News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Work on the west side of Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium is officially set to begin after the 2023 football season is completed.
Athletic Director Mark Wilson said the project has been several years in the making, the vision starting in 2012. He said it has taken many people to get to the university to the point where it can officially start the project.
“Being able to put together the funding plan, a debt plan, support from members of the community, really that total package is what’s made it come to fruition now,” Wilson said. “And we are so thankful for Dr. Oldham’s leadership.”
Wilson said the scope of the project includes a complete teardown and complete rebuild, which features chair-back seating, two different club areas, suites, a new press box, and a team shop. He said the construction price tag comes in at an estimated $35 million to $40 million. Wilson said that final number will be determined after the designers finish their fine-tuning process.
Wilson said as the construction process moves forward, the entire west portion of the stadium will not be completed for the 2024 football season. He said they are looking at moving the press operations and the logistics of game day operations to the President’s box on the east side. Wilson said the plan is plan solely on the east side of the stadium so the team can still host home games.
“But we’re still working through all the logistics,” Wilson said.
Wilson said right now, the plan is to host a groundbreaking ceremony at the last football games of the season scheduled for November. He said that plan could change should the team move forward in the NCAA conference.
“Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium is historic, it has stood on the campus since 1966,” Wilson said. “(…) So come out this year, let’s close Tucker Stadium as we know it with great home attendance. So I encourage people to come and cheer on the Golden Eagles, and let’s make it a championship season. I know Coach Alexander, his assistant coaches and staff, and first and foremost our student-athletes, that is their goal. There would be nothing better than to close the historic Tucker Stadium as we know it today with an OVC championship.”
