Sun Devils: New Uniforms, etc.

[HooverDam]

They Olympic Village thing makes little sense. Stanford has been sub-par in the only sports that matter whenever they have not had Monty or Harbaugh, both of whom were happy to leave once they got a bigger paycheck. The non-revenue sports become dead weight when a school stresses them.

I couldn't disagree more. ASU is land rich and money poor, the Olympic village concept is a step towards solving the latter half of the equation. By selling off or developing all that land along the Lake and Karsten, ASU will open up new streams of revenue.

Its unclear yet as to how they're going to set it up but if they sell the land directly obviously that could be a big windfall. Or they could lease the land and collect rent on it, we'll see.

This is more about getting Olympic athletes to train in Tempe year round. Building on things like the Athletes Performance Institute. Right now the USIOC does most of their training in Colorado Springs, Tempe is trying to get some of that to move down here is my impression.

Its not that ASU is stressing the Olympic sports at all. Though I'm sure they'll be able to use those facilities and will benefit as well.

Plus Crow has talked about trying to attract the Pan Am Games to PHX/Tempe (they haven't been in the US since Indianapolis in the mid 90s) which would likely make ASU money as well.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Love everything that is happening. Just ordered four football season tickets. Exciting time. Stoked about the rebranding and new SDS.

 

[Bert]

I just hope that they realize that gimmicks are the mark of a second-rate organization. Oregon is an exception to the rule because of Nike. But I guess I should reserve judgment until I see what they unveil.

Facilities and the chance to be seen by scouts and a televised audience are what will win recruiting battles for ASU. But the school also needs to maintain ties to boosters, alumni, and ticket-buyers. Tradition is important: I chose the school I did because when I visited, I could picture myself there more strongly than others. A confused identity doesn't help anyone.

They said on the radio today that the team at Nike has been working on the new designs for over a year.

Hopefully that means we get something good.

 

[HooverDam]

Nike has been working on the new designs for over a year.

Thats what worries me.

 

[Tyler]

Rumor has it Glass Cage put out some new ASU shirts, a pitchfork with a flame on it, today for a little bit.

 

[Gee!]

I dont get why this is such a big deal.. Didnt ASU change their uniform just in the past two years? Where was the big announcement about that? Teams change uniforms all the time in college.. I just dont get it.. In fact if they are gonna be black uniforms I think ASU is moronic.. Why would you put your team in black in an outside AZ stadium? If the Cards had done that before getting the dome, I would have said it was dumb.. If UofA was to do that Id say it was dumb.. Unless a new stadium is in the works, this "big" announcement seems stupid.. Even if they change Sparky to something else on the helmet, big deal..

 

[Tyler]

Fair enough opinion and I can understand your logic on it. From what I have been told, not saying my source is reliable or is 100% correct, this more than just a new logo and new set of uniforms. This is a TOTAL rebranding of the ASU Athletic Dept. Supposedly ASU, Nike, and another company, rumored to be Disney have put in almost 2 years of work on a complete make over. Facilities, uniforms, marketing and so forth. April 9th is supposedly going to just be logo/uniform related with the April 12th event to showcase more of a long term goal including plans on how to fund. I guess over the next week we will know exactly what it is. As an ASU guy I am excited for the future as you would be if UofA was doing the same thing. It builds hype and momentum going into the future, ASU has 4 new commits the past week.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Even if they change Sparky to something else on the helmet, big deal..

Easy for you to say. No offense, but you don't have a real connection to either school. For those of us that attended/graduated ASU (or UofA for this sort of discussion)...even the rumor of changes to the mascot or uniform is a huge deal. To the casual fan - eh, not so much.

 

[Gee!]

Easy for you to say. No offense, but you don't have a real connection to either school. For those of us that attended/graduated ASU (or UofA for this sort of discussion)...even the rumor of changes to the mascot or uniform is a huge deal. To the casual fan - eh, not so much.

Ya I dont believe this is completely true.. I know people that went to ASU at work and they want Sparky gone off the helmet and others could care less either way.. I think its just a personal prefferance, not something that is connected to the school.. So thats why I said it wasnt a big deal.. If it was, all of ASU and the alumni would be up in arms protesting.. But, its not happening..

 

[Gaddabout]

Fair enough opinion and I can understand your logic on it. From what I have been told, not saying my source is reliable or is 100% correct, this more than just a new logo and new set of uniforms. This is a TOTAL rebranding of the ASU Athletic Dept. Supposedly ASU, Nike, and another company, rumored to be Disney have put in almost 2 years of work on a complete make over. Facilities, uniforms, marketing and so forth. April 9th is supposedly going to just be logo/uniform related with the April 12th event to showcase more of a long term goal including plans on how to fund. I guess over the next week we will know exactly what it is. As an ASU guy I am excited for the future as you would be if UofA was doing the same thing. It builds hype and momentum going into the future, ASU has 4 new commits the past week.

Funding for the new stadium is already in place, thanks to the stadium tax district that can be leveraged in bonds up to $500 million.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Thats what worries me.

Change happens. Just look at your avatar. Can't stop it. Just embrace it.

 

[Tyler]

April 9 event is now sold out.

 

[Renz]

April 9 event is now sold out.

I thought it was invitation only.

 

[Gaddabout]

I thought it was invitation only.

It was $25 if you're a current Sun Angel member, $125 if you're just someone from the public. But they weren't really advertising ... they were hoping the public would come from word of mouth and wanted to limit it to ASU fans.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Uniform changes are nice and all because people foolishly run and buy them (despite the fact modern sports most teams add a new uniform twist every couple years) and it adds more money to the coffers but facilities with the right people in place can get you over the hump. That's what ASU fans should be the most excited about especially the rumored new SDS. The Olympic Village? Who cares really. Any fan would rather be Ohio State than UCLA or Stanford. Regardless of all this stuff I'll start paying attention more when you guys gets better football and basketball coaches. The Gophers just built a brand new football stadium and they still suck. The people in charge are way more valuable than a fabric color or pieces of concrete and metal.

 

[HooverDam]

The Olympic Village? Who cares really.

You really don't understand what this is, do you?

I explained it once already in this thread, but lets try again:

The plan for the Olympic village is NOT ASU spending millions of dollars to give the wrestling, gymnastics, et cetera type programs amazing facilities. Though ASUs Olympic sports program may benefit from being able to use these facilities thats not the thrust of the plan.

The plan is to either sell or lease ASUs excess land (parking lots near the lake, Karsten, etc) in part to bring new revenues to the school. Michael Crow specifically said he wants Tempe to become "Indianapolis without the weather." Indianapolis of course is known as the "amateur sports capital of the world", from WikiP:

The national offices for the governing bodies of several sports are located in Indianapolis, including USA Gymnastics, USA Diving, US Synchronized Swimming, and USA Track & Field.

Remember how Glendale/Colangelo were going to try to get USA Basketball to move its HQ there? Don't be surprised to see Crow/Tempe now going after that and having a basketball complex anchor this idea. They may also try to target other US Olympic sports that are currently based in Colorado Springs (though obviously not the winter ones).

Additionally with an upgraded SDS, Wells Fargo, Packard, et cetera a run at trying to host the Pan American games seems likely. Especially since it hasn't been held in the US since the mid 90s.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

None of that means anything to improving ASU athletics on the field in the sports that matter.

 

[Gaddabout]

Regardless of all this stuff I'll start paying attention more when you guys gets better football and basketball coaches.

I think you're missing a point: None of the changes are coming from AD coffers. The uniforms are a Nike deal. The stadium is going to be paid for by bond issues. These are forward things the department can do to keep ASU interestin to people who are otherwise disinterested with the department.

And it's working. I can tell you people around here in town are fascinated by the super-secret stuff and they're having fun contemplating about new uniforms. How often is ASU a talker in the spring? Not often. Here at Ch. 12 we've just finished our second *news* package of the week, and it hasn't even been announced. The idea is to eventually get people interested enough to give money.

ASU football will probably be better next fall. How much better? I dunno. The returning talent is there to be much better. And if it is, it will be riding a positive momentum train from these changes. It will mean more money in the coffers so ASU can do what you say they need to do.

Until then, there's no money to hire better coaches. But I do agree with you: bottomline, always, in any college sport, the path to success is three-tiered: the staff, the staff, the staff.

 

[Mulli]

Uniform changes are nice and all because people foolishly run and buy them (despite the fact modern sports most teams add a new uniform twist every couple years) and it adds more money to the coffers but facilities with the right people in place can get you over the hump. That's what ASU fans should be the most excited about especially the rumored new SDS. The Olympic Village? Who cares really. Any fan would rather be Ohio State than UCLA or Stanford. Regardless of all this stuff I'll start paying attention more when you guys gets better football and basketball coaches. The Gophers just built a brand new football stadium and they still suck. The people are in charge are way more valuable than than a fabric color or pieces of concrete and metal.

Exactly. I will start caring again when Sparky starts winning again. Not before. Not even if Sparky gets new clothes.

 

[HooverDam]

None of that means anything to improving ASU athletics on the field in the sports that matter.

You'd agree a school having more money helps it athletic department, right? And having better facilities as well, right?

ASU athletes would have access to elite level facilities (on top of the very excellent ones they already have w/ the basketball facility and the bubble) and the University would be making more money which would surely trickle down to the Athletic Department.

ASU is 'land rich, money poor,' this plan by Crow is going to leverage that land to make money.

 

[Gee!]

I dont know what everyone is getting all excited about.. This seems to be the worst kept "secret" I have seen in awhile.. The only thing ASU fans are waiting for is the official word now..

 

[HooverDam]

I dont know what everyone is getting all excited about.. This seems to be the worst kept "secret" I have seen in awhile.. The only thing ASU fans are waiting for is the official word now..

Yes you've posted basically this same thought 3 times in this thread now, it is duly noted and entered into the record.

 

[Gee!]

Yes you've posted basically this same thought 3 times in this thread now, it is duly noted and entered into the record.

Um no I havent.. The first was to say if it just was a uni announcement, then it seems dumb.. the second was responding to BIM about Sparky.. The third was a general comment about the "excitement" that some seem to think is going on.. Yes, they were all about the same subject, but they are different in ways.. If I had gone way off subject and hijacked the thread, you would have called me out on that too..But I understand you and your hostility so you aint gonna trick me..

 

[Tyler]

Hey Gadd, what are they telling you media types about tmw night? Are you supposed to keep your mouth shut or lose your job or can you mention little tidbits?

 

[Gaddabout]

Hey Gadd, what are they telling you media types about tmw night? Are you supposed to keep your mouth shut or lose your job or can you mention little tidbits?

We're getting hung up on by our usual sources. Brand said he can't stop us from buying a ticket but we'd have to honor the embargo everyone who enters has to sign. No phones, no cameras.

You'd think they were unveiling a cure for cancer.