Staff If/When you were named VCU's new AD, How would you change the gameday experience?

Trophy Case in lobby rather than in the high donor section.

I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but tailgating to me wouldn't add a great deal to the VCU game day experience. One of the great things about the SC's location is its proximity to restaurants, bars and dives. I suppose one could never have enough, as evidenced by difficulty in finding a table or a booth at the Village within an hour and a half before game time. I truly wish there were more places like that that offered shelter, good food and libations within walking distance to the game. Baja Bean across the street from the Stu would rake in the pesos on game day. Bottoms Ups Pizza within a block of the joint would be turning away business. A Pav's Place in the old Village would have to poison people not to be successful. A Capital Ale House near the Stu would be a monster.

One of the more intriguing ideas I read in this thread was food carts. These are a big success around the medical campus at lunch time. Someone would have to stick their neck out in terms of investment and put their toe in the water to see if it could be successful. All it would take would be one successful vendor and a host of others would soon spring up. Musicians on the corners seems to be to me a romantic idea that might sound good at first blush, but too difficult to organize and keep going unless there was to be some coin involved for the musicians.

I do like the idea of a scoreboard over center court. I have always wished we had one and could save myself the whiplash that I seem to incur at every game checking the score, who made that foul, how many do they have, are we/they in bonus, replay of that, etc. Built in speakers just might help the sound system as well, but I think we might need some more powerful amplification as well.

Pav, I do agree the bling associated with our program could be made more available to the proletariat and a trophy case on the main concourse would do just that. I have yet to see the Southwest Regional Trophy despite being a supporter and fan for over forty years.

Rollins- Saying that VCU hasn't had a strong fund-raising base until a couple of years ago is inaccurate- and to dismiss the athletic department's ability to do what they want- with most of their projects- also inaccurate. I never siad it was easy. It's not. But raising money has not ever been a problem over the past 15 years- on the academic side, or the athletic side.

You want examples:

1- The Stu opened in 1999. There was a massive fund-raising effort undertaken at the time it was drawn up, and we blew the time frame away. Raised more than we needed- in way less time than allocated.

2- Keeping Jeff Capel and raising the funds to do so. No problem
3- Making Shaka Smart the highest- or one of the highest paid college basketball coaches in the "Mid-Major" ranks. Again- not a problem.
4- The recent Stu upgrades. Ask and ye' shall receive.

The issue is not whether we can raise the funds. It's how do we prioritize, and which things do we go after with the fund-raising in mind. Been that way for a while now.

Tailgating is geared less towards you old folks and your walkers.

Imagine it... Saturday and game day. Broad Street is closed off from Belvidere to Lombardy, cops keeping a watchful eye over everything and enjoying the beautiful fall day like the rest of us. Bo Dillaz, Five Guys, etc. have set up cordoned off areas with outdoor seating. Cornhole? Beer pong? or just drinking with some friends sitting in a circle while you wile the hours before another tremendous Rams victory. It's all there, along with the Peppas keeping everyone in the VCU mood - perhaps enough to buy another shirt outside B&N at their kiosk. Everything with a Black and Gold color theme to remind the TV crews taking shots of the festivities where they are.

It's like an idyllic meadow of VCU school spirit and college fun. Bracelets signify 21+ at the beer truck. Shoot, Richmonders with no interest in the game would show up like it's Oktoberfest or St. Patty's Day!

Back when they had a BYOB awesome tail gate we brought our beer pong table over, had to tell them it was "just a table" and that no drinking games were going to be played on it because drinking games are against ABC regulations.

You're such an outlaw Pav. Good stuff.

I'm sorry, I meant water pong. Beer on the side.

KMFA- (said in all fun from an ol folk who will party your ass under the table) Heck, when I was your age I felt the same way and thought we had invented beer pong and sneaking bottles into games. I learned that this was done for generations if not centuries. Damn, watch "Gladiator" they are probably sneaking in flask and tailgaiting on their chariots before the "Games".

Before you knew what Ram Ball was, we used to have Concert Games at the RC. After the game they would have bands (ex Beach Boys -I know old ) We used to bring a bag of ice under the coat, and a couple 6 packs dispersed and then create a cooler under the seat. We thought we were so clever only to look over at the geezers and see they were mixing drinks at a whole other level.

I am just having fun with you, but never think that the fun is a right only of the young. Damn, I still think I am young. I would finish this , but have to run take a leak you know how us old folk are...

tailgaiting? for basketball? in a city? ...f'ing rubes. Go out into the country if you want to drink and cornhole in a field.

Did you just say Rubes, Cornholing, and out in a field...... all in the same post. Do I hear banjos? Dang Art!

UMWRAM- I will buy you a beer at the first tailgate party next season-- perhaps we will shot gun one if I can do that while propped up on my cane

Friggin' government. They've got rules against everything. F them.

Don't be stingy. You aren't gunna be around too much longer and those Social Security checks aren't coming forever (I hear)! Buy me two beers!

I'm still trying to figure out how to keep the guitar and Bass players fingers warmed up enough during the festivities for the upcoming basketball season. It gets mighty cold down on Broad during parts of the season!

I would have offered more, but I was told you are a lightweight. Beer is on, if no tailgate then The Village. Changes are half of us are already there knocking shoulders anyway. I have a few years to SS, but agree it might not be there. Still, more importantly there is never a good reason to pass up a cold one ( or 2,3,..) before a game.