Univ. of Texas officials on Thursday announced "sweeping audio, visual and technological upgrades being made inside" Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium that will be ready for the '17 football season in a "bid to improve the overall fan experience," according to Brian Davis of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. UT AD Mike Perrin said that the school spent $6M. Davis notes Austin-based Big House Sound "oversaw the installation of 384 speakers throughout the stadium, including 48 18-inch sub-woofers." UT coach Tom Herman has been "involved in choosing specific playlists for pre-game warmups and even certain songs for specific in-game moments." Perrin said that the type of music will "vary based on how much time is left before kickoff and whether or not the team is on the field." Davis notes N.Y.-based signage firm ANC "won the contract to install a new video system that contains 14,000 square feet of LED technology," which "looks like a giant HD-quality television hanging over the south end zone." The new video board "measures 134.38 feet wide by 55.85 feet high, totaling 7,505 square feet." UT officials said that Herman's creative team will "control part of the messaging that's shown on the new video board." Davis notes ANC also installed 770 feet of ribbon board that "runs down the east and west facade, the stadium tunnels and end zones." UT officials worked with Houston-based wireless infrastructure provider Crown Castle to "improve cellphone zones" within the stadium (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/4). Meanwhile, 247SPORTS.com's Garrett Callahan noted UT's multimillion dollar locker room updates "have been revealed, photos have hit social media and video from the player's reaction is making the rounds as well." Herman on Thursday said, "The fan experience there is important for me. It's player experience too and with us recruit experience" (247SPORTS.com, 8/3).
