I found the following about the current west upper expansion that mentioned future expansions. " Actually, demolition was not the original plan. Architect Trey Trahan's initial 2001 charge from the Tiger Athletic Foundation was to create a new press box and to increase club seats from 800 to 3,200. "The goal was new revenue," says TAF spokesman Herb Vincent. The club seats go for from $1,950 to $2,750 a year, or a total of about $7 million annually from the new west deck. But after considering options, Trahan determined that there was not enough space to fit all of what TAF wanted under the existing west deck. "We had to take it down," he says. That decision allowed TAF to make other improvements. For one, the rake of the seating could be reduced. The old west deck has a 37-degree incline, steeper than the modern industry standard. The new deck's rake will be 32 degrees, just like its eastern counterpart, which Trahan also designed and was finished in 2000. Then, Trahan says, this question arose: "Why not rebuild it in the same position relative to the old bowl as the east deck, so that if you wanted to build a north or south upper deck, it would align?" The current renovations will not substantially change the stadium's 91,600 capacity, but Trahan estimates that a horseshoe-shaped upper deck would bring Tiger Stadium's capacity to about 115,000, making it the largest stadium in the nation. "We have no timetable for that yet," Vincent says. But he adds that Tiger Stadium typically does a big expansion every 20 years or so." 115,000.. damn. I think it would look pretty cool especially if they are able to not cover up too much of the original bowl with supporting structure. Any thoughts on the reality of this ever happening or if you'd even like it to happen? The full article is http://www.businessreport.com/newsDetail.cfm?aid=4870 Also, anyone who has sat in both the old west upper and the new one, what did you think about the change in view and seating angle?
Nah... won't happen for a long time, if ever. 115,000 seats is just unnecessary. We would rarely fill it. The seats wouldn't be very expensive, meaning they wouldn't bring in much revenue - and they would devalue the other seats.
yeah, when you have trouble getting 80 to show up for the North Texas's and ULMs..... I wonder if actually filling it to capacity for the Floridas, Tennessees and Bamas would be worth it.....
It wouldn't just be the new revenue they would collect from additional seats, it would be new revenue from new club seats or suites, which would be substantial. And if the costs associated with the entire athletic deparmtent keep rising, it may become necessary for them to build it.
I have sat in the Upper West before and my current seats are in the Upper East. The new 32 degree angle is much better. It was kinda scary in the old Upper West. LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU!
Yes, and all of the Wolverine fans that sit in it will have to sell their binoculars on E-bay and buy telescopes. The seats are already too far in that stadium, horrible place ot watch a game and even worse trying to get out.
