Unlike last season when college football programs like Colorado State, Abilene Christian, and East Tennessee State all debuted new stadiums, 2018 won't see the grand opening of brand spanking new digs. Then again, there are new college football stadium renovations happening as we speak that are currently transforming and enhancing venues across the country. Let's check out five that are quite impressive.
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[divider]COFFARO: New 2017 Stadiums That Were Works of Art[divider]
UAB — Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
Full disclosure: I attended the current home of UAB, Legion Field, in the fall of 2010 during the Blazers' home opener versus Florida Atlantic. While the staff was quite pleasant, the bathrooms were flooded with an inch of water and the 35,000 fans weren't nearly enough to create a true home field advantage due to the massive 72,000 seating capacity.
That is going to change drastically for UAB who went from shuttering its program a few years ago to posting an astounding 8-5 record in 2017 and participating in the Bahamas Bowl.
This year, the Birmingham City Council approved a $90 million expansion of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, which some local writers are already calling The Dragon's Den. The digs will accommodate between 45,000-55,000 fans.
Early reports believe the venue could be ready for prime time in 2021.
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UAB Athletics[/credit]
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Tennessee — Neyland Stadium
The Volunteers are pumping $340 million into Neyland Stadium beginning in the summer of 2018 to enhance the south end and make various improvements for the fans.
Just some of the enhancements will include modernized bathrooms, better concession stands, and expanded/upgraded concourses.
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Tennessee Athletics[/credit]
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Arizona — Arizona Stadium
The Wildcats are scheduled to complete a $25 million renovation to the eastern side of Arizona Stadium in time for the squad's September 1 home opener versus BYU.
Perhaps the most notable change to the east end zone will be to the Zona Zoo concourse. One can only imagine how loud this part of the field will be when opponents are backed up on their own goal line.
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University of Arizona[/credit]
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Liberty — Williams Stadium
What a time to be a Flames' athlete, student, alum, and fan.
2018 marks Liberty's transition to the FBS, which includes adding additional seating to Williams Stadium. The Flames will need that extra capacity. Although it currently enters the FBS as an independent, the school already has impressive future home games slated against Power 5 squads that includes Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
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Liberty Athletics[/credit]
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Old Dominion — Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium
Say goodbye to the east and west sides of Foreman Field at the conclusion of this season as the Monarchs will work furiously on its renovations in time for its 2019 home opener versus Norfolk State.
When all is said and done, seating capacity will be increased from 20,118 to just over 30,000.
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