Spring game status, venue unknown as Neyland Stadium renovations hit full speed
Tennessee athletics director Danny White has long made it clear that his plan in renovating Neyland Stadium was to not stop. There would be work every off-season. White told Volquest of his intent back when we sat down with him in 2022.
“I don’t want to stop construction between seasons,” White said. “Our plan is to deliver new projects in Neyland Stadium in ’23, ’24, ’25. If we aren’t done by then potentially ’26 as well. We have concepts, plans. We need to pull the trigger on what things we want to start designing to deliver and start construction on following this upcoming season, then the season after. It’s about timing of those. It’s about a business model that makes sense.”
White has made good on that statement. There have been improvements made to Neyland Stadium every off-season since he has been here. This off-season is no different as work is being done in multiple places including the massive renovations in the south end zone.
Full stadium-wide Wi-Fi connectivity
Stadium kitchen, commissary and loading dock
New southeast elevators vertically connecting all concourses
New Gate 4 entry plaza
Brick cladding around in-bowl vomitories (phase 2)
Renovations and upgrades complete for all stadium skyboxes
Initial construction for the westside Founders Suites New restrooms and concessions on north concourse two
The result of the off-season construction work means Tennessee has some decisions to make regarding the 2024 spring Orange & White game. Does Tennessee have one? There’s a bit of a growing trend in college sports to do away with spring football games. Do the Vols join that trend.
Do they play it at a different venue? Tennessee has a history of that. They played the spring game in Chattanooga in the early 90’s due to Neyland Stadium construction. It’s unclear what is going to happen with the spring game this April, but it’s going to be different based on White’s comments on Sportstalk with John Wilkerson on Wednesday morning on WMNL-The Sports Animal
“It’s going to have an impact,” White said of the renovations and the spring game. “We’re, we’re still trying to figure it out. I know that it’s late January, so we’re, hoping to have something we can communicate out, very soon on the spring game. But yeah, it’s a challenge. It’s the cost of progress. There’s a lot of work that’s gonna be happening and that’s currently happening at Neyland Stadium. There’s cranes involved and just a lot of obstructions.
“We can’t put ourselves in a position where we slow down construction, and being ready for the first game in the fall. We can’t put that at risk. So we are working through it. We don’t have finalized details yet, but hope to very soon.”
Tennessee could be in a similar situation for spring of 2025 as construction will continue with
Expanded south concourse 1 (increased restrooms, enhanced concessions, wider concourse)
Completion of Founders Suites
Tee Martin Drive to shift south of the Gate 10 ramp
Here’s a look at various construction work that’s currently taking place.
South concourse expansion
Concession/restroom renovations in west concourse 2
Brick work in portals north endzone
