The Bryant-Denny Stadium renovation budget for the University of Alabama football home has been increased by $1.17 million, as improvements to a student plaza area are added, as well as other incremental upgrades.
The main change has to do with upgrades to a student plaza area at the southeast corner of the stadium. It’s basically a social space for students to gather before and after the game. And, in keeping with social spaces currently used throughout sports, it will include plenty of bells and whistles, including robust WiFi, canopies for shade, and plenty of graphics for selfie spots.
The budget for the project is now at $107.17 million, up from the previous budget of $106 million, and work is expected to be done for the 2020 NCAA college-football season. From AL.com:
The revised budget includes a $625,000 increase to construction costs, $166,670 more to the contingency sum, an additional $93,750 dedicated to telecommunication/data, and a combined $85,000 to utilities/infrastructure and landscaping, as well as minimal increases to project management and architect/engineer fees….
The $1.17 million increase is set to come from the Crimson Standard initiative, which will now contribute $36,170,000 in cash to account for just over a third of the total project cost. The project will also be funded from nearly $48.5 million in 2019 general revenue bonds and just over $22.5 million from an internal university loan that will be repaid by the Alabama athletic department.
Among the other major stadium renovations includes an enhanced team entrance and locker room in the north end extending out of the existing Walk of Champions walkway; an improved recruiting area; a relocated press box; additional premium seating including new skyboxes with fixed seating, soft seating and kitchenettes; four new corner videoboards with 60 percent larger screens; and two additional elevator towers on the southeast and southwest corners of the stadium.
Rendering courtesy Crimson Tide Foundation.
RELATED STORIES: Construction to Begin on Bryant-Denny Stadium Renovations; Bryant-Denny Stadium Renovation Budget Could Increase; Trustees to Consider Bryant-Denny Stadium Renovation Plan Friday; Bryant-Denny Stadium Renovation Details, Cost Change; Bryant-Denny Stadium Renovation Plan Unveiled