University of Texas announces $175-million stadium expansion

$175-million expansion of Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium approved by University of Texas regents.

University of Texas regents have approved a $175-million expansion of Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium, according to the Austin American Statesman.

Despite the renovation, seating capacity will remain at about 100,119, even though the open portion of lower bowl of the stadium will be filled in by the addition of club seats.

The Longhorns’ football facility will be totally revamped as part of the construction, but a timeline was not given for when the project will be completed.

The video board known as “Godzillatron” also will be expanded.

The newspaper report said perhaps the biggest news coming out of the expansion announcement is that the stadium’s capacity will not be increased, seeming to end a competition with rival Texas A&M.

The Texas rivals have continually tried to one-up each other over the last several decades by reacting to a stadium expansion by one school with another that passed the other in seating capacity.

Texas A&M’s Kyle Stadium has a capacity of 102,733.