"We talk all the time about building a championship-level program, and this is a vital part of that vision." - @Coach_Odom
MIZ #ShowMe 🐯🏈 pic.twitter.com/6MpwMD47Fv
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) December 16, 2016
Instead of building on the existing structure and improving the area in the south end zone for the football program, Missouri has decided to take down the exisiting portion of the south bowl.
The reasoning behind the decision to spend $90-$100 million to tear it down and rebuild instead of spending $75 million to build around it is twofold, as athletic director Jim Sterk explained in the school's release.
"Our preliminary study suggested that if we go this route, we will have more premium seating opportunities, and it will give us the ability to provide more space for our football program and its daily operations."
"We've said all along that we are doing this with the intent of making it one of the best facilities in the nation, and that's exactly what we're planning,"
The construction project will take about two years, and the university is currently in the process of picking an architect and construction manager.
The new addition will provide space for a new football operations center that will house coaches offices, meeting spaces, a new equipment room, locker room, team lounge, team meeting rooms complete with virtual reality simulations, a training room with hydrotherapy capabilities, and a new weight room. All that is on top of the premium seating areas that will include a field level club area, private club seating, and suites.
The new project will also please some fans with about 5,000 seats closer to the field, a new concourse area with new restrooms and concessions, and a new end zone score board display.
Barry Odom notes that the changes will bring them a step closer to being a championship-level program.
"We talk all the time about building a championship-level program, and this is a vital part of that vision. It's exciting to be part of this process, we're creating something that will transform our facilities for years to come."
Head to the school's official release to read more.
