Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY ANDREW OWENS I n what the university calls the "largest building proj- ect in its 172-year history," iconic Notre Dame Sta- dium will undergo a $400 million renovation that will include the construction of more than 750,000 square feet in three new buildings. According to the university, the project will add "sig- nificant academic space" in the three new buildings at- tached to the west, east and south sides of the stadium to ensure the facility is used more than 10 days per year. "The integrated nature of this proj- ect will maintain the compact walk- ability of campus, facilitate deeper connection and collaboration across the various units of the university, and offer an exciting addition to what we believe is the best on-campus student learning experience in the country," Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame's president, said in a statement. Construction on the project will be- gin in two years and take approxi- mately 33 months to complete. Last May, Notre Dame announced the un- dertaking of a feasibility study into expanding the stadium. Here are some of the changes the renovation will in- clude: • An added 3,000 to 4,000 seats to the stadium's 80,795 capacity. • The existing press box on the west side will be removed and a new one will be constructed on the east side of the stadium. NBC will continue to broadcast from the west end of the sta- dium. The west side will also include premium stadium seats, club seating, coaching boxes and boxes for admin- istrative and athletic leaders. • No decision has been made on a playing surface for 2014. • Video will be introduced, but "the shape that will take has not yet been finalized." The press release states it will not include commercial signage or advertising. Sketches include a score- board on the south side of the stadium large enough to hold a video screen, although the university would not con- firm those plans. It is still expected that a video board will be constructed as part of these plans, with an announce- ment at a later date. • A student recreation center will be built in the west building, and the Rolfs Recreation Center will be trans- formed into a practice facility for the men's and women's basketball teams.