Though no construction date has been set, Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer indicates that plans are still taking shape for a Neyland Stadium renovation project.
There has been discussions about the University of Tennessee making a major overhaul to Neyland Stadium, with the renovation focusing on improvements to fan and team amenities. A renovation proposal took a major step forward last November, when the UT Board of Trustees’ athletics committee approved a $340-million upgrade that would take place over two phases.
However, the university has undergone some major leadership changes in the months since that vote took place, including the appointment of Fulmer to replace John Currie as athletic director. Despite that shakeup, Fulmer indicates that the Neyland Stadium renovations are still being planned and that he is working to gather information before construction begins. More from The Knoxville News-Sentinel:
AD John Currie was ousted from his position on Dec. 1, with Fulmer replacing him. Chancellor Beverly Davenport was fired on May 2. And the board will feature restructuring, reduction in size and an overhaul of its makeup, effective July 1.
Those changes haven’t killed the Neyland project, though.
Fulmer wasn’t the AD when project plans were drawn up, so he wants to gather as much information as possible before construction commences. He plans to tour some other stadiums.
“We will take some tours around different places that would have some things that would help us from a financial standpoint, long range,” Fulmer said. “Can we make this more than a seven-time-a-year (venue) to gain some income from this? But also, the biggest thing from this is the fan experience. How do we best do that?”
Under the plan that was previously approved by the committee, the project would include a $180 million first phase that was intended to improve Neyland Stadium’s south end.
Image courtesy Tennessee football.
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