This Saturday’s FCS Championship Game will give FC Dallas an opportunity to showcase the latest Toyota Stadium renovations, which have changed the fan experience.
FC Dallas was working in recent years to complete upgrades to Toyota Stadium that have been noted for the introduction of the National Soccer Hall of Fame–a museum that opened in the fall. Many of the upgrades completed in the $58-million project were designed to boost the fan experience for MLS matches, but Toyota Stadium’s other uses–including college football–were also kept in mind. That should be evident on Saturday, when the annual FCS Championship Game returns to Toyota Stadium.
Construction was still unfolding during last year’s contest, but this year’s game between North Dakota State and Eastern Washington will see many of the renovations on display. Among some of the most notable changes include an overhauled south end, along with suites on the stadium’s west side, and new locker rooms. More from the Grand Forks Herald:
Other in-game differences fans may notice Saturday are new, larger video boards and a new sound system. The completion of the south end has made for a louder game atmosphere as it helps hold more crowd noise in the stadium. [Toyota Stadium chief operating officer Jimmy] Smith said he expects around 20,000 fans at Saturday’s championship game.
“The (south) end was completely open. This locks in the sound and we’ve seen it with our soccer matches that it’s much louder,” Smith said. “This will be an extremely loud place as opposed to the past. It will be a noticeable difference. … It will make for a fun atmosphere.”
The suite level on the west side of the stadium has been expanded from 18 to 22 units, including a “super suite.” Two new 100-player locker rooms are housed under the stands on the south side of the stadium.
“The building is better prepared for football now,” said Tom Burnett, the commissioner of the Southland Conference, which is the league host for the championship game.
The stadium first opened in 2005, and has been home to the FCS Championship Game since the 2010 season.
Image courtesy FC Dallas.
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