rutgers stadium holds 52k .. south carolina and clemson are just below OUrs

we are less than 10k behind most of the rest of the list .. michigan penn st are 2 of the 3 biggest in america ..

IMHO we should expand by about 10k to have official number at 91ish ... and crowds close to 95 most of the time

Very doable, and likely what would happen with another expansion. Closing in the south endzone would bring the total to nearly 95,000 with crowds pushing 100,000 for the biggest games.

Very doable, and likely what would happen with another expansion. Closing in the south endzone would bring the total to nearly 95,000 with crowds pushing 100,000 for the biggest games.

Compared to several years ago OU doesn’t seem to be getting as many large donations for athletics facilities.
My question is have the needed donors been identified that would be needed for a major expansion or for other major stadium improvements such as a press box?

Compared to several years ago OU doesn’t seem to be getting as many large donations for athletics facilities.
My question is have the needed donors been identified that would be needed for a major expansion or for other major stadium improvements such as a press box?

Donations to OU should be picking up with oil around $100/barrel. .

Compared to several years ago OU doesn’t seem to be getting as many large donations for athletics facilities.
My question is have the needed donors been identified that would be needed for a major expansion or for other major stadium improvements such as a press box?

What athletic facilities have they been building or planning that they have been soliciting donations for but haven't been receiving as much as in the past?

Donations to OU should be picking up with oil around $100/barrel. .

It’s ironic that you should bring that point up because 3 or 4 years ago when crude was more than current prices I told
Dr. Christopher Howard that I was surprised that OU wasn’t getting even more in the way of large donations.

It is good to see oilman Harold Hamm making his recent $20M dollar donation to the diabetes center
but is he an OU football fan? I don’t know? I am not sure if he would ever make a major donation to OU athletics?

But higher oil prices are generally good for the local economy and good for OU football.

What athletic facilities have they been building or planning that they have been soliciting donations for but haven't been receiving as much as in the past?

They have a long list of ideas but not enough money.
I don’t have a link or any documentation but large the very donations for capital projects just don’t seem to be as easy to come by.
In the past several years I know that they have wanted money donated for several projects
New dorms
A new arena or major modifications to the LNC
New football press box +
Baseball and softball stadium improvements.

If anything, they will ring the north end zone with more suites and club seats, with a few public seats (much like the east side.) Castiglione has said that there are no plans to enclose the south end zone. Plus, even if it was enclosed, those seats wouldn't be too desirable. Corner seats are usually the cheapest because of the sight lines, and more suites and club seats = more $. Like was already stated, they want to keep more demand than tix. Our stadium is about right for our population and fan base. At the most, 91k would be about it to keep up demand. Look at Michigan. They have a great tradition and the largest alumni base in the country, but huge swaths of that stadium were empty last year. We have to be careful not to overdo it.

If anything, they will ring the north end zone with more suites and club seats, with a few public seats (much like the east side.) Castiglione has said that there are no plans to enclose the south end zone. Plus, even if it was enclosed, those seats wouldn't be too desirable. Corner seats are usually the cheapest because of the sight lines, and more suites and club seats = more $. Like was already stated, they want to keep more demand than tix. Our stadium is about right for our population and fan base. At the most, 91k would be about it to keep up demand. Look at Michigan. They have a great tradition and the largest alumni base in the country, but huge swaths of that stadium were empty last year. We have to be careful not to overdo it.

Exactly why they wouldn't do the north endzone either, who would want a club seat or suite in a corner or in the endzone itself? The south endzone allows for expansion of the Switzer Center underneath so it remains an option, so I've been told. Westside reconstruction to add club seating, suites and press box would happen first.

While on radio interviews I have heard Joe C. say that they would like to do something with the press box before they do any stadium expansions.

I have also heard Joe C say that if they expand the south end zone they would like to remove the existing decking and reshape it (to the same pitch as the old part of the stadium) and have it wrap around to both the east and west sides with 2 decks.

While on radio interviews I have heard Joe C. say that they would like to do something with the press box before they do any stadium expansions.

I have also heard Joe C say that if they expand the south end zone they would like to remove the existing decking and reshape it (to the same pitch as the old part of the stadium) and have it wrap around to both the east and west sides with 2 decks.

Yes, it needs to match the north endzone. The westside also needs to match the eastside. Both involve a lot of work and expense but is important for the look of the stadium. It's a patchwork of different styles and seating pitches now and could look so much better..

Yes, it needs to match the north endzone. The westside also needs to match the eastside. Both involve a lot of work and expense but is important for the look of the stadium. It's a patchwork of different styles and seating pitches now and could look so much better..

I don't see any way they will ever get the west side to match the east side. It would require demolishing the current upper deck and it would be impossible to do that and rebuild a new upper deck section between football seasons. They could not go for one season without all of those seats. Just think about how long it took to build the east upper decks. There would be a revolt among season ticket holders.

I don't see any way they will ever get the west side to match the east side. It would require demolishing the current upper deck and it would be impossible to do that and rebuild a new upper deck section between football seasons. They could not go for one season without all of those seats. Just think about how long it took to build the east upper decks. There would be a revolt among season ticket holders.

LSU and Texas have vacated section during stadium construction. It can be done. In OU's case you set up temporary bleachers during the construction phase.

If they wrapped the new upper-level from the east side around the north endzone first they could then tear down the old upper deck without losing seating capacity. The seats might not be as good but the numbers would still be there. Then they could then build a new upperdeck on the west side and increase capacity.

If they wrapped the new upper-level from the east side around the north endzone first they could then tear down the old upper deck without losing seating capacity. The seats might not be as good but the numbers would still be there. Then they could then build a new upperdeck on the west side and increase capacity.

My seats have been on the 40 yard line in the west side upper deck ever since that deck was built. I promise you I would not be happy with an endzone upper deck seat after all of the money I've donated to them over the years. There would be a mass revolt among donors if that happened. The general esthetics of the stadium have improved greatly after the last renovation but I see no particular need to have the west side match the east side just for that purpose. Texas did not do that with their last expansion.

^^^I'd say there is exactly 0% chance of that happening.

Not sure how many folks have seen the empty seating around the students sections each time too. They may sellout games, but the aren't filling to capacity. OU actually benefits by not having everyone show up, so as long as the place fits the bill, why mess with it? I always thought they severely limited their expansion when the made the east upper deck as small as it is. They maximized the cashflow on suites, but at the expense of butts in seats.

My seats have been on the 40 yard line in the west side upper deck ever since that deck was built. I promise you I would not be happy with an endzone upper deck seat after all of the money I've donated to them over the years. There would be a mass revolt among donors if that happened. The general esthetics of the stadium have improved greatly after the last renovation but I see no particular need to have the west side match the east side just for that purpose. Texas did not do that with their last expansion.

You would still have your westside upper deck seats but for one season they would likely be temporary bleachers while they are constructing the new upper deck. In that case the current Santee Lounge would be converted to suites with the current slub seating turned into general seating in the lower bowl. The club would then move above the suites and still be covered with another level of suites and the press box above that with the new upper deck on top to match the eastside (minus the overhang). So in one project you have doubled the number suites, built a new press box, expanded the club level, and preserved the upper deck seating. It would also involve a new brick and glass exterior to match the eastside exterior, the side that faces campus.

That project and the south endzone expansion, which would nearly double the size of the Switzer Center underneath, would result in the stadium having a capacity of nearly 100,000 and would be the nicest stadium in the country. It already is the toughest place to play in the country but could use a facelift for its older areas (westside, southside) to match the beauty of the newer areas (eastside, northside).

You would still have your westside upper deck seats but for one season they would likely be temporary bleachers while they are constructing the new upper deck. In that case the current Santee Lounge would be converted to suites with the current slub seating turned into general seating in the lower bowl. The club would then move above the suites and still be covered with another level of suites and the press box above that with the new upper deck on top to match the eastside (minus the overhang). So in one project you have doubled the number suites, built a new press box, expanded the club level, and preserved the upper deck seating. It would also involve a new brick and glass exterior to match the eastside exterior, the side that faces campus.

That project and the south endzone expansion, which would nearly double the size of the Switzer Center underneath, would result in the stadium having a capacity of nearly 100,000 and would be the nicest stadium in the country. It already is the toughest place to play in the country but could use a facelift for its older areas (westside, southside) to match the beauty of the newer areas (eastside, northside).

That could all be accomplished to add a new press box and additional suites without demolishing the west side upper deck. I see abosulutely no need to have the east and west sides match exactly just to say doesn't that look nice. I guess I still remember when areas of the concourse were dirt and the east side was called pneumonia downs so I'm very please with the improvements. I'm all for continued enhancments but not just to make everthing in exact conformity.

You would still have your westside upper deck seats but for one season they would likely be temporary bleachers while they are constructing the new upper deck. In that case the current Santee Lounge would be converted to suites with the current slub seating turned into general seating in the lower bowl. The club would then move above the suites and still be covered with another level of suites and the press box above that with the new upper deck on top to match the eastside (minus the overhang). So in one project you have doubled the number suites, built a new press box, expanded the club level, and preserved the upper deck seating. It would also involve a new brick and glass exterior to match the eastside exterior, the side that faces campus.

That project and the south endzone expansion, which would nearly double the size of the Switzer Center underneath, would result in the stadium having a capacity of nearly 100,000 and would be the nicest stadium in the country. It already is the toughest place to play in the country but could use a facelift for its older areas (westside, southside) to match the beauty of the newer areas (eastside, northside).

I love this idea. It accomplishes everything I hoped to see in the stadium. I don't care if it is the biggest in the country, I just want to see it pushed up to around 100,000 seats along with all the other amenities. Imagine how freakin loud it would be if it were bowled in.

I would be in favor of just building a new stadium altogether. Maybe something that doesn't look all mish mashed and thrown together in a hodge-podge of styles.OSU got like a new stadium from Pickens without moving it, but then the old OSU stadium never got all that mish mashed and thrown together.

OU spring game pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlywinegareth/sets/72157626389385321/

Boomer!