THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. IT’S 100 YEARS OLD, THE STADIUM IS, AND SO IT’S COMING RIGHT AT THE AT THE RIGHT TIME. A CENTURY OF HISTORY. IN 1923, THE SOONERS STADIUM OPENED, SEATING JUST 500 PEOPLE. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL RENDERING OF OU STADIUM IN 1922, RENOVATIONS ADDED TO IT. YOU CAN SEE THROUGH PHOTOS CAPTURED IN 19 29, 56, 82 AND 2013. TODAY, IT SEATS MORE THAN 80,000 FANS. BUT WITH A NEW ERA OF SOONERS FOOTBALL COMES A NEW ERA FOR THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME. I THINK EVERYBODY’S GOING TO BE EXCITED WHEN ALL THE DETAILS AND RENDERINGS COME OUT. YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THAT IS. WHILE THE UNIVERSITY HASN’T SHOWED WHAT THE RENOVATIONS WILL LOOK LIKE, THEY SAY THIS RENDERING FROM THE 2014 ANNOUNCEMENT IS A SOLID BLUEPRINT. THE BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED THE EXPANSION TUESDAY, WHICH WILL ADD 47 SUITES AND 64 BOXES TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE STADIUM. PLANS SHOW 4000 NEW CLUB SEATS, PLUS A NEW PRESS BOX, SIDELINE AND SOUND ENHANCEMENTS. A NEW TAILGATE DECK AND AN EXPANDED WEST UPPER DECK, PLUS AMENITIES FOR FANS. ALL THINGS HEAD COACH BRANT VENABLES SAYS WILL IMPROVE THE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE. I THINK IT SHOWS A COMMITMENT. TO, YOU KNOW, OUR FANS, CERTAINLY OUR PLAYERS, OUR PROGRAM, THE THINGS THAT IT’S GOING TO POTENTIALLY PROVIDE FROM A GAME DAY EXPERIENCE. IT’S ALSO A SOURCE OF PRIDE. YOU KNOW, FOR OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AS WELL. IN JUST DOWN THE ROAD, THE SOONERS BASEBALL STADIUM ALSO APPROVED FOR UPGRADES TUESDAY. THE BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVING FOR NEW TEAM FACILITIES, SEATING UPGRADES AND FAN EXPERIENCE ENHANCEMENTS LIKE A FAN PLAZA. PLUS, THE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO RENAME THE BASEBALL STADIUM THE KIMREY FAMILY STADIUM. THAT CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START AFTER THE 2026 SEASON AND BE COMPLET
OU Board of Regents approve upgrades to football and baseball stadiums
Major upgrades are coming for Sooner fans, including an expansion of the University of Oklahoma’s football and baseball stadiums.
Updated: 10:39 PM CST Nov 11, 2025
Major upgrades are coming for Sooner fans, including an expansion of the University of Oklahoma’s football and baseball stadiums. Renderings from 2014 show the dream of what the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium could look like. Now, those dreams are closer to reality as the OU Board of Regents approved upgrades Tuesday morning. “It’s 100 years old. The stadium is, and so it’s coming right at the right time,” OU head football coach Brent Venables said. In 1923, the Sooners’ stadium opened, seating just 500 people. In 2025, the stadium seats more than 80,000 fans. >> Video Below: Plans to upgrade Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2014But with a new era of Sooner football comes a new area for the place they call home. “I think everybody’s going to be excited when all the details and the renderings come out, whenever that is,” Venables said. While the university hasn’t released what the renovations will look like, they said the renderings from the 2014 announcement is a solid blueprint.The OU Board of Regents approved the expansion, which will add 47 suites and 64 loge boxes to the west side of the stadium. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelPlans show 4,000 new club seats and a new press box, sideline and sound enhancements, a new tailgate deck and an expanded west upper deck. There are also new amenities planned for fans. Venables said all of these will improve the gameday experience. “I think it shows a commitment to our fans, certainly our players, our program, the things it’s going to potentially provide from a gameday experience,” Venables said. “It’s also a source of pride for our university community, as well.” Just down the road, the Sooner baseball stadium was also approved for upgrades Tuesday. The Board of Regents approved plans for new team facilities, seating upgrades, and fan experience enhancements, including a fan plaza. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Plus, the university plans to rename the baseball stadium the Kimrey Family Stadium. The construction is expected to begin after the 2026 season and be done by 2028. Construction of the football stadium is expected to start after the 2027 football season. The Board of Regents said it will cost about $450 million funded through the athletic department and private donors. Top Headlines20-year-old man killed in OKC was shot in head by date’s brother who found them togetherHere are the latest airport delay, cancellation numbersSally Kirkland, stage and screen star who earned an Oscar nomination in ‘Anna,’ dies at age 84Oklahoma begins distributing partial SNAP benefits to eligible recipientsOklahoma DHS announces partial SNAP benefits amid increased food bank demand
NORMAN, Okla. —
Major upgrades are coming for Sooner fans, including an expansion of the University of Oklahoma’s football and baseball stadiums.
Renderings from 2014 show the dream of what the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium could look like. Now, those dreams are closer to reality as the OU Board of Regents approved upgrades Tuesday morning.
“It’s 100 years old. The stadium is, and so it’s coming right at the right time,” OU head football coach Brent Venables said.
In 1923, the Sooners’ stadium opened, seating just 500 people. In 2025, the stadium seats more than 80,000 fans.
>> Video Below: Plans to upgrade Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2014
But with a new era of Sooner football comes a new area for the place they call home.
“I think everybody’s going to be excited when all the details and the renderings come out, whenever that is,” Venables said.
While the university hasn’t released what the renovations will look like, they said the renderings from the 2014 announcement is a solid blueprint.
The OU Board of Regents approved the expansion, which will add 47 suites and 64 loge boxes to the west side of the stadium.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Plans show 4,000 new club seats and a new press box, sideline and sound enhancements, a new tailgate deck and an expanded west upper deck. There are also new amenities planned for fans.
Venables said all of these will improve the gameday experience.
“I think it shows a commitment to our fans, certainly our players, our program, the things it’s going to potentially provide from a gameday experience,” Venables said. “It’s also a source of pride for our university community, as well.”
Just down the road, the Sooner baseball stadium was also approved for upgrades Tuesday.
The Board of Regents approved plans for new team facilities, seating upgrades, and fan experience enhancements, including a fan plaza.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Plus, the university plans to rename the baseball stadium the Kimrey Family Stadium.
The construction is expected to begin after the 2026 season and be done by 2028.
Construction of the football stadium is expected to start after the 2027 football season. The Board of Regents said it will cost about $450 million funded through the athletic department and private donors.
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