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Hall of Champions Club & Suites To Be Added To Ford Stadium
Feb. 13, 2013

DALLAS (SMU) - Continuing its efforts to provide the best in athletic facilities, SMU today announced another round of Ford Stadium upgrades, adding a new 233-seat Hall of Champions Club and seven new suites in time for the 2013 season and SMU's move to the BIG EAST.

Among the great features of the new Club and suites will be their indoor/outdoor design which will allow fans to enjoy the comfort of indoor amenities as well as the excitement of sitting out in the bowl and hearing the roar of the crowd and the hard-hitting action on the field. Renderings of the new areas can be seen here. http://www.smumustangs.com/view.gal?id=134883

These new upgrades come on the heels of nearly $3 million in stadium improvements prior to the 2011 season, including upgrades to the football locker room and team meeting rooms as well as a new playing surface. Those renovations included a new team meeting room with stadium-style seating as well as renovated positional meeting rooms. Changes to the locker room included the creation of a new team lounge, as well as new lockers, updated graphics and audio/visual equipment.

Prior to the 2009 season, SMU installed new integrated video and audio system in Ford Stadium, with a Daktronics videoboard that measures approximately 32 feet high by 45 feet wide, and a custom sound system.

Current Mustang Club donors and season ticket holders have until April 1 to submit requests for one of the new suites or Hall of Champions Club seating. After that date, requests will be fulfilled in order based on the Mustang Club Priority Points system. Donation levels and pricing for the new premium options are consistent with current suite and Stadium Club pricing at Ford Stadium.

I'm a little confused - are they adding new suites or simply upgrading existing suites? I understand in either case as they are sold out and that seems to be where the money is right now, rather than on pure ticket sales.

i think this is a great move. Every little bit to improve the atmosphere helps and if we can get some of the people visible and out from behind the glass at least for part of the games, while still generating revenue, I think that is a positive.

leopold wrote:I'm a little confused - are they adding new suites or simply upgrading existing suites? I understand in either case as they are sold out and that seems to be where the money is right now, rather than on pure ticket sales.

From the renderings it looks like they are adding suites that will have indoor/outdoor seating. The current suites look unaltered.

Hoop Fan wrote:i think this is a great move. Every little bit to improve the atmosphere helps and if we can get some of the people visible and out from behind the glass at least for part of the games, while still generating revenue, I think that is a positive.

The trend for colleges like SMU & TCU to pander to their rich alum with these luxury suites makes the atmosphere worse - not better. The richy-rich that can afford this stuff, won't even go to most games - and when they do go - will sit indoors to enjoy the amenities and watch the game at Ford on TV. At least SMU should have the decency to gold plate the toilets.

Good move. Making current banquet type room overlooking stadium into seating.

Hopefully they extend the same indoor/outdoor seating for the rest of the club level for 2014

SMU89 wrote:Good move. Making current banquet type room overlooking stadium into seating.

Hopefully they extend the same indoor/outdoor seating for the rest of the club level for 2014

I like the idea of opening much of the front facade on the west side or a least least moving it back to permit blocks of seats on the exterior.

They are making use of those outdoor seats north and south of the existing club. I really like the design. I only wish they would open up the club in the same way or put windows that would open and close. Maybe they are just testing the water to see if one day opening up the windows of the stadium club would be acceptable.

I wonder if they will let the end zone ticket buyers and students move in and sit there like they allow in my section?

Good timing to add $2, 500 donation level football seats.

Probably some who would want to get the extra kick for the buck - basketball & football.

West Coast Johnny wrote:

Hoop Fan wrote:i think this is a great move. Every little bit to improve the atmosphere helps and if we can get some of the people visible and out from behind the glass at least for part of the games, while still generating revenue, I think that is a positive.

The trend for colleges like SMU & TCU to pander to their rich alum with these luxury suites makes the atmosphere worse - not better. The richy-rich that can afford this stuff, won't even go to most games - and when they do go - will sit indoors to enjoy the amenities and watch the game at Ford on TV. At least SMU should have the decency to gold plate the toilets.

Why the hostility

lwjr wrote:

West Coast Johnny wrote:

Hoop Fan wrote:i think this is a great move. Every little bit to improve the atmosphere helps and if we can get some of the people visible and out from behind the glass at least for part of the games, while still generating revenue, I think that is a positive.

The trend for colleges like SMU & TCU to pander to their rich alum with these luxury suites makes the atmosphere worse - not better. The richy-rich that can afford this stuff, won't even go to most games - and when they do go - will sit indoors to enjoy the amenities and watch the game at Ford on TV. At least SMU should have the decency to gold plate the toilets.

Why the hostility

I agree that any hostility is strange and missplaced, since some expect SMU to play checkbook sports for which we feel our "rich alums" must pay, including rennovating Moody, building Ford, Circle of Champions, bigger FB/BB staffs, etc.

When Amon Carter was rebuilt TCU allowed their prime Ticket holders to buy multiple extra adjoining season tickets which resulted in less attractive seat options for the rest. But quite frankly they sold out producing the revenue needed to compete. That's the reason that there are empty prime seats against less attractive opponents even though the stadium was basically sold out for every game (not including opponent's alottment + student alottment)

lwjr wrote:

West Coast Johnny wrote:

Hoop Fan wrote:i think this is a great move. Every little bit to improve the atmosphere helps and if we can get some of the people visible and out from behind the glass at least for part of the games, while still generating revenue, I think that is a positive.

The trend for colleges like SMU & TCU to pander to their rich alum with these luxury suites makes the atmosphere worse - not better. The richy-rich that can afford this stuff, won't even go to most games - and when they do go - will sit indoors to enjoy the amenities and watch the game at Ford on TV. At least SMU should have the decency to gold plate the toilets.

Why the hostility

Sorry if the post was a bit hostile. As a TCU alum I take great pride in the new stadium. The stadium, while very nice, panders to those that paid for it (and rightfully so). While every home game last year was "sold out", the club seats which are prime and very expensive were nearly empty at some games. It seems that the rich alum that can afford to buy these status symbols can't be bothered to attend more than one or two games a year, and can't be bothered even to give the tickets away for free. So in a way, the emphasis on club seats or luxury ammenities has taken away from the college football experience.

To me it looks like this will knock out a few rows of currently outdoor seats. This will increase the revenue generation capability of ford and help make the home stands easier to fill. Smart move all around that will pay dividends for SMU athletics.