Neyland Stadium project costs rise, Lindsey Nelson Stadium to add 2,100 seats for Tennessee
University of Tennessee wants to increase its budget by a combined $105.8 million for renovations to Neyland Stadium and Lindsey Nelson Stadium to account for rising labor, material and construction costs.
UT Board of Trustees will vote on resolutions for both renovation plans on June 30 in Memphis.
On the heels of the Vols' trip to the College World Series, UT plans to expand the capacity of Lindsey Nelson Stadium by more than 2,100 seats.
The cost of that project has almost doubled over the past year. UT has increased its Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation budget by 69%, from $56.8 million in 2022 to $95.8 million.
That’s not surprising. At its inception, athletics director Danny White called the baseball stadium renovation figure a “very soft number.”
UT is asking the Board of Trustees to approve a $49 million hike for Phase 1 of the Neyland Stadium project, which is already underway.
That would bring the Phase 1 costs to $337 million. The initial project, approved in 2017, included two phases for $340 million total. No updates to phase 2 have been released.
The Neyland Stadium Phase 1 budget has almost doubled in the past two years. It jumped from $180 million to $288 million in 2022 and now to $337 million, pending UT Board approval.
The projects will be fully paid for without tuition or tax revenue. Escalating costs are based on “architect and construction manager’s recommendation,” according to the resolution.
Here are the details of UT's updated plans for Neyland Stadium and Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Timeline for Neyland Stadium renovations
In 2022, Neyland Stadium debuted a renovated lower west club, a new upper north social deck and videoboard, and returned the V-O-L-S letters atop the stadium.
Here's what else is planned for phase 1 over the next four years.
Fall 2023
Removal of South Stadium Hall with structural strengthening of the stadium's south end
Partially completed Wi-Fi capabilities
Brick cladding around passageways into bowl of stadium
New restrooms under the Gate 10 ramp
Fall 2024
Full stadium-wide Wi-Fi connectivity
Stadium kitchen, commissary and loading dock
New southeast elevators vertically connecting all concourses
New Gate 4 entry plaza
More brick cladding around passageways into bowl of stadium
Renovations, upgrades complete for all stadium skyboxes
Initial construction for the westside Founders Suites
New restrooms and concessions on north concourse two
Fall 2025
Expanded south concourse 1, including more restrooms, enhanced concessions, wider concourse
Completed Founders Suites
Tee Martin Drive to shift south of the Gate 10 ramp
Fall 2026
Completion of entry plazas
How Lindsey Nelson Stadium will expand
Under the new plan, the capacity of Lindsey Nelson Stadium will expand from 4,045 to 6,150 with theability to provide standing room access for an additional 1,600 spectators.
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Although expansion plans have in place for quite a while, the size of UT's stadium was a hot topic this postseason. The NCAA gave Southern Miss the right to host the super regional rather than UT. The Vols still won on the road to advance to Omaha.
UT's proposal calls for improved player development areas, more seating for fans, wider concourses, more concession stands and restrooms and new luxurious premium sections.
There will be upgrades to the current MVP Club. Stadium premium spaces will be expanded to include a new open-air seated club space and suites. Media areas, kitchen, umpires locker room, main entryways, concourses, covered seating and permanent seating along the third base line also will be expanded and improved.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Neyland Stadium costs rise, Lindsey Nelson Stadium adding 2,100 seats
