Indiana Univeristy's Memorial Stadium Update

So a friend of mine passed on this link to me today. It’s a video tour of how the construction of the north end zone at Memorial Stadium is progressing. It is coming along nicely and the exterior is expected to be finished by the start of the 2009 football season.

Now a lot of people out there have questioned, “Why should Indiana University expand its stadium? They don’t sell out games anyway.”

I was one of these people. When I heard first word of the potential idea of connecting the east and west parts of the stadium together during my freshman year (2003), my friend Tim and I would joke constantly about how the powers that be wanted IU to have a horseshoe to be just like Ohio State and its horseshoe.

Even with all the comments about the extra seats not being used. The major purpose of building this extension was not for the exterior seating. It was for the internal facilities to better prepare the team and bring in better recruits.

Among the new interior features that will appeal to recruits will be a new 24,000-square-foot weight room along with space for more classrooms/team meeting rooms as well as an auditorium, which can be used for film study and chalkboard instruction. Also, the expansion will house football administrators, including new offices for the coaching staff. (This and more information can be found here)

Well now that I’ve seen it progress, I have to say it is looking good and it does make the stadium look more stunning and pleasing to the eye.

Along with the improved look of the stadium, the new seats will serve a purpose. I am sure a good portion of those new seats will go unused for many games.  However, any time Purdue, Ohio State, or Michigan comes to town, those seats will be sold out, even if it is to the opposing team’s fans. As bad as it might be to have the stadium filled with opposing teams' fans, it is still extra revenue for the athletic department, which it needs, and is a lot better then asking the students for an athletic fee.

All in all, I am exited for the new addition to be completed and think it will provide an excellent stepping stone for Indiana football going forward.

Let me know what you guys think of the new stadium.