Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation updates, plan for 2025 season

In a memo sent out to season ticket holders and media on Wednesday, Tennessee baseball has announced an updated timeline for the on-going renovation project for Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The three-year project was originally supposed to be completed in two off-seasons and done prior to the 2025 season. However, due to some ‘unexpected challenges’, the ongoing renovations will continue until 2026.  

“We are enthusiastic about offering a world-class experience for the best fans in the country once the renovations at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are complete,” stated Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in the memo. “We deeply appreciate our fans’ patience and understanding as we navigate through the construction process.”

Despite the challenges, fans can expect to see these new components ready and operational for next season.

– 4 seat tabletop units (4Topps) along the right field line
– Additional chairback seats under a new mezzanine level 
– Permanent net system
– Left field bar on main concourse (behind the current 4Topps section)
– Right field student section
– 1st Baseline restrooms and concessions
– Renovated restrooms on main concourse behind home plate
– Enhanced seating behind home plate (brand new cushioned MVP style seats; these seats will increase in price with access to the MVP room and those amenities in 2026)

“Our staff and I appreciate Vol Nation for all the support we’ve received, specifically from our fans who have created one of the best home-field advantages in college baseball”, Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello said in the update. “The ongoing updates to Lindsey Nelson Stadium will only enhance the incredible environment established on Rocky Top for our passionate supporters who deserve a first-class facility that stands among the best in the country. While we all wish these updates could be completed by the start of next season, we understand the in-depth process required to complete a project of this magnitude and the challenges that come with it.”

The ‘unexpected challenges’ faced in the renovations process stem from several issues encountered with the stadium site work and the relocation of surrounding utilities. Construction necessitates the relocation of several utility pipes and other phases of the renovation cannot start until this is completed.

Pat Head Summitt Street is to be remained closed for the 2025 season for vehicular traffic and due to continued construction around the main entry gate of Lindsey Nelson Stadium, updates will be made at a later date on the official entry gate for fans in 2025.

When the Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation project is completed prior to the 2026 Tennessee baseball season, fans can also look forward to these new amenities.

• Home plate entrance and plaza area
• Third level suites and club space
• Sound system
• Kitchen
• Team merchandise shop and ticket office
• Player entry corridor
• 3rd Baseline restrooms and concessions
• Fully completed mezzanine level
• Renovated concessions on main concourse behind home plate
• MVP room expansion
• Multiple elevators
• Permanent LED lighting

When Danny White did a sit down with Brent Hubbs this summer, he had this to say on some of the challenges that were encountered with the renovation project.

“I don’t know if it’s prioritizing. It’s more just about what can we get done before a season starts,” White said. “We had a pleasant surprise in the street on Pat Summit Drive where there was a bunch of utilities that were not supposed to be there. It’s an old campus that the plans didn’t show that. So, that was a pretty significant delay in time and a pretty significant expense on the project that we didn’t know about going in. But nothing has changed in terms of the rendering that we put out that was an accurate rendering. We’re delivering that whole project just a matter of how quickly we can get it done.

“Excited. It’s fun to see that some steel is going up and coming down. It’ll be great. We’re working through logistics. A stadium that old and a campus this old. We’re always learning about things as we get into projects. So, we’ll have more definitive timeframe for folks here coming up this fall. We don’t have an exact timeframe right now, but we’re working to get it done as quick as possible.” 

Fans already have noticed these several projects that were completed prior to the 2024 Tennessee baseball season.

• 900+ new, permanent seats along left field that replace the 546 temporary seats in this location. 
• 120+ new, permanent premium field level seats along the first base line & 130 new, permanent premium field level seats along the third base line.  These seats are as close to the action as a fan can be and are a larger, more comfortable seating option.
• Down the left field line 35+ New 4Topp tables will be added in a tiered seating section down the left field line to connect the third base line with the outfield porch area.
• Utility work along Pat Summitt Drive and along fraternity row continued throughout the 2024 season, to prepare for all future upper-level expansions for the 2025 season.

Volquest will continue to provide updates on the Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation project as it becomes available. Fans can also get plenty of Tennessee construction weekly notes in the weekly War room, every Friday.