They want to start at the end of this season, so I suspect they have several variations on some specific concepts and the only thing left to do is to make some decisions about what precise path to take.

Then, the architecture firm will finish up the final design drawings and get things out to bid so they can start in December.

So, whether we see it or not for a while, they must have a pretty clear idea about what they are going to do.

$350-400 million for the proposed renovations? Am I the only person who looks at that number, looks at what it is going to be used for, and wonders about all the other things you could do with a sack of money that size?

We're letting OG&E tear down the Stage Center because nobody with the appropriately deep pockets was willing to step up and drop not even a tenth of that amount to save it. It boggles my mind just a little.

^

Yeah, it's a bit messed up in terms of priorities. I understand the need to have certain facilities like weight rooms and practice fields but so much of this goes far beyond that.

But it's the system in which OU and OSU have to compete against everyone else. They are all trying to cater to a bunch of 17 year-old recruits and they love the flashy over-the-top stuff.

However, at least the athletic department at OU is self-funded. Yes, the millions they raise could go to academics instead but the truth is that academic donations go up dramatically when the sports teams do well, so I try not to worry too much about this stuff.

YEP................Great football and profitable oil = a lot more money for OU's academics and causes.

Also, in the Boren era they've always done a good job of balancing the athletic and academic fundraising.

They just wrapped up a big academic campaign (over a billion in capital improvements and the endowment is now well north of a billion) so now they will turn to the athletics for a couple of years.

I bet you anything that will be followed by huge push for academic programs.

Also, in the Boren era they've always done a good job of balancing the athletic and academic fundraising.

They just wrapped up a big academic campaign (over a billion in capital improvements and the endowment is now well north of a billion) so now they will turn to the athletics for a couple of years.

I bet you anything that will be followed by huge push for academic programs.

Academic progress will make us attractive for any conference.

Much will hinge on the team's performance in 2014-15 because this influences your donors, strengthens your season ticket base and prompts up quality recruits. In 2013-14 we operated at 103% of capacity (A-84,800/C-82,112) with 10,000 on the waiting list. There are probably several alternative plans on the shelf.

Who knows, could we eventually see a 100,000-seat stadium before 2020? A two phrase stadium renovation-expansion where the south end zone is enclosed in 2015 and the upper deck connect from south or north as a part of a second phrase in 2016.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-1wN_ZliMF0emcE5GgW_rXtJEdX-8KF372y43-dsVAQhRra06MQ https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608012686059372996&pid=15.1 http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/948/984/984948.JPG

Phase I 2015, south end connect_Phase II 2016-18, upper deck connect

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

As I've said before in this thread, I think a 100K stadium would be a BIG mistake. There's other 100+K stadiums that are currently having trouble filling their seats. Michigan being one. The waiting list we like to brag about is actually a waiting list of people who don't wanna donate. If you pony up the money, you move to the front of the season ticket holder waiting list. I think bowling in the south EZ is as much as we need to do as far as adding seats. You always want more demand than you can handle. You have to have some people who can't get in. But if you go down to Norman on a Saturday in the fall, you should be able to find tickets pretty easily and a lot of times it'll be below face value.

As far as academics are concerned, OU is one of the few football programs that operates in the black. Some of the money that our athletics deparmtent makes goes back into the university in places other than athletics. And some of that goes to help fund academics.

As you'll notice here: USA Today | Sports | COLLEGE (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/schools/finances/)

Texas, tOSU, OU, LSU and Nebbish are the only schools that operate in the black with no subsidy.

As I've said before in this thread, I think a 100K stadium would be a BIG mistake. There's other 100+K stadiums that are currently having trouble filling their seats. Michigan being one. The waiting list we like to brag about is actually a waiting list of people who don't wanna donate. If you pony up the money, you move to the front of the season ticket holder waiting list. I think bowling in the south EZ is as much as we need to do as far as adding seats. You always want more demand than you can handle. You have to have some people who can't get in. But if you go down to Norman on a Saturday in the fall, you should be able to find tickets pretty easily and a lot of times it'll be below face value.

I agree 100%. I wouldn't mind a small - maybe 4,000-8,000 seat - expansion, but not much more. I get $80-90 face value tickets to almost every game on the street for between $0 (yes, I've been handed free tickets numerous times) and $30. I pay $20 for a ticket most games. The only recent game that I paid more than $30 for a ticket was the Notre Dame game in 2012. I actually paid just over face value for a couple (just under $200). A full stadium is definitely better than a big stadium with empty seats. And I think the waiting list is definitely inflated. I'm really looking forward to the renovations. It sounds like they have the right idea.

I was at the OU athletic ticket office a few weeks ago where I saw a sign indicating that OU had season tickets for sale with a donation…. Join the Sooner club for $100 a year and you have your tickets in hand from OU…But it’s very easy to score a ticket for well under face value at OU for about 99% of all home games….

All you need is to be paying attention.
As much as it would be nice to have a 100,000+ seat stadium that’s just not going to happen for many years for a combination of several reasons and Joe C has indicated as much.

YEP................Great football and profitable oil = a lot more money for OU's academics and causes.
Preach it brother.

As I've said before in this thread, I think a 100K stadium would be a BIG mistake. There's other 100+K stadiums that are currently having trouble filling their seats. Michigan being one. The waiting list we like to brag about is actually a waiting list of people who don't wanna donate. If you pony up the money, you move to the front of the season ticket holder waiting list. I think bowling in the south EZ is as much as we need to do as far as adding seats. You always want more demand than you can handle. You have to have some people who can't get in. But if you go down to Norman on a Saturday in the fall, you should be able to find tickets pretty easily and a lot of times it'll be below face value.

As far as academics are concerned, OU is one of the few football programs that operates in the black. Some of the money that our athletics deparmtent makes goes back into the university in places other than athletics. And some of that goes to help fund academics.

As you'll notice here: USA Today | Sports | COLLEGE (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/schools/finances/)

Texas, tOSU, OU, LSU and Nebbish are the only schools that operate in the black with no subsidy.

I had to look at that chart and bust out a calculator for a bit before I really understood it, but even then I kind of have more questions.

Why does Michigan, a school with total revenue of $143,514,125, total expenses of $131,018,311, and a subsidy $255,832 even need the school funds for their program? And what do they do with the 12 million profit over their expenses? If more than the subsidy goes back into academics, then I would have to argue how the chart is presenting the data.

$350-400 million for the proposed renovations? Am I the only person who looks at that number, looks at what it is going to be used for, and wonders about all the other things you could do with a sack of money that size?

We're letting OG&E tear down the Stage Center because nobody with the appropriately deep pockets was willing to step up and drop not even a tenth of that amount to save it. It boggles my mind just a little.

Well, because in the course of one season you've got more people going through OMS than I'd wager have been through Stage Center in its entire existence.

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)

The one thing I *never* expected was a large increase in capacity. You've got places right now that have gone up to 100K, but are starting to look at the cost/reward and thinking more in terms of internal amenities, eg training facilities, meeting rooms, you name it. With people staying home more and more to watch their games on their Big Screens, there's an emerging hesitation to jump to the next big increment. I'd be surprised if we saw even a 5K increase, if that much.

I agree 100%. I wouldn't mind a small - maybe 4,000-8,000 seat - expansion, but not much more. I get $80-90 face value tickets to almost every game on the street for between $0 (yes, I've been handed free tickets numerous times) and $30. I pay $20 for a ticket most games. The only recent game that I paid more than $30 for a ticket was the Notre Dame game in 2012. I actually paid just over face value for a couple (just under $200). A full stadium is definitely better than a big stadium with empty seats. And I think the waiting list is definitely inflated. I'm really looking forward to the renovations. It sounds like they have the right idea.

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner. The market for season tickets isn't nearly as tough as some would lead one to believe, and while I realize the waiting list is "real," the mythos behind it has grown to Urban Legend proportions.

I've been doing what you've just described to go to OU games essentially since I graduated.

In that time, I've paid over face value exactly twice: 2000 Nebraska, and 2007 Miami. The latter was only because I needed to get four together for a friend who was coming in out of town with his wife for a game, and I wanted to show him around the campus area at least a bit, rather than traipsing sidewalks looking for tickets.

The practical reality for endzone seats is that to fund them, you're going to have to give those donors at least some measure of reward, which means better seating options. What are you going to do - shove folks out of good seats *now* into the new, worse seats? Seats you could have from any of a dozen folks for less than half face in most cases?

I suspect the $350M is going to some structure and seats, but it sounds to me like the interior amenities are where the $$$ are going to go.

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner. The market for season tickets isn't nearly as tough as some would lead one to believe, and while I realize the waiting list is "real," the mythos behind it has grown to Urban Legend proportions.

I've been doing what you've just described to go to OU games essentially since I graduated.

In that time, I've paid over face value exactly twice: 2000 Nebraska, and 2007 Miami. The latter was only because I needed to get four together for a friend who was coming in out of town with his wife for a game, and I wanted to show him around the campus area at least a bit, rather than traipsing sidewalks looking for tickets.

The practical reality for endzone seats is that to fund them, you're going to have to give those donors at least some measure of reward, which means better seating options. What are you going to do - shove folks out of good seats *now* into the new, worse seats? Seats you could have from any of a dozen folks for less than half face in most cases?

I suspect the $350M is going to some structure and seats, but it sounds to me like the interior amenities are where the $$$ are going to go.

The only way I see new corner end zone seats having much profitability is if the new corners become the lower level student section, opening the current lower level sections to be sold to donors.

The only way I see new corner end zone seats having much profitability is if the new corners become the lower level student section, opening the current lower level sections to be sold to donors.

Have wondered about that myself given the obviously waning student attendance over the last few years. Think more and more folks paying full price are getting peeved at the student seats that are increasingly unoccupied..

I heard more people than ever before last season complaining about the unoccupied student sections.

Instead of spending the extra millions to expand the stadium and driving up ticket and donor cost just that much more, OU should significantly shrink the student allotment to the average student attendance amount which is said to be much smaller than the student allotment.

Not only do many students not show up, of those who do, many leave after only a short time when many games are still close.
There are very often thousands of empty student seats by the middle of the third quarter on.

This is just one more reason not to make a major stadium expansion.

The OU stadium projects cost total will be $380 to $400 million.
OU will build a new press box.
The Switzer center will be redone and it will include a party deck…? per Hale.

But we should hear more in the next day or 2

From another site.

Owen Field Renovation MegaThread: Blevins Report Pg. 12 - Page 27 (http://www.landthieves.com/board/showthread.php?68413-Owen-Field-Renovation-MegaThread-Blevins-Report-Pg.-12&p=1799671&viewfull=1#post1799671)

Looks like new west complex built around the existing deck. And a new south end zone including bowling the corners.

Official news should come out tonight or tomorrow

$450 million!


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/oustadium.jpg

From another site.

Owen Field Renovation MegaThread: Blevins Report Pg. 12 - Page 27 (http://www.landthieves.com/board/showthread.php?68413-Owen-Field-Renovation-MegaThread-Blevins-Report-Pg.-12&p=1799671&viewfull=1#post1799671)

Looks like new west complex built around the existing deck. And a new south end zone including bowling the corners.

Official news should come out tonight or tomorrow

Those renderings are a picture of a picture, so it's kind of hard to appreciate them.

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.

Looks like this might have been spot on. Looks like I was incorrect

If those renderings are correct, where will the practice fields go if there is a circle drive right through them? Otherwise it looks about what I imagined it would, and will be a major project on the OU campus.

There are actually 3 practice fields immediately south of the stadium.

Looks like they can easily retain 2.

Love the way they opened up the south end of the stadium with a lawn and water feature. Now, that area is completely fenced off.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/oufields.jpg

The bowled-in endzone will take out some of one of the two remaining practice fields but maybe that doesn't matter, or that will be a half field. Or they could shift the fields east-west and they might fit. Definitely pleasantly surprised that the south area will be opened up similar to what they have done on the north side. What would then go on the land between this oval and Jenkins? Would be a good spot for a future alumni center, something like what OSU and UT have near their stadiums. It would front the oval as well as Jenkins and Lindsey, and could be directly connected to the enlarged Barry Switzer Center. They could even move the Hall of Fame and other exhibits into this building so the public could have access on gamedays.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p498/bg918/oufields_zpsf391c768.jpg
Red - Stadium Expansion
Yellow - New Circle Drive
Blue - Expanded Switzer Center
Orange - Future Alumni Center with Hall of Fame
Green - Future Student Housing

OSU Alumni Center
http://orangeconnection.org/s/860/images/ImageLibrary/SlideShowSafe/15143613-7410-43dd-adc3-295daee0713b.jpg

Keep in mind that the football facility's will most likely include all the space(other that the concourse) under the new corners

The bowled-in endzone will take out some of one of the two remaining practice fields but maybe that doesn't matter, or that will be a half field. Or they could shift the fields east-west and they might fit. Definitely pleasantly surprised that the south area will be opened up similar to what they have done on the north side. What would then go on the land between this oval and Jenkins? Would be a good spot for a future alumni center, something like what OSU and UT have near their stadiums. It would front the oval as well as Jenkins and Lindsey, and could be directly connected to the enlarged Barry Switzer Center. They could even move the Hall of Fame and other exhibits into this building so the public could have access on gamedays.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p498/bg918/oufields_zpsf391c768.jpg
Red - Stadium Expansion
Yellow - New Circle Drive
Blue - Expanded Switzer Center
Orange - Future Alumni Center with Hall of Fame
Green - Future Student Housing

OSU Alumni Center
http://orangeconnection.org/s/860/images/ImageLibrary/SlideShowSafe/15143613-7410-43dd-adc3-295daee0713b.jpg

Thanks for this.

I wonder if they are planning to trash the existing south stands because they are at a different pitch than the rest of the stadium. Plus, you'd think they'd add more suites there and of course they have to completely rework the weight room, Switzer Center, etc. so they may just take the stands down completely and rebuild them. Wouldn't be a huge expense in the grand scheme of things.

I can't believe they are planning to spend $400 million + just for the stadium. Will be interesting to see what they do with the older parts; the concession stands, restrooms, etc. At that price, they must have lots of other things planned.

Much of OU’s stadium was built almost 90 years ago. Those parts of the stadium are long overdue for a major overhaul.

The $400 million dollars is in part an indication of how far behind the curve OU let its stadium become. This is something that OU has really needed for well over a decade…

From what I hear Boren was at first very resistant to the idea of anything on this scale but slowly came around to the fact that OU was being left behind, even in his own state and only became convinced that this was necessary after some pretty strong convincing words from some of OU’s large donor base. I’m told Boren can be very out of touch and behind the times on certain topics,,,,, apparently this was one of them.
Some of the earlier talk coming from journalist covering OU about the $400 million dollar improvements was scoffed at by some, but right now it sure looks like they had that figure pretty close to right.

I appreciate Boren and his leadership. You won't hear a negative word out of me about the improvement to the school and the stewardship of the football program. But yes, the stadium's facilities are in need of an overall and right now.

I can only compare OU to Oregon, because when I think of OU, I think of a program expecting the very best. Right now, Oregon has the very best of everything. Oklahoma has... history. Hey, that goes far. It convinces Adrian Peterson's that they can be successful here. But now the SEC is a beast, Texas, Baylor, and OSU are weOll-armed, and OU's reputation as a national power has waned, bowl victory against Bama notwithstanding.

I have looked at Oregon's facilities and thought it out of place --- those belong at Oklahoma. Why we do not have them, I do not know. They have one massive donor. Whatever Nike has done, we are more than willing to outdo together. That's just the reality of how much OU football is an institution without peer (other than Notre Dame and Alabama).

Long term, the practice fields should be moved elsewhere. That's too good of a location not to build future academic buildings, dorms, a university hotel, or something that will fit in with the campus. That would also make Lindsey much more walkable (in the sense that people would want to walk it).

I could see moving the practice fields where the parking lot north of the track complex and east of stadium. They'd obviously need to add a parking garage there to make up for the loss of parking.

I like everything I'm hearing about the improvements. Sounds like they got it right to me.

I can only compare OU to Oregon, because when I think of OU, I think of a program expecting the very best. Right now, Oregon has the very best of everything.

Just so you know, Oregon's stadium does not come close to comparing to OU's, even in it's current state.

Most the stadium is just a bowl built into the ground, which means you enter/exit from the top; limited concessions and restrooms.

They tacked on a nice upper deck with some suites and a press box, but it's a bit of a monstrosity.


The do have nice facilities but their stadium is nothing special -- something everyone seems to overlook.

Just so you know, Oregon's stadium does not come close to comparing to OU's, even in it's current state.

Most the stadium is just a bowl built into the ground, which means you enter/exit from the top; limited concessions and restrooms.

They tacked on a nice upper deck with some suites and a press box, but it's a bit of a monstrosity.


The do have nice facilities but their stadium is nothing special -- something everyone seems to overlook.

Autzen stadium's main upside is that it is extremely loud, because of the bowl design. Otherwise it is not all that special, especially in contrast to Oregon's other athletic facilities. Also Oregon's stadium is rather small by college standards. I think it is up to 55,000 occupancy, much much less than OU.

One of the best and most unique features about OU's stadium is that it is actually on campus and relatively well integrated into it.

I've been to a lot of other college stadiums and most are like the one at Oregon, set completely apart and surrounded mainly by parking lots.

In Norman, they've done a great job on the north side to create an open, green space that bridges with the surrounding buildings and outdoor spaces. Looks like they aim to do the same on the south side.

So, did it say if there was going to be a complete rebuild of the Switzer center? It seems like that would be the only way they would be able to do the entrance coming from the south since it is right in the way.

Long term, the practice fields should be moved elsewhere. That's too good of a location not to build future academic buildings, dorms, a university hotel, or something that will fit in with the campus. That would also make Lindsey much more walkable (in the sense that people would want to walk it).

I could see moving the practice fields where the parking lot north of the track complex and east of stadium. They'd obviously need to add a parking garage there to make up for the loss of parking.

I like everything I'm hearing about the improvements. Sounds like they got it right to me.

I wouldn't count on the practice fields moving anytime soon. The practice field location. Is a major plus for OU football

Just so you know, Oregon's stadium does not come close to comparing to OU's, even in it's current state.

Most the stadium is just a bowl built into the ground, which means you enter/exit from the top; limited concessions and restrooms.

They tacked on a nice upper deck with some suites and a press box, but it's a bit of a monstrosity.


The do have nice facilities but their stadium is nothing special -- something everyone seems to overlook.

The best thing about this expansion/renovation. Is the massive upgrade to the football program facilities.

YEP….. By keeping up with the Jones it should help OU recruit better.

But this has been a case of dereliction of duty on OU’s leadership for not consistently having across the board top 10 football facilities.
Our history shows that a great OU football program helps strengthen the entire university!

It will be interesting to see how the funds are broken up. The most important part in my mind is the weight room and that is specifically for recruiting purposes. That is much higher on the list for recruits than more seats in the stadium, although both are positive.

Oregon has a $69 million facility that includes locker rooms. USC's was $70 million. Ohio State spent $20 million on an upgrade. Auburn spent $16.5 million. Tennessee spent $42 million. I would bet OU's comes in around the $25-$30 million dollar mark depending on how much they are moving and what is being built as new. It could get closer to $50 million and that wouldn't surprise me.

The mystery of the stadium renovation and modest expansion process is quite intriguing. Stay tuned...

Looks like a larger version of the 75,000-seat Cotton Bowl of the 1970s.


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608012686059372996&pid=15.1

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
90,000?

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

I wouldn't count on the practice fields moving anytime soon. The practice field location. Is a major plus for OU football

Why do you think it would be that different if the practice fields were literally just across the street?

In this day and age every single second of practice time is regulated by the NCAA making every moment more valuable than ever before….. Requiring players and staff to move around to different locations is a time waster.

OU sells its recruits on the idea that everything for football is in close proximity and compared to many other university’s it is…. OU then says to its recruits that football is a bigger priority at OU and that’s why we have done things this way….for a very long time this has sold its self well in the minds of 17/18 year olds.

I have heard the OU coaches voice their opposition to moving the practices fields because of time factors.

They may cut into some practice space but I will be shocked if OU doesn’t keep the ability to practice in their current locations.

The mystery of the stadium renovation and modest expansion process is quite intriguing. Stay tuned...

Looks like a larger version of the 75,000-seat Cotton Bowl of the 1970s.


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608012686059372996&pid=15.1

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
90,000?

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

Every time I see this picture floating around forums, I have to laugh because I actually created this image in about 20 seconds on Microsoft Paint about 10 or so years ago.

Keep in mind the leaked image is one of what is reported to be four plans.

Regents meeting resumes at 10am tomorrow

It does look to me in that one rendering that what would amount to a good chunk of current section 101 and 109 would be removed (at least half) , but what I didn't catch until I really studied that picture is that their adding a third tier of seating just above the existing deck. And I'd be willing to bet a nickel that the top of that new section is spot-on level with the top-most section of the east side.

This is a fun time. Great speculation. Looking forward to seeing some renderings of the "selected/real/official" version, particularly how they plan to bowl the corners.

Very curious to see what the other three plans showed. I thought they would add the press box lower on the west side to mirror the east side with suites on the ends. We'll see soon enough I suppose.

You can do an awful lot with $400+ million.


Staring in 2003, OSU virtually built an entirely new stadium for $260 million and that included locker rooms, weight facility, etc.

Since that time, OU has put about $150 million into the stadium, including new locker rooms.

OU football: Luxury suites, new weight room, fan amenities included in stadium renovation proposal | News OK (http://newsok.com/ou-football-luxury-suites-new-weight-room-fan-amenities-included-in-stadium-renovation-proposal/article/4952778)

OU football: Luxury suites, new weight room, fan amenities included in stadium renovation proposal
Berry Tramel Published: June 24, 2014

A new weight room, coaches offices and fan amenities. Then a pressbox and luxury suites above the west-side upper deck. Eventually a new video screen for the north end to match the massive board on the south end

OU STADIUM — The proposed renovation plan for OU’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will be unveiled Wednesday in Ardmore. Plans will include a new pressbox, luxury suites and fan amenities, including a new video board on the stadium’s north side to match the one on the south.

The proposed renovation plan for OU’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will be unveiled to the university’s board of regents Wednesday in Ardmore, but the construction is contingent on athletic department fund-raising that will require the project be completed in three stages.

Some OU donors for several years have pushed for improvements to the stadium, but sources say OU president David Boren has closely managed the progress of the plan because of the shaky nature of higher education funding and fund-raising in the state. Boren does not want the project to affect the university’s ability to raise money for academic pursuits.

Boren and the regents are expected to require the athletic department to have the funding in place for the first phase to be approved sometime early next year. More than $100 million is needed for the renovation of the Switzer Center, with an expanded weight room and new coaches offices, plus fan amenities, which could include new bathrooms, concession areas, wider concourses and plaza areas for fans to gather. The entire project is not expected to increase the current stadium capacity of 82,112, which routinely is exceeded by a few thousand. In fact, it’s possible the capacity could decline, though the luxury suites are expected to generate more than enough revenue to offset any decline in total number of fans.

If approved, Switzer Center construction could begin at the end of the 2015 season, and sources say OU officials believe the bulk of the work would be completed for the opening of the 2016 season.

Texas “A&M is finishing their $400 million (stadium) deal,” said an OU booster who has been lobbying for the upgrades. “TCU’s stadium is better than JerryWorld. Baylor’s is going to be out of this world. You know what Oklahoma State did. Finally OU is joining the party, it looks like.

“The frustrating thing, we’re behind in all these things. We see what it did for Oklahoma State. Went from the bottom of the Big 12 to fighting for the top, just because of nice facilities. That’s what it’s all about in this day and time.”

The second phase — a massive edifice above the west upper deck — would start after completion of the Switzer Center, again, if the money is raised. That construction cost could exceed $200 million. The price tag on all three phases approaches $400 million.

“I think they’ll be able to get it done,” said the booster. “Nothing’s easy. The good part about it is, it looks like they’re going to get started. And you gotta look at the bright side.”

In his 20 years as OU’s president, Boren has been a master not only at fund-raising but at choosing the right times to fund raise. The same caution and control he has shown on the stadium project, he has shown on a variety of massive academic projects as well.

And both athletic director Joe Castiglione and football coach Bob Stoops have been respectful of that process. Stoops consistently has said he has everything he needs to win, though OU’s once-pristine weight room has fallen behind many others in the Big 12 and nationally in terms of size.

The weight room in the Switzer Center is used by virtually all the OU varsity teams, though the football has a smaller weightlifting facility in the Everest Indoor Training Center.

Earlier this month, when Stoops was asked if his team could use a football-only facility, he took the high road. “We have one,” Stoops said. “Our locker room, our entire area, is football only.”

But sources say Stoops has wanted, and been promised, a new weight room.

Boren apparently has decided the time is right for the launch of the project. Now it’s up to Castiglione’s fund-raising efforts, through the Boren parameters, to transform one of college football’s meccas.

OU football: Details for proposed renovations to Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/4952779)
by Berry Tramel Published: June 24, 2014
Here is a look at the planned renovations to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium:

PHASE ONE
* Switzer Center renovation, including new weight room, new coaches office and a grander entrance facing the south.
Fan amenities, including new bathroom and concession areas, plazas for fans to gather and backs for the bleachers.

PHASE TWO
* New luxury suites spanning the width of the west-side upper deck, to balance that on the east side.
* A new pressbox above the luxury suites.

PHASE THREE
* A video/scoreboard above the north grandstands to match the video board on the south, plus nominal changes to the seating.

This would be very disappointing if true IMHO. Bowling in the South End Zone is the part I was most excited about. Hopefully, this report isn't accurate.

There is little reason for a new grand south entrance unless they are bowling the south endzones

^

Notice he doesn't mention bowling in the south endzone.

Probably just an oversight.

Tramel is clearly just going off of what a booster or two told him.

I'm sure his account is far from comprehensive.

Should know much more details tomorrow.

Again, $400 million is a huge sum.

Baylor's entirely new stadium is only $260 million.

TCU's total redo was $164 million. OSU's was $260 million.

You can do an awful lot with $400+ million.


Staring in 2003, OSU virtually built an entirely new stadium for $260 million and that included locker rooms, weight facility, etc.

Since that time, OU has put about $150 million into the stadium, including new locker rooms.

If you stop and think about it, we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars for buildings that get used for their intended purposes 6-7 times per year.

Ticket demand is not as great as some think!
We will find out tomorrow but expanding the stadium in the corners could still be done in the future and would be fairly cheap compared to the rest of this project.

If you stop and think about it, we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars for buildings that get used for their intended purposes 6-7 times per year.

But result in hundreds of millions being returned to the university in donations for academic programs.

And at least in OU's case, the athletic costs are completely covered by dedicated donations and athletic department revenues.

If you stop and think about it, we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars for buildings that get used for their intended purposes 6-7 times per year.

The football facility is used almost every day of the year

If you stop and think about it, we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars for buildings that get used for their intended purposes 6-7 times per year.

But they are actually used far more than that……. OU is smarter than that.
Much of it is used many days a year and it very easily pays for its self-many times over.

The football facility is used almost every day of the year

Right, not only the weight / workout facilities but the coaches offices, the Switzer Center is open for tour and there is an academic center in the north endzone. And now, the club level is used for all types of events.

When I was in school there in the early 80's, the architecture library was in the north EZ; I was a development fanboy even then, frequently going by to read the magazines and books.

And in fact, there were *racquetball courts* on the east side of the stadium and the only way to get to them was to crawl through a small hatch door. Before Huston Huffman we even played intermurals on those courts.

Right, not only the weight / workout facilities but the coaches offices, the Switzer Center is open for tour and there is an academic center in the north endzone. And now, the club level is used for all types of events.

When I was in school there in the early 80's, the architecture library was in the north EZ; I was a development fanboy even then, frequently going by to read the magazines and books.

And in fact, there were *racquetball courts* on the east side of the stadium and the only way to get to them was to crawl through a small hatch door. Before Huston Huffman we even played intermurals on those courts.

Racket ball courts are still there. (At least as of 08) Just covered up and not used