Cotton Bowl Update

[LthrHorn]

Photos from this evening.

The Link

 

[AFKAE]

Nice work

 

[LonghorninAustin]

Looks great.

 

[Horns83]

What will the new capacity be?

 

[LonghorninAustin]

As a result of this extension, the city of Dallas will allocate $30 million towards an estimated $50 million (at least part of the final total could possibly come from a sale of the naming rights for the stadium) renovation from an upcoming city bond proposal for several modifications and updates to the stadium. These proposed renovations include expanding the seating capacity of the stadium from 76,000 to 92,107, new media and VIP facilities, a new scoreboard, updated restrooms and concession areas, lighting, utility and sound upgrades and the replacement of the stadium's seats.

From wiki

 

[LonghornLawyer]

I'm really excited about that renovation. I've heard the "lipstick on a pig" comments, but there's something to keeping the original characer of the facility. I especially like that they have maintained the original facade.

One need only look at Yankee Stadium to see what I had feared. The renovations did little to improve the fan experience, but at the same time destroyed much of the original character of the stadium, including the famous facade.

As it was, there really wasn't a bad seat in the Cotton Bowl, excepting, of course, the obstructed views. And I think that's going to remain the case. The sightlines to the new upper deck look outstanding. And the increased concessions and bathrooms underneath the new upper decks are going to be very helpful.

Of course, I'll never use them, since I run out to get six-ticket beer during halftime.

Ultimately, I think the biggest improvement isn't going to be to the stadium. I think the biggest improvement is going to come in 2009 when the DART rail line opens. The days of parking in some guy's front yard are going to be over. Instead, we'll all just be able to pile onto the trains with our beers and rowdiness to go straight to the front gate at Fair Park.

They have that experience for baseball at places like Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Shea Stadium, and Wrigley Field. But I am unaware of any place that has that kind of experience for college football. I think that's only going to add another level of uniqueness to the Texas-OU atmosphere.

 

[South Austin]

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[Texas007]

Why don't they put in a Fletchers and about 100 beer stands in the updated concession areas. Sales from that alone would pay for this renovation in no time.

 

[win1]

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[3rd Generation]

That is 16,107 of new seats.

OK, does OU or Texas get the one odd seat?

I also wonder what this will do to the cutoff for OU tickets?

If it isn't obvious, I am a CPA........

 

[NatChampUT]

That place is gonna be electric on October 11

 

[dahorns]

I can't wait for that weekend!
Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[THEU]

Looks great.... I also wonder if the US Men's National team might play some soccer in the updated stadium. It would be great to see a US v. Mexico match there.

 

[Handler XIII]

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[Horns11]

If we did anything to the west side, it would be minimal. There's just not enough facade space between the sidewalk and San Jacinto to "add on" anything.

Now, if they turned it into a pedestrian walkway, like Speedway, that's a different story. It would be a traffic nightmare, but pretty cool for making the facade match the east side.

Otherwise, they could just match the brick and put it over the concrete, but that would be pretty ugly.

 

[Bubba Don]

If its an "odd" seat, it will have a Sooner in it.

Hook em

 

[UTEE]

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[Nuclear Bear]

Honestly.......that looks way cooler than I expected the renovations to be.

With the Dart Rail line having service to the stadium, I really don't see why the Cotton Bowl game needs to move to Jerry World.

I underestand Jerry World will be a World Class stadiu, but I see nothing wrong with playing in a nice older facility.

 

[Texas___Fight]

This year I will be 3-0

 

[CaboWabo]

Damn that grass looks nice. We need to hire that groundskeeper.

 

[WorsterMan]

Allsome. Imagine how much louder the CB will be the second Saturday in October with 16K more fans in attendance and the stadium in more of a bowl shape to hold more of the sound in. IMHO, there is no game in college football better than this one

 

[hornpharmd]

Wow it really is coming along nicely. It is so cool that they decided to upgrade this historic stadium and make it relevant again. I for one am for playing college games at historic stadiums vs. an NFL stadium. Plus the thing is right there next to downtown Dallas, not in a suburb like Arlington.

 

[LonghornLawyer]

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[general35]

hopefully, they will add a bathroom to the 4 currently located in the stadium.

 

[LonghornLawyer]

The structures that you see underneath the new upper decks in the end zones are all bathrooms and concession stands.

 

[UTEE]

Will the concourses be wider? That has always been my only problem with the stadium (and I'm very much on record as wanting to keep the game at the Cotton Bowl forever despite its logistical issues).

 

[Ignatius]

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[TexasEd]

Best thing I see is that they replaced/upgraded the sewer lines!

 

[LonghornLawyer]

It doesn't look as though the concourses are significantly wider. What they have done is increase the number of entry points, so you shouldn't have to walk as far inside the concourses. Hopefully that will alleviate the problem somewhat.

As far as the beer area goes, Ignatius, if you don't know already, then I don't think I can tell you. The line for five-ticket Shiner is long enough as it is.