$4 million added to stadium renovation

TUSCALOOSA - A University of Alabama System trustees committee Thursday approved spending an additional $4 million on the renovation of Bryant Denny Stadium, making possible a landscaped plaza approach to the north end zone.

The revised budget, which would increase the total project cost to $50 million, will be considered by the full board at its meeting today in Tuscaloosa.

The additional $4 million would cover $2.6 million for construction and landscaping of the plaza and $1.4 million to help the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity relocate. The plaza would take over the site where the fraternity house now sits.

DEKE would move across the street and build a new house on the site that now is the University Police Department, Gorgas Hall.

The trustee committee also approved a plan for DEKE to borrow $2 million through the university to build a new house. The fraternity would chip in $1.75 million toward the house.

Other fraternities also have the option of borrowing money through the university for fraternity renovations, and the trustee committee approved $6.5 million in other loans to various fraternities.

The plaza is envisioned as a scenic approach to the stadium and a greenspace for students on game day and during the week.

The proposal also mentions a plan to use the plaza as a "game day drop-off point for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and serve as a processional route from University Boulevard to the new home team lockers."

The $50 million project includes the addition of 9,000 seats, 38 skyboxes, club seating, and improvements to the locker room and recruitment room.