Visitors must use tent locker room at Vanderbilt

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vanderbilt-stadium-capacity-reduced-significantly-amid-construction — (© Seth Herald for The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Vanderbilt started the 2023 season with a home win over Hawai’i in the first SEC game of the season. That’s where the good news ended for the Commodores on Saturday night in Nashville.

Clark Lea‘s defense gave up 351 passing yards (10.0 yards per attempt) and 6.5 yards per play in the 35-28 home victory. The offense rushed for only 65 non-sack yards (2.8 yards per rush) and gave up nine tackles for loss. Fortunately, a kickoff return touchdown by Jayden McGowan and two De’Rickey Wright interceptions gave the Commodores just enough wiggle room to get out of Week Zero without a loss.

Lea said the Commodores “were fortunate to win”. The eye test backs that up. However, the status of the stadium may have been a bigger story on the West End. Vanderbilt has major facility upgrades ongoing. The biggest one is taking place in the stadium. You know it right when you see it. Both end zones look like construction sites, and cranes were used to hold up a temporary video board on Saturday. The visitor also had an intriguing setup.

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Hawai’i was forced to use a tent locker room at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday.

Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium is currently undergoing renovations.

For tonight’s game against Hawaii:

• scoreboard held up by cranes
• visitor locker room is a tent
• kickoff delayed by lightning

10/10, no notes. pic.twitter.com/izJN88lDJl
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) August 26, 2023

The temporary accommodations apparently have showers and bathrooms, so we’re not getting full-on Game of Thrones medieval in Nashville. However, it’s clear that this facility is barely usable right now and is a huge eyesore for the Vandy football program.

Vanderbilt’s overall renovations have decreased available seating capacity from 40,350 to 28,500. There is a lot of change going on with the Commodores. Kentucky is scheduled to travel to Nashville in Week 4, and the trip will be unlike any road game the Wildcats will see this year. Vanderbilt is a no-doubt construction zone with a very old-school locker room setup.