Tech Football Stadium Costs Up To $57.2M

The price tag to finish the Tennessee Tech Football Stadium west side renovation has ballooned to more than $57.2 million.

The Board of Trustees approved the original budget at some $29.9 million in 2021, a number President Phil Oldham said officials believed to be an accurate estimate.

“This is not likely to go up at all, because this is as much as we can afford,” Oldham said. “This is, you know, and we’ve made it clear to the designers, this is the number we’re going to build, and we’re going to build what we can afford.”

Oldham said they have enough money to cover the work. No tuition or state dollars are going to the project. Oldham said supply chain and increased labor costs were among the reasons for the increase, as are better design figures on the project.

Athletic Director Mark Wilson said that planning for the demolition of the west side of Tucker Stadium is complete and work will start in the coming weeks. First, crews need to set up a fenced perimeter and abate the lead and asbestos that may reside in the facilities.

Wilson said the reality of having a one sided football stadium is already creating logistical and actual nightmares for Wilson.

“I woke up in the middle of the night last week and I thought ‘Oh the visiting team when they have to go to the restroom they just always run in the locker room right behind them,” Wilson said. “So one of the places we need a toilet is the visiting sideline.”

Wilson and his team are brainstorming every possible issue that will arise with this endeavor. Wilson said the plan is for the stadium to be on track to be completed for the start of the 2026 football season.