Maintaining home-game schedules while modernizing major college football venues required phased construction at two Tennessee universities. Barton Malow managed multi-year renovation work at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium at the University of Memphis.
At Liberty Stadium, the first phase focused on moving media and game-day operations to the East Side. Work included a new press box, lighting improvements and interior finishes ahead of Memphis’ 2024 home opener. The second phase involved demolishing the West Side Tower and building a replacement structure with premium suites. That phase was completed before the Sept. 5, 2026, season opener against Arkansas State.
Vanderbilt’s renovation followed a different sequence. Work on the North End Zone and Huber Center basketball practice facility was completed in December 2024. The South End Zone expansion opened ahead of the Aug. 30, 2025, home opener.
The South End Zone project added more than 130,000 square feet and included new game-day locker rooms, an upgraded video board and acoustics system, and a redesigned concourse.
Keeping both stadiums operational meant coordinating construction activities with athletics operations, pedestrian access and event schedules. At Vanderbilt, South End Zone construction took place near Hawkins Field, the university’s baseball venue. Teams adjusted entry points, pedestrian routes and work areas to accommodate baseball games alongside ongoing construction.
Before football games, crews transitioned the site from active construction to event operations by securing work zones, installing barriers, clearing pedestrian pathways and providing wayfinding. These measures helped maintain safe access for fans, athletes, media and event personnel.
The renovations also expanded premium hospitality options. Liberty Stadium added suites, loge boxes and standing drink rails. Vanderbilt’s South End Zone introduced living room boxes, club seating, field-level seating and founders’ suites.
Delivering upgrades in phases required each completed area to meet the venue’s operational and quality expectations while construction continued elsewhere.
Stadium projects present tight scheduling constraints because home games and other events are fixed well in advance. Phased delivery can allow universities to modernize facilities without losing an entire season, but it requires detailed sequencing, coordination with venue operators and careful management of public access.
The two Tennessee projects illustrate how construction planning can balance long-term facility improvements with ongoing stadium operations. For universities investing in recruiting, hospitality and fan experience, maintaining event schedules while upgrading facilities is a central part of project delivery.
Source: Barton Malow.
