I'm trying to figure out how a $300 million dollar project is only going to take 9 months to finish?

They could maybe do the press box and suites, but no way they do the south end zone and interior upgrades in that timeframe. This is more like a 2-3 year project if it is indeed $350-400 million.

It took 2 full years just to add the east upper deck for $50 million.

By comparison Baylor is building an entire new stadium from scratch for about 250 million.
Regents Approve Construction of Baylor Stadium - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site - BaylorBears.com (http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072012aab.html).

I suggested OU just build a new stadium across the street for a fraction of the cost of expansion and you would of thought I was suggesting we throw kittens through a wood chipper.

I'm trying to figure out how a $300 million dollar project is only going to take 9 months to finish?

The higher price is the result of the faster pace.

I'm trying to figure out how a $300 million dollar project is only going to take 9 months to finish?

Texas aggies are doing a $450 million one in the off season. It can be done.

I wish they would construct a 6 story parking garage in the track parking lot with some of that 300 million.

No question in my mind that the lion's share of the expansion cost will be due to the new pressbox construction. You've got demo of the existing structure plus entirely new construction that will span the entire west deck. There's also the question of how they plan to handle the rake difference between the sidelines and the south endzone, which could imply some structural changes to the current s. endzone structure.

Aside from the press box and the eye candy of having a bowled-in stadium, I think the lion's share of this $300M expansion is going under the hood. Heck, you could conceivably put in semi-permanent temporary bleacher structures ala the Cotton Bowl to fill in the corners on the cheap if you wanted.

Will be great fun to watch it all unfold, see how the details in reality match up with the report.

Agree.

People bringing up that Baylor is building a stadium from scratch for less doesn't take into account that it is more difficult to add on and retrofit a 90+ year old stadium than to build a new one. They've known they've needed to upgrade the pressbox for some time now. The reason they've put it off is because of the logistical nightmare that it's going to be. When they put the new parking structure in place, they made it much more difficult to get equipment, cranes and trucks in there to re-do the pressbox.

Agree.

People bringing up that Baylor is building a stadium from scratch for less doesn't take into account that it is more difficult to add on and retrofit a 90+ year old stadium than to build a new one. They've known they've needed to upgrade the pressbox for some time now. The reason they've put it off is because of the logistical nightmare that it's going to be. When they put the new parking structure in place, they made it much more difficult to get equipment, cranes and trucks in there to re-do the pressbox.

Bingo. What kills me is that they built that parking garage knowing full well that they were going to have to do something significant to the pressbox in just a few years. It's not like that project was a sudden surprise to everyone at OU - I've heard stories for some time (years) that it's become a bit of a lipstick-on-a-pig place, which is sad, because when it opened up I recall it being considered one of the best press facilities in the country....forty years ago :)

I suggested OU just build a new stadium across the street for a fraction of the cost of expansion and you would of thought I was suggesting we throw kittens through a wood chipper.

Bit of an apples-to-pudding comparison. Baylor is building a 45K seat facility, whereas OU has already invested enough to host just over 86K, and the rumored upgrades will push that up to 88-90K. OMS, as it sits, doesn't have an "across the street" to visit - facilities - many very new - exist in all directions. And then there's the question/cost of what you do with the existing place - to say nothing of the fact you've sunk $125M in the last ten years to bring it up to top-tier current standards, which would be wasted.

Baylor is also a "green field" build, nothing existing to work around and add complexity or compromises.

All true, but adding that entire east deck with suites and club level was only $50 million.

They had plenty of room to work, but still... It was only $50 million.

I've said all along that the $300-$400 million number is for all athletic facilities, including a complete rebuild of Loyd Noble and virtually every other sport getting a piece of the pie.

I bet the stadium improvements end up being more like $150-$200. They've already spent $125 million on the stadium over the last 10 years.

First, Dean Blevins, not surprisingly, is inaccurately reporting speculation as breaking news. Clearly, a number of what he's reporting as facts are wrong. The most obvious one being that this is definitely not happening next before the 2015 opener.

I would think that the $300 million tag would include demolishing (maybe not completely) the west upper deck and press box, replacing both, bowling in the south end zone, and then re-doing a lot of other stuff. That's just speculation though.

The demand, waiting list for season tickets probably increased a few thousand--especially after the Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.


Stadium renovations, upgrades & expansion:

Dean Blevins' talking points:

Oklahoma Sooners Football | $350M+ Stadium Expansion Confirmed - Crimson And Cream Machine (http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2014/5/5/5683956/oklahoma-sooners-football-350m-stadium-expansion-confirmed)

There are plans to do a modest expansion (increase from 82,000 to 88,000) along with a facilities upgrade which includes the press box.

Following the 2014-15 collegiate football season is when this work is scheduled to begin. We are long overdue for some facility upgrades if we want to continue to compete for recruits. Bowling the stadium with 6,000 south end zone seats will get us to 88,000--this should increase the noise level. We have enthusiastic fans with the fashion show & fair weather mentality--this is the result of being 'spoiled' over the years.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfFQxefCAAAJa3a.jpg:large
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium's mock up look into the future?

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

So where exactly are the press boxes and suites in that mock up (I understand it is fake)? :)

So where exactly are the press boxes and suites in that mock up (I understand it is fake)? :)

Asked myself the same question, venture? Could the press box be under the top upper deck on the west side? Bryant Denny Stadium in Alabama has them hidden somewhere in this figure below.



https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxbxagD4Lw39lmN49zh7nZTPV6RxA1T Hl1KEZkY_ftlz94Tz5wJg

Source: Memorial Stadium Mock Up | Oklahoma Sooners $300M New Fantasy Home? - Crimson And Cream Machine (http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2014/1/29/5356658/memorial-stadium-mock-up-oklahoma-sooners-300m-new-fantasy-home?utm_source=crimsonandcreammachine&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom)

First, Dean Blevins, not surprisingly, is inaccurately reporting speculation as breaking news. Clearly, a number of what he's reporting as facts are wrong. The most obvious one being that this is definitely not happening next before the 2015 opener.

I would think that the $300 million tag would include demolishing (maybe not completely) the west upper deck and press box, replacing both, bowling in the south end zone, and then re-doing a lot of other stuff. That's just speculation though.

If the figure really is $300 just for the football stadium work, then I'd be inclined to agree with the possibility of it being a complete west-deck rebuild. That said, however, I can't see them taking that kind of risk, and here's why. If you are going to demo the west deck, you then have to make a decision: Unless you are dead-certain-confident that the entire new deck/pressbox will be 100% ready to go, COA, the works on the first game day next year, you're going to lose ten thousand seat occupants per game until it is. That's 10,000 folks not buying hot dogs, not buying drinks, not buying T-shirts, and if their seats weren't available for that season, not buying tickets. And that's further neglecting the fact that the first several rows of the west deck are chairback donor seats, combined with the fact you've got a line of suites at the foot of the pressbox that wouldn't be rented out.

All that to me points to a huge financial risk if you gamble that you can get the entire west deck/pressbox demolished and rebuilt in nine months. Worse, still, is what do you do if everything is almost ready on Day One, but find out that those same 10,000 people won't have seats until the next home game because, who knows, the plumbing inspection didn't pass, or (insert favorite issue here). That's 10,000 grumpy folks.

Now, theoretically, most anything's possible (within reason) if you throw enough money at it. And guess what - here's the $350 M pricetag that seems rather large compared to the $125M that bought us a double-deck east side, new brickwork/perimeter, and new concessions nearly throughout. But if you're letting a contract for that much work with the absolutely firm drop-dead date of Kickoff 2015 (which to me seems nigh unto impossible for that scale of work), you won't sign on unless you're getting a serious pound of flesh in consideration. That all suggests to me that they're not going to raze the west deck, just the pressbox. The only way it makes sense otherwise is if the new "Master PLan" involves a 10-year or 20-year notion of unifying the west and east decks across the north, with an attendant capacity increase well over 100K, but I'm not at all sure TPTB are comfortable about creating that much supply given current demand.

I've even heard rumblings about the idea of razing the south stands and making the bowl a continuous structure to simplify its union with the existing stadium, but even then, you've got a huge project ahead.

I just wish they'd come clean and announce the thing. I personally think we're going to discover most of what Deano reported is accurate, but Joe C won't confirm it until all the Regents and the prospective donors have been duly notified "in advance."

If the figure really is $300 just for the football stadium work, then I'd be inclined to agree with the possibility of it being a complete west-deck rebuild. That said, however, I can't see them taking that kind of risk, and here's why. If you are going to demo the west deck, you then have to make a decision: Unless you are dead-certain-confident that the entire new deck/pressbox will be 100% ready to go, COA, the works on the first game day next year, you're going to lose ten thousand seat occupants per game until it is. That's 10,000 folks not buying hot dogs, not buying drinks, not buying T-shirts, and if their seats weren't available for that season, not buying tickets. And that's further neglecting the fact that the first several rows of the west deck are chairback donor seats, combined with the fact you've got a line of suites at the foot of the pressbox that wouldn't be rented out.

All that to me points to a huge financial risk if you gamble that you can get the entire west deck/pressbox demolished and rebuilt in nine months. Worse, still, is what do you do if everything is almost ready on Day One, but find out that those same 10,000 people won't have seats until the next home game because, who knows, the plumbing inspection didn't pass, or (insert favorite issue here). That's 10,000 grumpy folks.

Now, theoretically, most anything's possible (within reason) if you throw enough money at it. And guess what - here's the $350 M pricetag that seems rather large compared to the $125M that bought us a double-deck east side, new brickwork/perimeter, and new concessions nearly throughout. But if you're letting a contract for that much work with the absolutely firm drop-dead date of Kickoff 2015 (which to me seems nigh unto impossible for that scale of work), you won't sign on unless you're getting a serious pound of flesh in consideration. That all suggests to me that they're not going to raze the west deck, just the pressbox. The only way it makes sense otherwise is if the new "Master PLan" involves a 10-year or 20-year notion of unifying the west and east decks across the north, with an attendant capacity increase well over 100K, but I'm not at all sure TPTB are comfortable about creating that much supply given current demand.

I've even heard rumblings about the idea of razing the south stands and making the bowl a continuous structure to simplify its union with the existing stadium, but even then, you've got a huge project ahead.

I just wish they'd come clean and announce the thing. I personally think we're going to discover most of what Deano reported is accurate, but Joe C won't confirm it until all the Regents and the prospective donors have been duly notified "in advance."

It is hard to trust the $350 figure, when anything that would require that much work seems impossible to do without impacting availability of seating for at least one season if not more.

It is hard to trust the $350 figure, when anything that would require that much work seems impossible to do without impacting availability of seating for at least one season if not more.

Agree completely. I'm looking at what TAMU is doing and am amazed at the scope of the work and apparent schedule.

No way are they going to spend more than $300 million just on the stadium.

First of all, the things they are considering would not be nearly that expensive.

Secondly, as a part of any fundraising and facilities improvement campaign they would include pretty much all the other sports. They have been studying all the athletic facilities, not just the stadium (although there is a stadium-specific initiative through Populus).

Third, they would not embark on trying to raise hundreds of millions for athletics without trying to raise at least as much for academics. On the capital projects list is hundreds of millions just for structures, let alone scholarships, endowments, etc.


The last big campaign raised just over a billion. Less than $200 million went to athletics with the stadium getting $125 million.

This time around it will probably be about the same, with perhaps more allocated to the stadium (like $200-$250 million).

Have been told by I couple of people I trust that the football portion will be over 300 mil. (Not all going to the stadium )

Have been told by I couple of people I trust that the football portion will be over 300 mil. (Not all going to the stadium )

Was one of them Dean Blevins?? :)

Just hard to imagine how they would spend that much. OSU did their entire stadium re-do with the locker rooms and weight facility for $260 million, and they were starting with almost nothing.

And, we just spent $125 million.

It's been reported for a few months now by KREF that the total amount for OU athletics will be about $500 million and that at least $300 million will be football related only. This is coming from people who talk to key OU officials with regularity.

A&M is spending more than this just on their stadium... Michigan just spent something like 200 million on its football stadium. I believe OSU has spent something like 270 million in total in recent years on its football program facility's.
With the very high rate of inflation for construction materials the figures being kicked around for OU are not unreasonable amounts, considering what the rumored projects are.

OU's football stadium is almost 90 years old....
There are parts of it that are in very serious need of modernization.

100 of that 125 was spend over a decade ago. The rest is going on 5 years I expect the west side to be completely re done

Was one of them Dean Blevins?? :)

Just hard to imagine how they would spend that much. OSU did their entire stadium re-do with the locker rooms and weight facility for $260 million, and they were starting with almost nothing.

And, we just spent $125 million.

Complete upper west side demo would ramp the cost up really, really fast, I bet. Can't believe they'd really do that.

The demand, waiting list for season tickets probably increased a few thousand--especially after the Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.


Stadium renovations, upgrades & expansion:

Dean Blevins' talking points:

Oklahoma Sooners Football | $350M+ Stadium Expansion Confirmed - Crimson And Cream Machine (http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2014/5/5/5683956/oklahoma-sooners-football-350m-stadium-expansion-confirmed)

There are plans to do a modest expansion (increase from 82,000 to 88,000) along with a facilities upgrade which includes the press box.

Following the 2014-15 collegiate football season is when this work is scheduled to begin. We are long overdue for some facility upgrades if we want to continue to compete for recruits. Bowling the stadium with 6,000 south end zone seats will get us to 88,000--this should increase the noise level. We have enthusiastic fans with the fashion show & fair weather mentality--this is the result of being 'spoiled' over the years.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfFQxefCAAAJa3a.jpg:large
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium's mock up look into the future?

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

This is exactly what I was recommending. I'm looking forward to the Ruth Chris Steak House and the Billy Sims BBQ in the new Fanzone too.

100 of that 125 was spend over a decade ago. The rest is going on 5 years I expect the west side to be completely re done

I hope that's true and they make it a mirror of the east side, just with a pressbox.

If they are planning to spend $300 mil on football, $500 mil total on athletics, I bet they are planning a huge academic push as well.

It's the right time to do it as the economy and oil & gas business are booming, and people are feeling good about the direction of the money sports (football & basketball).

Across the board so many of OU's doantions are OIL & NG based.

With Oil and NG being a boom and bust industry, times are good now, but if OU waits too long they risk the bust side of the industry.

Its happened before at OU with the Sarkeys Energy Center building that was conceived during a boom but built in the bust....
It lead to significant funding problems.

OU officials should have learned this lesson and should know they need to strike while the iron is hot, as in ASAP.

OU should start its public fundraising tomorrow, even if there are still things that haven't been fully decided.

I realize the graphic is a fantasy.

That said, upping the capacity by only 6,000 while "bowling in" the south end zone means that all they are doing is spanning lower bowl portion. That means the bowl would be the lower sections only, with the structures of the upper decks and press box unextended.

Among other things reported on KREF is that OU might put chair back seating in all or in parts of the stadium.
This would lower the number of seats available without some type of expansion.

At least that 400 pound guy on my row wouldn't be able to take up 3 seats!

I realize the graphic is a fantasy.

That said, upping the capacity by only 6,000 while "bowling in" the south end zone means that all they are doing is spanning lower bowl portion. That means the bowl would be the lower sections only, with the structures of the upper decks and press box unextended.

I am not sure about college but in pros they do not count suits & press boxes in the attendance figures, though that distinction with suits is due to how the pros do revenue sharing so their might not be any reason not to include that in the count.

I realize the graphic is a fantasy.

That said, upping the capacity by only 6,000 while "bowling in" the south end zone means that all they are doing is spanning lower bowl portion. That means the bowl would be the lower sections only, with the structures of the upper decks and press box unextended.

The add will be over 8k seat bringing official cappiciaty to over 90k

It would be nice if they just rebuilt it across the street attached to a parking garage and try and ramp up a mid-rise residential tower where the stadium currently is.

Among other things reported on KREF is that OU might put chair back seating in all or in parts of the stadium.
This would lower the number of seats available without some type of expansion.

At least that 400 pound guy on my row wouldn't be able to take up 3 seats!

Now they'd better tread pretty darned carefully if they do that. Those bench-oriented rows don't exactly have tons of front-to-back leg room for taller guys that DON'T weight 400 lbs. Put in those chairbacks and you'll cut that room even further. Now I could see how they might opt to put in chairbacks in certain areas - think the seating in the existing west upper deck is slightly steeper meaning the closer chairs wouldn't be quite as confining.

Like I said, they just need to get on with publishing the info and getting past all the speculation.

The add will be over 8k seat bringing official cappiciaty to over 90k

Boulder, a revised story on News9 said the final capacity (at least from what Deano is reporting :) ) will be right at 88K, so the actual seat delta will only be about 6K. Given that the max crowd at OMS was the ND game in 2012 at 86K, that would bring the "unofficial" capacity up to around 92K.

I will stand by 90k

I will stand by 90k
I don't think 88k vs 90k (increase of 6k or 8k) makes much difference in what the actual changes are going to be. That is less than a 10% increase in capacity. Imagine the stadium as it is now. Take a 10% slice of the seating. Now figure out how much that adds in new structure to the stadium. It isn't much. Probably just enough to fill in the lower bowl and that's about it.

This is something I've been wondering, having only been to a handful of games: why is the capacity "only" 82,112 if actual attendance is 84-85K? Where do the additional 2-3K fans go? Since the stadium is obviously capable of holding over 86K people, I'm left wondering where the 82,112 number comes from.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Update On Oklahoma Football Stadium Expansion - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/25468893/update-on-oklahoma-football-stadium-expansion)

......NORMAN, Oklahoma - The University of Oklahoma is moving ahead with its plans to renovate Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. As we first reported, the most noticeable of many changes will be a south end zone that will be completely bowled in. Other phases of construction will produce new and upgrade some existing facilities as the completion of the long-talked-about bowl is but one aspect of a project that is expected to begin after the 2014 season and cost in the neighborhood of $350 million dollars.

.....One high-ranking person with direct knowledge put it this way: "It's coming. And it's gonna be big time. It's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's and getting the politics out of the way."

While tedious and lengthy discussions will no doubt take place, no less than seven sources have confirmed that getting official approval will be nothing more than a formality.

^

Thanks for sharing that.


But... It still doesn't tell us anything. In fact it contradicts what Blevins previously reported regarding the Regents approving a specific set of improvements. Now he's saying it just a plan, and something about not having enough people to approve that. That last part makes zero sense as 1)there is nothing about this on the Regents' agenda and 2)they wouldn't be meeting without a quorum because they can't approve anything or conduct official business.

He also makes reference to phases which contradicts the idea this would all be done in one off-season (which never made sense to me).

Dean may not be the best source for information but right now besides KREF he is about the only place where this is discussed by the local sports media... A big part of that comes from a poor marketing campaign from OU and I think that’s a mistake.

Even though Dean contradicts him self from his previous announcement I take it that this latest release is more accurate than his first?

I think it makes more sense to do these projects in phases but this contradicts what I was personally told by an OU official just a few days ago when I was told that it would all be done in one off season.

I simply don't think Dean knows much more than you or I or anyone who has listened to Joe Castiglione and paid much attention to what is going on.

In fact, he knows a lot less when it comes to understanding how the OU Board of Regents work.


He still hasn't really told us anything... They are in the planning phase of big stadium upgrades, but he's not sure exactly what they are or when they'll happen. But it will be expensive!

This is something I've been wondering, having only been to a handful of games: why is the capacity "only" 82,112 if actual attendance is 84-85K? Where do the additional 2-3K fans go? Since the stadium is obviously capable of holding over 86K people, I'm left wondering where the 82,112 number comes from.

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There's an "architectural" or "rated" capacity or official, fire marshall purposes, then there's the "overflow" crowd that comes in for the amenities in the lounge areas on the east and west sides. I'm not even sure a ticket for those areas necessarily corresponds to a hard physical seat. That number obviously varies from game to game, hence the oddball attendance numbers.

^

Thanks for sharing that.


But... It still doesn't tell us anything. In fact it contradicts what Blevins previously reported regarding the Regents approving a specific set of improvements. Now he's saying it just a plan, and something about not having enough people to approve that. That last part makes zero sense as 1)there is nothing about this on the Regents' agenda and 2)they wouldn't be meeting without a quorum because they can't approve anything or conduct official business.

He also makes reference to phases which contradicts the idea this would all be done in one off-season (which never made sense to me).

Think Deano's story is a carefully worded backtrack from his "EXCLUSIVE - THEY'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE!!!" proclamation from the other day.

Anyway, I really look forward to seeing the plans for the stadium, Loyd Noble and beyond.

Sounds like they are gearing up for a huge fund-raising effort which would no doubt have a big academic component as well.

https://twitter.com/john_shinn

John Shinn ‏@john_shinn · 2h
#OU President David Boren: "I think people can begin to get excited about potential changes to the stadium in the future."

https://twitter.com/john_shinn

John Shinn ‏@john_shinn · 2h
#OU President David Boren: "I think people can begin to get excited about potential changes to the stadium in the future."

Unless he's been talking to ol' Doc Brown, it'd be pretty hard to do changes in the past.

In the link below: These plans don't show any indication that the west upper deck is going to be demolished. The press box will probably be rebuilt underneath the west side upper deck; bowling in the south end zone--an increase of 6,000 seats.

Facing south end zone
East side upper deck https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608000522665331957&pid=15.1 https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608036488721141508&pid=15.1West side upper deck

"There is a plan to build a new press box that would deliver a modern and expansive facility stretching below the west side upper deck."

Update On Oklahoma Football Stadium Expansion - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/25468893/update-on-oklahoma-football-stadium-expansion)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Seems extremely difficult to rebuild the pressbox Below the upperdeck.

I would have to think construction would take place in phases with a bowl expansion the first and easiest phase.

Click for full article

http://www.normantranscript.com/head...Regents-agenda

Boren said stadium could be on next Regents agenda

By John Shinn The Norman Transcript The Norman Transcript Fri May 09, 2014, 01:57 AM CDT
NORMAN — There were no agenda items pertaining to Owen Field at the University of Oklahoma’s Board of Regents meeting at Oklahoma Memorial Union on Thursday. However, that is likely to change when the group reconvenes next month.

^

Sounds like we'll get a look at the full plans in a couple of months.

Will be really interesting to see what they've come up with.

@Eddie_Rado 31m
Castiglione: "I'm not here tonight to make an announcement on LNC or football stadium but we are on the threshold of announcing those plans"

@Eddie_Rado 31m
Castiglione says facility improvement will: 1.) improve the experience for college student-athletes 2.) improve experience for you the fan

"Joe Castiglione about football stadium upgrades before Tuesday’s Sooner Caravan event even began"

OU football: Joe Castiglione treads lightly in discussing football stadium renovations during Sooner Caravan event | News OK (http://newsok.com/ou-football-joe-castiglione-treads-lightly-in-discussing-football-stadium-renovations-during-sooner-caravan-event/article/4815061/?page=1)

OU Football Stadium*Expansion - Home - Boyd Street Magazine (http://www.boydstreet.com/home/2014/6/12/ou-football-stadium-expansion.html)
June 12, 2014 at 3:40PM
Rumors Swirling about Multi-Million Dollar Renovations
News broke earlier this May that Dean Blevins confirmed that a new project for the expansion of the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was in the works and would be approved and announced at a future Board of Regents meeting.

Plans were projected to be anywhere between $350-400 million. The project would see an expansion of the seating on the south end of the stadium, as well as upgrades to the training facilities and weight room and updated suites and press box. The project is rumored to begin after the last home game against OSU on Dec. 6, 2014, with the grand opening hopefully taking place in time for the home opener against Akron the year following. The bowl being created in the south end zone should create anywhere from 8,000-10,000 more seats, and with the waiting list for season tickets growing each year, the OU Athletic Department is sure to fill every single one up.

I was able to get an insider view into the Populous architectural renderings for the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium expansion project. Populous is responsible for such sports venues as Sun Life Stadium for the Miami Dolphins in 1987, which was the first venue to feature club seating, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which won the American Institute of Architects National Honor Awards for both urban design and architecture, just to name a couple. Their work is tremendous, and their list of achievements is honestly too long for this article.

I received a packet from a trusted source who had access to the stadium expansion project. That packet contained four proposed exteriors for the south end expansion of the stadium. In each, the bowl on the south end is closed up, and an entrance to the stadium has been added that spills out into an oval driveway that connects to Lindsey Street. The new entrance and roundabout, let’s call it, effectively eats up some of the practice field located on the corner of Jenkins and Lindsey, but all of the architectural renderings feature two practice fields running north and south to the west of the new south entrance.

The bowl addition looks to be the same height as the north end, with the current south end zone section remaining essentially the same, rising up above the entrance. The four proposals were broken up into two basic groups: two renderings featuring water fountains in the south entrance, along with extensive brick and rock features, and two renderings without fountains, featuring exteriors made up mostly of windows.

The proposal that my source described as having the most potential to pass the upcoming vote featured the roundabout coming off of Lindsey Street, just before Jenkins, that winds in a circle around a massive water fountain out front. On both sides of the south entrance, trees line the sidewalks as a natural barrier to the practice fields on the left, and the green space on the right. Moving north from the fountain is an outdoor entranceway much like the north entrance, with a big concrete gathering area, featuring another smaller water feature. The entrance itself is similar to the stone and brickwork currently on the stadium, and features large glass windows and doors. The bowl sections to the left and right appear to feature suites with large panes of glass and contain a similar amount of seating as the north end zone.

OU boasts one of the best home crowds in all of college football, and diehards are looking for ways to get season tickets. If this Populous deal goes through, they just might get their shot. Consider adding your name to the waiting list before the announcement becomes official!

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I generally like the sounds of it….
We should soon have our answers to the much discussed and anticipated OU football stadium, LNC changes…. + more
The OU BOR meets early next week… but their agenda will be posted somewhere on line late this week?

Well Boren said he wanted a roundabout at Jenkins and Lindsey, sounds like it was something that was expected to be incorporated into the stadium renovation plans so he put it out there when they were talking about the Lindsey St plans. Look forward to the renderings.

I received a packet from a trusted source who had access to the stadium expansion project. That packet contained four proposed exteriors for the south end expansion of the stadium. In each, the bowl on the south end is closed up, and an entrance to the stadium has been added that spills out into an oval driveway that connects to Lindsey Street. The new entrance and roundabout, let’s call it, effectively eats up some of the practice field located on the corner of Jenkins and Lindsey, but all of the architectural renderings feature two practice fields running north and south to the west of the new south entrance.

This part confuses me a little. It says it effectively eats up "some" of the practice field but if it goes straight south in the middle of the south side of the stadium, it effectively eats up at least half of the practice field.


The bowl addition looks to be the same height as the north end, with the current south end zone section remaining essentially the same, rising up above the entrance. The four proposals were broken up into two basic groups: two renderings featuring water fountains in the south entrance, along with extensive brick and rock features, and two renderings without fountains, featuring exteriors made up mostly of windows.

If they are going to bowl it in and it will be the same height as the north side, wouldn't that eat up a lot of the practice fields on the corner of Lindsey and Asp too?


The proposal that my source described as having the most potential to pass the upcoming vote featured the roundabout coming off of Lindsey Street, just before Jenkins, that winds in a circle around a massive water fountain out front. On both sides of the south entrance, trees line the sidewalks as a natural barrier to the practice fields on the left, and the green space on the right. Moving north from the fountain is an outdoor entranceway much like the north entrance, with a big concrete gathering area, featuring another smaller water feature. The entrance itself is similar to the stone and brickwork currently on the stadium, and features large glass windows and doors. The bowl sections to the left and right appear to feature suites with large panes of glass and contain a similar amount of seating as the north end zone.

Will this entrance be built around the Switzer Center or will that be effectively relocated? Maybe the entrance just leads up to the building and then around it? I guess we will have to wait on the renderings.

Will this entrance be built around the Switzer Center or will that be effectively relocated? Maybe the entrance just leads up to the building and then around it? I guess we will have to wait on the renderings.

I always thought the best plan for the south end zone would include relocating the Switzer Center across Jenkins to the corner where the old athletic dorms are located. You could use it as the base for a larger development on that site or it would even do well by itself there.

Also, I really think OU should relocate the practice fields away from right around the stadium along with the track and field facilities and the Everest indoor. I think it was a mistake to build/renovate those facilities there. I think it would have been smarter to build them on the south side of campus near the rest of the athletic fields and facilities and have it as a sort of athletic village at the south end of campus. I understand it would be a longer trek for football and track, but it would be easier to attend for visitors if it was near the LNC and that opens up a lot of prime land right next to campus for higher use.

This seems to conflict with other reports of an increase in capacity of 8,00 to 10,000 more seats but I guess we will find out fairly soon.

OU stadium renovations on the Board of Regents agenda next week | News OK (http://newsok.com/ou-stadium-renovations-on-the-board-of-regents-agenda-next-week/article/4946656)


Renovations aren’t expected to stretch the capacity of the stadium much beyond its current capacity of 82,112. The plan is likely to include new suites on the stadium’s west side, a new press box and additional chairback seating.

Lots of ideas have been considered according to Joe C…..Including a large stadium expansion.

I don’t think OU has really known what it wanted until very recently... The study’s and fan surveys that were done helped OU develop a plan but the plans are probably still subject to some change?
It’s probably not going to be until the September 17/18 BOR meetings in Claremore before we officially find out many of the details?

“The specific projects will require additional approval by the board.”
“The board will likely be asked in its September meeting to approve a recommendation for a construction management firm.”