The plan for the new Polk-Dement Stadium at Mississippi State University’s Dudy Noble Field appears to be a field of dreams for some. However, not everyone is pleased with the changes.
Recently, there has been a minor dispute over “lifetime” seat purchases that owners have to rebuy their seats in the new grandstands they thought they secured when the current facility opened. 
Scott Stricklin, athletic director at MSU, said he is unsure how individuals gathered the tickets were of lifetime value.
“The word ‘lifetime’ was never in any material the university put out, but that’s kind of what people have taken it as,” Stricklin said. “(When evaluating the definition of lifetime) you get into whether it’s the lifetime of the stadium or the lifetime of the person.”
Mike Richey, senior associate athletic director for the Bulldog Club and ticket operations, gave details about how these permanent seats were purchased.
“Folks who made a contribution of a certain amount, I think based on where the seats were, purchased those seats and they were to receive a seat as long as they purchased that season ticket in the stadium as long as it was there,” Richey said.
Richey said the office received negative comments concerning the project.
“We’ve gotten feedback from a lot of folks,” he said. “Some people are disappointed that we’re doing something new with the stadium, but most of it has been positive. I think people are excited about the project as a whole.”
Not all seat owners are disappointed. Jim Sneed, seat owner inside the current Polk-Dement Stadium, said he is enthusiastic about the upcoming changes.
“I was tickled to death,” Sneed said. “It’s a beautiful ballpark and I look forward to being a part of it. I assumed at some point in time if MSU baseball continued to grow and prosper, the stadium would be expanded and there would probably be seat relocations.”
According to Stricklin, the athletic department is grateful for gifts provided by previous seat owners.
“We tried to be sensitive in how we priced it and make sure we gave some consideration for those who did make those gifts when the (current) stadium was built,” Stricklin said. 
Although fans were able to purchase permanent seats in the past, such will not be the case in the new stadium. Existing seat owners must make a $300 deposit to secure their seats in the new stadium, and fans who have not previously owned seats must make a $500 deposit to ensure they will have seats in the new stadium, as long as they purchase season tickets. 
Contrary to the past, seats will not be sold on an indefinite basis rather they will be available to purchase for 10 years. This change in operations will prevent anyone from thinking he or she owns the seats for life.