In this day and age, schools and teams are doing everything they can to get fans away from their screens - whether they be 65-inch flat screens or four-inch phone screens - and into their respective football stadiums. Most schools aren't thinking about expanding their stadium. However, most schools don't have a season-ticket waiting list going 15,000 strong.
According to Dean Blevins of KWTV in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is set to announce a renovation to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in the range of $350 to $400 million. The upgrade would enclose the south end zone, thereby completely enclosing the lower bowl and raising capacity from 82,112 to 90,000.
The expanded south end zone would create room for new suites as well. Beyond that, Oklahoma will also renovate its current suites, and expand the press box (read: more suites) to stretch across the entire west sideline.
Construction would begin immediately following the Sooners' 2014 home finale against Oklahoma State on Dec. 6 and wrap up in time for the 2015 opener versus Akron. The expansion would make Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium the 12th largest regular use home stadium in college football.
Oklahoma has sold out 92 consecutive home games - encompassing the entire Bob Stoops era - and compiled an astounding 87-5 home record over that span.