Smokies Stadium

#127
#127
fryeguy93 said:
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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The WAZ app is free. It works good to keep you abreast of changing traffic conditions and alternate routes.
 
#130
#130
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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What will become of that stadium when Smokies move downtown? Has the county/city ever made a statement about that,?
 
#133
#133
chuckiepoo said:
The WAZ app is free. It works good to keep you abreast of changing traffic conditions and alternate routes.
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Waze offered no help last night. Use it everyday. I even pulled up a wide view trying to help and it said I-40 West was ok before we got on at Big Springs.

My job would be impossible and my life empty without Waze and Libby apps. Did 320 miles today looking at roofs. Started the Mel Brooks autobiography audiobook today. Great stuff
 
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#134
#134
Just a couple of points.

It appears Randy Boyd was a good decision to serve as UT's president. Although, President Boyd's financial situation is not relevant to this discussion, three different websites indicate his net worth is $2 million dollars (pointed out because other posts have said he's a billionaire). As president of UT, Mr Boyd absolutely needs to recuse himself completely from baseball operations that "appear" as conflicts of interest.

It was a good idea to play in a larger stadium. Great crowd was special and will pay dividends However, timing was not good ( in my opinion). We should be focused on winning the SEC and getting to Omaha at this point in the season.

Grass field experience was a good idea. We will see that again (a lot) and need the work.
Wooden bats were pure nonsense. We probably hit four balls last night that fell short by 5-10 feet. Since college baseball doesn't use wooden bats, it was a bad idea and provided nothing to learn from or build on.

A few days ago, a Tn fan on this site suggested reading an Arkansas fan site. I did. One thing that stood out ( from one poster) was the hope that using wooden bats in the middle of the season would be our kryptonite. Suggesting that one game could cause us to stall. I don't believe that's true but why take the risk.
 
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#135
#135
Aladywhovolunteer said:
Just a couple of points.

It appears Randy Boyd was a good decision to serve as UT's president. Although, President Boyd's financial situation is not relevant to this discussion, three different websites indicate his net worth is $2 million dollars (pointed out because other posts have said he's a billionaire). As president of UT, Mr Boyd absolutely needs to recuse himself completely from baseball operations that "appear" as conflicts of interest.

It was a good idea to play in a larger stadium. Great crowd was special and will pay dividends However, timing was not good ( in my opinion). We should be focused on winning the SEC and getting to Omaha at this point in the season.

Grass field experience was a good idea. We will see that again (a lot) and need the work.
Wooden bats were pure nonsense. We probably hit four balls last night that fell short by 5-10 feet. Since college baseball doesn't use wooden bats, it was a bad idea and provided nothing to learn from or build on.

A few days ago, a Tn fan on this site suggested reading an Arkansas fan site. I did. One thing that stood out ( from one poster) was the hope that using wooden bats in the middle of the season would be our kryptonite. Suggesting that one game could cause us to stall. I don't believe that's true but why take the risk.
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Boyd isn't involved in baseball operations. Or any athletic operations. The athletic department is a separate entity with a separate budget from the university.
 
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#137
#137
golfballs said:
I’m sure it pained Randy Boyd that Tennessee committed to a stadium on campus. I don’t think we should ever play a non exhibition game at a Smokies stadium. We have our own. Let alone against a team like TTU. Also curious, did Randy Boyd profit from this game?
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Randy Boyd doesn't own the stadium. He also doesn't run the athletic department. It's a separate entity with a separate budget. And I'm sure 8300 fans disagree about playing there.
 
#140
#140
golfballs said:
Uhh… that is textbook conflict of interest! And the fact that this game shouldnt be played in the middle of the season. If we played Virginia tech in a mid week game in Bristol or something then fine. Not TTU 20 min away from our own ball park
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How is it a conflict of interest? Boyd didn't make the call. Boyd also doesn't own the stadium. But don't let facts get in the way of your deranged meltdown.
 
#143
#143
fryeguy93 said:
Waze offered no help last night. Use it everyday. I even pulled up a wide view trying to help and it said I-40 West was ok before we got on at Big Springs.

My job would be impossible and my life empty without Waze and Libby apps. Did 320 miles today looking at roofs. Started the Mel Brooks autobiography audiobook today. Great stuff
Click to expand...

PLEASE tell me Mel Brooks reads it. That is an instant buy if he does.
 
#145
#145
MT_Vol said:
My guess is it will be torn down. No way MiLB puts another team that close to Knoxville, and there is no one else to use it.
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I think that's the most likely thing.

I've heard people talking about using it for another Appy League summer ball team, making it a part of the travel ball circuit up there, and using it for concerts etc to fill up some more dates...but with the EBCI/Kituwah or whoever they have buying up all around there and still having a mountain of investment money on hand, I'd sell it to them.
 
#146
#146
WallyBalls said:
I think that's the most likely thing.

I've heard people talking about using it for another Appy League summer ball team, making it a part of the travel ball circuit up there, and using it for concerts etc to fill up some more dates...but with the EBCI/Kituwah or whoever they have buying up all around there and still having a mountain of investment money on hand, I'd sell it to them.
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I suspect Sevierville will gladly turn it over to the tribe as part of their development and the inevitable casino complex. There's plenty of travel ball places in Sevier County and the area already but with all the parking and internet access this place begs to be converted into a full-time; open-air concert venue. No nearby residents to complain of noise and traffic.

I have always liked Smokies Stadium. For the first few years it was a little too much exposed concrete but most of that is gone now. The RV park that once overlooked the park is long gone and the planted trees on hillside have made the place really nice. Would hate to lose it for baseball.
 
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#147
#147
MT_Vol said:
My guess is it will be torn down. No way MiLB puts another team that close to Knoxville, and there is no one else to use it.
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That seems a shame to tear down that stadium. If that won't happen til 2025 then the new LNS will have been built by then. I was wondering if they could re-cycle some of the materials from that stadium to the new LNS, given supply chain and enormous inflation occurring now. But it looks like the timing won't work.
 
#148
#148
MT_Vol said:
The players certainly seemed to. And their opinion matters more than yours ever will.
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Not according to Preacherman, if I read him correctly. I believe he said the players thought it was disruptive to their regular routines. Please correct me if I got that wrong.
 
#149
#149
fryeguy93 said:
I suspect Sevierville will gladly turn it over to the tribe as part of their development and the inevitable casino complex. There's plenty of travel ball places in Sevier County and the area already but with all the parking and internet access this place begs to be converted into a full-time; open-air concert venue. No nearby residents to complain of noise and traffic.

I have always liked Smokies Stadium. For the first few years it was a little too much exposed concrete but most of that is gone now. The RV park that once overlooked the park is long gone and the planted trees on hillside have made the place really nice. Would hate to lose it for baseball.
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Open air venue is a fantastic idea. Its one of those things where I wish the world wasn't so ruthlessly money driven.

That's something that would make money, but won't see the light of day because something will make more.

I suspect that one day in the not too distant future, you'll be able to attend concerts somewhere near there, in a casino auditorium. [I know they say they aren't eyeing it...but...they are.]
 
#150
#150
youcancallmeAl said:
That seems a shame to tear down that stadium. If that won't happen til 2025 then the new LNS will have been built by then. I was wondering if they could re-cycle some of the materials from that stadium to the new LNS, given supply chain and enormous inflation occurring now. But it looks like the timing won't work.
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No. The new UT baseball stadium is being built from Neyland's cast iron urinals.
 
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