Before & after photos inside the stadium. Enlighten me please.

[mojo1fan]

It is difficult to find up-to-date information on the stadium renovations. SoonerSports.com has a lot of info about the plans, but no real-time info that I can find. Google is not my friend. Anyway, the construction work is underway on bowling-in the south end zone. I was surprised to see the Switzer Center GONE from my view. Did they just knock down the east portion? I didn't walk to south end of the stadium. Take a look.

Switzer Center in SE Corner of the stadium in 2002.

Switzer Center in 2004.

Same view on September 5, 2015.

From Google Maps before tearing it down. (Yellow arrow).

 

[Andrew Owens]

Switzer Center is gone. Everything under the south structure, such as the locker room, training facility, and coaches offices, is gone too. That ramp above the player tunnel is gone.

 

[Andrew Owens]

Practice fields are gone as well. Basically if it wasn't part of the south stadium structure, it's gone.

I have to tour the construction before each home game and get weekly updates.

 

[mojo1fan]

Thank you Medic007. The Switzer Center wasn't that old. But the end result will be beautiful. Now another question... Where did the team walk from just before entering the field in a cloud of smoke and fireworks? (Fireworks inside the stadium gets my "BAD IDEA" red rubber stamp).

 

[Raysor]

I think I read that they are using Bud House for the dressing rooms.

 

[mojo1fan]

I think I read that they are using Bud House for the dressing rooms.

Thanks Plaino. Are the visitors using the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority bathrooms?

 

[mojo1fan]

Medic, are you storing all that hardware in your garage? Is the National Championship crystal ball over your fireplace?

 

[Raysor]

The visitors have been using the dressing room the was OUr varsity dressing roomwhen I was a student. Under Section 1, exiting out the south end of the west stands.

 

[mojo1fan]

The visitors have been using the dressing room the was OUr varsity dressing roomwhen I was a student. Under Section 1, exiting out the south end of the west stands.

Oh yes, I remember where that is. Behind the chain link fence (separating from the fans entering). Thanks.

 

[phillinois]

Medic, are you storing all that hardware in your garage? Is the National Championship crystal ball over your fireplace?

I can see that...the opportunist that he is.
Has the duplicate Billy Sims Heisman trophy too.

I think that would make a swell avatar BTW...Medic!

 

[Raysor]

The visitors have been there since the Switzer Center was constructed.

 

[Dawgs11]

Are they going to knock down the south end zone stands? Or incorporate them into the new design once the season is over?

Inquiring minds ....

 

[phillinois]

Are they going to knock down the south end zone stands? Or incorporate them into the new design once the season is over?

Inquiring minds ....

Yep, good question for 22 or someone else in the loop, and that is:

Is the renovation more or less on 'hiatus' until the home season is over? Or are they continuing in dribs and drabs during the 2015 season?

 

[mojo1fan]

I'm quite certain that the south end will not be knocked down and instead, added onto. I could be wrong. Medic?

Construction will continue through this season. They want to get it done by the Ohio State game.

 

[phillinois]

I'm quite certain that the south end will not be knocked down and instead, added onto. I could be wrong. Medic?

Construction will continue through this season. They want to get it done by the Ohio State game.

Oh yeah, forgot we play the bucknuts next year.

I'm going out on the proverbial limb and say that game is going to be HUGE, nationally speaking.

Talking 'gameday', tons of hype...and unless I miss my guess, a 60 share of a national audience. (IE, advertising rates...off the charts)

 

[Andrew Owens]

The team's facilities are in temporary buildings just north of Bud Wilkinson. Directly east of the old Switzer Center across Jenkins. The players, coaches, and staff have a blacktopped fenced walkway from the temporary locker room to the beginning of the tunnel. This was likely the last game for the tunnel. They will still have their own entrance, but the SE ramp and the tunnel are planned to be demoed in the next week. The temporary building village is quite impressive. They even have a hydrotherapy building.

The south endzone is the only thing being kept although it will end up looking different. There will be club seating added at the top and the integration of the two sections being added with dramatically change how it looks. The structures being added to the south end zone structure will be much like how the east side expansion changed its appearance.

I cannot disclose the current location of the trophies. As of yet I don't think anybody knows they are missing and I'd appreciate the ability to enjoy my new OU football memorabilia before the stress of them looking for it comes to fruition.

 

[NoleGa_rivals170091]

I hope they build a bigger and better SS. That freakin' 2-story FULL trophy case wowed me & the boys back in the spring of '01 when we got in there, unofficially of course. We were the only ones in the building except for a lot of players and Coach working out in the weight room. I got a picture of a sweaty, much younger and about 30lbs lighter Stoops with my 3 sons.

 

[Andrew Owens]

Yep, good question for 22 or someone else in the loop, and that is:

Is the renovation more or less on 'hiatus' until the home season is over? Or are they continuing in dribs and drabs during the 2015 season?

fitty, the construction will continue through the 2015 season into next year for completion. They are currently well on schedule. The only days they aren't working are game days.

 

[phillinois]

fitty, the construction will continue through the 2015 season into next year for completion. They are currently well on schedule. The only days they aren't working are game days.

Thank you good sir.

 

[gtanduga]

Cannot wait to see the renovations to the stadium. Although I've read it will only add about 9,000 more seats, the artist's renditions look really cool. The weight room, coaches offices, locker rooms and other facilities will be enlarged as well, making it one of the premier stadiums in the country. A lot of fans have been talking about "bowling in" the stadium for a long time, so I think most, if not all, will be pleased with the new look of our stadium once construction is finished.

 

[Andrew Owens]

Schooner and G Man, it will be impressive. The facility will about double what was in the Switzer Center in all aspects. The south endzone will become a grand entrance. I won't disclose exactly what I've seen mocked, but the trophy display area will wow any current or future Sooner.

 

[csregor]

Have you seen the cost per seat of the new facilities? I think they want to repay in one season. I got the cost breakdown last week from the promoters.

 

[Andrew Owens]

Cannot wait to see the renovations to the stadium. Although I've read it will only add about 9,000 more seats, the artist's renditions look really cool.

Schoonerman, I'm not sure 9,000 will be added. The number thrown out will include suites, but the plan is to also widen existing seating by two inches which will cause a net loss in seating prior to the addition. The number I've heard consistently is around 5,000 additional seats including suites.

 

[mojo1fan]

I won't disclose exactly what I've seen mocked, but the trophy display area will wow any current or future Sooner.

Scantly clad beautiful latinas, correct?

 

[phillinois]

Scantly clad beautiful latinas, correct?

J-Lo?
Will J-Lo be there?

 

[icbear]

J-Lo?
Will J-Lo be there?

I like where this post is headed.