FSU looking to add seating options, club level, etc to Joak Shambles:
Doak Campbell Stadium: FSU shares renovation plans for football stadium
The main issue at Doak this renovation would fix is providing more different seating options, price points and gameday experience options for fans who attend games.
"It's very important to develop a more diverse range of products. A good stadium has seven to 10 different (seating) options that you get to choose from. Really, right now we're at three: a seat, a club seat or a suite," Alford told the Democrat.
The main areas that will have seating options affected by this renovation would be the south end zone and the west (home) sideline.
The west sideline would see some seats close to the field on the 50-yard line taken out and replaced with a field-level club. The seats in this area, which are currently all bleachers, will be replaced by chair-back seats in a club area, premium loge boxes (private four to six-seat open-air boxes) and premium sideline suites.
As for the south end zone, FSU would be creating seven different seating options. These would include cabanas, ledge seating, standing free porch seating (fans would have a place to stand and a table to lean on and put things on but no seat), both premium and regular loge boxes and club seating with sofa-like cushions and phone chargers in each seat.
Changes will reduce stadium capacity, may affect some long-time fans
This renovation would also allow FSU to improve much of the gradual infrastructure of the stadium. Some of the many issues with the current infrastructure brought up by the survey results included restroom conditions, lack of handrails and concessions, WiFi and seat comfort.
The expectation is that these renovations would reduce the capacity of Doak Campbell Stadium from nearly 80,000 to around 70,000. But Alford sees it as a net positive as it creates a more premium experience for a number of fans.
It's not something that is locked in yet, but Alford says the estimated timeline would be that these renovations would be done just in time for the 2024 football season. The state of the stadium means it could be finished entirely between November of 2023 and August of 2024.