Stadium expansion

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station19 said:
I've long been curious about this subject as well. I have never seen a sketch or rendering of what an expansion would look like.

Most of the stadiums around the country were expanded as an after-thought. Since TCF was planned ahead I assume it would look much better than some of those 13 bedroom ramblers.
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This would most likely be a scenario where the U would bring Populous (or any other architecture firm) back in to design any type of expansion. The beauty of it is you can almost do anything you want given the infrastructure in place. If the AD thinks a third deck is in order, it can be so. If the AD determines that a new set of luxury boxes are needed to accommodate demand, it can be so. Or the AD could do a mixture of both general seats and luxury boxes.

I am guessing a plain third deck would be what the AD would go with. It would then be up to the architects to come up with a tasteful design.
 

Personally, I don't think they shoudl expand until they've got a season ticket base over 50k. It would be nice if there were a way to accomodate an occasional single game surge either with the temporary Vikings seats or, heaven forbid, a move to the Vikings stadium, but I doubt the economics would make sense for either.
 

When they do I hope they put a lip on the top to keep the sound in. This place could get really loud like Seattle.
 

GoGophers2005 said:
The ramp you see behind the glass is for accessibility for the handicap. That is it. It has nothing to do with the stadium expansion. You have to provide it in the case of a fire or emergency.

As I said earlier I am sure they included an expansion in the footings and structure to be accommodated, however, that doesn't take into account the most important aspect of the expansion....how do you get people up to their seats? The only way to do this currently is to use the same steps off of the concourse that everyone in the upper deck uses. I'm not sure how that would work. It personally would suck having 30,000 extra people using the same access that is currently in place. There would be a constant stream of people up and down these aisles. There would have to be another set of stairs that would be separate to get people up to the extra level. Not sure where these extra set of steps would go. The concourse is already pretty darn packed.
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They'd open said ramps. Also, there are multiple elevators that go to the top of the 2nd deck for the wheelchair bound. I'm also sure they have some other access points behind the concourses to put in stairs/ramps.
 

Formo said:
They'd open said ramps. Also, there are multiple elevators that go to the top of the 2nd deck for the wheelchair bound. I'm also sure they have some other access points behind the concourses to put in stairs/ramps.
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That is what I thought. All of that empty space has to include space for the handicapped as well as for restrooms, concessions, etc. It almost looks like the 3rd deck will have its own ramps and exits.

Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


GoGophers2005 said:
The ramp you see behind the glass is for accessibility for the handicap. That is it. It has nothing to do with the stadium expansion. You have to provide it in the case of a fire or emergency.

As I said earlier I am sure they included an expansion in the footings and structure to be accommodated, however, that doesn't take into account the most important aspect of the expansion....how do you get people up to their seats? The only way to do this currently is to use the same steps off of the concourse that everyone in the upper deck uses. I'm not sure how that would work. It personally would suck having 30,000 extra people using the same access that is currently in place. There would be a constant stream of people up and down these aisles. There would have to be another set of stairs that would be separate to get people up to the extra level. Not sure where these extra set of steps would go. The concourse is already pretty darn packed.
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You don't see any exterior ramps leading up to the boxes that are on the third level now, they are all within the structure (stair cases, elevators, and escalators), I'm sure (but not certain) that they planned for this already (true, the open area would hold more people than the boxes thus needing more access, but like I said, I'm sure they planned for this). Now some of the space that these ramps/elevators/stairs/escalators will use may currently be used for other spaces (or maybe not), but that does not mean those spaces didn't have said future ramps/elevators/stairs/escalators planned for. Several of the buildings my organization owns has pre-designed spaces for stairs or elevators with correct structural work in place already but with those spaces currently used for other things (lots of network closets but also offices, break rooms, etc) because at the time of construction (or over the years) those stairs/elevators where not needed but network closet/office/break rooms where needed. Now that we need more elevator capacity, those rooms are being relocated and the space is being readied for new elevators (at one site). Looking at a overhead picture of TCF, I just can't see them saying, "yeah, we will just bolt on some external ramps." Nope, they planned for it (or they better be sued).

0907_Mortenson4.jpg
 

discochris said:
Temporary seating apparently. Not sure if the Gophers will even sell those seats.
Why did TCU expand? They don't draw well now and are a really small school.
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First post here. Sorry to unarchive an old thread. Minnesota native, have grown up rooting for the UofM. I attended TCU and am a die hard Frog. I travel to 3-4 gsmes a year.

Just to shed some light on Amon G. Carter stadium aka Hells Half Acre. It wad recently demolished and rebuilt. It was a $164 million renovation that was all funded through private donors.

The stadium seats 45, 000 nearly 50k with SRO. We actually didn't expand the stadium, we mafe it 5k smaller in order to build suites and donor clubs. Its a very intimate stadium that feels much larger than 45k.

You will thoroughly enjoy the trip next year if you decide to make it. Hope I can add value to your site with any Frog content you may be wondering about. Btw...the unofficial TCU site is killerfrogs.com
 


I realize this thread has just been revived, but I must have missed it the first time. I was involved in the design of TCF Bank Stadium; some of you might recall the pictures that I posted during construction.

I have seen drawings showing the future layout. Generally, the concept was that they would add ~30,000 seats as a third, steeper deck that would end just inside of the existing exterior footprint of the stadium. The exterior wall would be extended higher to close the gap and should appear seamless.

There was also discussion about an option for a second skybox with third deck seats filling in the east endzone. The decision was left up to a future generation, but the plan is in place.
 



16FeetUnder said:
I realize this thread has just been revived, but I must have missed it the first time. I was involved in the design of TCF Bank Stadium; some of you might recall the pictures that I posted during construction.

I have seen drawings showing the future layout. Generally, the concept was that they would add ~30,000 seats as a third, steeper deck that would end just inside of the existing exterior footprint of the stadium. The exterior wall would be extended higher to close the gap and should appear seamless.

There was also discussion about an option for a second skybox with third deck seats filling in the east endzone. The decision was left up to a future generation, but the plan is in place.
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I would love to see them if possible. I don't recall seeing anything in the past.
 

Gopherprof said:
Haha....what? Is there a program in the country that has 100% capacity of season ticket holders?
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That would be impossible, as every major conference requires a certain number of seats set aside for the visiting team, and what school wouldn't want to have a student section? Plus, you need some seats set aside for recruits and high school coaches, plus some for visiting VIPs.

However, it is completely possible to have season ticket holders + waitlist equal to the capacity of the stadium.
 

Students = 10,000
Visitor = 3,000
Admin/Recruits/Holds = 1,000

So, only 36,800 would need to be sold as season tickets for that to be sold out and a waiting list to form. Any idea what it was last year?
 

Formo said:
They'd open said ramps. Also, there are multiple elevators that go to the top of the 2nd deck for the wheelchair bound. I'm also sure they have some other access points behind the concourses to put in stairs/ramps.
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It's one thing getting a couple dozen wheelchair bound people up to a third deck but what how do you move 30,000? Imagine another 20,000 people on the visitor side of the stadium......it would be gridlock.
In my opinion, any addition to the visitors side of the stadium is going to have to include a new 'upper' concourse with totally separate access points than the entrances currently serving the stadium. Some of the structure may already be in place for this (the roof along the top of the stadium), but the method in which to move a large number of people across the sections hasn't been 'built in' to the stadium. Imagine having row 15 seats in a 'new' upper deck along the visitors side of the stadium. How are you going to get there? From my review of the floor plans of the stadium, every space beneath the existing concourse has been claimed (Band Room, Visitor Locker Rooms, Mechanical Rooms, etc.)
 



I dug through some of my old records and found a couple of sketches, but not the nice detailed architectural section that I remember. I'll see what I can do about posting them, although they are just some lines and there was nothing official since they were certain that future demand would change any past/current thoughts on expansion.

They actually show a level of suites similar to the current skybox but with the third deck risers above them instead of the pressbox and indoor club. I remember there being discussion that there might not be enough demand for that many additional suites.
 

hungan1 said:
How about some heated areas in the concourse for fans who want to warm up on real cold days? Heated seats in the upper decks will be nice too. I know I'll probably get pummeled with these suggestions, but for us old dogs we sure can appreciate the warmth.
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I don't think it's very feasible to heat the concourses given how open they are.
 

Ski U Master said:
I don't think it's very feasible to heat the concourses given how open they are.
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That's true with conventional heaters that heat the air. However, some type of infrared heating system could work. Infrared heats objects, not the air.
 

Speaking of TCU if anyone here visits the horny frog land pack a picnic for the traffic after the game. If the stadium fills the lower bowl like it did today expect to be sitting around for a long while. But, the houses you drive/idle by on campus do provide a decent view.
 

GoGophers2005 said:
It's one thing getting a couple dozen wheelchair bound people up to a third deck but what how do you move 30,000? Imagine another 20,000 people on the visitor side of the stadium......it would be gridlock.
In my opinion, any addition to the visitors side of the stadium is going to have to include a new 'upper' concourse with totally separate access points than the entrances currently serving the stadium. Some of the structure may already be in place for this (the roof along the top of the stadium), but the method in which to move a large number of people across the sections hasn't been 'built in' to the stadium. Imagine having row 15 seats in a 'new' upper deck along the visitors side of the stadium. How are you going to get there? From my review of the floor plans of the stadium, every space beneath the existing concourse has been claimed (Band Room, Visitor Locker Rooms, Mechanical Rooms, etc.)
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I imagine we won't have to worry about any wheelchair bound people at the stadium in the future. I mean, why should we be rewarded with the sight of a middle-aged man wheeling around in a wheelchair? People like that should just stay in their homes where they belong.

:rolleyes:
 

Nice Souhan-ism. Heartless and mean spirited.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2
 

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