(04-25-2017 03:37 PM)WolfBird Wrote:  Why are they already expanding the capacity? What is is after phase 1?

Phase 1 capacity is about 23k. Phase 2 capacity utilizes existing upper deck seats with some minor changes and goes up to 33k. I wouldn't necessarily call it expanding since the phase 2 seats technically already exist, we just won't use them this year.

Our three biggest reported crowds (paid attendance) to date:

9/2/2010 - 30,237 - Inaugural program game vs. Shorter University (NAIA, now NCAA D2)
10/25/2014 - 28,427 - Versus GS
9/2/2011 - 26,273 - Versus Clark Atlanta (NCAA D2)

All of those games, were they to have been played at Georgia State Stadium, would have needed those upper deck Phase 2 seats. As the program grows, it isn't unreasonable to assume at least one game per year will eclipse that 23k attendance mark. The 2016 matchup with GS is #4 all time attendance at 23,513, and that was with both teams having a really off year.

Those extra seats will also come in handy when trying to attract bigger schools for future home-and-home scheduling. Our non-conference slate at home for the next 8 seasons includes Tennessee State, Memphis, Kennesaw State (D1 FCS located about 30 minutes north of GSU), Western Michigan, Furman, Army, Charlotte, UNC, and Vanderbilt. Some of those schools will travel very, very well and those games could be a sellout even at 33k capacity.