The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents recently voted to advance vital renovations to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s (US) West side approving design development phase plans and authorizing preparation of construction documents.
‘soonersports.com’ stated that this crucial next phase of the Stadium Master Plan – ‘The Palace Project’ – will benefit all ‘Sooners’ who step inside the stadium and spur significant revenue generation bolstering the future of OU Athletics.
The 80,126-capacity Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, also known as the Owen Field or The Palace on the Prairie, is the football stadium on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, US. It serves as the home of the Oklahoma Sooners football team.
‘soonersports.com’ further stated that the generational endeavor will transform the Sooner fan experience from arrival to the final whistle and beyond. Unveiled renderings offer fans a glimpse of a stadium designed to elevate gameday for everyone. From expanded concourses and upgraded amenities to new gathering spaces every improvement is focused on comfort, accessibility and engagement.
The Palace Project will drive new resources to OU Football at a time when those resources are needed more than ever positioning the program to compete for and win championships. Now, in a new era, the university sets out to ensure the future success of its program while holding fast to the rich traditions and excellence that define OU Athletics.
Renovation Features
- The Palace Project represents the most critical construction initiative in the history of OU Football. Having celebrated the 100th year of the stadium in 2024 the West side carries a proud and storied legacy but understandably requires a sizable investment to meet the modern standards. The renovation will introduce new gates on the West side of the stadium to improve the fan entry experience and will lead to ground-level and second-level concourses that connect to the North and South end zones. The West concourse and upper deck will also be reimagined with new elevators, improved access points, expanded restrooms, and new marketplace concession stands, all chairback and bench seating will be replaced, additional Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seating options will be added and a new fan area will provide patrons on the West upper deck with a unique common space;
- A brand-new Press Box spanning the length of the West side and sitting atop the upper deck will feature a camera deck and a level for working press, game operations, emergency management, television and radio broadcast, and coaching booths;
- The project also features the construction of 47 suites, 64 loge boxes with seating to accommodate approximately 280 guests and approximately 4,000 new club seats. Six premium club and lounge spaces will serve patrons in these areas allowing the fans a variety of ways to experience the games; and
- The other elements that will significantly enhance the gameday experience and home-field advantage include a premier sideline-oriented sports lighting system and upgraded sound – both through infrastructurally increased crowd noise and a state-of-the-art speaker system.
Project Timeline and Cost
Construction is anticipated to begin following the 2027 season and be completed by the start of the 2029 season. This defining project will prompt a stadiumwide reseating process beginning ahead of the 2028 season. Every season the ticket holder, regardless of the current seat location, will have access to multiple options through the reseating process.
The estimated cost of the West side renovation, inclusive of a sizable maintenance investment, is $450 million. Significant funding progress has already been made through the generous support of the private donors with efforts continuing in the months ahead. No State-appropriated funds or student tuition or fees will be used to finance the project.
Stadium Master Plan and Capacity
Since the Stadium Master Plan’s launch in 2014, OU has remained committed to modernizing the stadium to enhance comfort, safety and the gameday experience for all the fans. Improvements such as improved seats, expanded concourses, widened aisles, additional premium spaces, and increased accessibility and legroom have resulted in anticipated adjustments to the overall capacity.
Regardless of the capacity figure, OU’s commitment remains clear: Every season ticket holder will retain access to the stadium and benefit from an enhanced experience. The reimagined stadium will offer a range of seating options, strengthen the long- term economic impact and ensure the tradition of Oklahoma Football endures for generations.
Averred Anita Holloway, Chair, OU Board of Regents, “This renovation represents a meaningful, forward-looking investment in OU Football’s future carefully balancing the program’s storied tradition with the opportunities of tomorrow. The Board of Regents is proud to support a project that will enhance the gameday experience for all the fans, provide a state-of-the-art facility for our student-athletes and strengthen the connection between the program and its supporters. From new seating to family-friendly amenities every improvement has been thoughtfully designed to support athletics excellence and create an engaging experience for everyone who comes to the stadium. These enhancements ensure that OU Football continues to inspire pride, excitement and achievement for generations of Sooners.”
Added Joseph Harroz Jr., University President, “Athletics is the great connector of generations of Sooners. It’s inexorably tied to who we are as a university, unifying us as the OU Family, past, present and future. The renovation of the West side of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium honors the rich history of OU Football while addressing structural needs in a facility that has stood for more than a century. By acting now, we are creating the greatest and most unique gameday experience in sports, enhancing the fan experience to elevate every moment in the stadium, maximizing our home-field advantage and driving resources directly toward competing for national championships. In a time of transformation across college athletics, this project strengthens OU Football for our student-athletes, our fans and the enduring legacy of the program.”
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