The Univ. of Oklahoma Board of Regents yesterday "approved an additional" $105M in funding for Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s renovation, according to a front-page piece by John Shinn of the NORMAN TRANSCRIPT. The plan is to "have it complete" for OU’s '16 game against Ohio State. The project, which "received regent approval in March, started in the spring." The final plans for the renovations to the stadium include "bowling in the south end zone and adding luxury suites and club seating in the south end zone." Funding for the project "comes from private donations, ticket sales and bond sales." The project "will not substantially raise the capacity of the stadium." OU AD Joe Castiglione said that the luxury suites and club seats in the south end zone "will be priced 'comparably' with those on the east and west side of the stadium." The south end zone renovations will also include "new coaches offices, team meeting rooms, locker rooms." The renovations will "triple the size of the weight room to over 26,000-square feet and include a 70-yard indoor turfed speed and agility training area." The facilities for the players are "expected to be complete" by the spring of '16 (NORMAN TRANSCRIPT, 6/25).
STAYING ON SCHEDULE: Texas A&M President Michael Young yesterday said that the $485M redevelopment of Kyle Field "is on time and on schedule." School Chancellor John Sharp last night during a topping-off ceremony said, "This is going to be a great megaphone for the Aggie Network, all over the world.” In Houston, Brent Zwerneman noted the west side of the stadium "is currently under construction, and all three decks are now in place" (CHRON.com, 6/24).
