OU Announces “The Palace Project”

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents last week voted to advance vital renovations to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium's west side, approving design development phase plans and authorizing preparation of construction documents. This crucial next phase of the Stadium Master Plan – "The Palace Project" – will benefit all Sooners who step inside the stadium and spur significant revenue generation, bolstering the future of OU Athletics.

The generational endeavor will transform the Sooner fan experience from arrival to the final whistle, and beyond. Unveiled renderings offer fans a glimpse of a stadium designed to elevate game day for everyone. From expanded concourses and upgraded amenities to new gathering spaces, every improvement is focused on comfort, accessibility and engagement. Additionally, the renovation will strengthen one of the nation's most formidable home-field advantages, creating an energized environment that helps OU Football compete at the highest level.

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The current state of college athletics is marked by the necessity for universities and athletics departments to innovate and aggressively pursue every opportunity for the sustainability of its programs. The Palace Project will drive new resources to OU Football at a time when those resources are needed more than ever, positioning the program to compete for and win championships. Now, in a new era, the university sets out to ensure the future success of its program while holding fast to the rich traditions and excellence that define OU Athletics.

Renovation Features

The Palace Project represents the most critical construction initiative in the history of OU Football. Having celebrated the 100th year of the stadium in 2024, the west side carries a proud and storied legacy but understandably requires a sizable investment to meet modern standards. The renovation will introduce new gates on the west side of the stadium to improve the fan entry experience, and will lead to ground-level and second-level concourses that connect to the north and south end zones. The west concourse and upper deck will also be reimagined with new elevators, improved access points, expanded restrooms, and new marketplace concession stands; all chairback and bench seating will be replaced, additional ADA seating options will be added, and a new fan area will provide patrons on the west upper deck with a unique common space.

A brand-new press box spanning the length of the west side and sitting atop the upper deck will feature a camera deck and a level for working press, game operations, emergency management, television and radio broadcast and coaching booths.

The project also features the construction of 47 suites, 64 loge boxes with seating to accommodate approximately 280 guests, and approximately 4,000 new club seats. Six premium club and lounge spaces will serve patrons in these areas, allowing fans a variety of ways to experience games.

Other elements that will significantly enhance the game-day experience and home-field advantage include a premier sideline-oriented sports lighting system and upgraded sound – both through infrastructurally increased crowd noise and a state-of-the-art speaker system.

Project Timeline and Cost

Construction is anticipated to begin following the 2027 season and be completed by the start of the 2029 season. This defining project will prompt a stadium-wide reseating process beginning ahead of the 2028 season. More information about the reseating process will be shared with fans via email and direct mail, with details on what season ticket holders can expect. Every season ticket holder, regardless of current seat location, will have access to multiple options through the reseating process. OU Athletics will contact all season ticket holders and offer an opportunity to meet in person to review all options for the 2028 season and beyond. The full outreach and scheduling process is expected to complete by the end of the 2027 calendar year.

The estimated cost of the west side renovation, inclusive of a sizable maintenance investment, is $450 million. Significant funding progress has already been made through the generous support of private donors, with efforts continuing in the months ahead. No state-appropriated funds or student tuition or fees will be used to finance the project.

Architectural firm, Populous, and Manhattan Construction are the university's partners on the project.

Stadium Master Plan and Capacity

Since the Stadium Master Plan's launch in 2014, OU has remained committed to modernizing the stadium to enhance comfort, safety and the game-day experience for all fans. Improvements such as improved seats, expanded concourses, widened aisles, additional premium spaces and increased accessibility and legroom have resulted in anticipated adjustments to overall capacity.

As OU prepares for the west side phase, determining the right future capacity has been a detailed and data-driven effort. Working with industry experts, the university analyzed seating demand, market behavior, demographic trends, conference benchmarks and live-entertainment standards. Findings have consistently shown that a slightly smaller, more modern and comfort-focused seating model best meets long-term demand while still elevating the fan experience for everyone.

As part of this transformation, and in consultation with leading stadium architects, seating will strategically decrease by approximately 7,000. The capacity shift allows for necessary and cutting-edge enhancements for today's modern era of college football that are being implemented in stadiums across the country. While no timeline is currently noted, a future north end zone phase will offer the university another opportunity to evaluate the stadium's capacity and make necessary adjustments.

Regardless of the capacity figure, OU's commitment remains clear: every season ticket holder will retain access to the stadium and benefit from an enhanced experience. The reimagined stadium will offer a range of seating options, strengthen long-term economic impact and ensure the tradition of Oklahoma Football endures for generations.

Shared Vision: What Our Leaders and Partners Are Saying

Anita Holloway, Chair, OU Board of Regents
"This renovation represents a meaningful, forward-looking investment in OU Football's future, carefully balancing the program's storied tradition with the opportunities of tomorrow. The Board of Regents is proud to support a project that will enhance the game-day experience for all fans, provide a state-of-the-art facility for our student-athletes, and strengthen the connection between the program and its supporters. From new seating to family-friendly amenities, every improvement has been thoughtfully designed to support athletics excellence and create an engaging experience for everyone who comes to the stadium. These enhancements ensure that OU Football continues to inspire pride, excitement, and achievement for generations of Sooners."

Joseph Harroz Jr., University President
"Athletics is the great connector of generations of Sooners. It's inexorably tied to who we are as a university, unifying us as the OU Family, past, present and future. The renovation of the west side of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium honors the rich history of OU Football while addressing structural needs in a facility that has stood for more than a century. By acting now, we are creating the greatest and most unique game-day experience in sports, enhancing the fan experience to elevate every moment in the stadium, maximizing our home-field advantage, and driving resources directly toward competing for national championships. In a time of transformation across college athletics, this project strengthens OU Football for our student-athletes, our fans and the enduring legacy of the program."

Joe Castiglione, Vice President and Director of Athletics
"We're incredibly grateful for the support of President Harroz, the Board of Regents and our generous donors as we take a monumental step forward for Oklahoma Athletics. The Palace Project is transformational in every sense for everyone – not just in how it will elevate our facility, but in how it will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. This project – the largest in OU Athletics history – reflects our ongoing commitment to providing championship-level resources for our program to compete at the highest level, while honoring the deep tradition and pride that define Oklahoma. We're experiencing tremendous momentum, and this investment ensures we continue building on that foundation for years to come."

Brent Venables, Head Football Coach
"It's difficult to adequately express how excited our football program is for the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium west side project, and I'm sure Sooner Nation is equally ecstatic. We are already blessed with one of the greatest venues in the sport, but this game-changing transformation will give new meaning to 'The Palace on the Prairie.' The renderings are stunning, and, once completed, this project will positively impact everyone who steps foot in the stadium. A huge thank-you to all who have supported or will support this project, financially or otherwise. Our football program is incredibly appreciative."

Denver Finlinson, Principal Architect – Populous
"Our design approach for Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is focused on creating a game-day experience that truly prioritizes the fan. By integrating enhanced technology, expanding social and premium amenities and embracing modern fan-experience trends, we're designing a stadium that feels more connected, more comfortable and more engaging for every guest. As experts in collegiate venue planning, we understand a modest reduction in seating capacity is not a loss, but a strategic investment in the long-term quality of the fan experience. Reducing density allows us to improve sightlines, increase personal space, enhance circulation, and create new areas where fans can gather, celebrate and stay connected throughout the game. These improvements ensure that every seat delivers higher value, greater comfort and a more memorable atmosphere – strengthening the stadium's legacy for generations to come."