Jack Trice Stadium Capacity

[2speedy1]

What is funny I remember people complaining about doing the SEZ because we "weren't filling or selling out our stadium" then. Now we sell in excess of what the old capacity was every game and several, if not most sell out the current capacity. And we hear these same people say "we aren't filling our stadium now so its dumb to expand".

I just think its funny because we proved the point that if you build it they will come, but people still dont get it. we are limiting the attendance by our capacity and the capacity in certain seats, not we have the capacity and people arent coming.

If we expand all the demanded sections in the stadium, they will fill up.

Im not saying we need a 100k stadium, but I dont think 75K is crazy at this point if it is done right and the right sections are expanded, giving more seats in all types of price points.

 

[2speedy1]

Guessing any future potential expansion would be the North End Zone. Right?

Not necessarily, while one would think. Ive heard rumors that they want to go up on the sidelines before they do the NEZ.
You also have to realize sideline club sections are more desirable than end zone. And with everyone hating on the press box, they could build a large press box/skybox with a club section hung below it like many stadiums have, This could go on either side or both. And be done before the NEZ is touched.

The NEZ could be done too, but if they do something like this on the side/s then the NEZ could be done in a different way than the SEZ and utilized for a different type of seats. For example kids zone/Family zone. Bands, student seat expansion, or just more none donor lower priced seats to continue keeping some value seats allowing increases in other areas.

 

[dafarmer]

Laps. We could easily hold more people. Although my wife would probably disagree,

 

[Aclone]

Guessing any future potential expansion would be the North End Zone. Right?

Not necessarily, while one would think. Ive heard rumors that they want to go up on the sidelines before they do the NEZ.
You also have to realize sideline club sections are more desirable than end zone. And with everyone hating on the press box, they could build a large press box/skybox with a club section hung below it like many stadiums have, This could go on either side or both. And be done before the NEZ is touched.

The NEZ could be done too, but if they do something like this on the side/s then the NEZ could be done in a different way than the SEZ and utilized for a different type of seats. For example kids zone/Family zone. Bands, student seat expansion, or just more none donor lower priced seats to continue keeping some value seats allowing increases in other areas.

Mostly, what 2speedy1 said. Expand club seating, add additional decks on the sides or above the SEZ, a new press box adding more luxury suites and doing something with the NEZ to mirror the SEZ (in some configuration) are all options.

I think the key first is the next few years, to see if this combination of popularity and success on the field are sustained. If Matt Campbell sticks around (as I expect that he will), we stand a good shot of that.

 

[alarson]

Not necessarily, while one would think. Ive heard rumors that they want to go up on the sidelines before they do the NEZ.
You also have to realize sideline club sections are more desirable than end zone. And with everyone hating on the press box, they could build a large press box/skybox with a club section hung below it like many stadiums have, This could go on either side or both. And be done before the NEZ is touched.

The NEZ could be done too, but if they do something like this on the side/s then the NEZ could be done in a different way than the SEZ and utilized for a different type of seats. For example kids zone/Family zone. Bands, student seat expansion, or just more none donor lower priced seats to continue keeping some value seats allowing increases in other areas.

To go up on the sidelines would probably be a huge project. You'd probably have to tear down everything aside from the lower level seating on the side you're doing and replace with a new structure incorporating more club seats, loges, etc. There'd be more potential there though for adding an upper concourse and more capacity for restrooms\concessions which is needed.

It all gets super expensive in a hurry though.

The north endzone opportunity to me seems mostly in moving cheap seats (like students) to that area and thus opening up more seats. Would also make it more feasible to add club seats in the portion of the stadium where the student section currently is (don't think it makes sense to build that with where student section is right now)

It does seem like a good time for the AD to be (if they arent already) envisioning a comprehensive plan for what they want the stadium (and other ISC facilities) to look like in 10 years, as they did when JP got here.

 

[Aclone]

To go up on the sidelines would probably be a huge project. You'd probably have to tear down everything aside from the lower level seating on the side you're doing and replace with a new structure incorporating more club seats, loges, etc. There'd be more potential there though for adding an upper concourse and more capacity for restrooms\concessions which is needed.

It all gets super expensive in a hurry though.

The north endzone opportunity to me seems mostly in moving cheap seats (like students) to that area and thus opening up more seats. Would also make it more feasible to add club seats in the portion of the stadium where the student section currently is (don't think it makes sense to build that with where student section is right now)

It does seem like a good time for the AD to be (if they arent already) envisioning a comprehensive plan for what they want the stadium (and other ISC facilities) to look like in 10 years, as they did when JP got here.

The student section isn’t going anywhere. The SEZ could easily be a multipurpose area incorporating both some time of luxury area and cheaper starter or “family zone” ticketing.

And those “rumors” 2speedy1 mentioned have said that CMC is the one that wants additional decks…and we all know that what Matt Campbell wants, Matt Campbell gets.

 

[Pope]

In today's world, the vast majority of our athletic department's revenue stream is coming from television rights, not gate receipts. I believe we're already the 3rd largest stadium in the Big 12. If we continue to have the success which I believe we will have under Matt Campbell's program, Pollard can generate more revenue by simply increasing the ticket prices and donation requirements because the demand will certainly be there.

At this point in time, if I were Pollard, I think I'd focus on other types of facilities enhancements rather than investing an enormous amount into stadium expansion, but that's just my opinion.

 

[2speedy1]

To go up on the sidelines would probably be a huge project. You'd probably have to tear down everything aside from the lower level seating on the side you're doing and replace with a new structure incorporating more club seats, loges, etc. There'd be more potential there though for adding an upper concourse and more capacity for restrooms\concessions which is needed.

It all gets super expensive in a hurry though.

The north endzone opportunity to me seems mostly in moving cheap seats (like students) to that area and thus opening up more seats. Would also make it more feasible to add club seats in the portion of the stadium where the student section currently is (don't think it makes sense to build that with where student section is right now)

It does seem like a good time for the AD to be (if they arent already) envisioning a comprehensive plan for what they want the stadium (and other ISC facilities) to look like in 10 years, as they did when JP got here.

I dont deny it being a huge project on the sides, but I think you might be overestimating a bit. Somewhere I read that the sides were originally designed to have a third deck, and adding one would not mean a major reconstruction. But I have no idea where I read that or if it is true.

But even with that, I do know you the concourse would have to be completely reconstructed, similar to what they did when they did when they added the press box in the 90s. But I dont believe it would have to change the current first or second decks as it would be a separate structure above/behind those decks like the press box is now.

Is this really expensive....VERY. But at this point everything is. In truth it really just depends on what the goal is. The cheapest option would be to go o the NEZ but that might not be the best option or the chosen option first, especially if they are looking to increase high value suites and club seats. At a certain point end zone seating is still end zone seating. And people that want high value club and suite type seats want side line seats for their money.

It is all just guessing at this point though.

 

[alarson]

I dont deny it being a huge project on the sides, but I think you might be overestimating a bit. Somewhere I read that the sides were originally designed to have a third deck, and adding one would not mean a major reconstruction. But I have no idea where I read that or if it is true.

But even with that, I do know you the concourse would have to be completely reconstructed, similar to what they did when they did when they added the press box in the 90s. But I dont believe it would have to change the current first or second decks as it would be a separate structure above/behind those decks like the press box is now.

Is this really expensive....VERY. But at this point everything is. In truth it really just depends on what the goal is. The cheapest option would be to go o the NEZ but that might not be the best option or the chosen option first, especially if they are looking to increase high value suites and club seats. At a certain point end zone seating is still end zone seating. And people that want high value club and suite type seats want side line seats for their money.

It is all just guessing at this point though.

I just don't see it. There isnt likely demand for all the seats a barebones third deck of seats would bring. So you're really needing to add premium seating. You can't really do that with the current upper deck in place.

I'd take TCU's upper deck reconstruction as a comparable example..

 

[Dr.bannedman]

make the game day experience better. do not add seats

 

[cyfan92]

You have to add premium/club seating if you want to make a NEZ project make financial sense. Adding cheap seats in place of the hillsides won't get ANYWHERE close to paying for the project... Also, a SUKUP family going to put their name on a bleacher project???

SEZ worked because it created a money printer club area. If you want to tear down the Jacobson building.. You are probably looking at a $100M+ plus facility.

Arts/Entertainment Distrcit and Hilton/Scheman renovations are all due before that.

 

[cyfan92]

The next project in JTS needs to be copying the West Side suites between the upper and lower deck for the East side of the stadium. You can save the Trice Club if you want to save money

 

[deadeyededric]

I see empty seats in the upper deck now unless it's a big game. Even NFL stadiums seem to try and keep their capacities in the 60's now. Build a two level press/luxury section that spans the entire west grandstand in place of the current press box similar to Arrowhead Stadium.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Now that the pandemic is almost over, let's get going on the Pollard Entertainment District. The RVs are headed to the east lots next year, so it's time to get the bulldozers moving in those lots after the season ends.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

The future is club and premium seating and in game experience, not jamming more bodies into the same footprint.

You're going to start seeing some stadiums actually reduce capacity in order to offer a better (i.e. higher dollar) experience in more parts of the stadium. The new buildings in the NBA and NFL are proving that people will pay more to have more space and more amenities.

 

[2speedy1]

In today's world, the vast majority of our athletic department's revenue stream is coming from television rights, not gate receipts. I believe we're already the 3rd largest stadium in the Big 12. If we continue to have the success which I believe we will have under Matt Campbell's program, Pollard can generate more revenue by simply increasing the ticket prices and donation requirements because the demand will certainly be there.

At this point in time, if I were Pollard, I think I'd focus on other types of facilities enhancements rather than investing an enormous amount into stadium expansion, but that's just my opinion.

But dont you have to also somewhat take into account donations including cyclone club, fan excitement, concessions as things like recruiting etc that a spectacular stadium and great atmosphere and game day experience brings. The stadium generates revenue in many ways, but also just increasing prices doesnt work. And so many on here that are proponents of the hills and maintaining cheap seats will say taking away value seats for families to be able to attend to get younger generations interested.

Ive seen a lot of businesses ruined by increasing prices instead of increasing production/availability to meet demand.

What we need is more high priced seats, as well as increasing or maintaining low value seats.

 

[cyfan92]

Now that the pandemic is almost over, let's get going on the Pollard Entertainment District. The RVs are headed to the east lots next year, so it's time to get the bulldozers moving in those lots after the season ends.

I was told by somebody at FP&M that we should hear something about that project before 2021 is over. For being a family member.. They were pretty tight lipped about much more than that

 

[BryceC]

I wonder if the time will come when they will readjust seat spacing in the bleachers to add spots. It is something that has happened elsewhere. You may be able to push capacity to 66000, but you are reducing the fan experience by doing so

I've said this before but I've been a game at Michigan and it was honestly a miserable experience. No joke I was standing up the entire game, never could sit, and everybody in my row was standing sideways nuts to butts jam packed in. I don't think they'd go that bad but leave people space please.

 

[2speedy1]

I stated earlier that we need to shift the students to the end zone or expand the students to the end zone if we do the NEZ.
And people freaked, I dont mean that we move all of them, I think that you take the farthest center sections that are gold level and return those to gold and put those in the New corner, then any more student sections added you add in the corner. the students still get a third of the side, but you gain a couple high value sections back, and any other increased student seating goes in the corner. This continues to put the students in the area of the opposing team and their enter/exit.

This also means first come first serve students as always get the best seats. But dont get me wrong, the majority of the student seating is not going anywhere, but if there is expansion in the NEZ I can see this.

 

[BryceC]

I remember when 40,000 at a game was a big deal.

I remember when we sold 30k season tickets and it was a a crowning achievement. Man we might sell 48k season tickets this year and they are a lot more expensive than they were then.