Facts on Possible Stadium Expansion

[Pony in SA]

Years ago Copeland, Cavan, and a development officer from athletic dept. came to solicit funds for Ford and held a meeting at Sonterra Country Club here in San Antonio. It was nice event with lots of shared information. We were shown the first drawings for building of Ford, and also drawings and plans at that time for possible expansion to 45,000.

We were told stadium was being built then to 32,000 seats becuase even in the glory years of Pony Express we only averaged little over 30,000 fans. Sure bigger games drew more but our average was 30,000. Copeland even remarked he had them check twice because he didn't believe numbers so low. We were told they could build it at 40,000 now but didn't want empty stadium.

Also were told if we could start getting close to 30,000 again would push for expansion. At the time expanision called for seats in end zone and enclosing the open hill end, making some adjustments to current seats, and not for adding deck to other side. We were told HP regulations issues on height on that side, and if they decked that side would have to still be lower than the press box.

Regardless, they have had expansion plans since it was initially built as I saw and touched them. Those original ones did not include deck on other side, but perhaps things have changed.

[NomAnor]

wow i did not know it was that low even in the 80`s

[NavyCrimson]

Depends who the opponent was.

[Clubs]

Decking the other side would look so legitimate. I hope someday we have a reason and ability to make that addition.

[diamond_tom]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20000901/ai_n10139738/

Another nice touch was keeping the stadium's height around 40 feet. That keeps it about as tall as other nearby buildings and it prevents the stadium from towering over the homes across Mockingbird Lane.

"Our primary objective was to make sure we're a good neighbor," said Douglas Beichley, the senior project architect. "It fits the campus character and the neighborhood nearby."

[S....M....U]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/i ... ing-big-12


Orsini states ford could be expanded to 60000 with upper deck...

[skyscraper]

That is an updated story. EArlier ESPN was just repeating what the DMN reported earlier.
Now it looks like they actually interviewed Turner and Orsini on their own.

And he noted the school has the facilities to play in a BCS conference.

Gerald J. Ford Stadium seats 32,000 but could be expanded to 40,000 by filling in the lower bowl, and even could increase to as much as 60,000 with an upper deck (and possibly suites) on the east side.

[RGV Pony]

shouldve interviewed June.

"yeah we'd probably draw 122,000 for a game against Texas. I believe there were 74,000 here for TCU last year"

[ReedFrawg]

shouldve interviewed June.

"yeah we'd probably draw 122,000 for a game against Texas. I believe there were 74,000 here for TCU last year"

All of this expansion talk seems a bit premature...

[smupony]

shouldve interviewed June.

"yeah we'd probably draw 122,000 for a game against Texas. I believe there were 74,000 here for TCU last year"

LOL...Gotta love June's knack for numbers or at least the ability to skew them through the roof!

[GRGB]

The stadium has a seating capacity of 32,000 with the possibility for future expansion to 45,000. The 32,000-seat configuration includes nearly 600 preferred club level seats and 240 seats in 24 spacious luxury suites housed in a custom, three-level press box. In addition to housing preferred club and suite seating, the air-conditioned press box provides excellent sightlines and comfortably accommodates more than 125 working print, radio and television media. The playing surface is 25 feet below ground level, with half of the stadium's seats sunk below grade, ensuring a smooth transition into the surrounding neighborhood and the remainder of the SMU campus.


The problem with 32,000 is that too high of a percentage of those seats are not between the 20s.

Deductively, 13k of the 32k are end zone seats (45-32=13 if you bowl the south end zone).

Even then, huge chunks are still beyond the goal line.

I'd say we have about 18k-20k of "good" seats (Mind you, I've sat in the end zone or corner for many games, and there's almost no bad seat there, I only mean perceived good seats).

That's 10k per side. So, 42k plus a 10k upper deck and I'd go for a 1000 club seats ...

Vandy only has 39k. With 42 we are good for the SEC. It'd be easier for Bama to get a seat to an SMU game than an Auburn/LSU/FLa game - they only have 5k visitor tickets avail.

[GRGB]

Take a close look. There's more end zone seating than side line if you bowl it. Remember to start at the goal line on both sides.

[GRGB]

PS: Can you read "MUSTANGS" all squished into that S end zone....terrible

[NavyCrimson]

is that the new turf?

[Pony ^]

I think it looks awesome. It's 2011, it needed a change