The University of Oklahoma is set to decrease capacity at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in order to give fans a few extra inches of elbow room.
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will lose approximately 3,000 seats next year as part of program to add handrails in the stadium and widen standardize seat width.
From AB: Spectator Venues Realizing the Benefits of Downsizing
According to NewsOK, the seating changes are part of a larger plan to enhance the team’s facilities in the south end of the stadium.
"The changes we are making give us a more accessible stadium while also helping us provide greater accommodation for everyone," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a release. "Our fans will find that it's easier to move around the facility and we’ll definitely improve the comfort of enjoying the game."
When the project is completed, all seats in the stadium will be 18 inches wide.
Aside from wider seats, fans will also get better Wi-Fi coverage in all areas of the stadium.
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"We recognize that connectivity is an important piece of the fan experience," Castiglione said. "We're also exploring ways to use the wireless system to further engage our fans in nearly every aspect of game attendance."
OU is working with AT&T to upgrade wireless capacity at the stadium. Currently only the south end zone has dedicated wireless access, including 245 wireless access points. The project would increase that number to 750 throughout the entire stadium.
