Surprised this isn't posted yet.

https://riceowls.com/news/2022/3/31/foot...erway.aspx

On the west side of the stadium, the dated chairbacks will be removed and replaced by two new upgraded seating options. Sections 103-105 will feature the top stadium seating available on the market today in the breathable mesh premium chairbacks from 4Topps. Sections 101, 102, 106, and 107 will now offer upgraded fusion polymer slat back seating, similar to those found in Reckling Park.

On the east side, the current chairback sections will be replaced by eight Flight Deck loge boxes similar to the first one installed in at the top of section 115. The Flight Decks, outfitted to fit 8 – 12 fans comfortably, feature two premium 4Topps patented units, each consisting of four 360° swivel mesh seats and a semi-circle table. The swivel chairs allow fans to enjoy viewing the game as well as interact with the other members of their group and also to enter and exit their seats without disrupting others while the mesh material is cooler than other types of seats and dries quickly in the event of rain.

Fans interested in purchasing a Flight Deck for the 2022 season should complete this form.

Energy-efficient LED lighting will brighten Rice Stadium's concourses, while the floors of the concourse will now feature a flake-based system to provide a smooth, uniform, and aesthetically pleasing surface. The restrooms on the east side will be fully renovated while those on the west side will be enhanced.

Once in their seats, fans will immediately notice the walls surrounding the playing field have been resurfaced with brick, adding Rice's signature campus aesthetic to the football home of the Owls. Fans will also be greeted with a new Daktronics scoreboard in the south end zone.

Current Rice season ticket members can enjoy all these new experiences by renewing their seats at 2021 rates. Those interested in new season tickets can lock in the 2021 prices by filling out the season ticket request form and purchasing new season tickets by April 18.

The first phase of stadium renovations is a key component of this season's "For The Owls" campaign to salute the Owls' loyal fan base as Rice approaches full membership in the American Athletic Conference.

Fans continue to see investments in the overall fan experience, including upgrades to the game-day atmosphere and stadium enhancements outlined above. Predesign of the second phase of modernization has been approved and work will commence this spring to present the final concepts for board approval in the fall.

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Once in their seats, fans will immediately notice the walls surrounding the playing field have been resurfaced with brick, adding Rice's signature campus aesthetic to the football home of the Owls. Fans will also be greeted with a new Daktronics scoreboard in the south end zone.

This was overdue adding the brick facing to replace the prison-wall gray look. Wonder if they can work in a sine and cosine pattern of bricks?

The south end zone scoreboard is also a much-appreciated upgrade helping eliminate the dilapidated look from the premises. It's not the most exciting list of stuff, but all this and more is sorely needed just to get back up to average. Happy to see they've started on it.

Grungy or someone nearby to HRS:, any chance of posting some picture updates of the changes here throughout the renovations a la 2005? Much obliged.

(03-31-2022 11:43 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Once in their seats, fans will immediately notice the walls surrounding the playing field have been resurfaced with brick, adding Rice's signature campus aesthetic to the football home of the Owls. Fans will also be greeted with a new Daktronics scoreboard in the south end zone.

This was overdue adding the brick facing to replace the prison-wall gray look. Wonder if they can work in a sine and cosine pattern of bricks?

The south end zone scoreboard is also a much-appreciated upgrade helping eliminate the dilapidated look from the premises. It's not the most exciting list of stuff, but all this and more is sorely needed just to get back up to average. Happy to see they've started on it.

Grungy or someone nearby to HRS:, any chance of posting some picture updates of the changes here throughout the renovations a la 2005? Much obliged.

Yes, if they don't run me off.
The MOB has storage on the east concourse, so I at least have a theoretical reason to be inside the gates.

I want to see if the brick is a veneer over the existing concrete walls, or a complete replacement. The existing wall east of the tunnel is being held together by the rebar. There is a long crack with displacement where the wall meets the bottom of the steps.

We need some ivy over the brick.

(03-31-2022 12:04 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:43 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Grungy or someone nearby to HRS:, any chance of posting some picture updates of the changes here throughout the renovations a la 2005? Much obliged.

Yes, if they don't run me off.
The MOB has storage on the east concourse, so I at least have a theoretical reason to be inside the gates.

I want to see if the brick is a veneer over the existing concrete walls, or a complete replacement. The existing wall east of the tunnel is being held together by the rebar. There is a long crack with displacement where the wall meets the bottom of the steps.

Well, if it's a proper and full renovation, hopefully they replace the broken wall instead of just covering it over.

Thanks for being willing to try to document some of this pictorially for us.

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  The restrooms on the east side will be fully renovated while those on the west side will be enhanced.

The distinction between the east bathrooms and west here is curious. Presumably "fully renovated" means honest-to-god urinals in place of the pee walls on the west. I wonder what "enhanced" means on the east? Fresh round of urinal cakes along the pee wall?

Overall, though, it's great to see progress, even if incremental. This particular increment sounds like it will make a difference that will be noticed. And I wouldn't have guessed Phase 1 to be complete before the season starts, that's good news too.

Regarding the chairbacks, does this mean they are doing the entire section or just the existing "box seats"?

(03-31-2022 01:48 PM)wiessguy Wrote:  Regarding the chairbacks, does this mean they are doing the entire section or just the existing "box seats"?

I read it as just replacing the existing ones.

(03-31-2022 01:49 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 01:48 PM)wiessguy Wrote:  Regarding the chairbacks, does this mean they are doing the entire section or just the existing "box seats"?

I read it as just replacing the existing ones.

You're probably right, but I was hoping for more extensive changes to the seating area

(03-31-2022 01:51 PM)wiessguy Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 01:49 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 01:48 PM)wiessguy Wrote:  Regarding the chairbacks, does this mean they are doing the entire section or just the existing "box seats"?

I read it as just replacing the existing ones.

You're probably right, but I was hoping for more extensive changes to the seating area

I prefer the benches anyway. Room to spread out a stretch your legs with no one in front of you.

(03-31-2022 01:24 PM)erice Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  The restrooms on the east side will be fully renovated while those on the west side will be enhanced.

The distinction between the east bathrooms and west here is curious. Presumably "fully renovated" means honest-to-god urinals in place of the pee walls on the west. I wonder what "enhanced" means on the east? Fresh round of urinal cakes along the pee wall?

The concourse west side men’s rooms have had urinals for years.
Definitely the southern ones. Not so sure about the northern.

I think this is a good first step.

I’m wondering, though, if we are sinking $$$ into a new scoreboard above the South EZ…atop the existing structure…will that preclude a major overhaul of the entire South concourse? I know a renovation there could include upgrading etc the lettermen’s facility, etc. But doesn’t putting up a brand new scoreboard on top of the existing building eliminate creating a big space for events, etc ?

With the new scoreboard going up, the R Room and structures below it must be staying. I was hoping the south end zone would be leveled and opened up as a nice entrance, It must be too expensive to do.

The lighting and new floors on the concourses should look nice. It's always so dark. I feel like I'm in a cave.

All of the improvements should make a really big difference. I have reason to get excited about going to the stadium for a change.

I'd never thought of having the campus brick on the inside field-level wall -- that'll be beautiful.

(03-31-2022 12:04 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:43 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Once in their seats, fans will immediately notice the walls surrounding the playing field have been resurfaced with brick, adding Rice's signature campus aesthetic to the football home of the Owls. Fans will also be greeted with a new Daktronics scoreboard in the south end zone.

This was overdue adding the brick facing to replace the prison-wall gray look. Wonder if they can work in a sine and cosine pattern of bricks?

The south end zone scoreboard is also a much-appreciated upgrade helping eliminate the dilapidated look from the premises. It's not the most exciting list of stuff, but all this and more is sorely needed just to get back up to average. Happy to see they've started on it.

Grungy or someone nearby to HRS:, any chance of posting some picture updates of the changes here throughout the renovations a la 2005? Much obliged.

Yes, if they don't run me off.
The MOB has storage on the east concourse, so I at least have a theoretical reason to be inside the gates.

I want to see if the brick is a veneer over the existing concrete walls, or a complete replacement. The existing wall east of the tunnel is being held together by the rebar. There is a long crack with displacement where the wall meets the bottom of the steps.

The brick will be a veneer.
They've already repaired the southeast wall, and they wouldn't have bothered if it was going to be replaced by a structural brick wall.
Didn't see any other evidence of the announced work at sundown tonight.

It'll look nice. It looks exactly like brick to me

(04-01-2022 08:36 AM)Ourland Wrote:  It'll look nice. It looks exactly like brick to me

Agreed.
It looks like brick because it is brick - the difference in my terminology is decorative vs structural - that's all.

(03-31-2022 02:19 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 01:24 PM)erice Wrote:  

(03-31-2022 11:33 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  The restrooms on the east side will be fully renovated while those on the west side will be enhanced.

The distinction between the east bathrooms and west here is curious. Presumably "fully renovated" means honest-to-god urinals in place of the pee walls on the west. I wonder what "enhanced" means on the east? Fresh round of urinal cakes along the pee wall?

The concourse west side men’s rooms have had urinals for years.
Definitely the southern ones. Not so sure about the northern.

Same for the north end men’s rooms. Not sure what “enhancements” means. I guess we’ll find out this fall.

(03-31-2022 11:17 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  Surprised this isn't posted yet.

https://riceowls.com/news/2022/3/31/foot...erway.aspx

Glad this article was dated March 31, 2022, and not April 1, 2022.