Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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FatJeff
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Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by FatJeff »

Rumors floating around Social Media that the Stadium Authority is going to announce a suspension of all activities in advance of a possible condemnation.

I'm not gonna lie, our seats in JJ Orange looked like we were one big cheer from falling though the risers.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by BigWave96744 »

Aloha Stadium to shut down indefinitely due to severe maintenance issues
For months, Aloha Stadium has stood empty since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
By HNN Staff | December 17, 2020 at 10:11 AM HST - Updated December 17 at 10:11 AM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Aloha Stadium Authority is preparing to announce that it is shutting down all operations at the facility for indefinite period of time due to severe maintenance issues, sources told Hawaii News Now.

A source told Hawaii News Now on Thursday that the closure ― which has not yet been officially announced ― means there will be no spectator events, including University of Hawaii football games, concerts and graduations.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/12/1 ... ce-issues/

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by shrek2 »

The State works so slow that they can't have it reopened by next Fall?

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by couz808 »

They might have to hold games at war memorial stadium in Maui temporary since that place holds around 20,000 people. This is sad.
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

shrek2 wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:34 am The State works so slow that they can't have it reopened by next Fall?
Blame the Legislature.....as well as Governors Abercrombie then Ige….for failure to take any action (not even being reactive) on this one!

The Aloha Stadium Authority has been seeking funding for a new stadium over 15 years ago now. While the Lingle (Republican) administration supported funding for a new stadium during her 2-term (8-year) administration, the Democratic-led Legislature would not support funding for a new stadium (but did appropriate repair & maintenance funding). Then neither Governors Abercrombie and Ige would support funding for a new stadium until being re-elected for a 2nd term....so in turn the Legislature wouldn't support funding either without backing from the Governor while also cutting back on the funding for needed repair & maintenance work at the stadium.

Only after getting re-elected did Governor Ige support funding for a new stadium in the 2019 Legislative Session but then the Legislature also decided not to appropriate any more funds to allow needed repair & maintenance work to continue in order to maintain the existing facilities until such time that a new stadium could be built.

Accordingly, the Aloha Stadium Authority has been operating on their own revenues (essentially as a private business)…..so it shouldn't be a surprise that the pandemic (with no spectator events) has also significantly reduced their financial resources (much like a private business - but actually even worse since any unspent revenue must be returned at the end of the fiscal year to the State's general funds (for re-appropriation by the Legislature) plus the Governor has not designated any CARES relief funds for the stadium) to continue operating & maintaining the facilities. As such, the Aloha Stadium Authority is not allowed by law (as was introduced & enacted by the Legislature) to retain any unspent revenue beyond any fiscal year.....to purposely prevent revenue reserves to be established (i.e., can no longer retain any revenue profits for future expenditure).
Those [legislators & Governors] who fail to plan [ahead and take action in a timely manner]…..inexorably [though not intentionally] plan to fail.....
Last edited by kapakahi on Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:53 pm, edited 12 times in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by TheDuke »

doesn't say condemned. Don't start rumors that are unsubstantiated. Rumors like this will kill recruiting and the program. I read this to say that repairs can't be made because of lack of revenue and funding. Once revenues or funding is available for repairs the stadium will reopen.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

shrek2 wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:34 am The State works so slow that they can't have it reopened by next Fall?
TheDuke wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:03 pmI read this to say that repairs can't be made because of lack of revenue and funding. Once revenues or funding is available for repairs the stadium will reopen.
New funding could be appropriated by the Legislature in the upcoming legislative session (January through April) but typically wouldn't be made available until July 1, 2021 (the start of the State's fiscal year)…..which would mean that certain maintenance (and some repair) work could be performed....but also that certain intrusive structural repair work would probably have to wait until 2022 (during the off-season when any significant repair work is typically performed) since it would typically not be safe to allow spectator events to be conducted within a construction zone (from a general liability insurance standpoint). Only the Governor can authorize and designate emergency funds to be made available immediately!
Last edited by kapakahi on Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:44 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

BTW this should not be coming as a surprise to the Governor's Office & the UH Athletic administration either.....since both offices are allowed to be represented at Aloha Stadium Authority Board meetings. https://twitter.com/HawaiiAthletics/status/1339704884359094277
Last edited by kapakahi on Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

The timing of this release may be just a coincidence....but it could be possibly related..... https://twitter.com/polynesiabowl/status/1339605064277610498

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by shrek2 »

This is an interesting take on the fate of UH football and the stadium.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... new-events
A rolling average of 15K in attendance is required for FBS status.
A new 35,000-seat stadium is scheduled to open by the fall of 2023, but it is unclear what solutions would be considered to host the football team for the next two seasons. To maintain FBS status, a football program is required to "average at least 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home football contests over a two-year rolling period," according to the NCAA bylaws.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

shrek2 wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:07 pm This is an interesting take on the fate of UH football and the stadium. https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/1339720476176732161 https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... new-events

A rolling average of 15K in attendance is required for FBS status.
A new 35,000-seat stadium is scheduled to open by the fall of 2023, but it is unclear what solutions would be considered to host the football team for the next two seasons. To maintain FBS status, a football program is required to "average at least 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home football contests over a two-year rolling period," according to the NCAA bylaws.
The state of Hawai'i does not have another stadium with a capacity of 15,000 or greater. A message left for the NCAA inquiring about the possibility of a waiver for Hawai'i to keep its FBS status while playing at a smaller venue was not immediately returned.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by Scott »

Statement from UH Athletic Director David Matlin on Aloha Stadium announcement


“We are beyond disappointed of the news at today’s announcement from the Aloha Stadium Authority that there will be no further events in the current stadium with fans. Aloha Stadium has such a storied history and carries so many memories for our football program and generations of Hawai‘i families. We must now take responsibility ourselves to find a suitable venue for our Rainbow Warriors, Hawaiʻi’s football team, to play in front of our loyal fans beginning in 2021.”

- UH Mānoa Athletic Director David Matlin

No further statement will be made by UH today.
"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by Scott »

Statement from UH Athletic Director David Matlin on Aloha Stadium announcement


“We are beyond disappointed of the news at today’s announcement from the Aloha Stadium Authority that there will be no further events in the current stadium with fans. Aloha Stadium has such a storied history and carries so many memories for our football program and generations of Hawai‘i families. We must now take responsibility ourselves to find a suitable venue for our Rainbow Warriors, Hawaiʻi’s football team, to play in front of our loyal fans beginning in 2021.”

- UH Mānoa Athletic Director David Matlin

No further statement will be made by UH today.
"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."
- Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')

Mahalo,
Scott
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by sarvicdar »

I read three sources, KHON, SA, and the Civil Beat, regarding the stadium shutting down, mainly the reasoning given by the Stadium Authority today-whom basically cited the pandemic, budget woes.

From Civil Beat:

Our current state today is that we are unable to hold large gatherings,” said Ryan Andrews, the stadium’s deputy manager. “It’s difficult to see when that might change in the future.”

CB goes on to say that at the end of the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2021 the Stadium will have taken (projected) in 1.5 million which is 5.8 million less from last season.

I get that.

My question is-why is today announcement by the Stadium Authority looked upon as a fait accompli, final death blow, to UH and other tenants of the stadium, when the pandemic that we are currently in can turn its course by the next summer.

There's no mention of the stadium's structure as cause to shut down.

I read Matlin's statement suggesting that the nails are on the coffin, like it's a done deal, and the school has to look for a field to play at. He begins by saying ... "I'm disappointed that there will be no further events at the stadium," and cites how sad he is because of the stadium's storied history. This reads like an eulogy.

Did the Stadium say it's closing forever? All the Stadium cited today
was the pandemic has caused a hardship on its operations and is temporarily closing. Is the current pandemic reversible? Sure it is.

UH president, Lassner, acknowledged that the school needs a contingency plan, but he also said he wants to have continued talks with the Stadium. I like that. He's a genius.

I just wish the governor can show some leadership here. The pandemic will someday take its course, but in the meantime it shouldn't take down everything in its path as we are currently seeing.
Last edited by sarvicdar on Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by Egonator »

I will miss this stadium. It was never the nicest stadium but had such fond memories of this stadium since i was 5 years old. The people I met, the memories from high school, NFL and college football games, the concerts, etc....all priceless memories. definitely will miss it.

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