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PHOTOS: Updating the SEC’s stadium renovations

Christopher Smith

By Christopher Smith

Published:

Despite all the construction that’s been completed in the SEC in the last several offseasons, four programs still are pushing dirt around and swarming with cranes in 2015.

Here are some pictures and quick updates on the different projects.

AUBURN TIGERS: JORDAN-HARE STADIUM

Now that the university has restored oaks to Toomer’s Corner, Auburn is in the process of erecting college football’s largest video board at Jordan-Hare Stadium, part of a $14 million renovation this summer.

According to AUfamily.com, the back of the screen — facing outside the stadium — will feature two smaller screens about the size of the one the school took down. The screens “can be used for advertising, showing movies and even showing pregame or video footage of other games.”

The Tigers are expected to be a great team in 2015. Some even will project Auburn as SEC champions. There should be plenty of highlights, so the program picked a good year to roll out the giant video screen.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS: COMMONWEATH STADIUM

Kentucky’s 41-year-old Commonwealth Stadium is undergoing a $110 million facelift that should be finished for the 2015 football season.

The Wildcats are reducing the capacity from 67,000 to 61,000 to make it a smaller, more fan-friendly atmosphere. UK is adding bench-back seating to a number of sections in the stadium as well as adding new player areas and suites.

SOUTH CAROLINA: WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM

South Carolina is beautifying the entrance of Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Gamecocks, in addition to building an indoor practice facility and two outdoor practice fields, are re-doing Springs-Brooks Plaza outside the stadium for $14.5 million.

The new plaza will feature new greenery, personalized bricks, the ticket office building, a team store and a statue area.

TEXAS A&M: KYLE FIELD

Texas A&M will have as close to a brand new stadium as possible when the team completes a $485 million renovation project that has lasted the better part of the ’14 and ’15 offseasons.

Among the outcomes of the final renovations:

  • The total capacity will settle at 102,000, down from 106,000 in 2014, but still the largest by capacity in the SEC.
  • The stadium’s cellular capabilities will be much better and theoretically set up to handle 100,000 phones simultaneously, according to construction official Greg McClure of Manhattan-Vaughn.
  • The team’s playing surface became a real dilemma in 2014 after heavy rains preceded a game against Rice. Hopefully the lessons learned will make for a seamless job when a crew installs grass in July.
  • Cameras will be stationed closer to the field after the renovations, resulting in better TV images.
Christopher Smith

An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.

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