Texas A&M University and the 12th Man Foundation have engaged Populous to lead the design study phase for the renovation and redevelopment of Kyle Field, recognized as the nation’s top college football gameday experience and “Home of the 12th Man.”
Populous (www.populous.com), one of the world’s premier sports facility design firms, has a portfolio of more than 300 collegiate projects, including work on 80 football stadiums. Eleven of the 14 future Southeastern Conference members have previously worked with Populous, including the University of Alabama (expansion of Bryant-Denny Stadium), LSU (expansion of Tiger Stadium) and the University of Florida (expansion of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium). Populous-led projects also include Yankee Stadium and the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games’ main stadium.
“Our move to the SEC has created a tremendous amount of excitement around Texas A&M, and we are seeing an unprecedented demand for football season tickets,” said Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin ’71. “Our football weekends will provide us with a key vehicle for introducing people around the country to Texas A&M, and we are committed to ensuring that Kyle Field reflects the unique traditions and Aggie spirit embodied by this world-class institution.”
The design study phase will explore various design options for Kyle Field, including plans for both a renovated stadium and a new stadium. The result of the study will provide Texas A&M and 12th Man Foundation officials with multiple design options for the future of the 83,002-seat stadium and will address staging of construction, preliminary cost estimating and construction timelines. Additionally, the Populous team will conduct marketing research related to the stadium project and will provide recommendations with respect to sponsorships, operations and technology related to Kyle Field.
“We feel the Kyle Field stadium redevelopment is wholly unique in that together we have the opportunity to help define a new path for Texas A&M’s future in what could become one of the most significant redevelopment projects in all of American sport,” said Populous Senior Principal Earl Santee, AIA, who will personally oversee the project. “Our plan for this project is innovative, comprehensive and full of passion. We will seek to define the meaningful moments of Aggie Football: the traditions, the fans and the environment that create a one-of-a-kind experience.”
