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Camp Randall Stadium renovations being considered

Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin athletic department has polled Badger football season-ticket holders on potential Camp Randall Stadium renovations that could add more premium seating to the mix.

The poll doesn’t mention much in the way of specifics, and athletic-department reps say there are no firm plans for any renovations, let alone any identified funding sources. But the survey is very clear on one thing: if there are renovations, they will center on premium seating, perhaps at the expense of total seating capacity.

The University of Wisconsin athletic department is in situation familiar to many athletic directors these days when it comes to football: overall demand to football may be down, but demand for premium spaces is skyrocketing. Current additions to OU Memorial Stadium and Razorback Stadium are centering on the addition of premium club seats and other upscale areas. With a capacity of 80,321, Camp Randall Stadium is hard to fill, and such a large capacity certainly lessens demand. The smallest actual crowd for a University of Wisconsin football game in the last decade came when only 48,289 fans showed up for a Oct. 31 game against Rutgers. Given that only rarely does UW sell out the stadium — much less fill the stands — it’s no surprise that the athletic department is looking to premium seats, where there is unmet demand, per the Capital Times:

The survey advertises potential benefits of various new seating possibilities:

  • New indoor and outdoor club seats with priority parking, a private stadium entrance and access to a club lounge.
  • Loge boxes, indoor or outdoor, with seating for four to eight people in comfortable chairs and a counter, refrigerator and HDTVs. Those seats could be located along the sidelines or end zones or in a renovated press box.
  • New suites, potentially located at field level.
  • A field-level club near the end zone….

But Camp Randall’s existing premium seating areas are sold out with a waiting list, according to information provided in the survey, an indication of why construction to create new opportunities could be profitable.

Also part of the polling: the addition of premium spaces to Kohl Center.

As noted, there are no firm plans for renovations.

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August Publications