Done deal is almost a done deal

This probably goes under the news value of “rubber stamp,” but the Fargo Dome Authority approved the 2012 capital budget last night at $5.45 million, which included $3 million for the purchase and installation of new turf and $1.8 million to pave lot G, which should further enhance the football tailgating atmosphere. In the further rubber stamp department, what’s left before the done deal is a done deal is for the Fargo City Commission to give its OK, which will probably take less than a minute.

Still to be resolved with the turf is naming rights and negotiations appear to be close in the Authority locking somebody up for some signficant coin.

Speaking of tailgating, most football-loving Division I schools, be it FBS or FCS, allow tailgating busses and trailers in lots on Friday night. It’s time for NDSU to shed the minimum hours prior to a game but keep the maximum hours afterward. It’s not as if it’s Zip to Zap or Woodstock out there. You’re talking about a bunch of middle agers who pay money for the spot and probably are not going to set anything on fire. And if it needs to be looked over once in awhile on Friday, then police it. Make it a penalty; if you’re told to leave the lot, then you lose the privilege for an entire year.

15 thoughts on “Done deal is almost a done deal

  1. There’s always considerations that you don’t think about. For example, would the school or Fargodome have to increase their insurance coverage in order to allow people on Friday? Is there some weird city ordinance or zoning thing that prevents it?

    But I do agree with you in general, they should allow Friday tailgating.

    • Most D1 schools allow trailers and buses in to the reserved lots on Friday. But they do not allow tailgating on Friday to the masses.
      I do agree that tailgating should be allowed to go on considerably longer than what it is now. I would like to see 2-3 hours after the game. 1 hour isnt enough.

  2. Why does it cost $3 million for new turf for the FargoDome, an article last week stated it will only be $476k-$784k to replace the Metrodomes turf????? What is the difference

  3. The cost of the turf includes expanding the storage pit below the south end zone, new motors to roll the stuff up and I believe the technology for the rollup turf simply costs more.

  4. “”You’re talking about a bunch of middle agers who pay money for the spot and probably are not going to set anything on fire. “”

    Sorry to say but one of your prized pupils from this site tried to do exactly that last year with a USD jersey soaked in lighter fluid. Thankfully security stopped him.

  5. I agree with you Jeff, open the lot on Friday afternoon/evening, GO BISON!!

  6. I sure hope the turf doesn’t get covered with a bunch of advertising and little to no room for NDSU. It is sad that the old stuff they are still playing on only has the endzones for the the school. I guess people may forget that they are sitting in the Fargodome while watching NDSU and need to be reminded with the huge ad that takes up 2/3 of the field. Simply horrible.

  7. Sorry to say but one of your prized pupils from this site tried to do exactly that last year with a USD jersey soaked in lighter fluid. Thankfully security stopped him

    HEY A HOLE, that WASNT ME. if I did 10% of the crap you und fans said I did, then i’d be dangerous. even though kolpack referenced the fire shot, I dont think even he would insinuate that was me, so props to jeff for that. its all good, you can keep being jealous and hateful and abusive.

  8. Do I understand correctly that lights are a done deal this year and paving the lot/turf are a done deal for next year? Any new information on some type of facility going up in the west lot or just pavement for next year?

  9. Zip to Zap– wow, that’s a long time ago. We never even got there. Highway patrol turned us around in Bismarck. I think the next year there was a similar disaster planned for Cuba but it never took off.