The Neyland Stadium

Col. Shields and the Building of Neyland Stadium

Col. Shields provided financial support for the building of Neyland Stadium, which began around 1919. After it was over, the financier and his wife were honored by calling it Shields-Watkins Field. The stadium was later renamed Neyland Stadium after a man who was responsible for the establishment and improvement of a football tradition in Tennessee during his tenure as a coach from 1926 to 1952. Under the supervision of Captain Neyland, the field’s size was increased from 3200 to 31390 over a 13-year stretch. An overflow crowd that showed up in the 1937 game of about 20000 people necessitated an expansion that included dorm rooms for athletes and men. This essay will be a comparative review of the developments in the stadium compared to its historical status.

Modernization and Renovation Efforts

The stadium is housed by a campus at Knoxville, and there are efforts to modernize and renovate this sports facility. The improvements that are going to be implemented in this historical facility are mainly in the overall experience of the fans, and the security concerns that are necessary in contemporary times due to challenges on security. Today compared to the time the stadium was launched the capacity has increased over time to about 102,455 fans being the fifth largest in the entire country. The upgrade that is being done on 2017 is focused on improving the functionality and the comfort of the fans. The lower bowl in the West has the same feel as in 1921 and is one of the priority areas in the refurbishment of the stadium (Machemehl et al.,27) Club games will be introduced for private functions which were never existent during the pioneer days of the stadium.

Accommodating the Increasing Number of Football Fans

The club concept was never an idea during the beginning days as the main inspiration for the expansion was to accommodate the increasing number of the football fans. Another phase of the improvement to the stadium will include premium establishments for new recruits and the cheerleaders that play a crucial role in enhancing the team`s morale. This stadium is one of the most revered in the Tennessee and as such the concerns over capacity, security and functionality are an ultimate priority for the university and the lovers of football. Essentially, in 1921 the stadium had one stand with a small capacity this has been improved with the construction of many stands to increase the capacity.

Modern Amenities and Accessibility

Notably, adjustments have been made in the stadium so as to host the disabled people through the creation of executive suits to host them. The year 2017 has been earmarked for the implementation of a master plan to maintain the stadium and improve some of the facilities. Concessions and restrooms are now available, with signage of LED lights which are improvements that were non-existent in the pioneer years (Plyler 11). Stairwells have been created on the west side and elevators have been placed in the various pathways to ease movement. A culture that has been withheld from the time the stadium was constructed is football being the primary function of the stadium but there are other in-house and secondary activities that are done in the facility such as office activities and learning within the university.

Architectural Achievements and Visual Representations

The stadium changes over time are reflected in visual representations by use of lighting that portrays a major architectural achievement of modern time in enhancing the physical look of this sports facility. Notably, the concourses have been expanded, with the widening the tablespace, and the family area to guarantee comfort and some level of exclusiveness. The aesthetics of the stadium are top-notch as the renovations are made with a sense of experience and the shape, form, and features evident in the facility are completely incomparable with what was started in 1921.The outstanding social factor that the stadium is recognized for is the noise from the football fans when the facility is full to capacity.

Expansion and Enhancements

Over the time the facility can be regarded as a masterpiece that is centered on aesthetics as opposed to the 1921 single stand with a limited capacity. The West and North sides of the stadium were transformed as a result of the bricks in construction and Gate 21 of the sports facility plaza has a majestic look which is appealing. Archways were created in the entrance which is multipurpose at times used by the university students and school administration as a transport area. Another development of the facility that was not there during the beginning days is an amphitheater where a show known as Vol Networks is held mainly addressing the football fanatics.

Scenic Beauty and Historical Significance

Evidently, structural painting on the external space of the stadium has been made making it scenery worthy to be a tourist site for non-residents. A Neyland statue has also been erected in the facility as a remembrance of a man who is credited with the development and growth of tradition volunteerism in football. The night football has also become a major phenomenon since 1972 as the lighting system was put in the stadium. However, the outstanding value of the stadium is based on the volunteer spirit that dominated the different phases of growth that are evident in the stadium. In fact, to date, the facility is viewed as an icon and the main tourist destination for Knoxville (Davenport, 31). The aspect of the contemporary society that is associated with technology is being handled currently so as to give internet services to the fans that come to watch the game. A major development that was not experienced during the early days after the construction of the field and stands was that of the noise and the ranking of being the fifth largest facility for football in the USA.

Continued Growth and Updates

The facility has developed from a mere field into a reputable establishment as now it has a press box which is located at the upper deck and it was built because of the efforts made by Neyland before he died. Observably, the stadium has become bigger in modern times and more complex and sophisticated technology has been employed to improve safety and to manage the traffic of people entering and leaving the stadium during major events (Atuahene et al., 21). The grass on the field is now artificial and there is an elevation of the standards to continue enhancing the historical marks that the stadium holds for the university and the residents of Knoxville.

A World-Class Facility for Collegiate Football

Neyland sports facility, which is the third largest stadium for collegiate football have world-class facility with parking spaces for the football fans. The focus of the university management is improving aspects of customer service in the sport’s facility as opposed to the original status of only hosting the football games. The challenge that has been faced over time by the coaches and referees are on-field communications because of the large crowd of fans that are noisy. The stadium is used in modern days for sports marketing as it a major facility that benefits the community and the government in the collection of revenue.

Entertainment Hub and Enhanced Experiences

A significant change of the Neyland stadium is the creation of video boards on the entrances that are used for advertisements and notifying the fans of the current affairs as regards the football news. Extensive developments have taken place in the facility from 2010 which has ultimately changed it to an entertainment hub by improving the experiences of the fans and other visitors that want to have a feel of the famous football hosting sports complex that has an in-house amphitheater for other entertainment purposes. The seating areas have also been reconfigured and in some of the compartments, there are climate-controlled areas for the VIPs, demonstrating the sophistication in the stadium through enhancement with time, which was not there when the facility was completed in 1921.

A Lasting Legacy

Conclusively, the magnificent features of this sports facility as a result of the perfect implementation of an artistic impression are not comparable to the small stand and the field that was the pioneer features of the stadium. This sports complex represents an architectural feat of modern times that has facilitated the sports fraternity to accomplish their goals as well as nurture talents within the university that is housing the stadium. The master plans meant to better the facility by enhancing its general aesthetics and maintaining some of the structures will enhance the attachment that fans have with the stadium as well as the football game.

Works Cited

Plyler, Patrick N. “Acceptance of background noise: Recent Developments.” The Hearing Journal 62.4 (2009): 10-12.

Atuahene, Isaac, Rapinder Sawhney, and Xueping Li. “An Optimal Model of Entry, Ticketing, and Seating of Neyland Stadium.” IIE Annual Conference. Proceedings. Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), 2011.

Davenport, Julie. “The Fabricated City: Created Energy of the Assembled City.” (2017).

Machemehl, Charly, and Olivier Sirost. “Sport in the urban space.” (2011): 21-29.