1- Tulane built a rinky dink $55M stadium that seats 30,000. It doesn't even have an upper deck. Please don't make me explain why this isn't a viable comparison in any way, shape or form.
2- Baylor Stadium will actually only hold 45,000 people. It will cost $250M... before overages. So imagine what a 60k stadium would cost. They are getting $35M from public funds which we won't get. It included $120M in private donations that UM boosters would never, ever put up. It also includes $100M in bonds (ie: debt) that Baylor intends to issue.
I hope this illustrates why what Tulane and Baylor are doing has no relation to what we need or can get done. Unless you want to donate $100M to the project, I don't think its fair to point fingers.
[Before we start, none of these are reasons why we can't do it]
That is fine on Tulane, my point is a program with no tradition (F*ck JP Losman) with 8300 undergrad found it worthy to build their own stadium. I don't care if our new stadium is only 45K, we have a lot of trouble getting 45K as it is. So build a 45K stadium in the shape of the U with optional extra seating for some big game (fill in the U). If we can raise 1.4 billion and now we attempt to raise 1.6 billion (see above) then we can put together enough money to get this done.
Tulane and Baylor are both proof of small private schools
who had the drive to go out and build a stadium. This is the point. I can point fingers all I want, I am pointing them at the AD, Board of Trustees etc. that it is not a priority of them to get us a stadium.
We can raise another 1.6 billion, sure. Why can't we start (at least start) a serious fundraising campaign for our football team? We already own the land.
I love your enthusiasm, but you didn't address any of my points. What Tulane being able to build a $55M stadium has to do with Miami needing a $300M stadium, I have no idea.
And I am glad you are ok with a 45k stadium, but again, in Miami and with overruns, we're talking $300M or more.. just for that. 60k is probably $400M.
Furthermore, Tulane and Baylor both have much more generous alumni than Miami when it comes to sports.
Our ability to raise 1.6B is impressive. Most of it goes to the med school. Those donors are using their
earmarked money to save lives and further education, not built a temple to Miami football. Ask the guy who gave $50M to the Bascomb eye institute for $2M for football and you will get laughed at.
I want this too, but its not realistic.
As for the finances, no. Miami cannot afford to play in a 45k stadium IMHO (revenue). But putting that aside, the debt we'd have to carry on the $150M we would have to raise (IF WE COULD GET THE GOV'T TO KICK IN $50M... AND IF WE COULD RAISE $100M- NEITHER OF WHICH ARE REMOTELY POSSIBLE) would kill the athletic department, crippling their annual budget.
I wish too, man. I do, badly. I miss the OB and despise SLS.
EDIT: And what is this last you say we own?
