New ODU Stadium (Completed)

[BFG]

The new stadium will be named Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The namesake is Barry Kornblau, a 1971 ODU alum who donated $3M to the stadium reconstruction.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/old-dominion/football/article_ccc33c40-233f-11e9-ad23-7bce9f1b19c0.html

[BeagleAccountant]

Phase 2 fundraising has already begun. They need to replace the north endzone bleachers as they are failing. They plan on placing a new scoreboard behind the new endzone as well. I'm hoping they connect the new endzone to the new east and west stands, but am not confident that will happen.

They want that project to take place in 2020. But they're funding it all privately, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is pushed a few years out.

[BeagleAccountant]

1 hour ago, NFKjeff said:

The fundraising is going extremely well. Money for the scoreboard is in hand, and I am confident that whatever configuration they have planned for the north end zone it will take place in the next off season.

Fantastic. Any idea what that new endzone would look like?

I know they want a place for students to tailgate/congregate during pregame and that would likely be a part of this. 

I've also heard decking/SRO was possible, which would mean a loss in capacity.

[BeagleAccountant]

53 minutes ago, NFKjeff said:

I am sure I am no more of an insider than you, and what you have said regarding the north end zone I have heard also, with one additional possibility. I have also heard that there is a plan for a multipurpose building at ground level with bleachers atop of that. I’m not sure if the two sides would be connected or not. It is my understanding that they want to have this in place for the 2020 season.

I have heard the same thing about the multiuse building.  It makes sense too since that small building currently under the endzone is being used by food vendors. 

One thing I haven't seen reported elsewhere. ODAF may have a big blue room in the new East Side stands, since there will be a multipurpose room over there. Much like the Ted, it would only be open pregame, halftime and postgame. They're trying to work that out and see if it would be worth it. 

Edited January 29, 2019 by BeagleAccountant

[BeagleAccountant]

The stadium made a ton of progress in March. However, April should be huge for it. I drove by the staging area this weekend and it is full of materials.

[BFG]

I drove past the stadium and was impressed at how quickly it’s coming along. 

[BeagleAccountant]

SB Ballard posted this video on the construction of the football stadium. It's the first one I have seen where you really get a sense for how much bigger of a presence it will have than Foreman.

 

[BFG]

Looks pretty tall from Hampton Blvd...

[Up2313]

Wow that's awesome. I may be mistaken but I don't really think you could see the stadium from there before. 

[BFG]

If so, it was barely. Maybe the uppermost section in the middle, if that much.

[BeagleAccountant]

16 hours ago, BFG said:

Looks pretty tall from Hampton Blvd...

 

Agreed, this stadium has much more of a presence than Foreman did. And it looks much more cohesive.

According to this article, the height of the westside stands is 95 feet, while the eastside is 55 feet.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/old-dominion/football/article_d3293bae-6122-11e9-b6c7-fb3a13f97c6f.html

Edited May 23, 2019 by BeagleAccountant
Grammar

[HRVA]

Construction update from SB Ballard 

 

[BeagleAccountant]

I snapped a few photos of the stadium when I went to pick my seats out last week. The new Ballard has the potential to be really loud and it looks like there won't be a bad seat on the sidelines.

[carolinaboy]

Looking good ODU.

[EJ_LEWIS]

The new stadium looks big! Glad they saved the old brick from Foreman Field and added it to the façade of the new stadium.  

[vdogg]

There are about 5 different webcams at this link where you can view construction progress.

https://www.sbballard.com/portfolios/odu-sb-ballard-stadium-updates/

[BeagleAccountant]

I can't wait to see this place packed in the fall.

 

[BeagleAccountant]

The YAF did another tour of the stadium recently and shared this photo album on Facebook. 

https://m.facebook.com/pg/yaf757/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2350465294975971&ref=page_internal

[zeppelin14]

Just wondering since this is still a pinned topic... Wasn't there supposed to be a second build phase after the first season?

[BeagleAccountant]

On 7/10/2020 at 11:09 PM, zeppelin14 said:

Just wondering since this is still a pinned topic... Wasn't there supposed to be a second build phase after the first season?

There will be future phases to fix the north end zone and add more seating and suites on the west side. But it’s undetermined when that will happen and covid surely is going to delay it even more. Could be a long time before we say a major project on the site.

[vdogg]

Have all phases of this project been completed?

[BFG]

I thought they wanted to replace the (non-party deck) end zone seats with a more modern grandstand that connects to the current setup?

[BeagleAccountant]

3 hours ago, vdogg said:

Have all phases of this project been completed?

No. This was just phase 1. The stadium is expandable to 30k seats before any land needs to be cleared.

[baobabs727]

Confusing. And what would make anyone think that ODU would need 30,000+ seats in the foreseeable future. 

[carolinaboy]

7 hours ago, baobabs727 said:

Confusing. And what would make anyone think that ODU would need 30,000+ seats in the foreseeable future. 

So [more] people can see them play Troy and South Alabama. 

Edited August 23, 2022 by carolinaboy