Smokies Stadium

#101
#101
youcancallmeAl said:
I don't think one can be overly concerned about that sort of thing. The President of the University owns the Smokies, for goodness sakes. I wonder if he took any mitigating kind of action to avoid a conflict?
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Guarantee this was vetted and determined to be a non issue. Boyd didn’t become a billionaire overnight, and more importantly has developed a reputation of honesty and integrity. Plus, many college baseball teams play annually at minor league stadiums (GA, GA Tech, FL, FL State, Vanderbilt, and likely dozens more). Nothing to see here. Heck, Smokies normally charge for parking and even waived it for Vols night. Tickets were $10 and even less for children. Have to grow the game and give more fans exposure to Vols baseball.
 
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#102
#102
THEONLYTENISEE said:
Was there not a shuttle from Bass Pro? A staff member said the average game is 4500 fans. So when there’s 8000+ fans, I’m sure there’s gonna be limited parking. Luckily, I was off yesterday and was able to get to the game 2 hours early.
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Smokies overflow lots are grass and were flooded due to all of the rain. They asked Bass Pro if they could use their massive lot but they declined. I don’t blame them because they were still open for business.
 
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#105
#105
MT_Vol said:
If you think a midweek loss to Tech really hurts, you don't know anything about college baseball.
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Yeah any ordinary midweek game. Just unfortunate to have a game like this ruin the nations longest win streak.
 
#106
#106
golfballs said:
Yeah any ordinary midweek game. Just unfortunate to have a game like this ruin the nations longest win streak.
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Unfortunate? Yes. I think we’re all disappointed about the win streak ending. That’s an unexpected byproduct though. We still have a great record in conference play. Let’s see if our guys apply the lessons learned to this weekend and beyond.
 
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#111
#111
golfballs said:
Sure but those aren’t binary outcomes
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They're only loosely connected, and they certainly aren't mutually inclusive. In fact, focus on win streaks is probably corrosive to focusing on the goal of winning championships. I'd rather lose that game than any conference game.
 
#112
#112
TN_gal said:
Unfortunate? Yes. I think we’re all disappointed about the win streak ending. That’s an unexpected byproduct though. We still have a great record in conference play. Let’s see if our guys apply the lessons learned to this weekend and beyond.
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I’m w you. No game is meaningless if there are lessons you can take away from it, much less ones that count. Ask TTU if it was meaningless. They played well
 
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#113
#113
taylorvol said:
Guarantee this was vetted and determined to be a non issue. Boyd didn’t become a billionaire overnight, and more importantly has developed a reputation of honesty and integrity. Plus, many college baseball teams play annually at minor league stadiums (GA, GA Tech, FL, FL State, Vanderbilt, and likely dozens more). Nothing to see here. Heck, Smokies normally charge for parking and even waived it for Vols night. Tickets were $10 and even less for children. Have to grow the game and give more fans exposure to Vols baseball.
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Yeah, but this is pretty unique. President of University X is also owner of Minor League team Y, and the baseball team contracts with another school to play in his team's stadium. At the very least, his team benefits from the free publicity generated. If U of X president personally profits - or his team - from this then it is corrupt. I he doesn't then it isn't. But I don't see how he doesn't if his team gets lots of free publicity.
 
#114
#114
golfballs said:
The board of directors has a written policy about conflict of interest. And it covers situations where even the appearance of one might exist. I was more sensitive about this issue when the were some grumblings about UT sharing a park with the Smokies. Glad that’s not happening
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I'm not one to worry about the "appearance of impropriety." I've seen that phrase weaponized and used in the political arena to smear and slander people. Either there is or there isn't a conflict. I think in this case there is - at the least - the free favorable publicity his team got by hosting the game in the stadium with the same name as his team.
 
#115
#115
youcancallmeAl said:
They're only loosely connected, and they certainly aren't mutually inclusive. In fact, focus on win streaks is probably corrosive to focusing on the goal of winning championships. I'd rather lose that game than any conference game.
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Certainly, but the two are unrelated. I agree about the win streak. The team certainly shouldn’t worry about it. And odds are it ends at some point in conference play. It’s fun for fans and goes along long enough makes a line in a record book somewhere.
 
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#116
#116
THEONLYTENISEE said:
Was there not a shuttle from Bass Pro? A staff member said the average game is 4500 fans. So when there’s 8000+ fans, I’m sure there’s gonna be limited parking. Luckily, I was off yesterday and was able to get to the game 2 hours early.
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Shuttle buses from campus and city locations would have been a solution. It was a poor job of contingency planning.
 
#117
#117
youcancallmeAl said:
Yeah, but this is pretty unique. President of University X is also owner of Minor League team Y, and the baseball team contracts with another school to play in his team's stadium. At the very least, his team benefits from the free publicity generated. If U of X president personally profits - or his team - from this then it is corrupt. I he doesn't then it isn't. But I don't see how he doesn't if his team gets lots of free publicity.
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They played in Memphis area and Chattanooga in the Fall at locations not affiliated with Boyd Sports. It’s not like they are exclusively playing neutral site games in Kodak (Or in Kingsport, Johnson City, Greeneville, or Elizabethton for that matter). Smokies Stadium obviously made the most sense as the closest minor league stadium to UT, and with the largest capacity. I hear you but would agree if there were other more viable options. UT shouldn‘t be penalized bc their President owns most of the minor league teams in East TN. As long as it’s mutually beneficial, I see no conflicts of interest. Besides CTV has said he wants to play tournaments at the new Old City stadium using it along with LNS. It will be a huge event and great for college baseball and the Vols.
 
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#118
#118
youcancallmeAl said:
Hmmmnnn. Well, I assumed he owned the stadium because he owns the team with the stadium name. Not true?
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The stadium is owned by Sevier County and the City of Sevierville. The Smokies lease the stadium. That lease is most likely the real reason the new stadium has been pushed back to 2025. Guess when the lease on the current stadium runs out.
 
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#119
#119
MT_Vol said:
The stadium is owned by Sevier County and the City of Sevierville. The Smokies lease the stadium. That lease is most likely the real reason the new stadium has been pushed back to 2025. Guess when the lease on the current stadium runs out.
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It’s a $300K early termination penalty if they leave before the 2024 season.
 
#121
#121
txbo said:
That doesn't sound significant enough to delay.

I would think losing a full year's revenue from the new developement would eclipse that number.
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Agreed. I think the real delay is supply chain and related construction/material delays. I imagine that is amplified by trying to build two stadiums in close proximity during similar timeframes. Punting another year likely allows more focus and priority on renovating or building a new LNS. New fiscal year begins in July so we should have lots of new details forthcoming on LNS part two. 👍. Again Boyd and UT have their primary focus on UT baseball!
 
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#122
#122
taylorvol said:
i can assure you that the exposure UT received (and new fans that got to see their first UT game) was worth far more to UT than the proceeds Boyd Sports LLC made from this game. He and his wife have donated millions to UT and he’s brought much needed stability and leadership to UT. You won’t find a stronger supporter of UT athletics than the Boyd family.
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I understand what the Boyd family is and has done. I think the point he’s making is that when the President makes anything financially and profits personally from a UT venture, it can be deemed a conflict of interest since he is employed by the university. I have no opinion either way, but I can see the concern people might raise.
 
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#123
#123
golfballs said:
Cool. We can play this game as an exhibition just like we played in Memphis in the fall. Not in the middle of the regular season
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Only if we can have the same ump behind the plate. I'd like Joyce to send a love tap like this his way.
 
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#124
#124
cardvolfan said:
I understand what the Boyd family is and has done. I think the point he’s making is that when the President makes anything financially and profits personally from a UT venture, it can be deemed a conflict of interest since he is employed by the university. I have no opinion either way, but I can see the concern people might raise.
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I get it but post #117 addresses why it’s a non issue in this case.

They played in Memphis area and Chattanooga in the Fall at locations not affiliated with Boyd Sports. It’s not like they are exclusively playing neutral site games in Kodak (Or in Kingsport, Johnson City, Greeneville, or Elizabethton for that matter). Smokies Stadium obviously made the most sense as the closest minor league stadium to UT, and with the largest capacity. I hear you but would agree if there were other more viable options. UT shouldn‘t be penalized bc their President owns most of the minor league teams in East TN. As long as it’s mutually beneficial, I see no conflicts of interest. Besides CTV has said he wants to play tournaments at the new Old City stadium using it along with LNS. It will be a huge event and great for college baseball and the Vols.
 
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#125
#125
I’m sure the situation would be far better next time.
A regional at their park would be phenomenal.

Weekend long tailgating not possible on campus
8000+ fans
Better beer selection
Great sight lines.
Great suites and patios

A spring at Smokies Park while their renovating or building new would be a hoot.

I noticed there was not as many parking on grass as you’d normally see so the rain excuse makes sense

I was coming in from Sevierville on 66 and hit the wall of traffic. Did a U turn and took Douglas Dam Rd to Deep Springs and back onto 40 as I wrongly thought the problem was an accident.
I should have taken Deep Springs to Asheville Hwy and the Snyder Road. Had to park at Whaley Trucking at Hardin Road anyway
 
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