SMU Stadium expansion

[SMUfrat]

So my buddy is the new student body VP at SMU. He has been telling me that there are (SOMEWHERE) very real plans for stadium expansion. He also said that the stadium expansion is a part of of Turner's 'bucket list' before he leaves SMU.

I know we are struggling to get people at our games, but as a recent grad - numbers at those games has truly gone up. I believe if we can get a 10 win season sometime soon, we would be pretty packed for each game.

My friend said the EARLIEST they would expand the ford is starting next summer - I happen to think that is a little premature. However, I do believe that we will have a 50,000+ seat stadium before 2020. No need for anyone here to get snippy - We all want a great and FULL stadium for our growing program.

I know pictures have been posted on smu2bcs some time ago of the expansion. This site is now down and I am desperately trying to find pics of this proposed east teir and south endzone. If anyone has pictures or can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

It seems to me that someone circulated some drawings of what an expanded Ford would look like on this site several months ago. I've slept since then, so I might not be remembering correctly.

The conventional wisdom seems to be to fill up the existing stadium regularly first before we talk seriously about expanding it. Even if something were imminent though, I'd imagine they would wait at least until Moody is finished. But I'm not privy to inside info, so its just a guess.

[Harry0569]

Orsini talked about closing the horseshoe back in 2010. The problem is we don't have a ton of room between the stadium and Mockingbird.

I still think we need to fill the stadium on a consistent basis before expanding it.

[RGV Pony]

I posted the drawings some time last year.

[SMUfrat]

I posted the drawings some time last year.

could you post them on this thread again?

And in reference to the lack of space behind the east side: the re-routing of airline to allow for the residential community has opened up some space. According to the fire code, SMU would need to allow for a street sized space for fire truck accessibility. I am no engineer, but I think there is about 30-40 feet between the east wall of the stadium and where the fire lane would be (the old road / airline that ran from mockinbird to university blvd). Again, the pictures would prove my assumption or not, but if the east tier overhang the existing seating, there would be just enough space for the addition.

[SMU89]

I have drawings of the underground tunnels.

[westexSMU]

Obviously, we have to fill the stadium on a consistent basis before any expansion could make sense. The key is the Legend Marketing deal where they had agreed to "sell SMU ticket inventory" to games back in April. However, as I said in another post, SMU has said nothing about this since April 30th. I just hope everyone now in the Athletic Dept. understands the importance in getting Ford sold out for all games. Sure, SMU can sell out aTm and TCU, but there is just no way to sell out CUSA and SFA games without some help. I just hope the Legends deal is still on to sell all remaining ticket inventory to games that can't be sold out by SMU.

[Bergermeister]

No need for anyone here to get snippy - .

Good luck with that......

[Junior]

i thought the plans expanded capacity to 42k?

[gostangs]

42 is plenty big. if we fill that up then people can just start having to actually think ahead for a seat. no need to keep expanding beyond that.

legends is working. there is a ton of new activity there already. actual reliable reports to follow pretty soon.

[Stallion]

If we are just going to fill the horseshoe there wouldn't be much point to expansion. The problem with Ford is not enough quality sideline seats-much less than every major university in Texas-the same seat on the sideline can reap multiple times more revenue than an endzone seat due to ticket licenses-I wouldn't be surprised that someday they added more luxury seats too-haven't those pretty much been sold out? Or not

[SMUfrat]

42 is plenty big. if we fill that up then people can just start having to actually think ahead for a seat. no need to keep expanding beyond that.

legends is working. there is a ton of new activity there already. actual reliable reports to follow pretty soon.

I think there is phases of multiple expansions with multiple options. I do not think they would 'fill in the horse shoe completely - only the lower part - still allowing view / opening to mockingbird. Another phase or option is the east tier.

Ive heard things about expansion to 45 and expansion to 52,000... Not sure if that is the phases or just different plans. Would be nice to have the demand for that...

Bigger is better in Texas when it comes to stadiums... as long as there is demand.

in other news - UH has announced that they have hired the architecture firms for their new stadium. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hou ... ectsQF.pdf
- This should be a good mix of collegiate football and Modern design. I think its in SMU's best interest that we see them improve and up the ante... which just can not fall behind.

[GiddyUp]

Double deck that puppy. SO miss is great stadium.

[Pony!Poni!Pone'!]

I posted the drawings some time last year.

could you post them on this thread again?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54815&hilit=ford+expansion

[Pony!Poni!Pone'!]

I posted the drawings some time last year.

could you post them on this thread again?

oops, looks like the link is dead