmniKnight

good post Steve I think it would be worth a geographic study to see where people actually stay for Cap One and that other bowl - I'm sure the Boheme and second tier downtown hotels fill to capacity, but would also suspect that majority stay in tourist areas. Have a hard time believing that moving the game would be a deal breaker on travel plans, or impact travelers' attendance in any way. that said, I can and do appreciate the tradition of having the bowl games downtown and how locals feel about that. it certainly is fun to go to games downtown... regarding value of season tickets, I'd rather see FCS and city of Orlando partner with UCF to elevate the facility and program and increase value through competition. it's a win-win for all. the problem is the FCS folks with egos too big for such a thing, but without the ability to change status quo on regular tenant situation. they simply don't have ability to attract an NFL team, and Orlando couldn't support one anyway. there is no 'UCF of the future' in the area to become a major tenant - Stetson or Rollins will certainly never get there. there will likely never be another high-level, regular rent check at CB. bottom line, dumping millions of dollars into MLS SSS and UCF program/stadium is a far better deal than dumping millions of dollars into something that's going to sit empty 363 days a year. would love to see FCS move offices to new MLS stadium, establish operations on campus at UCF, and doze the dump.

i sense butthurt bowl games generate their revenue university overall is far greater asset upgrade BHNS and host bowl games there if we even want to keep them until citrus sports demonstrates firepower to attract NFL tenant away from another city, they need to understand their place

the citrus dump and paramore-west area are forsaken. there is no major tenant tear it down and put money into SSS for OCSC and/or upgrades to UCF stadium

In other news, Orlando was also left off the list of proposed host cities for the US World Cup bid. Anyone care to venture a guess as to WHY? FCS is just a dismal organization that has become nothing but a drain on the local economy. Time to disband that pack of looney tunes and let the real business men take it from here*

i would come closer to saying that the 'gaps' remain for the purpose of interior construction. at ucf's new arena, there was a massive gap in the front for moving equipment and materials in/out until the very last phase. your theory is certainly plausible as well though. perhaps differen't gaps serve different purposes.

Just to comment on a couple of your points here: 1. UCF averaged 44,018 fans in 2007 and only slightly lower for 2008 (40k, because of a low-consequence thanksgiving weekend game to finish the season). So the 25k/game average number is slightly misleading. In fact, BHNS has been very near or at capacity for every game (but one) that UCF has played since moving on campus. 2. You've bought entirely too much into the Sentinel's garbage headlines about the construction of BHNS (probably the ONLY thing you've been exposed to related to the stadium - but that's not your fault). The simple fact is that conventional concrete construction was never a possibility at UCF for the first phase of BHNS with the available funding - Private donations, University funding, and athletics revenue - but NO public $$$ (unlike those at both UF and FSU). Instead of a $60mm project, you would have been looking at something in the hundreds of millions of dollars. However, if you actually attend a game at BHNS, you'll find that the enclosed bowl design of the stadium provides for a very loud and exciting atmosphere, and the close proximity of the stands to the sidelines puts fans right on top of the action. It's a great meld between traditional closed-bowl style stadiums like ND stadium and the Big House, and Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech. Also, for reference to a great example of a steel-constructed stadium turned into one of the most beautiful football venues in the nation via investment in expanded phases, look no further than FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium: Early Doak (on opening day): Doak Campbell Stadium today: Bright House Networks Stadium today: So I don't think it's plausible at all to say that the current state of BHNS precludes it from becoming a top flight venue. If anything, it's a far superior design to the current Citrus Bowl, as the possibility for revenue-generating luxury suites (you know, those things that bowl commissioners like to sell) far surpasses the shortfall of suites at the CB, and is really LIMITLESS. Heck, you could conceivably wrap the entire stadium in suites if you wanted to! Also note that current expanded design specs can place BHNS capacity at well more than 60k, and closer to 80k. However, anything is really possible given the necessity (i.e. major bowl games). Point being, the current BHNS is a great base layer with unlimited potential.

ummmm..... at the risk of this being slightly OT (as this is an 'Attractions' thread)... I'll offer my thoughts. Mods, feel free to move to a new thread if you like. sorry - but the half billion dollar project is absolutely not an option at this point in time. perhaps in 10-20 years when Orlando is up for bid on one+ professional sports teams (baseball and/or football). at that point, it would be a GREAT idea and far superior to the location of the Citrus Bowl in every possible measure. Actually, the smart choice would be to doze the Citrus Dump. It's a terrible venue, in a terrible location, and hosts a grand total of THREE GAMES PER YEAR (Citrus Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, FL Classic). It's embarrassing to think that out of town guests who come to Orlando for one of the bowl games have to sit in this eyesore and perceive that part of town as Orlando. Believe me, as a fan of UCF football since the beginning in 79/80, and an [almost] annual Citrus Bowl attendee, I have as much appreciation for the history of the CB as anyone. I'll never forget making my dad hike up and down the stadium when I was a wee tike in the 80s. The sad thing is - the stadium and surroundings have just gotten to the point where they're no longer usable. And renovation is just not the most economical choice. No - The smart decision would be for the City to invest some dollars and expand the brand new BrightHouse Networks Stadium on UCF's campus, and host the two bowl games + FC there. It's a win-win-win-win for the City, residents, the University, and visitors who want a first class experience. Of course, anyone affiliated with Florida Citrus Sports can't like the prospect of that option. But at this fiscal time, it's simply the BEST solution for the city of Orlando.

interesting that disney watches both sea world and universal build these state of the art coasters, and all they can muster is american idol experience.