OU releases renderings of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium renovations, announces capacity reduction

OU has officially released the first renderings of the West side renovations that will take place at Gaylord-Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The OU Board of Regents recently approved Phase 2 of the stadium masterplan, which was made in 2014. The first phase was completed in 2016 when the South end zone was bowled in with new seats and a new videoboard. This second phase will primarily take place on the West side of the stadium and will include a new press box and premium seating areas. It’s expected to cost $450 million, making it the most expensive renovation in school history. It will be privately funded through donors and the athletic department.

According to the press release, the project features the construction of 47 suites, 64 loge boxes with seating to accommodate approximately 280 guests, and approximately 4,000 new club seats. Six premium club and lounge spaces will serve fans in these areas, allowing fans a variety of ways to experience games.

It will also include new gates on the west side of the stadium, expanded concourses that connect to the north and south end zones, new elevators, improved access points, expanded restrooms, and new marketplace concession stands. And all chairback and bench seating will be replaced, with additional ADA seating options being added, and a new fan area that will provide fans on the west upper deck with a unique common space.

Construction will begin following the 2027 season, with the expectation of it being complete before the 2029 season. The construction will take place in the upper deck and lower bowl on the west side. The new press box will be the entire length of the upper deck, while there will be some suites and loge boxes in the lower bowl. It is also expected that the construction will expand Oklahoma’s sideline, removing a couple of rows along the front of the lower bowl.

On Friday, OU released the first rendering of the renovations, which can be seen below. View the full gallery here.

OU has released the first renderings of the stadium renovations on the West side. pic.twitter.com/oKOabOrZ9H

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) November 21, 2025

How much will capacity be reduced?

OU will reduce capacity by approximately 7,000, according to the press release. It also notes that “a future north end zone phase will offer the university another opportunity to evaluate the stadium’s capacity and make necessary adjustments.” Currently, the capacity is 80,126, meaning the new capacity will be somewhere around 74,000, which would rank 10th in the SEC.

Oklahoma isn’t the only school that has opted to reduce capacity in recent years. Florida State reduced its capacity this past season by over 12,000. Penn State recently announced a $700 million renovation that will reduce capacity from 106,000 to closer to 100,000. Florida is planning a 5,000-seat reduction with its new $500 million renovations, going from 88,000 to 83,000. South Carolina is set to start renovations next month that will reduce capacity by 4,500. And at Nebraska, the Huskers have been planning a stadium renovation since 2023 that could drop the capacity from approximately 90,000 to 75,000.

For OU, the decision to reduce capacity was one based on a lot of research.

“As OU prepares for the west side phase, determining the right future capacity has been a detailed and data-driven effort,” the press release said. “Working with industry experts, the university analyzed seating demand, market behavior, demographic trends, conference benchmarks and live-entertainment standards. Findings have consistently shown that a slightly smaller, more modern and comfort-focused seating model best meets long-term demand while still elevating the fan experience for everyone.

“The capacity shift allows for necessary and cutting-edge enhancements for today’s modern era of college football that are being implemented in stadiums across the country.”

Statements from Harroz, Castiglione and Venables

Joseph Harroz Jr., University President 

“Athletics is the great connector of generations of Sooners. It’s inexorably tied to who we are as a university, unifying us as the OU Family, past, present and future. The renovation of the west side of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium honors the rich history of OU Football while addressing structural needs in a facility that has stood for more than a century. By acting now, we are creating the greatest and most unique game-day experience in sports, enhancing the fan experience to elevate every moment in the stadium, maximizing our home-field advantage, and driving resources directly toward competing for national championships. In a time of transformation across college athletics, this project strengthens OU Football for our student-athletes, our fans and the enduring legacy of the program.”

Joe Castiglione, Vice President and Director of Athletics  

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of President Harroz, the Board of Regents and our generous donors as we take a monumental step forward for Oklahoma Athletics. The Palace Project is transformational in every sense for everyone – not just in how it will elevate our facility, but in how it will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. This project – the largest in OU Athletics history – reflects our ongoing commitment to providing championship-level resources for our program to compete at the highest level, while honoring the deep tradition and pride that define Oklahoma. We’re experiencing tremendous momentum, and this investment ensures we continue building on that foundation for years to come.” 

Brent Venables, Head Football Coach 

“It’s difficult to adequately express how excited our football program is for the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium west side project, and I’m sure Sooner Nation is equally ecstatic. We are already blessed with one of the greatest venues in the sport, but this game-changing transformation will give new meaning to ‘The Palace on the Prairie.’ The renderings are stunning, and, once completed, this project will positively impact everyone who steps foot in the stadium. A huge thank-you to all who have supported or will support this project, financially or otherwise. Our football program is incredibly appreciative.”