The Duke BOT yesterday "approved design and granted construction authorization for the three projects" at Wallace Wade Stadium, according to Laura Keeley of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER. The projects include "building a new tower that will house premium seating and luxury suites, a new video board in the south end zone and concourse enhancements on the North and West gate entrances." Lowering the field level and removing the track were "previously approved by the Board in the Spring." Duke AD Kevin White said, "It will be a boutique college football facility. ... It's going to fit Duke really well. I don't think we need to emulate anybody else." Keeley notes construction on the tower will "likely start in January, and the goal will be for it to be ready" for the start of the '16 season. It will be "five stories, with six different concession booths and restrooms on the main concourse level (the number of restrooms in the stadium will increase from 184 to 495)." The second floor will "have a dining room that seats 300, exterior club space and six luxury suites." There will be "15 more suites on the third level, as well as the president’s box, and the top two levels will be for coaches and media." The stadium's current capacity is 33,941, and Duke last season averaged "30,405 fans for home games." The tower will add "about 2,000 seats, and capacity will be closer to 40,000 when the two-year construction phase is done" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 9/25).
