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Texas Longhorns

College:
4x Champion:
1963, 1969, 1970, 2005



Daryl K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium, home of the national champion Texas Longhorns, is about to start on its path to stadium greatness.

$149.9 million expansion of UT stadium planned
Price tag for hotel-conference center rises 44 percent, to $120.9 million.

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, February 08, 2006

University of Texas System regents on Thursday are expected to approve spending nearly $150 million to remodel and expand Royal-Memorial Stadium.

The project, scheduled to be completed in August 2008, would boost seating capacity for football games to more than 90,000.

The regents also are expected to authorize construction of a $120.9 million hotel and conference center at the southern edge of campus. That is nearly $37 million more than previous estimates, an increase caused partly by the need to build underground parking to avoid condemning a restaurant that has operated adjacent to the site for more than 20 years.

The stadium expansion, which focuses on the north end zone, has been under discussion for some time, but officials have not disclosed a price tag until now. The $149.9 million cost includes $15 million approved by the regents in November for renovating and expanding the west side of the stadium, work that is under way.

"We had exceptional demand before we won the national championship. I think because of winning the national championship, sales of the inventory of new seating will probably go even faster than we anticipated," said Patti Ohlendorf, UT-Austin's vice president for institutional relations and legal affairs.

The expansion would make Royal-Memorial one of the nation's largest college football stadiums but not one of the true giants. The University of Michigan's stadium has a capacity of 107,501, and Penn State's seats 107,282.

A committee of regents will meet in Austin today to consider the stadium and hotel-conference center projects, with the full Board of Regents scheduled to take action Thursday. UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof and his top aides have recommended approval.

The stadium proposal calls for replacing the existing north end zone structure. Besides increasing the seating capacity, currently 80,082, the project would add offices for the cheerleading program, production TV crew members, ticketing, patron services, the Longhorn Foundation, athletics officials and academic advising. Also, sprinklers would be added to interior portions of the stadium that lack such fire controls.

"There will also be some gymnasiums in the basement for academic use, classes and that type of thing," Ohlendorf said. "And there will be a portion — I think one floor — not yet finished out that will have some future university use."

Bonds would be issued to cover $106.6 million of the project, with the debt to be repaid from revenue generated by Centennial Room and west stadium seating. Gifts would pay for $35 million, and the $8.3 million balance would be covered by investment returns on UT-Austin's construction account.

The budget for the hotel and conference center — to be known as the University of Texas Executive Education and Conference Center — is poised to rise about 44 percent from the $84 million estimated last year.

UT-Austin officials had hoped to acquire the adjacent property occupied by Player's restaurant for a parking garage to serve the hotel and conference center, but the restaurant's owners didn't want to sell. Although the regents had authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire the tract, a legislative effort last year to restrict the university's condemnation power prompted officials to forgo that option.

The increased cost for the project stems from a decision to build three levels of underground parking and to expand executive education capacity, with 300 hotel rooms rather than 250, according to UT System records.

The financing plan consists of $85.9 million in bonds, $30 million in gifts and $5 million in investment earnings from UT-Austin's construction account. Bond debt would be paid with revenue from operating the hotel and garage.

rhaurwitz@statesman.com; 445-3604

Royal-Memorial Stadium

Seating capacity: 80,082

Total capacity: 85,000, including media, stadium workers and others

Largest crowd: 84,082, against Nebraska in 1999

First game: Nov. 8, 1924, against Baylor, at what was then known as Memorial Stadium

Source: University of Texas

Currently they are expanding the suites under the big deck on the west side stand(the really big upper deck),

2006
http://jollybengali.net/gallery/2003/outsidekc/austinweekend/images/11_jpg.jpg

The North(and south eventually) end zone will match up with this side
http://jollybengali.net/gallery/2003/outsidekc/austinweekend/images/12_jpg.jpg

The exterior facade will match that of the east stand(on the right) and the old track curve seats will be removed
http://www.sfo.com/~csuppes/NCAA/Big12/Texas/newaerial.jpg
http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=75721635mhbmgaph8ii.jpg



2008
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/hornimal/dkrsketch2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/hornimal/dkrsketch1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/hornimal/dkrexpmodel1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/hornimal/dkrexpmodel2.jpg

Ultimate buildout with south endzone enclosed(~114,000)
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5732/212262664wrliehph5id.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8845/dkrexpansion13ea.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7481/dkrexpansion22bh.jpg

They should just build it all the way round because it looks amazing. From the inside Old Trafford could look like that, 2 tiers all the way round and then the third at the top but with a roof.

That's the eventual plan. Keep in mind, without being a bowl it will seat over 90,000. With the complete bowl it will seat over 114,000. That would make it by far the largest college football stadium in the US. I'd imagine if UT still has the same ticket demand overflow they have had the last few years, I'm sure the bowling in would take place around 2009 or 2010. That will be an expensive undertaking though, considering the team's training facilities would have the new stands built over this. I imagine that will either mean building around or totally rebuild some of the world's best training facilities. The best part about this will be the deafening sound on the horseshoe end. That's a ton of people in one end of a stadium in some really tall stands.

Nice real world representation.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b327/utpharmd/08DKRstadium09projectedlook.jpg

rantanomo, thanks for the detailed pictures. OU has the same problem with the upperdecks not being the same pitch and I believe if we are going to do the same exact thing Texas is doing with the upperdeck - not connecting the too. OU and Texas have almost the same design except we have that bush league looking southendzone which is again, not on the same pitch with the lower bowl.

I'm surprised Texas doesn't have a larger stadium(think Ohio St large) as they have one of the biggest student populations and alumni base in the country.

I just hope this new expansion doesn't mean Texas wants to opt out of Dallas for the RRR.

I think its sign number one that Dallas wants out. Dallas isn't exactly helping either. I, as well as most alumni aren't happy about this. I don't care if the Cotton Bowl is rotten. If it can stand and be a decent facility, the game should be there.

I think the biggest reason that UT has lagged behind other big schools like Ohio St is the big lul from the 80s to late 90s in having great teams. Winning championships or not, the Mack Brown era has brought back the popularity of the team. The national title probably moved this thing up a year or two, but the demand was pretty much getting there already. Many are already questioning if this is too big, but I disagree. UT has been hitting at least 83,000 for every game the last 3-4 years. As the stadium nears being a complete bowl, I think it becomes a draw in and of itself. The complete bowl buildout is nuts!!!. After seeing that model, I lost interest in having an identical east upper deck. It wasn't built because of view purposes(Austin has reserved view corridors to the capital build), and may end up being the thing that makes the stadium beautiful in the end.

here are some more concrete figures:

north end zone $97.5 million
stadium -- 9th level (200 horns club), press boxes, fire & life safety updates, waterproofing, and NEW SCOREBOARD-- $31.5 million

to be included in the north end zone project:
academic center
war memorial plaza
texas longhorns museum
athletics ticket office
longhorn foundation office
44 suites
2,000 club level seats
9,000 additional seats

it will bump seating capacity to 91,000

according to the seating capacity table after the north end zone expansion we will move from #17 to #9. we'll sit between tiger stadium (lsu, cap. 91,600) and the swamp (cap. 90,000).

Rantanamo, those figures are stout. :eek2:

Concerning the Cotton Bowl, I share the same sentiments as well. Even though the Cotton Bowl and fairgrounds surrounding it are a dump, the game should stay there. It just wouldn't feel right if it were to be a home and home. The Cotton Bowl is what makes the RRR what it is. As a student, I hope the home and home never happens. Tickets are already hard to come by.

And i'm sure with this expansion, there is a huge waiting list for season tickets. That's the case with OU. I believe there are 8,000 people on our list and most of those people are requesting, on the average, two tickets. That's 16,000 seats and we average about 84,300 a game meaning we could boost up our capacity to about 100k give or take, however our AD hasn't revealed a master plan so we're kind of stuck on the 84k mark.

BTW have you heard about the expansions going on at OSU and TT? OSU's is amazingly nice thanks to Boone Pickens.

The arms race in facilities is heating up.

BTW - Congrats on that National Title. As painful as it was, I have to admit I was a bit giddy when VY snuck in the endzone. :bash:

I've seen the two expansions. The most surprising is OSU's. I think. Their whole sports complex is really impressive.

Another rendering

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/07/05/46/image_2246057.jpg

BTW have you heard about the expansions going on at OSU and TT? OSU's is amazingly nice thanks to Boone Pickens.



Details/pictures please.

DRK will look very impressive. Looks very good now as it is.

Can I ask why the big rivalry is with OU and the UT vs Aggies isn't such a big deal? Ot TT for that matter? What makes it so? The neutral venue? A&M being..........ahem.......second rate these days?

Looks like a great stadium.

What kind of capacity would a stadium have if the largest existing stand in a college stadium was extended all around the stadium?

Can I ask why the big rivalry is with OU and the UT vs Aggies isn't such a big deal? Ot TT for that matter? What makes it so? The neutral venue? A&M being..........ahem.......second rate these days?

Texas-OU: Two bordering states. Two different philosphies(apparently). Two long time national powers who are amongst the winningest programs of all-time. Rarely are their sizeable winning streaks, and anything can and will happen. Plus the game is at a neutral site that's within 5 miles of being exactly halfway between the two campuses at Fair Park in Dallas. Incredible atmosphere. Its simply something special. When both teams are good, this is one of the most important games in the entire country. That's why its big. The atmosphere will likely go generic once the series goes home and home. Sad.

Texas-Texas A&M: A&M has not been a good team through most of their history, though they had a great run through the late 80s and 90s. This series has been too streaky I think. Otherwise, its a rivalry of contrasts whether they be political, philosophical, traditional, geographical, etc. City school vs country school, conservative vs liberal, conventional tradition vs downright unique tradition. All the makings of a big rivalry except for competitiveness. Always too streaky. UT is on the winning streak now.

Texas-Texas Tech: Simply hasn't been competitive enough. In general Texas has pretty much beaten up on Tech. Tech will surprise Texas once in a while and pull off the upset. More often than not though, Texas Tech comes in motivated and having their best season ever, only to be sent home reeling. This past season was the perfect example. Tech comes to UT with their best record and ranking ever and is sent home with a bad loss.

If you want to see a burgeoning rivalry that kinda came out of nowhere, see Texas Tech - Texas A&M. A&M had been a national power through the 90s and as the new century came about, Tech began fielding better and better teams, even pulling off some big upsets against A&M. One was a big time loss for A&M in which the Tech fans rushed the field and carried the goal post into the stands where A&M fans were. Now Tech has surpassed A&M in football and A&M hates that. Big time rivalry forming if the two programs ever become national powers. They are even talking to Dallas officials to have their game replace Texas-OU.

What kind of capacity would a stadium have if the largest existing stand in a college stadium was extended all around the stadium?

I've asked myself exactly the same question before - it's always astounded me to see all these 80,000+ stadia with nothing behind one end zone and bare corners...

That should show the scale of some of these college stadiums. I never see them compared in size to other stadiums, but from personally being in a few, they are absolutely huge.

I'll make a prediction here:

UT is coming off an undefeated season and a spectacular national championship game win. The stadium keeps growing, soon to gargantuian size. UT's desire to play in a bigger pond than the old SWC is finally paying off; it would be hard not to identify the Horns as the B12's top football program.

Meanwhile Texas is only one of 4 in-state schools in the B12. It also shares its huge state with so many other programs besides A&M, TT, & Baylor: schools like SMU, TCU, Rice, Houston, UTEP, etc.

My perdiction: UT will become some strong, so powerful that it will end up beng a total monster in-state, dominating and weakening too many programs for the good of college football.

Its power may be unprecidented. In most states, a power (like OU, for example) can only dominate one of a few schools (i.e. OkSt, perhaps Tulsa). In other big states (i.e. Calif.) with many schools, the "powerhouse" of the group (USC) does not have the capacity to be what UT is in its state. Meanwhile in another big state, Florida, neither UF, FSU, or Miami could dominate the way that UT does.

UT is an amazing institution, an unbelievable force on and off the football field. My suspicion is that on the field, there is big trouble ahead for schools in the state of Texas that don't wear an orange Longhorn on their helmets...and a lot of bad news for college football.

Selfish me: Excellent Prediction
College Football Purist me: eh.....Excellent Prediction

That should show the scale of some of these college stadiums. I never see them compared in size to other stadiums, but from personally being in a few, they are absolutely huge.


It's surprisingly difficult to find accurate pictorial comparisons of stadiums. Even 2D would be great.

A thread a couple of weeks ago was trying to fing the 'highest' stadium and no-one was able to agree on what criteria we should use for highest. Personally I felt that pitch level to top seating level would be fine but people obviously have different opinions.

I'd agree with rantanamo that while the larger stand makes the ground look a little unbalanced at the moment in that final plan it adds alot of character.

I find it hard to judge the size of many of these collage stadiums aswell, I know some use benchs but for how much the the stadium isnt always obvious from lookign at pics plus how much less space does that take up than normal seating? Having two or fewer teirs or unevenly dividing the seating between tiers generally makes stadiums look more impressive(when full of fans anyway) to me aswell.

I'll make a prediction here:

UT is coming off an undefeated season and a spectacular national championship game win. The stadium keeps growing, soon to gargantuian size. UT's desire to play in a bigger pond than the old SWC is finally paying off; it would be hard not to identify the Horns as the B12's top football program.

Meanwhile Texas is only one of 4 in-state schools in the B12. It also shares its huge state with so many other programs besides A&M, TT, & Baylor: schools like SMU, TCU, Rice, Houston, UTEP, etc.

My perdiction: UT will become some strong, so powerful that it will end up beng a total monster in-state, dominating and weakening too many programs for the good of college football.

Its power may be unprecidented. In most states, a power (like OU, for example) can only dominate one of a few schools (i.e. OkSt, perhaps Tulsa). In other big states (i.e. Calif.) with many schools, the "powerhouse" of the group (USC) does not have the capacity to be what UT is in its state. Meanwhile in another big state, Florida, neither UF, FSU, or Miami could dominate the way that UT does.

UT is an amazing institution, an unbelievable force on and off the football field. My suspicion is that on the field, there is big trouble ahead for schools in the state of Texas that don't wear an orange Longhorn on their helmets...and a lot of bad news for college football.

There were 35 years in between Texas' 3rd and 4th National Titles. OU won FOUR in that span, USC won about the same(depends on which scale you use) and you're saying the OU's and USC's can't dominate as much as Texas? Since Bob Stoops has been coach, OU has gone 5-2 against Texas. I really don't know what you mean by "dominating." If you mean academically, UF and USC have better academics than UT does.

If you mean academically, UF and USC have better academics than UT does.

lol. riiiiight.

UT is ranked in several intenational and domestic polls in the top tier, where, USC and Florida never even approach ... erm, not to mention oklahoma, who's well out of that top tier.

BTW, UT doesnt submit requisite information to form the rankings of the US News academic report. This is in response to misinformation presented by US News report about the UT McCombs Business School sometime around 1997, IIRC. Thus, any rankings submitted by US News are skewed and otherwise, inaccurate.

I'd agree with rantanamo that while the larger stand makes the ground look a little unbalanced at the moment in that final plan it adds alot of character.

I find it hard to judge the size of many of these collage stadiums aswell, I know some use benchs but for how much the the stadium isnt always obvious from lookign at pics plus how much less space does that take up than normal seating? Having two or fewer teirs or unevenly dividing the seating between tiers generally makes stadiums look more impressive(when full of fans anyway) to me aswell.

Best way to get an idea of size is to go by the goalpost. Standard college goal posts are 18 feet high at the top, but usually NFL hieght posts are used in major college stadiums(28 feet tall). Comparing college stadiums to NFL, the college stadiums are much bigger in size. Aiding that, many were originally built with athletics tracks inside. To get rid of the these, the field is usually sunken a few feet and closer stands are added.

BTW, UT doesnt submit requisite information to form the rankings of the US News academic report. This is in response to misinformation presented by US News report about the UT McCombs Business School sometime around 1997, IIRC. Thus, any rankings submitted by US News are skewed and otherwise, inaccurate.

Until I see those so called polls I still hold my belief that UF and USC are better schools overall. USNews ranked both UF and USC ahead of UT. Also, while those three schools were higher up in the top tier, OU WAS in that top tier. Your suggestion about the USNews being skewed and inaccurate are just a matter of opinion, not fact.

Sorry, but UT = better school than those two.

Until I see those so called polls I still hold my belief that UF and USC are better schools overall. USNews ranked both UF and USC ahead of UT. Also, while those three schools were higher up in the top tier, OU WAS in that top tier. Your suggestion about the USNews being skewed and inaccurate are just a matter of opinion, not fact.

There was a poll by a Japanese univerisity and a British poll that indicated top tier status to UT. The British poll had UT as one of the top 10 universities in the world. I'll try to hunt them down.

ou sucks.


did a quick google search:

~Ranks UT #5 worldwide (http://www.webometrics.info/top3000.asp.htm)

~Japanese university ranks UT #36 worldwide (http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2005/ARWU2005_Top100.htm)

~British poll ranks UT #15 worldwide and #9 in the USA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_Higher_Education_Supplement#Top_universities_overall_.28worldwide.29)

Well documented, negative response to US News ranking ... these generally aren't recognized anymore as valid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_and_university_rankings#Colleges_and_criticism_of_U.S._News_rankings)

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6606/scoreboatf4qa.jpg

Starting this summer, UT will be home to the world's largest high-definition stadium screen.

By John Maher
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

A month ago, the Miami Dolphins unveiled their new scoreboard, hailed as the largest high-definition video screen in the world. By July, when the Texas Longhorns' new scoreboard is expected to be in place at Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Dolphins will have to be content with having the world's second-largest big-screen TV.

The University of Texas' high-definition LED scoreboard will be 134 feet wide and 55 feet high and will replace the 10-year-old, far smaller scoreboard in the south end zone. The Dolphins' largest scoreboard (they have two) is 140 by 50 feet, according to Mark Steinkamp, marketing and sales support manager of Daktronics, the South Dakota company that designed both boards.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PHOTO, AMERICAN-STATESMAN GRAPHIC
(enlarge photo)

The University of Texas' high-definition LED scoreboard will be 134 feet wide and 55 feet high and will replace the 10-year-old, far smaller scoreboard in the south end zone.

MORE ON THIS STORY



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The Dolphins' board is 7,000 square feet — 370 square feet less than Texas'. Measuring the diagonal, the way they do for TV sets, that's a whopping 1,740-inch screen for Longhorn fans.

"It's going to be pretty special," said Jim Baker, UT's men's athletics associate director for events and operations.

The Texas scoreboard is the centerpiece of $8 million in audiovisual improvements that will include a new sound system, two 20-foot-wide displays in the north end zone and LED banner displays on the east and west facades of the stadium.

Many universities now have massive football scoreboards. When the University of Arkansas installed a 107-foot wide LED screen in 2000, it was hailed as the largest in sports. The University of Wisconsin's scoreboard measures 170 feet wide, although the LED video portion is only 43 by 24.

The Texas scoreboard will be similar to that of the Dolphins — one big blank screen ready for programming.

Baker said that having the scoreboard up in July will give the UT staff time to experiment with it and have it ready to go for the Sept. 2 opener against North Texas. UT athletics spokesman Nick Voinis said there's even a chance the board could be ready to put up scores for the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game on Aug. 1.

In addition to the scoreboard, UT is in the midst of a $15 million project to renovate the press box and install 432 club seats on the west side of the stadium.

After this football season, the university will spend $150 million to reconfigure the north end zone, boosting capacity above 90,000 by adding suites and seats that will face the big new scoreboard.

"The addition of this state-of-the-art video technology will provide our fans years of viewing enjoyment and enhance their game-day experience," Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds said in a statement Tuesday. "This is another phase of the total stadium renovation that will ensure Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium remains one of the finest football venues anywhere."

The south end zone will continue to memorialize Freddie Steinmark, a member of the 1969 national championship team diagnosed with a cancer that season.

The current $3.5 million, 32-by-23-foot video scoreboard dates to 1996. Counting space for advertisements, the current scoreboard is 70 feet wide and 40 feet high — about a third of the total size of the new, record-setting screen. But Texas' record might not last long. A horse track in Tokyo plans a 197-foot-wide screen this year.

jmaher@statesman.com; 445-3956

Notable LED displays in stadiums:
Team Width x Height Square feet
University of Texas* 134 x 55 7,370
Miami Dolphins* 140 x 50 7,000
Atlanta Braves* 79 x 71 5,609
University of Arkansas 107 x 30 3,210
Ohio State University 90 x 30 2,700

This should all make the expansion that much more sweet. Strange they'd add new displays to the north end though, given that it will be demolished after this season. Perhaps, they'll use them again after the expansion is completed.

I must say that the pic of the proposed stadium @ 114 000 looks flippin awesome

Well, on the rankings issue here in some information:

According to the Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2005/ARWU2005_Top100.htm), the University of Texas (Austin) is the 36th best school in the world, while USC is #50 and the University of Florida is #57.

Another source is the The Times Higher Education Supplement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_Higher_Education_Supplement#Top_universities_overall_.28worldwide.29_2) that in 2004 placed UT as #15 in the world.

(I just noticed it was already posted, Oh well...)

Judging by the foreign rankings UT scores better than USC and UF, but I am not really familiar with the domestic rankings (like the USNews one). In any case, it is pretty obvious that UT is pretty much a good candidate to the coined term "Public Ivy" after UC Berkeley.

And on the Stadium, it looks rather nice. It is the permanent trophy for UT's athletic success.

lol. riiiiight.

UT is ranked in several intenational and domestic polls in the top tier, where, USC and Florida never even approach ... erm, not to mention oklahoma, who's well out of that top tier.

BTW, UT doesnt submit requisite information to form the rankings of the US News academic report. This is in response to misinformation presented by US News report about the UT McCombs Business School sometime around 1997, IIRC. Thus, any rankings submitted by US News are skewed and otherwise, inaccurate.


UF IS right up there with Texas. UF is a member of the AAU just like Texas and our departments rank very high in public and public/private rankings even those other than the "US News."

Texas is a very, very good university, but so is Florida.

Back to the renovations. Finally some pics from the first stage. This year;s construction stage involves new pressbox for the west stand, as well as some suite additions/renovations. Also a new scoring and display system will be added. This will include LED ribbons between the decks of the east and west grand stands, two video displays for the north stand(temporary since that stand is coming down after the season, so many speculate the old video board being split into two) and THE WORLDS LARGEST HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO SCREEN. This thing will be nearly as wide as the playing field itself. Pics courtesy of Horfans posters NatChampUT and

Press Box and Suite work:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/ceb17d9b.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/b6ab0620.jpg

Old North Scoreboard has been removed for replacement
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/38dcc0b4.jpg

Either new video or old scoreboard on the ground
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/f67a73a1.jpg

Support for the old large video board are being reworked to fit the new board. It looks like an addition four to six will be necessary for the sheer width of this monster. This is the south (epen ) end. The building behind it is the Moncreif-Neuhaus training facility, home locker rooms, etc. About as nice of a facility as you'll find in the world. You can see the drilling machine on the left for a new support

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/d119b650.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/8099cd63.jpg

Had to sneak this in
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/2a15142b.jpg

more pics from SMD Horn

North Endzone Exterior standing for its last season and awaiting temporty displays

http://homepage.mac.com/g4scott/dkr_scoreboard_pics/IMG_4309.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/g4scott/dkr_scoreboard_pics/IMG_4310.jpg

more suite work
http://homepage.mac.com/g4scott/dkr_scoreboard_pics/IMG_4314.jpg

that is one magnificant stand! (or two dep. on how you look at it)

Can't wait to see it when the project is completed!

I'm sure eddyk will be taking a keen interest in the HD Jumbotron when they put it up. He's not happy that the two screens at Wembley are going to be smaller than we first thought. I'd have to say I agree with him. I suspect this will just remind us of what we could have had.

I can't remember who asked, but to answer, DKR is huge! I remember the first time I saw it was in silhouette as I was about 50-100 feet off landing at Austin. It's not that it's particularly close to the airport, just that it's so much bigger than any building around it. Look at rantanamo's pictures. I'm sure that the access ramps to the upper deck go up eleven levels - and that's just to reach the vomitory.

I'd say it's definitely about the height of a 15-storey building.

Here are a few more pics.

Drawing of what DKRTMS will look like in 2008.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/3.jpg

A few more pics of the current stadium:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/utexmemstdm_big.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/utmemorialstadium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/50110720wKpNQu_fs.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/IMG_4314.jpg

DKRTMS at night from the highway.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/memorial_stadium_01_L.jpg

And I can't help but include the UT Tower. :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/texas-1.jpg

Austin at night. Tower in orange, Texas state capitol a little further, and just beyond that is the Frost Bank tower.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/tower3.jpg


Along with the Godzillatron Texas is getting, they're getting...

Fans of the 2005 NCAA National Champion Longhorns will see incredible, high-resolution, crystal clear, live video and replays on a new ProStar(R) display with an active area approximately 55 feet high by 134 feet wide (Pure Pixel(R) resolution of 848 pixels by 2,064 pixels). The physical pixel resolution will exceed the 720p high-definition television standard. The end zone display will offer complete flexibility, with the capability to show one large single video image, multiple video images, and a combination of live or recorded video with real time scores and stats, out of town game information, sponsors' messages, graphics and animation. Overall dimensions of the end zone scoreboard, which includes a camera platform and an identification panel complete with giant longhorns, are approximately 81 feet high by 136 feet wide.

Included in the system design are five ProAd(R) full-color digital light emitting diode (LED) fascia displays. Three large displays, each measuring approximately 4 feet high by 150 feet wide, will be installed on the east, west and north sides of the stadium. Two smaller displays, approximately 4 feet high by 20 feet wide, will installed behind the north end zone.

Two additional ProAd(R) displays will be incorporated into the stadium in the northeast and southeast corners at the field level. Approximate dimensions are 5 feet high by 20 feet wide. Additional components of the integrated football system include delay of game clocks and locker room game clocks.

In addition to the integrated video and scoring system, the University of Texas is working with Daktronics to design and build a new custom sound system for Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium that will further enhance the game-day experience for Longhorns football fans.

A little update from NatChampUT over at Hornfans, as to the ginornimousmousnessness that the world's largest video replay/scoreboard will be.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/6c880ed3.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/f2e0112f.jpg


A projection of the sheer width of this thing by Mr. Picc
http://homepage.mac.com/brd2887/.Pictures/f2e0112f.jpg

now that is some serious Hi-Def. Hope they show away games for those not able to make it out of town.

Can't wait to see it when the project is completed!

I'm sure eddyk will be taking a keen interest in the HD Jumbotron when they put it up. He's not happy that the two screens at Wembley are going to be smaller than we first thought. I'd have to say I agree with him. I suspect this will just remind us of what we could have had.

I can't remember who asked, but to answer, DKR is huge! I remember the first time I saw it was in silhouette as I was about 50-100 feet off landing at Austin. It's not that it's particularly close to the airport, just that it's so much bigger than any building around it. Look at rantanamo's pictures. I'm sure that the access ramps to the upper deck go up eleven levels - and that's just to reach the vomitory.

I'd say it's definitely about the height of a 15-storey building.


Yes, DKR is huge. Because its two tiers tall it looks smaller than it physically is. Same with places like Neyland and Ohio Stadium. The big upper deck looks even bigger from the outside as the stadium is on a slope, with that side of the stadium being at the lowest point of the slope. Field level is well above street level on that side and well below of the other side. I've often wondered about the height measure from street level on that side. Pretty friggin nose bleed.

Notice this height comparison with Reliant(pretty friggin tall itself) with the short side of DKR.

http://lhb.music.utexas.edu/sights/2005photos/Big 12 Championship Game/IMG_1425.jpg
http://lhb.music.utexas.edu/sights/2005photos/UT%20vs%20Tech/IMG_0603.jpg
http://lhb.music.utexas.edu/sights/2005photos/UT%20vs%20Tech/IMG_0655.jpg

Construction update on the world's largest video replay board

Incredible to think the field is only 5 yards wider

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/1d4b2011.jpg

100+ of these crates hold huge screen
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/7e958311.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/1c037bfb.jpg

massive(notice the tiny guys)
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/fb89795c.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/efc3fc05.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/250b26f4.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/815d0174.jpg

had to throw this in. Great set from Hornfans.com
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/791dfdc1.jpg

Comparison to the Rogers Centre jumbotron

Rogers Centre
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/DSCN4401.JPG/800px-DSCN4401.JPG

Rogers Centre jumbotron if it was the size of UT's monstrosity
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/scoreboard2.jpg

Some size perspective. The first compares the old jumbotron, then the size of Texas A&M( A rival)'s new board.

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4820/texasvideoboardsuj2.jpg

This pic really shows how big this thing is compared to the rest of the stadium. Pretty awesome.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_scoreboard_pics/7_31_06/small/_MG_0349.jpg

that's MASSIVE. it's amazing to see the types improvements after a team wins a national title.

The screen was finished last Friday. They still have to finish it up (speakers, paneling, signs, etc).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/18fa5c50.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/29e33a86.jpg

And for good measure :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/7488eed7.jpg

WOW, that screen is huuuge!! The only thing missing is a comfy couch + remote contr. :)

I just went by the stadium the other day. All I can say is: Giant. Like Rausa said, all you need is a comfy couch and a remote control.

UPDATE

Godzillatron is pretty much finished as far as how it will look. They're still wiring it up and hopefully will add something to cover up the catwalks on the backside.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/godzilla3.jpg

View from north of the stadium to show just how big it is in relation to the rest of the stadium.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/godzilla2.jpg

2 LED ribbon boards are going up as well. They're almost finished.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/ribbons.jpg

They are also installing bleacher seats in the south endzone just in front of the new screen. There will be about 36 rows and 4,000 additional seats. They just started a couple days ago. Should be done in about 10 more days.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/bleachers1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/bleachers2.jpg

Cool.

Any chance of some pics of it in action? When does the college season start? September?

Cool.

Any chance of some pics of it in action? When does the college season start? September?

The first game of the 2006 NCAA season is Thursday August 31st, but Texas won't have their first game until Saturday Sept. 2 vs. North Texas.


NCAA Schedule (week 1) (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/schedules)

i think the thing i admire about some of these college staduims is the absense of any "clutter"............very clean lines....not too fussy...does that make sense?

Makes plenty of sense. I love the lines at DKR. They'll be even better in a couple of years.

Here is a pic someone took of a test of one of the partially completed LED banners. The clarity is unreal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/quackzilla.jpg

It's alive:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_6.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_5.jpg

All of the image is video and not seperate paneling.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_4.jpg

That is really huge! But they one made it that big to have the space for advertising and an animated american flag? That is so american and typical of Texas! :weird: They should use the whole screen for football replays. It's such a nice screen...

That is really huge! But they one made it that big to have the space for advertising and an animated american flag? That is so american and typical of Texas! :weird: They should use the whole screen for football replays. It's such a nice screen...


Erm, that was just a screen test of all of its capabilities. Cool out.

There will be full-screen replays and in-game action presumably in the near future. Also, the ads will be rotating. This will all occur when 16:9 HD ratio is available depending on the TV broadcast. Right now UT does not have specific HD cameras, so the screen has to be filled up in another way.

Ugh. The people here. Worse than aggy.

Would be great to watch a soccer game on that tele.

Erm, that was just a screen test of all of its capabilities. Cool out.

There will be full-screen replays and in-game action presumably in the near future. Also, the ads will be rotating. This will all occur when 16:9 HD ratio is available depending on the TV broadcast. Right now UT does not have specific HD cameras, so the screen has to be filled up in another way.

Ugh. The people here. Worse than aggy.

Hahaha! I can't believe you fell for that :nocrook:

I know you shouldn't mess with Texas :D but, sorry, I had to do it. I've been working and living in the US for one year and found it really funny that they play the national anthem before every game and event. I mean really every one. I've been to a minor league baseball game in Tacoma and they played it. And there are american flags everywhere. As an American Football Fan I remember the big shows at the Super Bowls (on Gulf War I and II). If you're not american it's ... uhm ... interesting.
Here in Germany they play the national anthem when german national teams play or (for the first time they did that this season) before the opening game of the football (soccer) bundesliga. So you know it's a special event. And we don't have fighter jets flying over the stadium after the anthem ;) .

So take it easy and from someone who knows your country very well and knows how to tease you. :cheer:

P.S.: it seriously is a nice screen!

It's alive:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_6.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_5.jpg

All of the image is video and not seperate paneling.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/doowahditty/GTRON_4.jpg

Um, could you tell me which parts are the video board and which are static ads? I can barely tell.

Here's Sports Illustrated's accounts on this:

Texas unveils Gozillatron (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/08/26/texas.godzillatron.ap/index.html)

WOW!

Go HORNS!

Um, could you tell me which parts are the video board and which are static ads? I can barely tell.

None of it is static. Its all video, even the ads. Basically a huge computer monitor.

beautiful stadium, though will it be sold out. 90000?

Yep for every game.

that's odd.

Not really, there are a few places that get 90k+ and excessding that capacity every game.

gees, most places round the world would be unable to get half that in their stadia

College football in the USA is like soccer in England. It is huge. There is about 120 teams in the top level (I-A) in the US. Stadiums range from Michigan capacity of 110 000+/- down to Idaho capacity 16 000.

GAMEDAY!!!

http://mackbrown-texasfootball.com/wp/General/dkr/dkr_800x600.jpg

wow

Another update:

The Godzillatron is turning out to be more expensive than expected. The same goes for the cost of relocating live oaks, installing fire-protection sprinklers and other work at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

As a result, the price tag for expanding and remodeling the stadium has risen about 18 percent, to $176.5 million. It had previously been budgeted for $149.9 million.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/11/16/16texstadium.html


Hopefully it's a nice big orange screen with a white Longhorn logo.

North endzone demolition starts in just a few short weeks! :banana:

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/11_30_06/_MG_4128.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/11_30_06/hi_res/_MG_4130.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/11_30_06/hi_res/_MG_4136.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/11_30_06/hi_res/_MG_4149.jpg

more pics and renderings as construction gets underway

http://homepage.mac.com/brd2887/.Pictures/DKR2.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/brd2887/.Pictures/DKR1.jpg

The architecture of the exterior and upper deck and suites will match this side of the stands(left side in the second pic). Eventually, 3 of the 4 sides will match this.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_1_06/hi_res/_MG_4156.jpg
http://mackbrown-texasfootball.com/wp/General/dkr/dkr_800x600.jpg

overview of the project area
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_1_06/hi_res/_MG_0110.jpg

props to SMDhorn for the great pics

So this is phase two?

I assume the next phase would be the other endzone?

what do you mean by phases? If just for this project, Phase 1 is the lower tier of stands behind the endzone before next season. Phase 2 will be to add the upper deck, suites and academic building before the 2008 season. Overall, I'd call this whole two year project, Phase 4 or 5. A lot of work has been done between 1997-2006. Track taken out(why the endzone stands were so far away), Field lowered astroturf removed and replaced with PAT, sideline stands added to bottom of stands, concourse renovations, second deck and suites added to east side(including new brick facade and shops. Suites and pressbox renovation to west side. New signage, small, temporary southern end stands and Godzillatron. Now we're at this exciting change that will be the most dramatic yet.

Demolition starts Friday!

Here's a webcam they put up inside the stadium. Too bad they won't set up a better one.

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

I'm sure we'll get plenty of good looks from the guys on Hornfans. Can't wait to see this all finished.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/panorama_comparison.jpg

They are wasting no time I see.

Sweet destruction!!!

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_8_06/IMG_4220.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_8_06/IMG_4217.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_8_06/IMG_4215.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03424.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03434.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03435.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03437.jpg

Wow, stood for so long and saw so many legends. Gone in a flash

http://www.threequarks.net/stadium/stadium1.JPG
http://www.threequarks.net/stadium/stadium3.JPG
http://www.threequarks.net/stadium/stadium8.JPG
http://www.threequarks.net/stadium/stadium11.JPG

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/panorama_comparison.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/lng1024/DKREndZoneDemolitionPan2-r.jpg

Nice pics.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03447.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03456.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03463.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g10/NatChampUT/DKR%20Renovation/Renovation%20Fall%2006/DSC03467.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a214/ChrisJohn32/UT/capture1-1.jpg

Like a huge high school stadium

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k244/hookem2008/DKR%20Renovation/DSC03476.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k244/hookem2008/DKR%20Renovation/DSC03473.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k244/hookem2008/DKR%20Renovation/DSC03472.jpg


such a weird site for us Longhorns

finally a hint of an architectural drawing:

http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/stadium_nez_seats_540.jpg

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

Incredible how quickly this is happening.

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=395784

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_16_06/IMG_4437.jpg

Wow, that's some 80 year old dirt

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_16_06/IMG_4446.jpg

This gives an idea of how far into the sidelines this expansion will cut(and why capacity actually reduces a little for the first deck. The second(further back orange barrier) is approximately where the new endzone seating will abut.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_16_06/IMG_4506.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr_teardown/12_16_06/IMG_4518.jpg

Amazing. So the new structure is slated to be ready in time for the '07 season?

The lower tier opens in 2007. The upper tier will take longer as it will contain suites and a student center. That part will open in 2008. Should be an interesting, but better than 2006 look for 2007. At least on the interior.

Yeah having that endzone closer will be great, and if you eventually close it all in, it will be loud! Although, I'm assuming it's loud now as well. I've never been there, driven past it once (saw it from the highway, that one upper tier is TALL!).

Congrats on the bowl win over Iowa btw!

I see 2 renderings of the north endzone. One with two identical towers sandwhiching the main side gate, and a rendering with no towers. Which one is it going to be?

I'm pretty sure this is the official drawing, so the renders that look like it are the actual look

http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/stadium_nez_seats_540.jpg

Like such?

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9906/adkrhs4.png (http://imageshack.us)

Time lapse video of demolition:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LrZ1rtgPbGw

Fun facts:

Texas has the largest sideline seating(prefered seating) in the US with roughly 76,000.

The stadium has the largest upper deck seating in the nation.

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_2_07/panorama_big.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_5_07/IMG_2236.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_5_07/IMG_2231.jpg

Well, they cleaned that up rather nicely. Now go build! :D

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/compare3.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/compare3.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/compare3.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/IMG_2596.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/IMG_2593.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/IMG_2580.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_2_16_07/IMG_2579.jpg

I spoke too soon! I see columns! Columns I tell ya :D Keep 'm coming Rantanamo!

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

Incredible how quickly this is happening.

As this image updates in real time, it's always worth a look at every so often, even if the thread falls back to page 3 of the menu.

I've replied to this just to bring it back to the front page and therefore keep it in our collective awareness.

How deep are the footings? Or is it an underground car park?

why cant americans make a beautyfull stadium? this is hidious. awfull. like every other stadium. every time one end of a stadium is totaly open or filled in with a big screan and commercial things. build it full with a stand.

What on earth are you talking about? They demolished a stand and are building a larger stand closer to the field, providing the spectators with a better view of the game. Did you even look at the before/after pics?

Ummm...this is ugly?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/dkrexpmodel2.jpg


Instead of criticizing, maybe you should attempt to do a tiny bit a research.

What on earth are you talking about? They demolished a stand and are building a larger stand closer to the field, providing the spectators with a better view of the game. Did you even look at the before/after pics?

I talk in general. not specialy this one

With the huge variety of stadium designs in the US compared to other individual countries, I don't know how one could generalize about them.

How deep are the footings? Or is it an underground car park?

I'm guessing you mean the hole. I don't exactly how deep, but from recent pictures, its much deeper than it appears. The hole is part of what will be beneath the stands. which will be a couple gymasiums, an academic center and an alumni center. It would be nice to have parking, but there's a large garage just across the street. Most parking on game days is done in the garages all over campus, or many actually bus in. This stadium is actually a very tight fit on the campus.

this is hidious. awfull. like every other stadium.

Doesn't sound like a generality to me.

With the huge variety of stadium designs in the US compared to other individual countries, I don't know how one could generalize about them.



I'm guessing you mean the hole. I don't exactly how deep, but from recent pictures, its much deeper than it appears. The hole is part of what will be beneath the stands. which will be a couple gymasiums, an academic center and an alumni center. It would be nice to have parking, but there's a large garage just across the street. Most parking on game days is done in the garages all over campus, or many actually bus in. This stadium is actually a very tight fit on the campus.

As I remember, the Alumni Center was across the road from the main (West) stand and was a pretty sizeable place. When you say 'an' Alumni Center, I take it you mean a branch of it, for gamedays. Gotta pump those Alumni and keep the dollars rolling in!

I mean another one. There's one in the east stand complex too.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3282.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3284.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3285.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3286.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3288.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_3_13_07/IMG_3289.jpg

Nice photoshop job from Hornfans.com

2006(of course no temp bleachers and Godzillatron)
http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/wp/Football/Stadium/Stadium_1024x768.jpg




2008(It's not perfect, but a pretty good idea of what an impact this expansion will have)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/MustangGT281ci/NEZStadium.jpg

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg


I see that something looking a lot like the lower rakers is being installed.

Are there plans to have any of this development ready for the next College season? When is that, September?

Only the lowest deck will be finished by August they predict. The upper deck and what is beneath are scheduled for completion in 2008. To keep up with ticket demand, they will double the size of the temp stand under Godzillatron.

and someone wanted to see the scoreboard in action

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Memorial_Stadium_Pregame.JPG/800px-Memorial_Stadium_Pregame.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Godzillatron_Closeup.JPG/800px-Godzillatron_Closeup.JPG

Sweet! Well, they still have about 4 months to get the lower deck ready in time.

UT's athletic director announced that the goal now is to just be able to get some people seated there rather than a finished lower deck. Texas has had about double of its normal rainfall(which has knocked us out of drought conditions for the first time in 2 years) which has put this project behind.

Also, the more I learn about this project, the less I like it. This project will only be uniform with the East stand in that they fit together at the sides.. The lower deck being constructed will be more like the east upper deck than the east Grandstand. The rows we're seeing constructed now will have a walkway between them and rest of the lower deck(club seats), yuck. So like the east side upper deck, the stands behind the walkway are probably 6 feet above the walkways.

Ummm...this is ugly?

Well... it is certainly NOT pretty. The three upper decks are different in shape & size. Where's the arquitechtural harmony? Not here, that's for certain...
Just a humongous cattle pen to keep all of them sh*tkickin' longhorn fans happy together...

Sounds like a not-too-dissimilar situation to the quads at Old Trafford. If so, any perceived aesthetic shortfall in the project will disappoint many, enrage a few but not have too much material difference in the scheme of things.

I looked up Godzillatron on wikipedia last week and was interested to read about the controversy caused by the ads which take up a proportion of the screen area:

"Complaints have also been made about the scoreboard being too loud and about it broadcasting advertisements to those in the stadium, even over the top of the band playing in the stadium.[10][11] In its first usage, the portion of the new screen that was typically used for showing replays and film highlights was approximately the same size as the old video screen.[9][13] More recent games have featured a 16:9 format image centered in a ring of advertisement and score/clock related information. Nevertheless, complaints continue about the advertising, with some fans shouting out "We won't shop/eat/bank there" when advertisements are played loudly in the stadium"

Taking a logical view, it's ironic that even with an 'ad border', the area covering the game action is still larger than the whole of the old screen. The screen was almost certainly justified by the additional earning capacity it would generate. It is quite ironic that this contribution seems to have worked against it.

Taking a fan's view, it's the largest screen in the country (not the world any more) and it is an affront to this accolade not to dedicate it entirely to its primary purpose.

Unfortunately, humans are just not logical. That seems to have made a large mess of the maths that gave it the go-ahead in the first place.

One of life's little oddities, don't you think?

Well... it is certainly NOT pretty. The three upper decks are different in shape & size. Where's the arquitechtural harmony? Not here, that's for certain...
Just a humongous cattle pen to keep all of them sh*tkickin' longhorn fans happy together...\

That's not true at all. There will always be only two upper decks at every stage of completion. The two won't match, but one will go around 3/4 of the stadium. Very symmetrical for a large college stadium. The lower deck won't be an exact match, but it will be on the same level and connect with the east and west lower decks. Just will look a little different above the stand entrances.

In addition, a lot of college stadiums seem to be harmonious when filled, but in fact are flawed in their layout plans to reach said 'harmony' (LSU's Tiger Stadium comes to mind). Another reason for some tiers not to be fully enclosed is to create views of the surrounding area (Beaver Stadium for instance).

This is why the scoreboard is being called Adzillatron. Notice that not only do waste significant video space with ads and leave a smaller area for video, but they also cut that space in half leaving us with something not even close to the size of the board. Why use up video screen area with static ads?

http://www.rayfes.com/austin/06aug/06aug3575a.jpg

That was the first game of the year. It got better later in the season. I'm withholding judgment until we get some HD equipment.

re: harmony. Does harmony have to be symmetrical? And what 3 upperdecks do you see? Can you count? There are two, east and west. The one that will be completed in 2008 will match the east one. Symmetry is not always harmony. You can be symmetrically ugly.

I agree about the walkway. I don't like the idea of it. I just can't see how it will look right. Will the walkway just end when it meets up with the old stands? That'll look stupid.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5949.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5950.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5953.jpg

opposite angle
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5964.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5965.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_9_07/IMG_5966.jpg

has to be the most confusting construction of all time

Best set of pics yet. Can't imagine this will be open by opening day.


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55f.JPG
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55g.JPG
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55h.JPG
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55i.JPG
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55j.JPG

Looking good.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/ScroTom/sta_55j.JPG

Interesting how they've used the original East Stand as both an anchor and a guide for the North endzone step pattern.

^ I think we're still confused as to what exactly this thing will look like. We just know it won't be as clean as renders have shown.

Here are some more pics for some more confusing fun

first signs of work on the exterior towers
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6076-01.jpg

supports where the new seats will connect with the west stands(this is further behind as this is the section of the stadium where the field is above the entrance to the stands
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6075-01.jpg

at the top of the pic you can see the first of supports for the rams and upper deck that will come after this coming season
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6063-01.jpg

The four gymnasiums that will be under these stands
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6079-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6062-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6104-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6089-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6071-01.jpg

North stand lower deck finally taking shape
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6066-01.jpg

This is a great shot and tells alot(I think). You can see the small wall. On the wall you can see a protrusions in the shape of the riser supports(looks like steps jutting an inch out of the wall) Follow each on back to an adjoining step on the old stands. You can clearly see that the riser outline is not only not perfectly matched with the old steps, but it actually about 5 inches lower than their adjoining step. This should stop the fear that the new stands wouldn't match at all. The risers will sit on top of these and should look like a nice clean continuation on the lower half of the lower deck, except with a little wall. We already know the top half of the lower deck will be in the new stands style with a walkway and raised stands

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6090-01.jpg

Taller 2 walls showing where the walkway and raised stands will be
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6067-01.jpg

I can't figure out how many rows will go onto this walkway. Looking at the equipment, its about 5-6 feet tall from the floor of this walkway to where the riser supports start
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_12_07/IMG_6069-01.jpg

Unreal progress this week. They may finish the lower deck before the season yet. Perhaps the ground work was extra difficult for this project? Now as you can see from the last set early in the week, there has been incredible progress. Now they can build up the supports for the club seating and walkway. Should be much faster than the lower portion of the lower deck.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6255-01.jpg

Risers!
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6252-01.jpg

This corner looks months from being finish just last week. Wow in one week it looks done
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6219-01.jpg

This corner shows the opposite corner from the one above. We can see where the stands will use the terrain(which is why it belongs in the stands in the ground thread). this was just a dirt hill last week. Now its compressed and being paved over and shaped for new risers
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6220-01.jpg

A look of both corners. You can see how the field is below ground from the top and above ground from the bottom
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6224-01.jpg

How did they do that so quickly?
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6198-01.jpg

Even the roofs of the gymasiums are going up quickly
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6185-01.jpg

Even the big supports for taller sections are going up. This is going to be massive when its all done.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_18_07/IMG_6217-01.jpg

Great progress indeed! I cannot imagine what kind of pandemonium Longhorn nation would be in if the lower bowl wouldn't be ready. That would mean a reduced capacity for the '07 season. You'll get it done in time! Just give the constructionworkers some seasontix, that should help 'm ;)

Semi-OT; I thought about making an update-thread for all college stadiums being upgraded. I made a list of who are upgrading/renovating/building a new stadium.

What I came up with so far:

Texas
Oklahoma State
Wake Forest
Western Ky
Maryland
Minnesota
UCF
Boise State

These are all in various stages of construction of course, but some of these projects probably don't have enough interest to give them their own thread.

loved

Great progress indeed! I cannot imagine what kind of pandemonium Longhorn nation would be in if the lower bowl wouldn't be ready. That would mean a reduced capacity for the '07 season. You'll get it done in time! Just give the constructionworkers some seasontix, that should help 'm ;)

Semi-OT; I thought about making an update-thread for all college stadiums being upgraded. I made a list of who are upgrading/renovating/building a new stadium.

What I came up with so far:

Texas
Oklahoma State
Wake Forest
Western Ky
Maryland
Minnesota
UCF
Boise State

These are all in various stages of construction of course, but some of these projects probably don't have enough interest to give them their own thread.

Texas will be playing in 3 of those stadiums this 07 season i do believe.

You guys have away games at UCF, Iowa State, Baylor, Okie State and A&M. So 2 of those stadiums, and then of course your own stadium. Nebraska also recently upgraded, Stanford built a completely new stadium. Iowa is finishing their pressbox and finished their new east stand. Oregon State has a completely new grandstand/press/luxury side that was completed before last year.

growing up in Texas all you see is DKR....its gonna be wired to see it without the horse shoe look...but its gonna be loud as H#$%

You're right, it will be weird. Its always been this tall, wide open stadium that was slightly weird to visitors, but in a couple of years, it might have some downright intimacy. Can't wait to see it all done.

It will still hold a horse shoe shape, just much larger.

risers going up on the lowest section. should be pretty quick from here on out. Big progress every week.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_24_07/IMG_6427.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_24_07/IMG_6436.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_24_07/IMG_6437.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_5_24_07/IMG_6447.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/63rbias.jpg

Awesome pic
http://i11.tinypic.com/6c6o7ll.jpg

Holy cow. It is gonna look flat out rediculous when it's finished. Still a way to go, but the progress is remarkable indeed.

Here's a few shots that were taken today. (not by me)

A lot has been done since the last post on this thread. The workers are really booking it now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/DKR/IMG_8844-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/DKR/IMG_8843-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/DKR/IMG_8847-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/lzppjb/DKR/IMG_8849-01.jpg

And the webcam

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

I still think they should have done this in phases about a year apart. They could finish the entire stand below the suites that way and build the suites and deck before the '09 season. Doing both at once, they probably will finish the stands, but most of it won't be habitable for this season, since they won't finish the concourse work. They already announce a reduced capacity for this season.

Great progress indeed! I cannot imagine what kind of pandemonium Longhorn nation would be in if the lower bowl wouldn't be ready. That would mean a reduced capacity for the '07 season. You'll get it done in time! Just give the constructionworkers some seasontix, that should help 'm ;)

Semi-OT; I thought about making an update-thread for all college stadiums being upgraded. I made a list of who are upgrading/renovating/building a new stadium.

What I came up with so far:

Texas
Oklahoma State
Wake Forest
Western Ky
Maryland
Minnesota
UCF
Boise State

These are all in various stages of construction of course, but some of these projects probably don't have enough interest to give them their own thread.

University of Illinois is undergoing a pretty sizeable renovation now as well.

Isn't Michigan adding a ton of suites to both sidelines as well?

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/2595/dkrexpansionwy9.jpg

Indiana is enclosing the north end zone of its stadium. The expansion will include improved athletic and academic facilities and more seats.

Isn't Michigan adding a ton of suites to both sidelines as well?

They are trying, but there has been a huge (and well deserved) backlash from students, alums and especially handicapped alums. The complaint from everybody is that this will really hurt their ability to expand, and they sell out 120,000 for every game with out much trouble, so only going to 108,000 is a concern of many. Its not that well known, but the stadium was drawn up to be expandable to well over 150,000 back in 1927.
The placement of wheelchair accessible seating has also drawn alot of complaints (and I believe a lawsuit) as all of the spaces are around the back edge of the bowl (close on 100 rows back) along the sidelines.
The renovations would add actual concourses along the sides with two oversized (for what they contain) press boxes running the length of both sidelines. They would have about 88 suites, 3,000-4,000 club seats and the biggest press area I have seen for a college stadium. These renovations are in the same price range as the new gophers stadiums entire budget, and they will only gain about a thousand more seats in overall capacity.
If I were the Michigan AD I would tuck a level of suites and press around the edge of the stadium, with a club section along one side and add cantilevered upper levels along both sidelines with about 10,000 seats each. That would give them a capacity (with the widened aisles they are planning) of about 122,000 with about 90 suites, 3,000 club seats and the same press facilities. It would cost a little more, but the added ticket revenue would probably make up the difference, and it would keep the noise in a little better.

That's what I thought when I saw the renderings of the projected (and huge!) pressbox/luxury additions. But can they not add overhanging endzone structures, a la Penn State, (the single overhanging tier, not the double tier)?

It seems better to put a complete ring of luxury, and be able to squeeze in a tier (or part of) on top of that.

yes, they could, however 100 rows back in the endzone is the last place you want to sit. Even with a cantilevered design they would be pretty crappy. Along the Sidelines you can get away with how deep the bowl is, but the endlines really shouldn't see many more seats unless they go to 150,000+ capacity. And in theory I believe they could add a upper level above the proposed structures, but because of their height it would be impossible to cantilever them out over the bowl, and would be alongways from the field.

From what I can gather in this rendering, it seems that they are going with some of what I call horse racing boxes(larger boxes stacked on each other) like Ford Field on one side. I imagine this will make for an adequate expansion if they ever add them to the endzones as opposed to just suites like the other side.
http://www.umich.edu/stadium/project-description/regents/EndZone.jpg
http://www.classiccolaforthesoul.com/files/images/Ford%20Field%2001.preview.JPG

This is relevent to this thread because there's a little uncertainty as to whether the stacked sort of boxes or suites are going in on the first level of the new endzone between the decks. Some renderings show suites, some show boxes.

update time again. Thanks to SMDhorn. They are starting to fly now.

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8896-01.jpg


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8899-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8897-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8898-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8900-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8903-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8902-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8907-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8908-01.jpg">


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8906-01.jpg


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8905-01.jpg


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8904-01.jpg


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8913-01.jpg


http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8909-01.jpg



http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8910-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8916-01.jpg
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8914-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8933-01.jpg"

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8923-01.jpg"
http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8925-01.jpg"

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8926-01.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_6_14_07/IMG_8932-01.jpg

The funniest thing about the Michigan renovation is that those press boxes only have two levels of suites/press despite looking like 3. Of course there is concourse under one side and club seating under the other, but still. I know the right side has a level of indoor club (I think 4 rows, but I could be wrong) seats over the outdoor ones. The HNTB personal aesthetics is the only reason I can see for the hieght of the boxes (I believe they are two or three rows deep, which certainly doesn't require that height). I still don't like the idea of just putting up stands in the ends, God forbid anything else comes close to be as disjointed and ugly as Beaver stadium.
Thanks for the update, DKR is really going to be something else come 2008

This might sound disappointing to Michigan fans, but you've likely seen the last of normal stands at the Big House. I'm betting you get the right side of that rendering wrapped around the rest of the way. I think that's the only way they could pass the ADA requirements without something very Penn State or A&Mish in the Endzone. Plus the distance from the field is likely getting out of hand. Even UT's expansion has to compromise with a walkway about 2/3 way up for extra accessibility, so I think Rose Bowl or Michigan Stadium-like bowls will never be expanded again. It probably came down to going up and having tens of thousands of cheap seats or going straight up with luxury boxes for big revenues. No reason it can't look good. It will just be an expansive Lambeau.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6228/206049946kunmpffs1oz.jpg

Well a little cheaper than Lambeau at present, but you never know it could hit $290 million. In the schematics and renderings they have done the upper levels exist only on the sides, although they could concievably bring the suites/upper concoure into a horseshoe at a latter date. I am afraid you might be right about general capacity, but the sport purest in me is hoping that this plan dies and they do something similar to what I mentioned earlier. Go for 120,000, which could be done with a 90% canteliver and entirely along the sidelines, so the distances wouldnt get much worse. (If I can get my scanner working I will post the basic schematic crossection and conceptual I had in mind).

One of the original expansion plans for Michigan Stadium called for an upper deck, that would've increased capacity to over 120,000. I'm guessing from the new press boxes those plans have been forever scratched.

This is the most disgusting thread on this entire site... unfortunately, until OU decides to expand again (which should be pretty soon), I don't have any way to counteract the bad mojo flowing from here ;)

:banana:

You know you like it, sooner.

Didn't realize ou had future plans. If so, please bring forth further detail.

Every school has a buildout plan. It changes over time though. UT has stuck to their late 90s plans so far that basically is to eliminate all surface parking on campus and expanding student housing significantly towards I-35.

If they keep the temporary seating in the south endzone when the expansion is complete, the official capacity could reach 99,000. And being that the stadium has had attendance that is over the capacity, we could be looking at 100,000+.

yeah, they usually count media and guests on the field, though its less than 500 usually. That's why you see a swell for big games. You see the suites filled to the max and celebs on the field.

How soon until Phase II (the South Endzone) is due for construction? Is it a 'wait-and-see' thing, based on take-up of the new capacity?

I think UT could easily fill the seats in 5 years. The new capacity will likely be sucked up in 2008 like there was never an expansion and they will likely need to keep the temp stands in the SEZ. If that happens I would say a 5-7 year fund raising effort will begin. The problem is, team facilities would likely have to be renovated to fit under the stand properly, so a new update is likely in order as well. Could be a $300 million project.

They have to have Godzillatron up long enough to get their moneys worth first before any expansion would be done. But it is pretty much a temporary structure. It wouldn't be inconvenient by any means for it to be taken down though.

And with the growing MSA of Austin and growing number of alumni, filling capacity will only get easier and easier. I just hope they lower some of the ticket prices. I don't care to spend $45 to watch Arkansas St. from a relatively bad seat.

I imagine they'll just take Godzillatron down and use it elsewhere in the stadium when something bigger comes along, or use it to replace whatever goes in the north endzone next year.

strangely they're putting in some bleachers and banisters already.
http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/photoviewer/?photo_id=current#id=120806_2&num=1

I'm guessing this is the first sign that they won't even try to make the seatbacks available this offseason.

AUSTIN!

im away from austin for a month now, and they've already done a lotta progress! pretty quick

:D

Hey, this is SMDHorn from hornfans.com, the guy who takes those beautiful DKR pictures that are currently not showing up, because I've run out of bandwidth...

I hope you enjoy(ed) them!

Hey, this is SMDHorn from hornfans.com, the guy who takes those beautiful DKR pictures that are currently not showing up, because I've run out of bandwidth...

I hope you enjoy(ed) them!

That is ashame. They were good photos. What I liked to do was waited a week or two and then see where the project was at. It is cool to see how much they can do in that amount of time(and rain).

Hey, this is SMDHorn from hornfans.com, the guy who takes those beautiful DKR pictures that are currently not showing up, because I've run out of bandwidth...

I hope you enjoy(ed) them!

Thanks for hosting them, those were class pics. You can always host them at free sites like Photobucket, Imageshack!

The question is, who will have the better average attendance, DKR or Jerry World?

does anyone have the time to post a new pic....wont b in austin til next month an dont want to wait to see the progress....help me out if you can...thanx

finally they move the webcam to where we can see.

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

not much change from last update photos....however its of to a good start...sure all the rain in texas aint helped much....could use some wet stuff here n AZ....cant wait to see it when football starts

There has been huge change since the last photos. They've formed a ton of new supports that will hold up the next level of stands. They've also poured the floor of the academic center and are building up the supports to for the ceiling to attach. On top of that ceiling(mostly in front) is where the next level of stands will sit. They've also reunited the east and west stands and are in the process of adding the last lower level tunnel entrance. Looks slow, but the foundation for finishing their goal a little early is well in place.

What is flat concrete space in front of the first row in the NEZ? Is for handicapped fans?

exactly. There will be a similar space infront of the next level of entrances instead of rows running uninterrupted all the way up to the suite level.

I'm thinking this coincides with newer and stricter firecodes, or not? Nice progress!

yes, that part of it as well. The flat area leads to two extra exit/entrances located on the sides of the big tunnel.


This is a great comparison from with the old endzone seating. This will give the stadium an entirely new feel.

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg
http://www.lhab.net/photos/lhb/UAvsUT_09-13-2003/P1010001.JPG

It's good to see the next set of rakers extending behind the lower tier. Maybe that'll end up terraced as quickly as the last part.

Looking at the 'Before' picture, I noticed that the ground behind the endzone slopes down on both sides to create the side wall effect that American Football requires - because there are so many players and coaches are stood watching from the side, obscuring the views of those sat below 8' above pitch level.

Was this done when the athletics track was removed?

that's the original field level before the track was removed. The field was lowered 7 feet, when the track was removed and permanent seats were built closer to the lowered field on each sideline. They didn't bother with doing this in the endzone seating because the plans were already in place when the field was lowered.

Just scroll down:

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5072793&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=4

Thanks for the link, Goothrey.

If you look closely on the web cam, you can see that the poles for the net that will catch p.a.t.s and field goals. I was always hoping that they wouldn't have a net, but they dont want to loose any balls. :banana:

cant wait till its on national tv....other teams will be in for a world of hurt when facing the south endzone evenmore so when fully complete

Looking good! More obvious signs of progess. Don't bet on anything other than it being fully occupied on September 1st when Arkansas State come to visit!

http://www.texassports.com/webcam/capture1.jpg

Incidentally, there's been a lot of mention of the high rainfall in Austin. Since about May 1st, it's been the same here in the UK (tonight most of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire are under water - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6910838.stm). Are we getting your weather, second-hand?

Keep up the good work, I have every faith the lower tier will be done in time!

Austin had roughly 46 to 50 straight days of rain. I wonder where this project would be if there was no rain delay.

I imagine they'd be finishing up the section they are on now. It wouldn't make a capacity difference as the next phase of seating and concourses are attached to the upper ramps and their own concourse.

Courtesy of SMDhorn. "Some special Quicktime VRs of the stadium from my updates today. They work best if you download them directly, because you can then resize them. The quality is quite high."

http://www.ashrubbery.com/dkr/dkr_7_26_07/DKR.mov

http://www.ashrubbery.com/dkr/dkr_7_26_07/DKR_from_south.mov

I just drew a line in paint shop pro to show roughly where the construction is at:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8521/dkrprogressol5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot at 2007-07-29

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/photoviewer/?photo_id=current#id=120806_2&num=6 (pic 16 is cool)

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9376/capture1ly5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

13 and 15 aren't bad, either!

Ahhhh, yes. The south endzone temporary bleachers. An additional 6400 in capacity.

UT has the best stadiums, the soccer & track stadium is the envy of a lot of football programs, and it's the little one!

Does this stadium host High School football finals?

I can only think of one high school final at DKR. They're usually wherever the coaches choose before hand. Sometimes they're played at nicer high school stadiums. Other times, they've been mostly at Texas Stadium, the Astrodome and the Alamodome. I believe that starting last year, 5a(highest division of high school ball in Texas) and 4a decided to hold all finals at the Alamodome for like 3 years to make it easier to televise these games.

I just finished reading "Friday Night Lights", and Permian plays Dallas Carter in the semi-final at Memorial Stadium (wasn't called Darryl K Royal back then, apparently). I was surprised since in the movie they play Carter in the final, and at the Astrodome. I guess it fitted better that way in the movie.

Nice progress, once again. Makes you wonder what kind of progress there'd have been had there not been so much rain.

They had to put Permian in the final against the big bad city boys from Dallas. And in the Astrodome, no doubt More dramatic for the movie I guess. The thing is, Carter is on the outskirts of south Dallas and really isn't a bad thug filled school. They just had a couple of trouble makers on that year's team.

Yeah that's what I figured. I liked reading it though even after seeing the movie and the series (which, of course, is even more loosely based on the book than the movie). Right now I'm reading "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer", a book about the RV-culture at Bama games.

The show is filmed in the Austin area and the teams you see Dillon playing(as well as Dillon itself) are local teams to Austin given new names. The Dillon Panthers are actually using the uniforms of the Pflugerville Panthers. Everytime they play a game its fun to figure out which actual school they are facing. I love the series, but I was hoping it would be a good platform to be very accurate with the book since they aren't limited to two hours to tell the story.

Even though I'm not a native Texan - or even American for that matter - I figured they'd stick to the book. On the other hand, the book only gets you so far, and I've also found it an enjoyable show to watch. When the Coach visits a college for a potential job offer (which he accepts in the last episode I think?) they're using the digitally enhanced stadium of Texas State, I've noticed. Actually looks pretty interesting.

UT has the best stadiums, the soccer & track stadium is the envy of a lot of football programs, and it's the little one!

Does this stadium host High School football finals?

used to...my alma matar Converse Judson wrecked shop on Plano back in '93....and in 92' killed Euless Trinity 52-0...in DKR stadium...now most championships games are in the Alamodome....and many playoff there or in Relient...or Texas Stadium

They had to put Permian in the final against the big bad city boys from Dallas. And in the Astrodome, no doubt More dramatic for the movie I guess. The thing is, Carter is on the outskirts of south Dallas and really isn't a bad thug filled school. They just had a couple of trouble makers on that year's team.

hey if you want to know the truth...check out texashightschoolfootball...and you see...again...my alma mater Converse Judson actually played Dallas Carter...that year for the Texas 5A D-I high school championship...and was played in Texas Stadium

Shame they don't play more HS games there, seems like it'd be a better experience for the players to play at a place held as highly as DKR than it would be to play at the Alamodome.

hey now....the Alamodome is nice too...besides it resides in my home town...lol...Alamobowl is one of the best bowl games of the year.

http://www.statesman.com/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/lkv%20stadium%20aerial.jpg

hey now....the Alamodome is nice too...besides it resides in my home town...lol...Alamobowl is one of the best bowl games of the year.

I don't have a problem with the Alamodome, I just think DKR would mean more with all the lore associated with Texas football.

hey i feel ya on that one....hell bada$$ photo...does justice for all those hard workers down there...o yeah...YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL...only 3 weeks till the start of college football...actually Aug 29th..but Sept 1 for all schools....YYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!:cheers:

In that photo, you can see 3 of the towers in construction. South endzone bleachers are complete. Arkie St......bring it on.

I don't have a problem with the Alamodome, I just think DKR would mean more with all the lore associated with Texas football.

It probably won't be fair with all of the badassery that DKR will be once this expansion is completed.

Seriously, Texas has lore but the state is very divided. This isn't Oklahoma. You have a parents who went everywhere and many hate Texas with a passion. Not to mention there are great facilities all over the state. I think a high school kid would want to play in Texas Stadium, Reliant, Alamodome and soon JerryWorld over DKR. After the expansion, that may change. But we will see.

Time lapse of the web cam video:

http://videos.utexasclan.com/view.php?id=1072

TeXXaS....bay baby...where football lives

A week from today!!

Sept 1 is tomarrow..we will be seeing DKR shortly

Are they seating people on the newest deck?

Anyone going today? Pictures, please!

New diagram:

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/03/17/86/image_5786173.jpg

I am not going to the game. But I will go to a bar and grill to watch the game. Food+game < $30 ppv (price wise)

Come on guys! No pictures?

This is all I could find on the Longhorns site

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/EADGBEPics/DKRGameday.jpg?t=1188721078

Also, is it a coincidence that the webcam has stopped showing, just as the season has started?

Definitely looks great. The outcome of the first game must've been a bit too close for comfort though, but then that's what first games are for.

http://tvtanline.blogspot.com/2007/09/arkansas-st-texas_02.html

How do you link to a adobe flash web page???? The statesman has really nice aerial views of the stadium, but the page doesnt seem to have an address to link.

http://www.statesman.com/

Search for Photo Gallery on this main page. Pictures 56+ are of the stadium.

Sweet, thanks. Looking now.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/opr00CO2.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/opr00COB.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/opr00COD.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/opr00COM.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/opr00CON.jpg

1 trillion times better. Can't wait until that upper deck is finished next season. Haven't seen it mentioned here, but the athletic director said last week that he is wanting the stadium to seat 100,000 for 2009 and they are looking at doing the permanent seating for the south endzone to achieve this. I imagine that would mean doing the south endzone at the level they are right now with the north endzone.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/UT4.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/UT3.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/BlackMamba_01/UT1-1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/MustangGT281ci/DKRGameday.jpg

I heard Deloss Dodds say he wanted to see 96,000 for 2008. I could see them doing the lower deck for the south endzone and wait to construct the upperdeck to the south endzone.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...rns/index.html

"Royal-Memorial thinking big

By John Maher | Monday, August 27, 2007, 03:44 PM

As early as next season, the University of Texas could expand Royal-Memorial Stadium to seat 96,000.

UT men�s athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Texas was considering adding more permanent seating in the south end zone and would make a decision on that at some point in the future.

This year, with construction continuing in the north end zone, capacity is 80,638. When the north end zone is completed next year capacity will be just over 90,000.

Dodds said eventually he�d like to see capacity around 100,000."

I was wondering what was going on with this stadium. This is interesting. :cool:

that stand looks bloody mental!!!!!!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/MustangGT281ci/DKRGameday.jpg

The girl in the red top isn't paying much attention... But who cares? :)

Sweet stuff! IF they are gonna enclose the other end, then they're gonna have to relocate that adzillatron as well :O

Isn't there some urban myth or something about that a big donor to the stadium back in the day didn't want the "South" of the stadium to be closed off? I think his name is Colonel Littlefield? And then there's the athletic training facility located directly behind the stadium. In the 2nd to last aerial picture you can see that it's quite a bit in the way of anything larger than what's currently occupying that space.

Having said that, I think it would rock if Texas'd enclose their stadium, joining the 100k+ stadium club.

Just look at the temp stands. If they built to the level that the NEZ is currently at, they would likely not have to move anything. After that though, yes.

These pictures show that the building would become part of the stadium. So I imagine that only a little is needed to take down. Of course, the jumbo screen, but that is a temporary structure. It could easily be dismantles and put to other uses and places.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7706/29mc5.jpg

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7481/dkrexpansion22bh.jpg

Oh yea I remember seeing those images. That would look incredible. Git r done.

man thats lookin real good...so r they goin to procede with constuction during the season?

Construction is still going on. They're working on the academic center roof just behind the top of the finished stands. The missing corner also has rebar for the supports, so you will see the support moulds go up soon. Then they can pour that and have the corner filled in by the Nebraska game in October. You should also see supports go up for the next level of seats in the next month or two as well. Seeing how nice just the lower level seats make things look when filled, its easy to see what an intimidating structure it will be once completed.

In comparison:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/MidTexHorn/Summer2007TCUGame133.jpg

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/image_lib/stadium_121806_530.jpg

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5196407&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

The old horseshoe is in yellow.

http://homepage.mac.com/brd2887/.Pictures/DKR3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/MustangGT281ci/DKRGameday.jpg

I always think that, while aerial shots give you the 'full picture' of what an expansion will look like, only pitch-level shots can express the feel of a place once the construction is finished.

With this in mind, the picture above is great. Imagine the stand on the right wrapping round the far end of the field. It will look fantastic!

I hope they get to the 'final' build-out of 115k as soon as possible!

if anyone will do it, it will be TexaS...as they say eveything is bigger in teXas...lol...and i could see the buildout actually going through...tickets are hard to come by...so this 115k possiblity would help out alot..imho

http://web.mac.com/g4scott/DKR-TMS_Construction/Welcome.html

ne new pics...plz post

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5220702&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=1

Ones that I would like to point out:

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/SimkinsBucket/IMG_1898.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/SimkinsBucket/IMG_1894.jpg


Notice how the corner is now being filled. I have heard that they are trying to get those seats ready for this saturday's game. And you can see one of the towers being created.

http://gallery.mac.com/g4scott#100072/IMG_4630&bgcolor=black

any updates on the stadium?

Updates from Hornfans.com :

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_10_14_07/IMG_0606.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_10_14_07/IMG_0646.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_10_14_07/IMG_0631.jpg

http://www.texastrumpets.com/dkr/dkr_10_14_07/IMG_0594.jpg

More: http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5253985&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

Thanks to SMDHorn.

Ah, you beat me to it. It is very cool to see the last third of the lower deck being built and the towers rising. The sheer size of this structure is becoming more visible. :banana:

Yeah it seems like they're getting ready for the next pour of risers soon.

*UPDATE* 10-17-07

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5258946&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

For comparison and progress purposes: Right now, the construction is at the academic floor level.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/dkrexpansionwy9.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/SimkinsBucket/IMG_1973.jpg

hey thanks for the url Goof...cant wait to see some more updates...hope the Horns get on national tv again...hard to see em out west.:ohno:

hey thanks for the url Goof...cant wait to see some more updates...hope the Horns get on national tv again...hard to see em out west.:ohno:

Well, arent you lucky?

Texas and Nebraska @ 2:30(central time) ABC

http://assets.espn.go.com/espntv/topics/coveragemaps/102707ABCCFB330pm.jpg

hey thanks for the good info...acutally didnt know that ABC would be showing a double hitter today...actually they had a nice shot of the stadium today!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tpn_nwUGpdk

Update: http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=stands&Number=5283803&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

http://brandondavis.us/me/dkr1.jpg
http://brandondavis.us/me/dkr2.jpg
http://brandondavis.us/me/dkr4.jpg

When was this? Yesterday (Saturday)?

It's really coming along very quickly. As I remember, there was no expectation that this latest phase would be completed in time for this season.

Firstly, is the college season generally similar in length and structure to the the NFL season? If so, given a good run by the 'Horns, is it likely that this additional capacity could be ready for say, the post-season?

I also wonder to what extent this is likely to advance the completion of the entire North End project. Was it due to all be completed for the beginning of next season anyway?

I'm really looking forward to seeing the photos of the finished stand. Hopefully, this will also hasten the progress of a South End development!

Division I-A's postseason isn't like the other leagues in the US. It doesn't have playoffs, but a bowl system.