May 1, 2013 Update: Earlier today ESPN reported that Texas A&M has approved a $450 million plan to renovate and expand Kyle field's seating capacity by at least 20,000. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year and when it is completed in 2015, Kyle Field will be the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference with a capacity of 102,500. More information can be found here: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9233122/texas-aggies-approve-plans-seat-more-100000-sec-largest-stadium
May 2, 2013 update: More information, including interviews, a rendering of what the new stadium will look like, and a proposed construction schedule can be found at this website from Texas A&M: http://www.aggieathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=207507161
Move over, Neyland! Texas A&M has just unveiled a $450 million proposal to renovate Kyle Field. A&M's ambitious plans call for expanding Kyle Field's capacity from 83,000 to somewhere between 93,000 and 103,500 seats. If Texas A&M decides to go with the higher end of this estimate, College Station may soon be home to the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference. Neyland Stadium, at the University of Tennessee, is currently the SEC's largest facility as well as the 3rd largest football stadium in the country (Only Michigan Stadium and Penn State's Beaver Stadium are larger). The proposed renovations are expected to take three years and work is scheduled to begin after the end of the 2013 regular season. CBS Sports's Matt Hinton describes how the renovations will proceed:
Initial plans call for the enclosure of the south end zone (currently open) by two levels:
On the upper level, 12,000 new seats with the potential
for adding more in the future; on the
lower level, space reserved for
"an area for press, interviews, 12th Man Productions, computer
operations, football locker room and recruiting room." In addition to
the expanded capacity,
construction will reportedly involve demolition
of the entire west side stands and press box,
as well as parts of the
east side to make way for private suites and two existing buildings near
the stadium. The field will also be lowered approximately seven feet
and moved
approximately 18 feet to the south, to allow room for
additional seating.*
More information about this story can be found at the following sites:
* http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21743255/
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/9/25/3407160/texas-am-football-stadium-expansion-kyle-field
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