improvements at Rice stadium:
http://riceowls.cstv.com/facilities/rice-stadium.html
One of America's great stadiums and the largest on-campus facility in Conference-USA, Rice Stadium opened its 57th season with a new surface, a bright new look and a state-of-the-art scoreboard and information center.
Thanks to donations of more than $6 million that were raised shortly after Todd Graham took over the reigns as the Owls football coach, Rice Stadium stepped to the head of the class with a number of improvements for both playes and fans alike.
The old carpet-style synthetic playing surface was removed and replaced with Field Turf, a system that combines the best elements of traditional natural grass fields with the benefits of a synthetic surface. For the players, it means a surface that elimnates the concerns over turf burns and hard landings thin pads laid over a concreate base. For Owl fans, it means their team plays on a lush, green surface that also can withstand the challenges of weather. The 18-inch crown on the field, needed for drainage with the old turf system, was flattened out as part of the installation the drainage and support layers for the new surface.
An entirely new scoreboard complex was constructed above the north end zone, allowing Owl fans the latest offerings of in-game entertainment and information along with video highlights and features. The new Daktronics scoreboard towers more than 60 feet above the north concourse and will complement the distinctive brickwork around the Stadium and across the Rice campus. The video screen measures 20-feet high by 35-feet wide, and a four-color message-board component will be 6-feet by 35-feet.
Fans can take in all these improvements while sitting on new aluminum bleachers which have seating for 47,000 fans. The end zone seating was removed and the area covered with blue tarps, but the capability remains to expand the seating to its original 70,000 configuration.