More upgrades have officially started inside Neyland

Honestly who cares how many seats we are losing. The days of capacity bragging rights are over. People's needs for entertainment have changed and the university is making the right call with evolving to meet those needs. The renovations are going to make a much more fun game experience. The additional Jumbotron and the standing room "sports bar" area below it are awesome. Makes me actually want to go to the games now.
I don't really get the hand wringing over capacity either. It's been about 20 years since anybody pounded their chest over how many seats they had. I just looked at the rankings and this renovation will take us from 5th largest to the 8th largest. It's just a sign of the times and not that big of a deal. I hate to knock Neyland, but let's face it . . . it's flat out medieval in a lot of places. If you go to many stadiums, you realize how badly we need to upgrade.
 
I’d like you I have a little piece of that concrete. Also, would be a good time to spread some ashes underneath, where they’d stay forever.
 
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Current seating capacity is around 98k now. They are refitting areas that currently house about 5,000 seats, removing sections in the upper deck for the party deck and reducing the number of seats in the area pictured. If I had to guess, I’d say seating capacity will be about 95k, and they’ll list total capacity at around 97k
If folks want to go to a "stand up" sports bar and socialize with each other, be seen, occasionally glance over at the game on one of the TV's.. (which is fun occasionally by the way) Yes...then they should definitely go to one. If folks want to go to a football game and concentrate and focus on the GAME, and make the environment as hostile as possible for the visiting team.... then they should go to a football stadium. No problem what so ever with either choice.
 
Is that this section form the original 1921 Shield Watkins Field?

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If folks want to go to a "stand up" sports bar and socialize with each other, be seen, occasionally glance over at the game on one of the TV's.. (which is fun occasionally by the way) Yes...then they should definitely go to one. If folks want to go to a football game and concentrate and focus on the GAME, and make the environment as hostile as possible for the visiting team.... then they should go to a football stadium. No problem what so ever with either choice.
The thing is . . . you don't have to play in a dungeon to get the hostile environment. If they do it right, they can have it both ways.
 
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I posted this in another thread, but....I understand progress, but there's something about this that really saddens me.
Don't be sad. Nothing is lost. Honestly.

Have you heard of the ship of Theseus? It goes like this: the first king of Athens, Theseus, had a ship built. Over the years, the ship was repaired bit by bit, old boards, sails and ropes being removed and replacements installed. By the end of Theseus' life, every part of the ship had been replaced at least once. Yet it was still thought of as the same ship, as Theseus' ship.

[part of the philosophical debate goes on to imagine a craftsman who kept all the old parts, and eventually reassembled them in his barn...the question then became, was this rotting hulk made of the ship's original parts ALSO the ship of Theseus? Was it even more the ship of Theseus than the ship everyone called the ship of Theseus?]

Another example of the same point is this: most every cell in the human body is replaced each 7 to 10 years. You literally have nothing physical in common with the you of two decades ago. Yet you remain you.

No worries for Neyland. Its spirit continues to thrive, even as old parts are replaced with new ones.

Go Vols!
 
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Does anybody know if season ticket holders in these redefined areas have been allowed to select new locations? Sorry if already covered.

Anybody here have seats in the first half dozen rows on the sidelines? Bought some seats low and behind the bench area over the years and did not like them at all.... like a better perspective....
 
I'd be interested in knowing if there is anything left of the original stadium built in 1920?
 
It's overdue progress towards modernizing Neyland. I understand being an old fart who gets sentimental over major changes. I'm one myself. It brought tears to my eyes when Morrill Hall was demolished 2 years ago ...

... but you can't live in the past. These changes are for the best.

There was a lot of history made in Morrill Hall, a co-ed dorm when nearly all others were not. Joint Effort, Inc. was also founded on Morrill 6 due to an exam week shortage.

You're correct, we cannot live in the past. Time to make new history. Here's to the next 100 years!
 
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I had biology classes in the East side. I remember as a youngster going to a game with my dad and we had lunch before the game in a diner type there as well.
 
There was a lot of history made in Morrill Hall, a co-ed dorm when nearly all others were not. Joint Effort, Inc. was also founded on Morrill 6 due to an exam week shortage.

You're correct, we cannot live in the past. Time to make new history. Here's to the next 100 years!
There sure was.... met my ex-wife there. LOL.
 
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I honestly don’t care about the capacity. I’d rather have the nicest stadium in the country. I want to hear fans, players, commentators rave about how great the experience is than see how many sardines we can squish into the can.
 
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I don't really get the hand wringing over capacity either. It's been about 20 years since anybody pounded their chest over how many seats they had. I just looked at the rankings and this renovation will take us from 5th largest to the 8th largest. It's just a sign of the times and not that big of a deal. I hate to knock Neyland, but let's face it . . . it's flat out medieval in a lot of places. If you go to many stadiums, you realize how badly we need to upgrade.
It's definitely the least comfortable stadium I've been to. Check the attendance for some games this year, which was by all accounts a strong debut season. Decreasing the butts in seats is the right call. We have a huge basketball arena too. It's rarely full, and we're a regular Top 25 team.
 
Haha ….. of the roughly 50 people that I know personally I would say the % that attended UT & graduated is maybe 10% & one of those people is my wife who is one of those odd birds that were responsible and did stuff like going to class . I obviously do not know you personally but I would say that those sharing your story would be even more rare .


Congrats on your success , it sounds as if the railroad business was very , very good to you 🤪

Industrial Engineer as in making millions in manufacturing, systems analysis, and program management. Keep shining those shoes my friend.
 
Industrial Engineer as in making millions in manufacturing, systems analysis, and program management. Keep shining those shoes my friend.
That was a joke bud , I didn’t figure you needed blue font . The old “engineering school, where you get taught how to drive a train “


Come on man
 
That was a joke bud , I didn’t figure you needed blue font . The old “engineering school, where you get taught how to drive a train “


Come on man
Bud? Joke? Try again. I’ll go first. “Jravol”....I didn’t appreciate your original comment and took it as a slam. Please read before you trash folks. Not funny. But, I’m good. Go Vols! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
They used to be dorms and classrooms in Neyland.
I’ve heard a few stories of it being a game to get the freshmen lost down there. Whether or not it’s true would have to be verified by one of our resident students/graduates
There used to be, indeed. Now those few remaining rooms are for storage. The funding was the issue. No Federal grants, or state funds could go toward building a Football Stadium, but could be had for classrooms and dorm spaces. Thusly, build classrooms and dorm spaces into the structure of the stadiums for easier financing. Florida State did the same, and continued the practice for quite a while.
 
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