page_title: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium
section_title: Renovations and expansions
hierarchical_section_title: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium / History / Renovations and expansions
caption_attribution_description: English: Newly constructed north end zone seating (exterior facade) of [Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium] on the campus of University of Texas at Austin
context_page_description: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, located in Austin, Texas, on the campus of the University of Texas, has been home to the Longhorns football team since 1924. The stadium has delivered a home field advantage with the team's home record through November 17, 2018 being 374–117–10. Prior to construction to build permanent south end zone seating and luxury suites, the official stadium seating capacity was 100,119, which made the stadium the largest in the Big 12 Conference, the eighth largest stadium in the United States, and the ninth largest stadium in the world.
  The DKR–Texas Memorial Stadium attendance record of 103,507 spectators was set on September 15, 2018, when Texas played The University of Southern California.
context_section_description: The stadium has been expanded several times since its original opening.
  1926 – "Horseshoe" built on the north end for US$125,000 raising capacity to 40,500.
  1948 – 26 rows were added to the east and west stands. Additionally, a section was added to the south end of the east and west stands. Capacity was raised to 60,136 at a cost of $1.4 million. General contractor for this work was Farnsworth & Chambers Inc. of Houston.
  1955 – 8 100-foot Light towers were added at a cost of $200,000. First night game occurred on September 17, 1955.
  1964 – Minor seating expansion added 780 seats, bringing capacity to 60,916.
  1968 – Seating expansion added 5,481 seats, bringing capacity to 66,397.
  1969 – Artificial turf, a tartan track and aluminium seats were installed. First game on turf occurred September 27, 1969
  1971 – Upper deck added to the west side adding 15,990 seats, raising seating capacity to 77,809; General contractor for this work was a joint venture of two companies: Darragh & Lyda Inc. of San Antonio and H. A. Lott, Inc. of Houston.
  1977 – Track converted from 440 yards to 400 meters (437.4 yds.).
  1986 – The Vernon F. "Doc" Neuhaus–Darrell K Royal Athletic Center completed at the south end of the stadium at a cost of $7 million; the Center was later renamed the W. A. "Tex" Moncrief, Jr.–V. F. "Doc" Neuhaus Athletic Center in 1997 after Royal's name was added to the stadium.
  1989 – New four-color animated scoreboard was installed at the north end of the stadium
  1996 – Replacement of the stadium's artificial turf with natural grass (Prescription Athletic Turf) at a cost of $1.25 million; installation of a Jumbotron video system; scoreboards retrofitted at a cost of $2.8 million;
  1997 – 14 stadium suites added to west side; underside of the stands remodeled, adding a concession plaza and visitors' locker room. In recognition of UT law school alumnus and benefactor Joe Jamail, the University named the football playing field Joe Jamail Field. Stadium capacity reduced by 2,297 seats, bringing capacity to 75,512.
  1998 – Upper deck added to the east side including 52 new stadium suites and a 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m²) private club room. A total of 3,959 seats were added, bringing capacity to 79,471.
  1999 – Track removed; new seats added to the west grandstand and the field was lowered seven feet to accommodate new front-row and field-level seats on the east and west grandstands, bringing capacity to 80,082.
  2002 – TifSport Certified Bermuda grass replaced Prescription Athletic Turf. Cost $75,000
  2005 – Bellmont Hall, located in the west side of the stadium, was upgraded to meet newer safety codes set by the Austin Fire Department, the upper deck structure received new water sealing, and the Centennial Room and eighth-floor press box were expanded at a cost of $15 million.
  2006 – A 7,370-square-foot (685 m²) HD Daktronics LED scoreboard, nicknamed "Godzillatron", located in the south end zone, was installed as the centerpiece of $8 million worth of audio/visual improvements. The six large flag poles that previously displayed the Six Flags Over Texas were replaced by smaller flags located atop the new screen. The sound system was also updated and smaller video boards were installed on the east and west sides of the stadium. 432 club seats were added to the west side and approximately 4,000 bleacher seats were added behind the south end zone expanding official seating capacity to 85,123.
  2007–2008 – An expansion project costing US$149.9 million gave the stadium a new memorial plaza and new multi-level north end zone structure. The new outdoor plaza at the northwest corner is a memorial to veterans, with (the original 1924) bronze tablet honoring Texas World War I deaths, and a monument. The expansion included additional seats with an upper deck, club space, suites, athletic offices, academic-advising areas and a basement with gym space. Demolition of the old north end zone began on December 8, 2006 to move seating closer to the field. The south end zone also became the new seating location of the Longhorn Band beginning in 2008. 
caption: Exterior facade of the new north end zone seating.
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