Neyland Stadium Renovations

[callmecrockett]

As far as seating structure and overall aesthetics of the stadium, I wouldn't change anything. I think there is something really cool about walking to my seats and feeling like I have walked back in time. It gives me the same feeling that I got going to wrigley and Fenway, something that can't be replicated.

That being said, I think the best thing they could do for the stadium's appearance would be to make a large green space across the street and allow tailgating there. Also, create a beautiful walkway for the volwalk. The immediate are to neyland leaves a lot to be desired.

As far as amenities, cell service needs to be better, bathrooms could be improved and, lowest priority, adding more food options.

Well, the good news is that the UT Master Plan will be putting a large parking deck where the parking lot out front is now. So long, greenspace.

 

[84vol]

I just wonder what the great General in the sky, who watches over us every gameday god rest his soul amen, I wonder how He would respond to such requests and complaints as these rolled out before us on this board . . . just askin

He would say "I've never seen such candy---, mamby pamby people in all my life" After all, He's the General, and face it, compared to that day and time every single one of us are spoiled. That said, I would like to see them renovate the rest of the stadium and finish what they started. I actually think that the renovations thus far are beautiful. But go around the back side of the stadium when you are walking up from Calhouns and it is another story...speakin of Calhoun's are they really coming to Neyland?

 

[3underpar]

Elavon does nothing above board. As a Life Long Vol,

I'll process it for Cost. Dave Hart, call me....

 

[Boca Vol]

Elavon does nothing above board. As a Life Long Vol,

I'll process it for Cost. Dave Hart, call me....

I was going to say something similar. I've been doing this for a long time.

However, I wouldn't do it for cost unless there were tix from their end.

 

[beachvol23]

I agree with all of the most common posts. I sit on the west side now and agree the other areas need to be addressed as soon as financially possible. Had Hammy not totally screwed everything up, maybe most of those things would already be complete.

I think a lot of improvement could be made in the concourses by opening up walls/ gates and reconfiguring the restrooms to make wider concourses.

I also agree that long lines entering needs to be addressed. Specifically, the ushers at EVERY GATE need to enforce the policy. And better yet, UT should set a perimeter to keep people from the street from jamming ALL the west side gates.

In terms of fan experience, real wifi would be nice and also scoreboard AND JumboTron management. Why in the world has UT always been so afraid to show full scores or highlights? It's like there afraid to embrace technology. I'm sure Espn would love to run the bottom line on every SEC video board. It's not like fans aren't keeping up with other games anyway!

 

[DeerPark12]

Reading this thread, I wonder how long it's been since some of you have even been to Neyland, because several of things mentioned have been going on for several years.

The concessions stands on the north and east sides have taken credit cards for at least two years. There is at least one credit card line in most other areas and ATMs throughout.

There has been a scoreboard that runs nothing but out-of-town scores since 2010.

They show replays as often as SEC policy allows. SEC rules have opened that up a little bit, as of last year.

Cell service is better than it was, but it's sort of reached the limits of what it can be. Carriers aren't willing to bring in extra mobile towers for gameday like they once did. The three major carriers all boosted their capacity, but it doens't make sense for the carriers to invest a lot in extra towers for seven days a year. UT can't just build cell phone towers.

They are looking into installing high-capacity WiFi (which will help the cell service by taking data pulls off the network), but that's a year away. WiFi for 40,000 isn't something you can get set up overnight.

Long lines to enter typically only exist right before kickoff, so if you get there early, you never have a problem. I usually go in an hour before kickoff and I can't remember the last time I waited in line more than two minutes.

 

[Coug]

Reading this thread, I wonder how long it's been since some of you have even been to Neyland, because several of things mentioned have been going on for several years.

The concessions stands on the north and east sides have taken credit cards for at least two years. There is at least one credit card line in most other areas and ATMs throughout.

There has been a scoreboard that runs nothing but out-of-town scores since 2010.

They show replays as often as SEC policy allows. SEC rules have opened that up a little bit, as of last year.

Cell service is better than it was, but it's sort of reached the limits of what it can be. Carriers aren't willing to bring in extra mobile towers for gameday like they once did. The three major carriers all boosted their capacity, but it doens't make sense for the carriers to invest a lot in extra towers for seven days a year. UT can't just build cell phone towers.

They are looking into installing high-capacity WiFi (which will help the cell service by taking data pulls off the network), but that's a year away. WiFi for 40,000 isn't something you can get set up overnight.

Long lines to enter typically only exist right before kickoff, so if you get there early, you never have a problem. I usually go in an hour before kickoff and I can't remember the last time I waited in line more than two minutes.

Yeah, I could have sworn I used a debit card at the hot dog stand on the west side right near section T.

You'll navigate through crowds on the west side down the sidewalk but the majority are in route and not waiting at the gates in lines. The last 4 games we went to there were never more than maybe 9 people in front of you getting their tickets scanned.

 

[beachvol23]

There has been a scoreboard that runs nothing but out-of-town scores since 2010.

They show replays as often as SEC policy allows. SEC rules have opened that up a little bit, as of last year.

I didn't say any scores are never shown. To be clear, the selection of scores has always been poor. I and most don't care about West Virginny v. Youngstown St. The scores should always be priortized according to 1) most recent score 2) SEC 3) Top 25 and not kept off the scoreboard "so it won't affect the team". That is a loser mentality.

Perhaps UT and other schools should just outsource all electronic content delivery to ESPN, CBS, or whoever so that it operates in real time and is more robust. More robust content delivery would also be cheaper and lessen the wifi/ cell issue.

These and other suggestions are things that tip fans toward going to games elsewhere or staying at home. Like a previous poster stated UTAD would be well served to conduct research on fan perspective and other stadium's execution. Minor and subtle changes are not very costly and can make a big difference.

 

[DeerPark12]

I didn't say any scores are never shown. To be clear, the selection of scores has always been poor. I and most don't care about West Virginny v. Youngstown St. The scores should always be priortized according to 1) most recent score 2) SEC 3) Top 25 and not kept off the scoreboard "so it won't affect the team". That is a loser mentality.

Perhaps UT and other schools should just outsource all electronic content delivery to ESPN, CBS, or whoever so that it operates in real time and is more robust. More robust content delivery would also be cheaper and lessen the wifi/ cell issue.

Again, this is already happening. The scoreboard is fed by an automated third party service that automatically updates the the time and score every time it rotates past. It's done in real time. SEC games, Top 25 teams and future UT opponents are the only scores shown. All UT does is turn the switch and the scores pop up there.

Since going to the automated system in 2009 (with the full-time scoreboard added in 2010, there has never been a time when a score has been specifically excluded for "affecting the team."

 

[rockingchairvol]

Ladies got a little improvement in some of their restrooms but not all. That is still an issue..they could use golf carts to help older fans get up the ramps...they do it at bama and other stadiums..food needs to be the same at all stations

 

[OWB]

Once thing I don't like about the stadium now is that people can't walk through the Tennessee Terrace. If you're walking on the upper level, you have to go back down the ramp and back up again on the other side. It's really, really stupid.

 

[Coug]

..food needs to be the same at all stations

This!

I'm in section T and the closest Domino's pizza is like in section N or something crazy.

 

[Roustabout]

Once thing I don't like about the stadium now is that people can't walk through the Tennessee Terrace. If you're walking on the upper level, you have to go back down the ramp and back up again on the other side. It's really, really stupid.

Keeping out the riff raff.

 

[Comar]

Poor mobile coverage exists at every stadium in the country. It happens because the carriers aren't going to build an infrastructure that isn't needed the other 99 percent of time. I have the same issues at Cardinals games here in St. Louis. I deal with it at any event with very large gatherings of people.

When you have 40K-50K phones attempting to connect to towers that typically carry a tenth of that, you are going to have problems.

Go sit in Neyland Stadium at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday night. You'll notice your phone works perfectly fine.

I fail to see how this is UT's problem.

Verizon Wireless customers should see improvement this fall in Neyland and LP field in Nashville.

 

[Gcrop]

Regarding cell signal:
SEC schools hear fans frustrated over cell service : govolsxtra.com

 

[Gcrop]

And AT&T has added multiple antennas/towers along the top of Davis-Wade stadium. TBD on how much that improves things.

 

[Gcrop]

I love getting your feedback Deerpark. :salute::good!:

My comments in red.

Reading this thread, I wonder how long it's been since some of you have even been to Neyland, because several of things mentioned have been going on for several years.Most every home game for about 10 years.

The concessions stands on the north and east sides have taken credit cards for at least two years. There is at least one credit card line in most other areas and ATMs throughout. I haven't seen any credit card lines but maybe I have just been overlooking them. Only ATMs I know about are by the store on the lower level and the line is ridiculous, though I come prepared with cash now.

There has been a scoreboard that runs nothing but out-of-town scores since 2010.LOVED this addition.

They show replays as often as SEC policy allows. SEC rules have opened that up a little bit, as of last year. It got better last year, I will say that.

Cell service is better than it was, but it's sort of reached the limits of what it can be. Carriers aren't willing to bring in extra mobile towers for gameday like they once did. The three major carriers all boosted their capacity, but it doens't make sense for the carriers to invest a lot in extra towers for seven days a year. UT can't just build cell phone towers. Not sure who paid for them (MSU or AT&T) at Davis-Wade at MSU but antennas/towers were added this offseason. Not sure if that will improve matters though. I think South Carolina has hooked up with a carrier to bring in some sort of mobile vehicle that boosts reception just for games. Again, not sure if any of that will work.

They are looking into installing high-capacity WiFi (which will help the cell service by taking data pulls off the network), but that's a year away. WiFi for 40,000 isn't something you can get set up overnight.This would be GREAT.

Long lines to enter typically only exist right before kickoff, so if you get there early, you never have a problem. I usually go in an hour before kickoff and I can't remember the last time I waited in line more than two minutes.I have gotten to the stadium an hour before kickoff and waited in line for 30-45 minutes. Very frustrating but I also enter the gate (15) closest to my seat and nobody forms a line so it is a free-for-all. A bunch of asses that will not get in the already formed line and just walk right up.