Cotton Bowl Construction

[hot_c_win_horns]

Update anyone?

 

[LthrHorn]

Took some new photos today - 04/26/2008
The Link

 

[Lone Star]

Wow! Looks great and moving along.

 

[swc.lives.on]

Just can't get "lipstick on a pig" out of my mind when I see this. Of all the missed opportunities the City of Dallas had . . .

 

[LthrHorn]

I feel the same way. The Cotton Bowl is looking good on the inside, much better then it did but it still has a long way to go. I will say something, its going to be loud in there. The echos from the cranes, hammers and pile drivers were LOUD this morning!

BTW the DART line to Fair Park is coming along good too.

 

[Horns11]

The DART green line will be so overcrowded the day of Texas/OU, it'll be a nightmare. Although it might free up some parking.

Put me down as one of the skeptics that actually kind of likes the changes they've made. I always think of the "polishing a turd" metaphor as well, but I think the increased attendance and volume will keep the game as a top rivalry site.

 

[l00p]

The photos with the skyline in the background are my favorites. Great photos and thanks.

 

[hornpharmd]

I think this is a great renovation. Will add a ton of seats and in a very nice fashion. Will help make this game a premier nationally televised event. Seems that recently this game has been pushed down a bit and often some SEC matchup gets top billing that day. Would love to see a 530 kickoff or something that would end at night.

 

[Ignatius]

Cue obligatory posts about how frightening and dangerous it is to walk to your car at night in that area, especially if you're a white-bread suburbanite...

 

[bluto]

holy **** thats gonna be loud. cant f'n wait to hear the TEXAS FIGHT echo's after the sooner leave in the 4th.

 

[drborange]

Thanks for the great photos. I am curious about the construction. A close up would be nice. I'm not sure how the part under the seats are done. Looks like a flat metal sheet. I foresee a lot of stomping on the metal. Should be very loud or that is louder.

 

[UTmainman]

Whats gonna happen where the scoreboard is? It seems like they should have made the scoreboard 10 feet higher so it would stick above the seats.

 

[UTEE]

I'm pumped about the changes. I have always been one of the people who would prefer this game at Fair Park even if the stadium were crumbling around me (yes, I understand, it was already pretty dern close to doing so).

Last October I missed my first TX-OU game in two decades due to the birth of my daughter. I wouldn't have missed my daughter's birth for the world, but it makes me even MORE excited to be attending the game in the Cotton Bowl this year.

Hook 'em Horns baby!

 

[doylehargraves]

Thanks for the photos.

What's the new capacity for stadium, and how much of it will be ready this fall?

 

[3rd Generation]

Real football seats! They got rid of those stupid chair seats. My knees are feeling better already. Appears the new seats will be very good for seeing the game. Does anyone know how many more seats each school will get?

 

[Owlhorn]

capacity will be 92,000+

here are the new facilities under the north and south upper decks

and here are the stands and how they will fit

should also note the new locker room facilities beyond the tunnel that you can see in each schematic

 

[LthrHorn]

Update: May 3, 2008
The Link

 

[Austin_Horn]

This will likely be the loudest college football environment I"ve ever witnessed- at least during the :15 leading up to kickoff and the start of the 2nd half - can't wait.

 

[hornpharmd]

I believe this is just phase I or Phase II or a 3 phase project as well. They have done some renovations and added the scoreboard. Now they are working on filling in the endzone sections to add seating. Later they will go in and finish the outside of the stadium to match the brick exterior that already exists. So it won't look great and grand this season on the outside but inside should look amazing.

 

[hornpharmd]

Well got the answer to that (though I know it has been discussed before):

www.dallascityhall.com/council_briefings/briefings/120505_CottonBowl.pdf

Starting on slide 19:
Phase 1 (19 million):
(all new construction)
- increase capacity from 76k to 92k
- new restrooms, concessions, etc
- increase ADA seating
- new scoreboard and videoboards
- expanded and improved sound system
- new contextual facade around end zone
- new club seats
Phase 2 (26-30 million):
- Renovate existing stadium
- add media room/stadium club at north end zone
- utility upgrades
- renovated field lighting
- replacement of existing seats with bench/back combo seating
- Additional ADA seating
- Refurbishment of existing concourses
- new signage and graphics

So got that wrong, the outside facade will be part of phase I which is underway though not sure when that will be completed. Phase I enough to keep red river rivalry game there but not sure if enough games are going to played there for them to go ahead with phase II or not...anyone know if phase II has been approved or not?

 

[drborange]

LthrHorn, thanks for the update pics!