Stadium expansion

[champions77]

They mention just the pressbox being torn down, but it would appear that the whole west side upper deck and pressbox have to go. How do you make one large deck into two smaller decks at different levels without starting over?
As to the south end, I think it has to go too. I believe that the south end rises up a little higher than the rest of the lower bowl does. Wow ole Barry and Wade Walker and the Prez at the time were not on their game to approve the way they built the south stands. Why they would build it at a different rake and height than the rest of the stadium appears to be one of the more stupid things OU has ever done. Absolutely zero concern for future expansion. Incomprehensible.

Overall the plans look fantastic. Finally going about this in a first class way. Couldn't be happier. Now if they can raise enough money to avoid scaling back the project, we will truly have a "Palace on the Prairie". It's about time.

[SoonerPride]

They mention just the pressbox being torn down, but it would appear that the whole west side upper deck and pressbox have to go. How do you make one large deck into two smaller decks at different levels without starting over?
As to the south end, I think it has to go too. I believe that the south end rises up a little higher than the rest of the lower bowl does. Wow ole Barry and Wade Walker and the Prez at the time were not on their game to approve the way they built the south stands. Why they would build it at a different rake and height than the rest of the stadium appears to be one of the more stupid things OU has ever done. Absolutely zero concern for future expansion. Incomprehensible.

Overall the plans look fantastic. Finally going about this in a first class way. Couldn't be happier. Now if they can raise enough money to avoid scaling back the project, we will truly have a "Palace on the Prairie". It's about time.

Yes. Exactly.

If you look carefully at the renderings they are tearing down the Switzer center and south end zone completely and starting from scratch. New bowled in end zone, and interestingly a whole new fan entrance accessible from Lindsey. The practice fields get divided in half. Bizarre.

The West upper deck and press box get completely razed and started over from scratch as well. It appears that there are two decks matching the east side. Probably so in the future they could upper deck the north end zone and make everything line up.

That's why the cost is almost 5x what it cost to erect the east upper deck. Sure that was 10 years ago and there inflation to account for, but that was "only" $75 million.

At $370 million this is a major overhaul.

And I can't freaking wait!!

[SoonerObsession]

I am really excited about this, but it appears to me that for at least one year of football, the stadium will be a mess (not to mention about 20,000 seats short) while renovations are being made. I just don't see how they can tare down the west upper deck and build two decks in between football seasons. I don't think they will do this whole project in one year, but the west side of the stadium itself seems impossible to complete in 8 months.

[8timechamps]

I am really excited about this, but it appears to me that for at least one year of football, the stadium will be a mess (not to mention about 20,000 seats short) while renovations are being made. I just don't see how they can tare down the west upper deck and build two decks in between football seasons. I don't think they will do this whole project in one year, but the west side of the stadium itself seems impossible to complete in 8 months.

It's going to be interesting. It's going to be a challenge to do all of the work in the south end and the west side without it interfering somehow.

[picasso]

It's going to be interesting. It's going to be a challenge to do all of the work in the south end and the west side without it interfering somehow.

Naw, the Pokes did it. They had a big hole in the west end zone for one season. And I don't mean that one chick I met at Joe's Weekend that time.

[jkjsooner]

Yes. Exactly.

If you look carefully at the renderings they are tearing down the Switzer center and south end zone completely and starting from scratch. New bowled in end zone, and interestingly a whole new fan entrance accessible from Lindsey. The practice fields get divided in half. Bizarre.

The West upper deck and press box get completely razed and started over from scratch as well. It appears that there are two decks matching the east side.

It doesn't appear that the decks match exactly. The east has a suite level, a smaller club level, more suites, and then the upper deck. The west will have two decks that appear to overlap a bit. But they will be a lot closer but not close enough to seamlessly match up the two with a north addition.

Anyway, I have to think that they can reuse some of the superstructure of the existing upper deck. Doing so might also make is possible to finish between seasons.

[KantoSooner]

I used to bitch a lot about how long projects took. Then I finally listened to a friend who does heavy construction. There's a lot of waiting that has to be done to allow for concrete, for example, to cure enough to continue.
I'm thinking we're going to play the '15 season in a crippled facility.
Worth the wait, but it's going to be ugly for a short while.

[MichiganSooner]

The work of the east upper deck and the outside of the north endzone took 2 summers to complete. Seems like the west side and south end would definitely take 2 summers to complete.

[jkjsooner]

The work of the east upper deck and the outside of the north endzone took 2 summers to complete. Seems like the west side and south end would definitely take 2 summers to complete.

A lot of that was building up the concrete structure to support the deck. It kind of went along with what Kanto said. They would pour up to a certain height and then wait for a long time then pour horizontal sections, then wait again, etc. If they are able to use much of the existing structure they could shave off a considerable amount of time.

[PrideMom]

We have season tickets on the west side upper deck, and I just hope they improve the slope of the ramps. Adding more elevators is not enough, escalators would work better. We enjoy where we sit, only two rows down from an entrance, and only eight rows up from the edge, so we are not too high up and have a great view.

[PrideMom]

I used to bitch a lot about how long projects took. Then I finally listened to a friend who does heavy construction. There's a lot of waiting that has to be done to allow for concrete, for example, to cure enough to continue.
I'm thinking we're going to play the '15 season in a crippled facility.
Worth the wait, but it's going to be ugly for a short while.

We were amazed when they did the East side, that even the landscaping was in before the first game. They used pre-cast concrete, and set them in sections, so there was no wait for the concrete to cure. This is a bigger endevour, but should blow your socks off!

[soonerboomer93]

They can't precast the structural concrete. They use precast for the seating though (same with all the new stadiums)

[jkjsooner]

They can't precast the structural concrete. They use precast for the seating though (same with all the new stadiums)

I still maintain that most of the structural concrete will remain in place. I'd bet enough so that they could complete it in an offseason.

Note: I really have no idea what I'm talking about.

[KantoSooner]

Note: I really have no idea what I'm talking about.

This is SF.com baby! WE don't let little things like that get in our way!

[champions77]

Unfortunately, since the State of Oklahoma continues to reduce the amount of funding for ALL education every year, the tuition has gone up most every year. This is also one of the lower increases in the last 7 or 8 years. The reason they are all announced together is because regents approved these at the same time in meetings this week.

What do we have about 40 colleges and Universities in Oklahoma that rely to some degree on State funding? For a population of less than 4 million? That and how many School Superintendents 600?

It's too bad that bad decisions made 100 years ago continue to haunt us to this day. Quantity education instead of quality education.

[KantoSooner]

I'd definitely agree that we have far too many superintendents (and far too many crappy tiny town schools for that matter). The structure of our public college and university system is, however, pretty cool and the schools seem to have healthy enrolment. There are tiers of access for those who don't meet OU/OSU standards or who are not able to afford the 'top tier' schools. And maintaining these schools also brings into reach college level courses for people who due to career need or personal interest want to take some continuing ed courses.

The main problem with education at all levels in Oklahoma is that we fail, as a state, to have much respect for education and thus would prefer to expend nothing on it. The mistrust of 'book larnin'' and deification of 'tradition' and 'common sense' are two of the least attractive things about our state.

[jkjsooner]

I'd definitely agree that we have far too many superintendents (and far too many crappy tiny town schools for that matter). The structure of our public college and university system is, however, pretty cool and the schools seem to have healthy enrolment. There are tiers of access for those who don't meet OU/OSU standards or who are not able to afford the 'top tier' schools. And maintaining these schools also brings into reach college level courses for people who due to career need or personal interest want to take some continuing ed courses.

The main problem with education at all levels in Oklahoma is that we fail, as a state, to have much respect for education and thus would prefer to expend nothing on it. The mistrust of 'book larnin'' and deification of 'tradition' and 'common sense' are two of the least attractive things about our state.

I agree with everything you said even though that would mean that the town I grew up in could lose its school.

I was surprised when I moved to Maryland that there was one county superintendent. That one guy was probably in charge of a multiple of a few hundred students for every student my school's superintendent was in charge of.

Given, that guy probably made three or four times what my school's superintendent makes and there are probably assistants who make more than my school's superintendent makes but it still shows a little of the inefficiency in our model.

Agree with your last paragraph as well.

[jkjsooner]

As for higher education, it has increased at an exponential pace for the last 30 years almost everywhere. Actually that doesn't really explain what I mean since even adjusting to inflation is an exponential curve but you get my point. It has increased quite a few points above normal inflation every year and in time that means it costs a lot more (probably at least 4 times adjusted for inflation) than it did when I was in school.

This is happening everywhere. I don't know if it's the federal money going towards student loans or something else. In either case, a school has to remain competitive so they can't just jump off of that treadmill.

One of the reasons is the explosion in facilities and services for students. We certainly didn't have rock climbing walls or all you can eat Chik Fil A at the cafeteria when I was in school. Or a cafeteria that looks like a cross between a sports bar and a coffee shop. But I think these are only a fraction of the reason that tuition has increased so drastically.

Damn, I would be in trouble with all you can eat Chik Fil A...

[KantoSooner]

You've got that right. I'll come right out and say it: I far preferred the 'genteel poverty' of my college days. The facilities were a little beat up. The cafeteria sucked, but you ate there anyway because the mealplan was cheap and you didn't have money to eat out. My freshman dorm had been built in 1837 and you could feel the wind blow....inside your room. The professors were extraordinary, but not pulling down big salaries; neither were the administrators. You went there to learn. If you were too prissy about the conditions, then you could go elsewhere.Basically, we studied, slept, partied (alums made sure we had limitless beer) and worked out (a little). Thus did four years pass.
I think we need to return to a much more monastic approach to higher ed.