TCU Stadium Renovation

[50's PONY]

TCU's plan for stadium renovation near reality
By MAC ENGEL

[email protected]

Nearly every athletic facility at TCU has undergone a massive face-lift in recent years, but the one aging structure that is the centerpiece to the department eagerly awaits a transformation.

But the transformation is soon coming for Amon G. Carter Stadium.

TCU sources said the school is 80 percent complete toward reaching the required $105 million to begin the remaking of the venue. Department officials expect to have the necessary funding by June 30.

The school then will likely officially unveil the drawings for the ambitious update of the 80-year-old stadium that will include more suites, a reduction in seating capacity and more modern amenities.

"If you want to recruit the best student athletes, the reality of college athletics these days is you have to have the best facilities," said TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte, who did not specifically address any of the particulars of the stadium project.

"This is no different than a chemist working on research. He's not going to use a 1950 Bunsen burner."

Everyone -- from TCU coach Gary Patterson to the highest members of the school's administration -- has been working donors and wealthy alums to complete what one member of the department calls "the single biggest project in the history of TCU athletics."

The construction process would begin by tearing down the upper deck of the west side of the stadium, which includes the press box. The rest of the west side will be taken down to ground level. This process is projected to begin immediately after the completion of the 2010 season.

The Horned Frogs will play at Amon G. Carter Stadium while construction continues in 2011. Capacity for that season figures to be around 34,000.

When the west side is completed, the Frogs will play in 2012 at an expected capacity of just more than 40,000. Capacity for the stadium now is officially 44,358.

Amon G. Carter Stadium currently features a total of six suites. The initial goal for the new stadium was 34 suites, but that figure has been reduced to 25.

The north end zone, which is currently open, calls for an upper deck with seats where a large scoreboard will rest over it. If, however, TCU is added to a "power conference" such as the Big 12, there are plans to completely close the north end zone and increase capacity to 50,000-55,000.

The west side of the stadium will be expanded by approximately 70 feet from its present day structure. The narrow concourses will be expanded, thus allowing for more vendors and specifically an increase in food and drink options. A TCU team store will also be a part of the new facility.

Those crossing their fingers for part of the Amon G. Carter makeover to include sales of alcohol need to retire that hope now. Alcohol sales will only continue at the suite and club level.

These developments will not, however, be the conclusion of the Amon G. Carter makeover.

Another $40 million project is in the works to remake the east side of the stadium. That process is tentatively targeted for either 2013 or 2014, with the final result expected to be on display for the 2015 season.

When the stadium is completed, it will retain most of Amon G. Carter's old-time, concrete feeling. The plans call for a lot of cast-iron display as well.

The Amon G. Carter Stadium makeover has been a work in progress for several years, but is not the only facility on track for improvements.

The soccer complex is currently building the Jane Justin Fieldhouse that will include locker rooms, a training room, offices and a wrap-around raised viewing terrace. That project is expected to be completed before the start of the 2010 season.

Sources said there are long-range plans to expand the baseball stadium from its current capacity of 3,500 to approximately 7,000. The stadium's original design called for an expansion of seats down the baselines, but the Lupton project remains in the pre-drawing board phase.

And as for Daniel-Meyer Coliseum? Nothing planned. If the men's basketball team begins to win and some sellout crowds ensue, that will likely change.

But right now nearly the entire fundraising focus of the athletic department is Amon G. Carter.

Mac Engel, 817-390-7760

[NickSMU17]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

[Pony ^]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

that and maybe fill up their stadium for 2 consecutive games before expanding

[deepellumfrog]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

that and maybe fill up their stadium for 2 consecutive games before expanding

Read the article again. it's a contraction.

[Alaric]

smaller with more suites = quieter

[geno]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

It's the old debate between Puke Yellow (TCU) and Menstrual Red (SMU). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[smuuth]

Congratulations to the TCU people and their supporters for not sitting on the bench and whining about being left behind and reminiscing about the good old days of the SWC and instead working to make their programs(not just football) and facilities better and positioning themselves for BCS bowls and super regionals and becoming an attractive candidate for addition to a major conference.

[NickSMU17]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

It's the old debate between Puke Yellow (TCU) and Menstrual Red (SMU). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Worst Comment ever.....

[Dutch]

smaller with more suites = quieter

volume on the field has just as much to do with acoustics as number of people yelling.

[CalallenStang]

They should have taken that money and re-bricked the entire campus... worst color I have ever seen

It's the old debate between Puke Yellow (TCU) and Menstrual Red (SMU). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What an idiotic thing to say.

[Corp]

Relax, not to worry,
the architectural splendor of this new "Carter" will only dazzle
the SMU band and the paltry 150-250 fans that you customarily
bring to Fort Worth. Final completion of the stadium's new East
stands is scheduled for the 2013 season. The way things seem to
be shaping up..there remains a distinct possibility that TCU and
SMU might no longer be playing each other on a regular basis at
that time.