University of Texas DKR Football Stadium Expansion and Renovation

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by The ATX

U.T. must be getting ready to start the expansion. There are new FAA permits for a 211' DKR structure and 305' crane.

Stadium:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...0596368&row=99

Crane:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...773011&row=103

I believe I saw/read somewhere that construction is to commence sometime between the close of Spring Football and the summer - with an August 2021 completion.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I believe I saw/read somewhere that construction is to commence sometime between the close of Spring Football and the summer - with an August 2021 completion.

I think all the work before the season will be the training facility behind the end zone. Heavy lifting on the stand section starts in December.

[The ATX]

The official groundbreaking for the South End Zone expansion was held today.


https://texassports.com/galleries/?gallery=4615

[Syndic]

I can't believe it's finally happening. I hope this doesn't mean there won't be a Godzillatron this season.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I can't believe it's finally happening. I hope this doesn't mean there won't be a Godzillatron this season.

IIRC, all the work before the season starts will be behind the current stands.

[zx14]

Judging by the renderings. I believe the reason that totals have not been given is most will be quite upset. This new expansion will add only around 6000 new seats including luxury boxes. This replaces the bleachers that held 3500. Total compacity looks to be then around 104,000 with a max attendance of 106,000. So still behind Kyle field and the other 2 big ten venues.

[lzppjb]

UT has been upfront that this is not an expansion and that official capacity will not increase.

But watch out for those tiers on either side of the end zone. Could be standing room only spots and get more people inside the stadium. Sort of like Cowboys Stadium.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

UT has been upfront that this is not an expansion and that official capacity will not increase.

But watch out for those tiers on either side of the end zone. Could be standing room only spots and get more people inside the stadium. Sort of like Cowboys Stadium.

I think those were a reaction to people wanting a closed in look after seeing the initial renderings. It'll be interesting to see how the final implementation looks like.


Last game this season is Nov 30th so demo will likely start Dec 1. Hope they setup a web cam. Sports Stadium construction in Houston when I was growing up is actually what got me into big development projects.

[Syndic]

The destruction has begun.

https://twitter.com/BCarringtonUT/st...580910599?s=09

[drummer]

^^ The comments on there show just how passionate and childish folks can get about the UT-OU rivalry. You can have a rivalry and not be a jerk about it. Come on, people.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Syndic

The destruction has begun.

https://twitter.com/BCarringtonUT/st...580910599?s=09

Awesome! Thanks for posting. CDC seemed to suggest that a construction webcam could be coming.

[Austin1971]

[

[freerover]

From football Brainiacs

. After speaking with a source with direct knowledge on the construction for the South End Zone, here are some deadlines that can be expected moving forward.

2019 Season

No south end zone – aka the bleachers that previously housed the band and was later turned into a general admission/student section

Existing scoreboard will remain in place.

Phase 1 structure – mostly framework.

While it may look strange to have the wide open area in between the field and the Moncrief Complex, it also allows for some interesting opportunities to take advantage of. Especially during the LSU game, the opportunity to showcase the future south end zone to a national audience. Also, Bevo will likely have a much larger presence in the end zone, especially with the absence of Smokey the Cannon for the next six years.

Basically, DKR will truly look like a horseshoe in 2019.

2020 Season

Still no bleachers in the south end zone.

Existing scoreboard will be taken down.

Phase 2 structure – vertical building, basically the main infrastructure without the makeup that will make it look like the final version

Finally, DKR will have a look at what the final version will look like. The entire south bowl will be enclosed, yet the corner will still be unable to seat fans for the season.

2021 Season

Plan is for the South End Zone to be completely ready to go for the 2021 season opener.

And there we have it! Should be fun to watch it grow from the ground up!

[The ATX]

That is going to be weird seeing FGs and extra points being kicked into the site prep.

Any update on the Webcam going live?

The South End Zone can be seen clearly from the 1801 Congress webcam. But it will only be good after vertical construction is well underway.

[freerover]

webcam: https://texassports.com/sports/2019/...ne-webcam.aspx

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by freerover

webcam: https://texassports.com/sports/2019/...ne-webcam.aspx

Nice. Added to sticky thread.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by zx14

Judging by the renderings. I believe the reason that totals have not been given is most will be quite upset. This new expansion will add only around 6000 new seats including luxury boxes. This replaces the bleachers that held 3500. Total compacity looks to be then around 104,000 with a max attendance of 106,000. So still behind Kyle field and the other 2 big ten venues.

Actually, if this is true, DKR-TMS will be at least the third largest football stadium in the U.S. in terms of seating capacity with 104k - 106k seats.

Largest Non-Racing Venues in the U.S. (by seating capacity as of 2018)
-Michigan: 107,601
-Beaver (PSU): 106,572
-Kyle Field: 102,733
-Neyland (Tenn): 102,455
-Tiger (LSU): 102,321
-Ohio (OSU): 102,082
-Bryant-Denny (Ala): 101,821
-DKR-TMS: 100,119 (as of 2018; 2019 & 2020 will be around 96,700 - still keeping it #8 on the list)

**NOTE: Standing-room only and field-level temporary game seating not included

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

UT has been upfront that this is not an expansion and that official capacity will not increase.

Not true. UT has never said this.

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by freerover

webcam: https://texassports.com/sports/2019/...ne-webcam.aspx

You also get a great view of the Marriott from the webcam!

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Not true. UT has never said this.

Chris Del Conte, Feb. 8, 2019 on twitter:

Hello my friend- i’m sorry this has gotten lost in translation.I’ve mentioned before that the stadium expansion should be net neutral in terms of loss of capacity.secondly, where’re landlocked on the southend hence the design is what it is... we’re approved and will start 5-19

Hope this helps.. we’ve been very transparent on the design and scope of the project and also the capacity in terms of maintaining net neutral in terms of loss of seating ... Will address on the inside of 40 acre of this week

That's what I'm going by. Also, articles written quoting UT people pushing the "quality over quantity" mantra. They're letting us know without just stating it bluntly.