UA to announce renovation plans for Bryant-Denny Stadium

The University of Alabama athletics department will announce a long-term facilities plan Thursday that includes a major renovation to Bryant-Denny Stadium, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.

The update to the Crimson Tide’s football stadium is expected to reduce seating by a small percentage from its current capacity of 101,821. It includes plans for a new video board in the south end zone and additional luxury boxes.

The long-term plan will also affect Coleman Coliseum, softball’s Rhoads Stadium and other athletics facilities. All facilities plans are subject to approval by the board of trustees. UA is expected to announce a capital campaign to raise funds for the facilities improvements.

An announcement previewing Thursday’s news conference says the athletics department will introduce “The Crimson Standard.” Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, football coach Nick Saban and UA President Stuart Bell are scheduled to speak.

The most recent renovation to Bryant-Denny was completed in 2010. That renovation included an upper deck on the south end zone, increasing seating capacity to its current number. It is one of seven college football stadiums in the nation and four in the Southeastern Conference that currently seats more than 100,000 fans.

Renovations to several college football stadiums around the nation in recent years have decreased capacity. The University of Michigan reduced seating at Michigan Stadium by 2,300 seats before the 2015 season, though it remained the largest college football venue in the nation. Ohio State announced a renovation to Ohio Stadium that will take place through 2020 that will reduce capacity by an estimated 2,600 seats. Florida State completed an update to Doak Campbell Stadium in 2016 that added club seating in one end zone while reducing overall capacity from 82,300 to 79,560.

Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.