Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will hold fewer people than expected after renovations

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Sometimes capacity is reduced by a renovation by design…. but apparently this time it was a surprise and not planned. No explanation for what happened. No idea how you mess up this big.

The stadium, which held over 58,000 fans before renovations began, is expected to host just 42,000 to 44,000 when they are complete.

Renovations were expected to only decrease the capacity to about 50,000, but things have changed.

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will hold less people than expected after renovations

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is facing a significant loss in capacity after renovations.

www.actionnews5.com

 

[Word]

Sometimes capacity is reduced by a renovation by design…. but apparently this time it was a surprise and not planned. No explanation for what happened. No idea how you mess up this big.

The architecture firm is Populous, who does a ton of stadiums. Lots of expertise in the field. Must have had an intern leading on this project though.

 

[Drake University Gopher]

I didn’t read the article so my apologies if it’s in there. Legitimate question (don’t pay them?) - I wonder what the legal recourse is on something like this? I would expect there’d be some verbiage, but man you can’t help but wonder the long term cost ramifications of that kind of mistake.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I didn’t read the article so my apologies if it’s in there. Legitimate question (don’t pay them?) - I wonder what the legal recourse is on something like this? I would expect there’d be some verbiage, but man you can’t help but wonder the long term cost ramifications of that kind of mistake.

Certainly going to depend on the contract and the nature of whatever made them reduce capacity.

But yeah it's so weird. I can't imagine they conducted a construction project like this under some "lol maybe" clause ...

 

[fmlizard]

Being surprised that they lost 15,000 seats is crazy. Architectural malpractice.

Memphis football averaged 23,000-25,000 per home game this season while being 11-2 and ranked, so it's doubtful they will ever fill a 42,000 seat stadium let alone 58K. They should probably play in a 30K stadium.

It's still unbelievable to miscalculate or mislead the client by that much.

 

[Panthadad2]

42,000-44,000 is probably the right figure. TV and streaming is so good that attendance isn't what it used to be. Plus, peoples' backsides have gotten bigger rapidly (fewer seats in the same space).

On a side note, maybe Ozempic will make Williams Arena's tiny bench seats relevant again.

 

[swingman]

the video you linked and the stories online make it sound just like a change from the talked about initial plans, not some big mess up...am I missing something?...intonation from some TV anchor in a quick hitter piece is the only thing I see

 

[Ope3]

Being surprised that they lost 15,000 seats is crazy. Architectural malpractice.

Memphis football averaged 23,000-25,000 per home game this season while being 11-2 and ranked, so it's doubtful they will ever fill a 42,000 seat stadium let alone 58K. They should probably play in a 30K stadium.

It's still unbelievable to miscalculate or mislead the client by that much.

While it might not impact Memphis football much currently (who knows about the future when/if they move to a different conference) it does affect the Liberty Bowl game itself. That contest drew over 50,000 every year this century pre-pandemic and twice since. This past one was limited due to to the construction.

Liberty Bowl - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Maybe as overall consolation Bowls attendance is dropping, it will not be as much of a concern.

The drop in capacity could also certainly hinder their ability to draw other events such as concerts.

 

[WindyCityGopher]

While it might not impact Memphis football much currently (who knows about the future when/if they move to a different conference) it does affect the Liberty Bowl game itself. That contest drew over 50,000 every year this century pre-pandemic and twice since. This past one was limited due to to the construction.

Liberty Bowl - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Maybe as overall consolation Bowls attendance is dropping, it will not be as much of a concern.

The drop in capacity could also certainly hinder their ability to draw other events such as concerts.

I suspect attendance at next year's Liberty Bowl game will be somewhere between 42,000 to 44,000.

 

[Word]

the video you linked and the stories online make it sound just like a change from the talked about initial plans, not some big mess up...am I missing something?...intonation from some TV anchor in a quick hitter piece is the only thing I see

Yeah it could be they changed their minds during the process. But it could also be a miscalculation. Hard to tell from this information.

 

[GopherGold01]

There was a Phase 3 in initial plans, which included an additional deck. The school subsequently decided against the Phase 3 additional seating, believing the 42k was more appropriate. No architectural malpractice involved.

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will have reduced capacity, according to new plans

Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said the new capacity for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will be 42,000-44,000 — not the 50,000 that was originally planned.

dailymemphian.com

 

[tjgopher]

Being surprised that they lost 15,000 seats is crazy.

Lost 15k seats?

They were planning on having 50K after renovation. They changed plans and will end up with 42-44k.

That is a loss of 6-8k. Not 15k.

 

[WAGopher]

Lost 15k seats?

They were planning on having 50K after renovation. They changed plans and will end up with 42-44k.

That is a loss of 6-8k. Not 15k.

Before renovations began, the stadium held 58,000. While the Liberty Bowl Game often sold out, the Memphis Tigers football team averaged less than 40,000 per year, and often less than 30,000.

Even as renovations began, the claim was about 50,000 seats. I imagine some major donors, Liberty Bowl Game officials, and the community are going to feel mislead by the school.

 

[tjgopher]

Before renovations began, the stadium held 58,000. While the Liberty Bowl Game often sold out, the Memphis Tigers football team averaged less than 40,000 per year, and often less than 30,000.

Even as renovations began, the claim was about 50,000 seats. I imagine some major donors, Liberty Bowl Game officials, and the community are going to feel mislead by the school.

I get that, but the initial loss of seating was already planned. It ended up being an additional 6-8k after plans changed. They can't be surprised they lost 15k seats. They could be mildly surprised they lost 6-8k seats from the original renovation plan. They chose to skip phase three, eliminating the GA seating that was likely going to go unsold most games, according to the AD. It seems smart. If boosters or others are angered, I suppose they have that right, but it seems a bit misguided, if so, imho.

 

[1983]

Sometimes capacity is reduced by a renovation by design…. but apparently this time it was a surprise and not planned. No explanation for what happened. No idea how you mess up this big.

It is a blessing for them. They should be pleased.

 

[mngolf]

They are trying to get in a bigger conference so a bigger stadium is a positive from that perspective.

 

[GopherGrit]

Smaller scale renovation as to what was done with the LA Coliseum?