Project Description
HOK and LPK Architects developed a comprehensive design solution to modernize the nearly century-old Davis Wade Stadium and help Mississippi State compete in the Southeastern Conference. Though the project was phased over two years, construction was sequenced to enable MSU’s football team to use the stadium without interruption.
The north end zone expansion increases the stadium’s capacity from 55,000 to more than 61,000 and provides new premium seating options that increase the university’s revenue.
With enhanced food and beverage services, high-definition screens and social gathering spaces, new premium seating options rival those found in the NFL. Different tiers of premium seating include the State Level, the Scoreboard Club and the Gridiron Field Level Club.
The Gridiron Field Level Club provides season ticket holders access to the playing surface, offering a true “toes on the turf” experience. Made up of 236 loge seats and 22 new skyboxes, the State Level offers loge boxes and private mini-suites at a lower price point than existing premium options. The Scoreboard Club, designed to attract the younger generation along with others looking to take the first step into premium seating, provides 1,100 seats along the top level of the new north end zone.
Other improvements include a complete renovation of the existing west concourse, new vertical circulation, a new pedestrian-level facade, new entrance gates, a new 111-foot x 48-foot video board and an expanded entrance plaza. Reconfiguring the end zone’s lower bowl for a new student section creates a “wall of intensity” that contributes to MSU’s home-field advantage.
Complementing the existing campus architecture, the renovated Davis Wade Stadium features a striking brick and precast facade that mirrors the university’s elegance. An entry tower unites the historic landmark with the rest of the campus.