Ford Stadium expansion

[East Coast Mustang]

I was perusing the ESPN College Football encyclopedia today (an excellent read, btw) and it said that Ford seats 32,000 but is convertible to 45,000. Assuming we ever have the need, how would this work? I wouldn't think that simply enclosing the grassy area under the scoreboard would be good for 13,000 seats, and it'd be hard to expand the east side (opposite the press box, adjacent to the bookstore) upwards because a road runs right behind it.

[RGV Pony]

I've often wondered that myself. The initial simple thought would be that the step would entail enclosing the open end. However, if that's all that was involved, you're right...the math doesn't work. That would mean that enclosing the open end would be a stand alone project adding 13,000 seats...which would mean the other end already holds 13,000 seats. Which means the entire rest of the stadium-the two biggest sides-only hold 19,000, or 9,500 each side.

Maybe the expansion plan to 42 involves club seating and suites all the way around, a-la Lambeau Field, plus enclosing the open end?

[Charleston Pony]

the original plan said expanding to a bowl could take Ford to 45,000 seats. I would imagine if there was suddenly that kind of demand for tickets, SMU would have to look at some boxes on the east side as well...but I don't look for it to happen in my lifetime. I'd be thrilled to see SMU average 30,000 and sell out a few games every year and compete for CUSA championships year after year

[East Coast Mustang]

I've often wondered that myself. The initial simple thought would be that the step would entail enclosing the open end. However, if that's all that was involved, you're right...the math doesn't work. That would mean that enclosing the open end would be a stand alone project adding 13,000 seats...which would mean the other end already holds 13,000 seats. Which means the entire rest of the stadium-the two biggest sides-only hold 19,000, or 9,500 each side.

Right, and I think such an expansion would only be one level as opposed to two-tiered as we have all around the stadium now, because as you'll see in the picture below, it looks like a two-tiered expansion might be cutting it too close to Mockingbird, whereas one level below the scoreboard is practically built in with the grassy area now.

Maybe the expansion plan to 42 involves club seating and suites all the way around, a-la Lambeau Field, plus enclosing the open end?

I hadn't thought of that, but it would really be nice...but once again, could you do that with the proximity of Airline Road on the east side? Since it's not a major street you could probably just bulldoze it, but I'm not sure. It would be really nice though, expanding the two tiers of luxury boxes all around, bowling in the grassy area, perhaps upgrading the scoreboard and replacing those C-USA logos with some Big 12 ones. Sorry, but I was playing NCAA 06 and took us to the Orange Bowl in 2008 and I've gotten delusional all of the sudden. But I think upgrading Moody Coliseum should be our first priority...I went to my first SMU hoops game against Long Island, and the place looks like a glorified high school arena. A school with as much money as SMU should do better.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Since Ford is patterned after UVA's stadium and I'm sure they seat more than 20,000, we should look at how their stadium is configured.

SMU should probably start looking into expansion because once we win 11 in 2006 we will certainly see a HUGE increase in demand for tickets.

GO PONIES!

[smupony94]

Since Ford is patterned after UVA's stadium and I'm sure they seat more than 20,000, we should look at how their stadium is configured.

SMU should probably start looking into expansion because once we win 11 in 2006 we will certainly see a HUGE increase in demand for tickets.

GO PONIES!

Mr. Copeland, please don't drink and post on ponyfans

[PK]

My understanding is that the ultimate size is 42,000, not 45,000 unless that larger number includes the enclosed club seats and suites. If you will notice, the "end zone" seats start at about the end of the endzone and are easily close to as many seats as the number of seats on either side of the field between the ends of the endzone. Therefore, if there are 10,000 in the "endzone" seats, that puts approximately 11,000 between the ends of the endzone on each side ignoring the enclosed club area. I don't see any problem putting a two tier section around the south endzone...the exterior walls would be no closer to Mockingbird Lane than they are to Airline road on the east side.

[SWC2010]

[1] Let's remodel Moody, first.

[2] After we get the student body to come to a FB game-- then we can discuss enclosing the "Shoe".

[expony18]

does anyone know the how the zoning would play into the potential of expansion??

side note: 29,900 at Soutlakes state game, not to mention they have more fans at their home games then SMU averages. lets work on our attendance before we worry about expanding

[expony18]

[1] Let's remodel Moody, first.

[2] After we get the student body to come to a FB game-- then we can discuss enclosing the "Shoe".

lets work on some of the alumni... since theres more alumni (who mainly live in the metroplex), and let the students catch on to the exciting football smu is about to bring on

[LakeHighlandsPony]

I have always thought that the grassy area ought to have SMU like Colorado's Stadium is black with Colorado letters. Kind of just a blank spot right now.

[BUS]

Please look at the two pictures of Ford Stadium that are in this thread.

The foundation for bleachers has already been poured. See the sidewalk close to Mockingbird.... Notice that it is also the foundation for the upper deck of bleachers.

The lower bleachers will use the sidewalk that runs in front of the scoreboard.

The upper deck will have a cut out, or void for the scoreboard... or it will be elevated.

[2112]

We better get started on the exansion right away!

[Water Pony]

[1] Let's remodel Moody, first.

[2] After we get the student body to come to a FB game-- then we can discuss enclosing the "Shoe".

I'll concede that renovating Moody is the first priority. The plan should include practice courts, which could support women's volleyball.

Next, upgrade Westcott for our College Cup Soccer team and, drum roll please,

A new Aquatic Center for our Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams. The women are perennial top Ten and the men should be top 20. I am still fried that the new student Recreation Center excluded this in the plans. There is a new lap pool for students, but that could have been designed into a new Natatorium.

I am all for expanding Ford, when we can routinely get 30K into the games. Hell, I be happy if the students arrived in large numbers early and stayed late. And, a 42-45K stadium would be a great permanent host for CUSA FB Championship and permit us to schedule A&M and/or TT on a home and home basis.

[BUS]

I am in total agreement with the priority of the construction projects.


Bball is in NEED of upgrades. I would hate to have us talked about like Rice and the cafeteria that they play in.