Rules: Modifying Stadiums

[Red Blow]

If your on-line league allows for modifying the stadiums, please post the link to rules/guidelines for the modifications.

I would like to research this to see if there is any true benefit.

[Kevin Koss]

The League I am forming, currently allows stadium additions and building of new ones. I am not sure howeverif the ruels I have will work since it is the first OOTP League I have run, but below is the link to teh current league page, little dull right now, which has a link to the constitution.

http://koss.4mg.com/BASEBALL/index.htm

[Steve Kuffrey]

I think that they should within reason(have some parameters they must stay within, no extremes), but that it should cost them some cash to do it.

[Oliman37]

I agree, say $10 million to prepare your park for the all star game the next year. The White Sox know all about that...

[Red Blow]

I agree that if it were to be allowed it should be somewhat expensive. I can't see signing any significant free agents in the same year you modify your stadium. I am interested in hearing the numbers (cost/seat, cost for a roof, etc) that are working for people and even those numbers that were too expensive or too cheap.

I am sure this has already been covered, but why was stadium mods taken out? Wasn't it an in-game feature of OOTP3?

[chredwdew]

These are the rules for the ATHL. Hope this helps you out and gives you an Idea of what other leagues are doing. If you like anyhting you see please drop our commish a line before you use it. I'm sure he wouldn't mind but you never know.

Stadium Modifications:
During the off-season, owners may make modifications to the existing stadiums. As these effects are seen in either revenue increases (more seats) or gameplay changes, these changes do NOT effect the Team Market or Fan Loyalty.

- Stadium Dimensions
Fence adjustments will be drafted by the owner. Each modification should include a suggested ballpark effect (within the game) that the change would have. The modifications are then subject to review by the Stadium Review Board. Ties in Stadium Board judgments will be broken by the Commissioner. Each modification will have the following costs associated:
Construction modifications: $1,000,000 base
Ballpark factor closer to 100: $100,000 per point
Ballpark factor farther from 100: $250,000 per point

* Wall height may be changed free of cost, unless the owner requests a modification of existing ballpark factors as heights are not used within OOTP3 for play outcome, only for assistance with play reporting (there won't be home run saving grabs if the left field wall is 20 feet high).

- Additional Seating
Existing stadiums may increase stadium capacity by blocks of 1,000 seats. Maximum stadium capacity will be 65,000 seats. Construction costs will be as follows:
Construction modifications: $1,000,000 base
46,000 to 50,000 seats: $1,000,000 per 1000 seats
51,000 to 55,000 seats: $2,000,000 per 1000 seats
56,000 to 60,000 seats: $3,000,000 per 1000 seats
61,000 to 65,000 seats: $4,000,000 per 1000 seats





Stadium Construction:
Teams may build new stadiums which are subject to review by the Stadium Review Board. Owners should submit their proposals, including wall height and proposed ballpark factors to the Stadium Review Board prior to the beginning of the desired construction season (i.e. any submission during the season will begin construction opening day the following season). The proposal should include reasons for desired construction and whether relocation is required. The Stadium Review Board will determine the appropriate ballpark factors given the design submitted. Owners are allowed to make changes during construction, pending approval of the Board. Proposals should only be submitted using forms to be made available on the web site, or by completing a form emailed from the Review Board or Commissioner.

New stadiums take 1 full season to complete construction. Ballparks are paid for over a period of 3 years. Public and private investors will fund 80% of the total construction costs. Team ownership is responsible for the remaining 20%. Upon groundbreaking, 50% of the remaining cost is due from the team. The remaining 50% will be paid over the next 2 seasons in equal payments. Once the stadium is completed, no modifications may be made to seating for 5 seasons. Changes to fence distances may be requested and are subject to Board review.

The Teams must maintain cash balances over the course of the payment period to cover the stadium costs. Failure to maintain sufficient funds will result in a tax (5% of total stadium cost) against the team (to be paid in year 4) and roster reductions to bring the payroll within acceptable limits.

New stadium construction increases Team Market and Fan Loyalty (see below).

Minimum stadium capacity is 45,000 seats (included in base cost).

- Itemized Building Costs:
Base construction cost: $100,000,000
Grass playing surface: $ 10,000,000
Turf playing surface: $ 20,000,000
Dome roof: $ 40,000,000
Retractable roof: $ 70,000,000

46,000 to 50,000 seats: $ 2,000,000 per 1000 seats
51,000 to 55,000 seats: $ 4,000,000 per 1000 seats
56,000 to 60,000 seats: $ 6,000,000 per 1000 seats
61,000 to 65,000 seats: $ 10,000,000 per 1000 seats


Example: (Minimum stadium configuration)
Grass stadium with 45,000 seats would cost:
Base $100,000,000
Grass $ 10,000,000
Seats $ included
---------------------------
Total $110,000,000

Public/Private investors to pay: 110,000,000 x .80 = 88,000,000

Team responsible for: $ 22,000,000
First payment at groundbreaking: $ 11,000,000
Payment due prior to season 2: $ 5,500,000
Payment due prior to season 3: $ 5,500,000


Example: (Maximum stadium configuration)
65,000 seat stadium with retractable roof and turf surface would cost:
Base $100,000,000
Turf $ 20,000,000
Roof $ 70,000,000
Seats $110,000,000
---------------------------
Total $300,000,000

Public/Private investors to pay: 300,000,000 x .80 = 240,000,000

Team responsible for $ 60,000,000
First payment at groundbreaking: $ 30,000,000
Payment due prior to season 2: $ 15,000,000
Payment due prior to season 3: $ 15,000,000


Teams may request additional funding from the league. Any additional funding is at the sole discretion of the Stadium Review Board. In approved cases, payments may be spread over a longer term with smaller initial payment.

Effects of New Stadium:
The effect a new stadium has on the fans and financial status of a team depends on the quality of the new ballpark. The changes are effective opening day the season the stadium is opened and are locked in for the remaining 2 seasons while the ballpark is paid off. After the second season in the new stadium, the game is allowed to adjust the market size and fan loyalty. The determination of these factors in OOTP4 is based on winning. The effects are as follows:

Stadium Cost Fan Loyalty Change Market Size Change
$110M-$149M +1 rank (max of Average) none
$150M-$199M +1 rank (max of Good) +1 rank (max of Average)
$200M -$249M +2 ranks (max of Good) +2 ranks (max of Above Average)
$250M-$300M +2 ranks (max of Very Good) +3 ranks (max of Big)

http://www.athl.ootp-leagues.com/athl_basics.html
http://www.athl.ootp-leagues.com/

[Henry]

Originally posted by chredwdew
These are the rules for the ATHL.

A good piece of work. I'd be interseted to know if this has been implemented over numerous seasons yet (proving it works without unbalancing anything ?).

Henry

[chredwdew]

The league is only in its third year. So far no one has built a new stadium. I think under these rules it would take a couple years of financial planning before it would be afforadble...but this is as it should be. A few teams have opted for renovationg their stadiums but nothing major yet. I do think as we get further into the league we will see a couple of teams build new stadiums. I looked into the ideal stadium for my team and after doing the financials it would cost 15mil upfront and 7.5 the next two years. The team I took over was dead last the year before so I opted to try to improve the team first.

[Dwolfson20]

Here are the rules in FAST (link in my signature if you want to check it out).

-------------------

Stadium Construction and Renovation:
There is no base cost for a stadium. The city is considered to have accepted this cost before attempting to land a team. In addition, in the case of a relocating team, the new city will provide the team with a sum to be spent on the stadium in the team's discretion.
Naming rights to the new stadium can be sold for $10 million. If this is desired, the Commish may name the new stadium. If not desired, the owner may name the stadium. Any name must be approved by the Commish.
Each seat in the new stadium costs $750, with a minimum of 30,000 seats and a maximum of 70,00. (While 70,000 is unrealistically large, it is intended to duplicate the modern-day presence of luxury boxes, etc.) Every additional $15 million spent on bells and whistles above and beyond the cost of the stadium (e.g. fountains, revitalization of surrounding area, improved transportation around the stadium, etc.) will increase fan loyalty by one notch. A dome roof costs $5 million; a retractable roof costs $20 million and counts as a "bell and whistle." Stadium construction takes one full season to complete.
The basic dimensions and attributes of the stadium with OOTP are determined by the team owner.
Instead of building a new stadium, a non-moving team may renovate their existing stadium. Additional seats cost $2000 each and must be bought in blocks of 1000. In addition, each $20 million spent on stadium bells and whistles will increase fan loyalty by one notch. Stadium renovation, as opposed to construction, can take place over a single off-season.

[Red Blow]

Thank you for spelling out the rules you guys have. I noticed (through surfing and in this thread) that some leagues allow the buying of fan loyalty. In FAST it is called "bells and whistles"... which is a nice creative touch. Is there any historical example of this? I mean, a lot of stadiums have been renovated with more seats, prettier outsides, better parking, etc... but do any of you living in or near MLB cities know if this has made a longterm affect on attendance? I am not knocking FAST's rule; I really do think it is a creative touch. I am just wondering if this has ever really happened.

For a counter example, I live in Phoenix. Almost a decade ago the taxpayers were in an uproar because the gov't taxed them (without a vote) for the cost of the new stadium (Bank One Ballpark...what a pretty name...... Some people were trying to rouse up lynch mobs, and one member of the overseeing board was actually shot over the whole thing. Even after a World Series some in this city plan to keep their vow of never, ever attending a D-Backs game.

Just wondering if a renovation has had the opposite effect.

[Oliman37]

Originally posted by chredwdew

... New stadiums take 1 full season to complete construction. Ballparks are paid for over a period of 3 years. Public and private investors will fund 80% of the total construction costs. Team ownership is responsible for the remaining 20%. Upon groundbreaking, 50% of the remaining cost is due from the team. The remaining 50% will be paid over the next 2 seasons in equal payments.
...
Stadium Cost Fan Loyalty Change Market Size Change
$110M-$149M +1 rank (max of Average) none
$150M-$199M +1 rank (max of Good) +1 rank (max of Average)
$200M -$249M +2 ranks (max of Good) +2 ranks (max of Above Average)
$250M-$300M +2 ranks (max of Very Good) +3 ranks (max of Big)

http://www.athl.ootp-leagues.com/athl_basics.html
http://www.athl.ootp-leagues.com/

I like the idea of the public vs. private spending, but here's a twist to consider. If the owner is willing to take on a higher % of the cost (say 30-40%), he can see a bigger increase in the fan loyalty and/or market size. Or maybe they can go above the preset maximums. You might have to increase the length of the mortgage to 5 years, but I think it'd make it more interesting. Just a thought. Great set of rules though...