Why Vanderbilt football is committed to playing in FirstBank Stadium amid renovations
College football teams doing renovations on their stadiums have a choice to make: continue to play in the stadium while it's under construction or temporarily relocate to a new location.
There are two locations in Nashville where Vanderbilt football may have been able to play had it been necessary, one is in Nissan Stadium and the other, Geodis Park. The Commodores and athletic director Candice Lee were committed to continuing to play at FirstBank Stadium with ongoing projects in both end zones.
As the Aug. 26 opener approaches, Vanderbilt hasn't wavered from that plan.
"It was really important for us if at all feasible, to compete in our venues while we're under construction," Lee said Monday. "I think number one, for all the projects that we're doing, I'm trying not to displace our student-athletes. So we're trying to be really mindful of their day to day process. And as they move between spaces, of course it's disruptive because we're choosing to be aggressive with the construction but I really wanted them to play at home if at all possible. And I also like the idea of, during games, being able to literally see the the construction coming to life."
Lee said the projects at FirstBank Stadium are on track to be completed under the university's original timeline. She said that the south end zone project, which will contain new locker rooms, a dining facility, a renovated concourse and additional premium seating, will be ready prior to the start of the 2024 football season. The north end zone project, which consists of a new basketball operations center, will be ready prior to the start of the 2024-25 basketball season.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Vanderbilt football is playing at FirstBank Stadium amid construction
