The TCU Board of Trustees has approved the Athletics Department’s fundraising for an east side premium seating expansion of Amon G. Carter Stadium after a “fantastic” response to a survey of season-ticket holders.
The project is expected to cost $100 million, and that money would go toward two new levels of luxury seating above the current upper deck on the east side of the stadium. The expansion will include 48 boxes with two private clubs, over 1,000 club seats and 20 luxury suites. There will also be a 100-foot outdoor balcony overlooking Frog Alley, the TCU campus and downtown Fort Worth. Additionally, a new video board will be installed in the north end zone.
If the fundraising target is met by its April 2018 deadline, construction will begin in May with completion expected in time for the 2019 season.
“We are very grateful to our Board of Trustees for their support on this project,” TCU director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte said. “In this ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics, you need to reinvest in your facilities. This project will position us well for the future.”
In 2010, following the Horned Frogs’ undefeated Rose Bowl season, TCU spent $164 million to renovate the stadium.
Since Gary Patterson took over the program in 2000, TCU has been one of the best programs in college football. The Frogs have won at least 10 games in 10 of Patterson’s 17 seasons.
This year, the No. 11 Horned Frogs are tied for second in the Big 12 Conference and have a clear path to the conference championship game if they defeat Texas Tech Saturday and Baylor in the regular season finale Nov. 24.
There’s only been one sellout at the Carter this season, which was for the night game against Texas Nov. 4. However, Del Conte said the school has a wait list of 1,000 people for club seats.
“The expansion would not be possible without the passion of our fan base, and there is demand for premium seating and suites,” he said. “As is always the case at TCU, we must secure the funding in advance before construction can begin, and we are confident the TCU Horned Frogs family will again be up to the challenge as they have been for our other recent projects, including the rebuild of Amon G. Carter Stadium and the opening of the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena.”
In addition to the new premium seating and suite areas, the east side expansion of the stadium would include meeting space for corporate events to provide year-round use of the facility.
“Our fans and donors have expressed a strong desire for more premium seating before and throughout the feasibility process we conducted,” deputy athletics director for external affairs Jeremiah Donati said. “We believe this proposed balance of suites, loge boxes and club seating will provide an enhanced gameday experience for our fans that will rival any other in college football.”
Amon G. Carter Stadium, TCU’s longtime football home, reopened in 2012 after a $164 million rebuild. It coincided with the Horned Frogs’ debut season in the Big 12.
