Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation price tag expected to grow
The University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees is set to met on June 29-30 in Memphis. The annual meeting discusses all areas of the University on all the campuses in the system.
The meeting is of particular note to the athletic department and the baseball program on the Knoxville campus.
In February of 2022, the Board of Trustees approved a renovation budget of $56.8 million for Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Based on the recommendations of the hired architect and construction manager based on the scope of the project and escalating construction cost, the athletic administration is asking the board for an additional $39 million to the project making it a nearly $96 million project.
Lindsey Nelson Stadium was originally built in 1993 and has undergone some facelifts, but it has not kept up with the rest of the facilities in the SEC and Tennessee athletics director Danny White has made it clear his commitment to baseball.
“What Tony talks about is the hornets nest concept,” White said. “He loves the passion of our fans and how close they are to the field and the impact they have on the game. We don’t necessarily have a specific end game.
“We don’t have to be the biggest stadium in college baseball, but let’s be the best. Let’s be the most unique. Let’s have the best home-field advantage. With our fans, we can do that if we do this project right.”
In the Board’s agenda meeting notes, it says the stadium capacity with renovations would go to 6,150 with up to 1,600 standing room only seats taking the capacity to 7,750.
Final details of the project are still being completed as the architect firm and the the construction manager continue to finalize plans.
The project will be done in phases and it’s likely to begin late this summer. Final renderings of the project include a large addition of premium seating throughout the stadium.
