Courtesy: Joey Brent
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
As the exciting renovation of Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field continues, OleMissSports.com will be providing updates every two weeks leading up to the Rebels’ 2009 season opener on Feb. 20 against Liberty.
Ole Miss athletics met with the Panola Construction Company earlier this week, and beginning in February, will hold weekly meetings regarding the progress of the project.
“Panola Construction has 200 employees on the job working 18 to 20 hours daily,” said Blake Barnes, Ole Miss Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities. “They have made a lot of progress in the last two weeks, and with this progress rate, we look forward to a great opening day.”
Currently, concrete has been poured for approximately 80 percent of the concourse, and brick and block work is continuing at the facility. The team dressing rooms are expected to be completed by the end of the week.
In addition, the new stadium seats are beginning to be installed. The suites are now in the dry as the roofs are in place, and workers are in the process of laying sheetrock.
“We’ve had a week of great weather to get to this point,” said Barnes “Freezing temperatures at the end of this week will prevent brick and block work as well as laying concrete, but hopefully it will not cause any significant down time.”
The O-U Stadium overhaul will result in a total capacity exceeding 10,000. Some of the amenities being added include 880 club seats between first and third base, as well as an increase in box seats from 400 to approximately 1,700. The overall number of chairback seats will rise from 2,951 to over 6,000, and fans will be able to enjoy concession areas in the stands and additional restroom areas with handicap accessibility.
