Saying “Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium” isn’t quite as clumsy as reading it. Reading “Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium” in a news article is like a speed bump; it makes you angry every time you hit one. I know the Gaylords are royalty in Oklahoma, but is it a good thing for them to be cursed every time “Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium” appears in print? Why can’t it just be OU Stadium? Or Gaylord Stadium? Or good ole Memorial Stadium?

Let's just call it Owen Field.

Should be Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Let's just call it Owen Field.

which it still is .... and is what lots call it ... "Historic Owen Field"

Love's Field at Bank First's Gaylord Family - Memorial Stadium.

That sound better?

which it still is .... and is what lots call it ... "Historic Owen Field"

Bingo, I still hear a lot of old timers say this and I've adopted it as well.

Palace on the Prairie branding has actually grown on me.

Palace on the Prairie branding has actually grown on me.

It's a great nickname for sure.

It's been known as Owen Field since the 1920s, and nothing has changed about that. The STADIUM is named Oklahoma Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, with "Gaylord Family" added when the Gaylords made a massive donation toward the expansion (plus the journalism school) of a couple of decades ago. The "Memorial Stadium" name was attached to the STADIUM in the '20s, to honor fallen Sooners who had lost their lives in World War 1. "Palace on the Prairie is a nickname, and I agree with the folks who like it. But that's a marketing name, not an official one. But Owen Field is still Owen Field, nothing more, nothing less. You don't have to be an old timer to call the field itself by the correct name.

The Gaylord family have donated millions since 2000 to OU for stadium renovations and the journalism department.

Leave the stadium name to include Gaylord. They donated funds to help OU in times of need. Just don't get this trend to rename things.

Bingo, I still hear a lot of old timers say this and I've adopted it as well.

I never went away from Memorial Stadium

Btw, the vibe and activity around campus and Norman this past weekend for Tenn. was next level. Never felt that kind of energy before in Norman and it really started on Wed. as that's when many Vols fans started to arrive. The SEC is a totally different beast. They travelled in hoards, probably close to 10k Vols fans. They toured, RV'd, spent tons of dollars, tailgated and were a huge part of the weekend vibe. Big 12 fans don't travel at all like that and for the most part, come the day before and leave. SEC fans take great pride in learning and fully experiencing opposing college towns. They immerse themselves. The lack of hotel rooms in Norman allows for massive spillover into the metro so the impact can't be overstated.

Btw, the vibe and activity around campus and Norman this past weekend for Tenn. was next level. Never felt that kind of energy before in Norman and it really started on Wed. as that's when many Vols fans started to arrive. The SEC is a totally different beast. They travelled in hoards, probably close to 10k Vols fans. They toured, RV'd, spent tons of dollars, tailgated and were a huge part of the weekend vibe. Big 12 fans don't travel at all like that and for the most part, come the day before and leave. SEC fans take great pride in learning and fully experiencing opposing college towns. They immerse themselves. The lack of hotel rooms in Norman allows for massive spillover into the metro so the impact can't be overstated.

Imagine when Alabama comes to town. It's going to be a madhouse

The one thing I'm not sure I like about the Gaylord name is that it might limit another institution/family from wanting to make a an even bigger donation to the stadium and knowing that some other families name would still be on it.

The one thing I'm not sure I like about the Gaylord name is that it might limit another institution/family from wanting to make a an even bigger donation to the stadium and knowing that some other families name would still be on it.

The one thing OU has never struggled to get are football donations. Other sports, sure. But not football. I don't think this is an issue.

The one thing OU has never struggled to get are football donations. Other sports, sure. But not football. I don't think this is an issue.

OU needs about 400 mil to complete the stadium renovation ..

they don't have that money ..

they need 200 mil for the football facility they don't have that money ..

OU needs about 400 mil to complete the stadium renovation ..

they don't have that money ..

they need 200 mil for the football facility they don't have that money ..

But it isn't because the Gaylord name is on the stadium. OU just doesn't have many BMDs.

OU needs about 400 mil to complete the stadium renovation ..

they don't have that money ..

they need 200 mil for the football facility they don't have that money ..

Didn’t OU scrap plans for the football facility? I believe that’s due to the focus shifting from gaudy amenities and towards NIL. They had the funds to get that done but it doesn’t make sense.

As for the football stadium renovation. That won’t be a problem to fund/raise based on the fact it’s going to include plush suites for corporations to purchase.

Didn’t OU scrap plans for the football facility? I believe that’s due to the focus shifting from gaudy amenities and towards NIL. They had the funds to get that done but it doesn’t make sense.

As for the football stadium renovation. That won’t be a problem to fund/raise based on the fact it’s going to include plush suites for corporations to purchase.

if fund raising for the football renovation wasn't a problem it would have been finished about 5 years ago ..

and the football facility is not scraped ..

NIL changed where money goes in a dramatic way and the priorities. Same everywhere. And, it’s getting ready to vhange again with revenue sharing about to kick in. OU is still going to improve facilities, but needs to improve personnel more quickly.

NIL changed where money goes in a dramatic way and the priorities. Same everywhere. And, it’s getting ready to change again with revenue sharing about to kick in. OU is still going to improve facilities, but needs to improve personnel more quickly.

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/736091755

The OU Foundation has over $2B in assets. I get tired of hearing the misinformation that OU doesn't have the money for infrastructure improvements.

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/736091755

The OU Foundation has over $2B in assets. I get tired of hearing the misinformation that OU doesn't have the money for infrastructure improvements.

$1.9B of that is restricted for donor purposes. So that can only use those funds as the donor restricted them. If not, they can be sued.

But I take it you don't know accounting or pledge or contribution law. You thought you were making a good point, but you didn't bother to actually read the form 990.

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/736091755

The OU Foundation has over $2B in assets. I get tired of hearing the misinformation that OU doesn't have the money for infrastructure improvements.

You do realize that they don't have $2 Billion in LIQUID assets...right?

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/736091755

The OU Foundation has over $2B in assets. I get tired of hearing the misinformation that OU doesn't have the money for infrastructure improvements.

lol

if fund raising for the football renovation wasn't a problem it would have been finished about 5 years ago ..

and the football facility is not scraped ..

Joe C. has essentially stated that, at this point in time, it doesn’t make sense to allocate $175 million to a single facility aimed at attracting football recruits, especially when there’s a new and growing budget line item of $20 million annually for direct compensation, which is more desired by the athletes.

I would be very surprised if we don’t hear an announcement about stadium renovations within the next 2-3 years.

What facilities are people saying aren't getting funded? We already know about the 3rd indoor practice facility. They have a whole new locker room/office/etc space. I mean what else are they needing?

The stadium plans are already in motion too. It'll be interesting to see how they rip out that upper deck and the press box with the parking garage/etc all so close. That'll be a 2-3 year project like the other side was. And no, they wont have any problems selling out those suites that they're going to create. I believe they said it would reduce capacity also wouldn't it? Back to more like 80k instead of 85k. It will be nice to have the two sides match though. Feel a little less like this was slapped on this side, then this was slapped on that side. If they ever decide to be absolutely insane, then they could upper deck the north endzone and "connect" to the two matching sides. But that would push it back up to the 100k+ mark and i dont think we really can support that. Especially not if they dont do something to get back in that top 10 regularly.

What facilities are people saying aren't getting funded? We already know about the 3rd indoor practice facility. They have a whole new locker room/office/etc space. I mean what else are they needing?

The stadium plans are already in motion too. It'll be interesting to see how they rip out that upper deck and the press box with the parking garage/etc all so close. That'll be a 2-3 year project like the other side was. And no, they wont have any problems selling out those suites that they're going to create. I believe they said it would reduce capacity also wouldn't it? Back to more like 80k instead of 85k. It will be nice to have the two sides match though. Feel a little less like this was slapped on this side, then this was slapped on that side. If they ever decide to be absolutely insane, then they could upper deck the north endzone and "connect" to the two matching sides. But that would push it back up to the 100k+ mark and i dont think we really can support that. Especially not if they dont do something to get back in that top 10 regularly.

The west deck plan is ingenious. It basically takes the existing shell and extends it, reconfigures another portion of it to create an additional deck, but does it all in one off season. I remember a discussion about that very things when the master plan came out many moons ago.

I personally don't think they'll ever bowl in the upper decks with a double north endzone.

What facilities are people saying aren't getting funded? We already know about the 3rd indoor practice facility. They have a whole new locker room/office/etc space. I mean what else are they needing?

The stadium plans are already in motion too. It'll be interesting to see how they rip out that upper deck and the press box with the parking garage/etc all so close. That'll be a 2-3 year project like the other side was. And no, they wont have any problems selling out those suites that they're going to create. I believe they said it would reduce capacity also wouldn't it? Back to more like 80k instead of 85k. It will be nice to have the two sides match though. Feel a little less like this was slapped on this side, then this was slapped on that side. If they ever decide to be absolutely insane, then they could upper deck the north endzone and "connect" to the two matching sides. But that would push it back up to the 100k+ mark and i dont think we really can support that. Especially not if they dont do something to get back in that top 10 regularly.

capacity is already back to 80k it is the smallest currently as any time since 2003

capacity is already back to 80k it is the smallest currently as any time since 2003

Per OU, the published capacity of GFOMS is 83,489. I think they sell "SRO passes" to the clubs and thus often report attendance well above that number.

They *purposely* reduced capacity for recent ADA compliance modifications *and* because the nationwide trend for attendance at college football is *down*. That's another reason why I don't think you'll see a 5K capacity increase with a north upper deck. The "sellout streak" at OU has been fiction for a long time.

Per OU, the published capacity of GFOMS is 83,489. I think they sell "SRO passes" to the clubs and thus often report attendance well above that number.

They *purposely* reduced capacity for recent ADA compliance modifications *and* because the nationwide trend for attendance at college football is *down*. That's another reason why I don't think you'll see a 5K capacity increase with a north upper deck. The "sellout streak" at OU has been fiction for a long time.

nope that was 2016 it is now 80,126 (and yes with SRO they do go above that number)

here is the link ..

https://soonersports.com/sports/2019/8/14/208803880


the capacity if they do the west deck as proposed will drop officially below 80k

Per OU, the published capacity of GFOMS is 83,489. I think they sell "SRO passes" to the clubs and thus often report attendance well above that number.

They *purposely* reduced capacity for recent ADA compliance modifications *and* because the nationwide trend for attendance at college football is *down*. That's another reason why I don't think you'll see a 5K capacity increase with a north upper deck. The "sellout streak" at OU has been fiction for a long time.

Agree. Always confused me when I see people online saying they should expand capacity.

Per OU, the published capacity of GFOMS is 83,489. I think they sell "SRO passes" to the clubs and thus often report attendance well above that number.

They *purposely* reduced capacity for recent ADA compliance modifications *and* because the nationwide trend for attendance at college football is *down*. That's another reason why I don't think you'll see a 5K capacity increase with a north upper deck. The "sellout streak" at OU has been fiction for a long time.
Sellout is not fiction. Maybe not every ticket sold had a butt in a seat though…. Just like every school and professional sports team reports their numbers.

nope that was 2016 it is now 80,126 (and yes with SRO they do go above that number)

here is the link ..

https://soonersports.com/sports/2019/8/14/208803880


the capacity if they do the west deck as proposed will drop officially below 80k

My ideal scenario is either complete the upper deck around the entire stadium or just the south end zone for now and convert all the seats to chair backs. Keep the capacity between 80k-90k but make it a hell of a lot more comfortable.

That's completely unnecessary but would be nice lol.

Sellout is not fiction. Maybe not every ticket sold had a butt in a seat though…. Just like every school and professional sports team reports their numbers.

It is a fiction. They have corporate sponsors lined up to buy any unsold tickets within a certain window and they get to do what they want with them.

One sponsor just lets the university give the tickets away, others give them to customers, some just eat them.

Been that way for over 20 years. I got two free one game in 03 via that first route. I wanted two tickets, and guy with an OU credential carrying a glassine holding a thick stack of tickets asked me how many I wanted, told him 2, and he handed me a pair. I asked how much, and he said "these are free."

Like I said, it's been a fiction for years, but it makes great ad copy. Last I saw, they still stated there were 500 Tix left for Maine. The way things are going this season, I doubt people will be lining up for that one.

It is a fiction. They have corporate sponsors lined up to buy any unsold tickets within a certain window and they get to do what they want with them.

One sponsor just lets the university give the tickets away, others give them to customers, some just eat them.

Been that way for over 20 years. I got two free one game in 03 via that first route. I wanted two tickets, and guy with an OU credential carrying a glassine holding a thick stack of tickets asked me how many I wanted, told him 2, and he handed me a pair. I asked how much, and he said "these are free."

Like I said, it's been a fiction for years, but it makes great ad copy. Last I saw, they still stated there were 500 Tix left for Maine. The way things are going this season, I doubt people will be lining up for that one.

again not fiction .. maybe you missed the point of "corporate sponsors lined up to buy any unsold tickets"

that is the same everywhere (that has good enough sponsor support)

My ideal scenario is either complete the upper deck around the entire stadium or just the south end zone for now and convert all the seats to chair backs. Keep the capacity between 80k-90k but make it a hell of a lot more comfortable.

That's completely unnecessary but would be nice lol.

i think in an ideal world the solution is to add a small upper deck on the north end .. while adding loge boxes and suites .... (after they redo the west side) and keep official capacity around 85k .. (which would put us close to 90k in big games)

Well before anyone talks about any sort of expansion again, we have to fix the team so people want to attend. Just like with basketball.

I do love how they tied the outside together with the brick years ago compared to the ugly white concrete it had before. My only regret is that the sides dont line up to be able to ever make the thing line up in a more 2nd tier bowl ability. I do like places like OSU that wrap around and bowl against their arena. The close-in and LOUD environments are really nifty in those stadiums. OU is starting to feel a little like Kyle Field before they rebuilt half of it, where each side doesn't match the other and it's sort of cobbled together.

You want a next generation plan, well it may be time to doze Lloyd Noble and start over from ground zero on that nice bit open plot of land. I know that it not going to be popular, and expensive. But we're stuck where we can't really do much else with this place without spending a crazy amount of money again. And so much of it is just not designed well. That whole North endzone is crammed and gross. We can't even get shade tarps over the walking areas we get pushed out to on that side. Shoot me now or shoot me later, but i think it's time for the long-range planning team to start dreaming big and stop putting it into the current stadium.

again not fiction .. maybe you missed the point of "corporate sponsors lined up to buy any unsold tickets"

that is the same everywhere (that has good enough sponsor support)

The point is it is NOT some fan-driven sellout streak with people lining up around the block to buy tickets. The sellout is a contrivance and perpetuating the fiction is disingenuous and has been for a long time.

The point is it is NOT some fan-driven sellout streak with people lining up around the block to buy tickets. The sellout is a contrivance and perpetuating the fiction is disingenuous and has been for a long time.
At every school

The point is it is NOT some fan-driven sellout streak with people lining up around the block to buy tickets. The sellout is a contrivance and perpetuating the fiction is disingenuous and has been for a long time.

Sellout implies that all the tickets were sold. There's no "Fan-Driven" sellout statistic. Did all the tickets get sold or did they not? Doesn't really matter how it happened or who bought them.

I don't know of anywhere that counts butts-in-seats.

I don't know of anywhere that counts butts-in-seats.

CrowdCheck™️
Checking heat signatures…
Memorial Stadium - Norman, OK
11.21.2025 2:30pm
…..checking
…..checking
…..checking
…..stand by
…..checking
Total bodies detected Memorial Stadium - Norman, OK:
78,297

(You know it’s coming)

They are also able to estimate via crowd images. They can easily count the tickets scanned at the gates too. It's not exactly rocket science to count the number of people that walk in the place. It's just fake to say you sold out if there are seats empty all around you. Simply selling the ticket is not a big deal if they dont show up. And that record is over. COVID killed it for everyone anyway.

There will always be people looking for the most negative spin they can on everything, and there will be ones trying to spin positively. The schools would love to have every sest filled with rabid yelling fans buying lots of concessions. But they reslly care about ticket SALES, and eyeballs on the tube when they are playing, plus money from high dollar suites rentals and donations.

Some of my associates are in sports management at high levels. They are seeing universities use their suites and other facilities in stadium as venues for high dollar weddings and other social events not football related. Alums and businesses will pay lots of money for association with winning brands and for first rate flexible facilities. Dont get stuck in thinking of football stadiums as like your high school stadium in 1960. Lol.

They are also able to estimate via crowd images. They can easily count the tickets scanned at the gates too. It's not exactly rocket science to count the number of people that walk in the place. It's just fake to say you sold out if there are seats empty all around you. Simply selling the ticket is not a big deal if they dont show up. And that record is over. COVID killed it for everyone anyway.

So it’s fake to say that you sold out when you SOLD OUT of all the tickets? :D