Baylor Bears Making Exciting Improvements to McLane Stadium

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According to a recent news release, Baylor University announced significant renovations to their football stadium. After already renovating their basketball arena this past year, it seems like the Bears are not done improving their athletic facilities.

McLane Stadium Renovations

The eight-figure project will entail "the installation of upgraded and additional video boards, the construction of new production control rooms, and the addition of a premium hospitality structure ahead of the Baylor football season this fall," according to the release. The project is set to fulfill warranted improvements to McLane Stadium, which opened in 2014, that will further modernize the venue and enhance the visual and functional aspects of the stadium.

In terms of video displays, a new video board will be built into the back of the main video board on the south side of the endzone, allowing patrons who are located in the South Plaza a more fulfilling gameday experience as well as enhance revenue opportunities. In addition, the stadium will be receiving seven new LED displays, a higher-resolution display on the main video board structure, a new auxiliary video display on the north end of the stadium, two ribbon displays and two field-level displays. on top of the backside video board facing the South Plaza.

"The main video board display will measure 47 feet high by 107 feet wide and will improve the resolution from a 15HD to 10HD pixel layout, significantly improving image quality and brightness. The auxiliary board at the north end of the stadium will measure 10 feet high by 49 feet wide and is a new element at McLane Stadium to provide fans additional stats and scores from around the country,"

Not only are the video displays being improved, but the hospitality options McLane Stadium offers are being improved as well. The new clubhouse will also be located in the south end zone and will feature climate-controlled, field-view premium seating geared toward corporate hospitality. The clubhouse will be placed toward the back of the pre-existing Berm area, which will allow for general admission seating to still be closer to the field.

Finally, Baylor will also be improving on the production controls of McLane Stadium, centralizing their media production capabilities as well as improving upon the technology and media production processes.

"The McLane Stadium production control rooms will allow Baylor Athletics Creative staff, led by the BaylorVision crew, the ability to produce broadcasts for many Baylor Athletics events from one centralized location, and available for use by various network television partners to produce their broadcasts," according to the news release. "The production control rooms will feature two broadcast control rooms and two video board control rooms. The facility will feature isolated suites for audio, replay, video shading and engineering,"

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“Our team has been working hard, and we are thrilled to be able to showcase these improvements and additions to our fans," said Baylor Athletic Director Jovan Overshown regarding the new improvements. "The new, high-resolution video board in the stadium, the backside video board visible from the Brazos River and the South Plaza, and new ribbon board displays throughout McLane Stadium are timely additions.

"We believe our corporate partners and fans are going to love the brand-new Clubhouse, which will offer a truly unique experience and perspective on game days," she said. "And of course, we are thrilled for our incredible Creative and Production teams to have state-of-the-art control rooms. All of these exciting updates will simply add to our incredible home on the Brazos, McLane Stadium."

What This Means for Baylor

After suffering a drop-off in their football success between 2021 and now, going from a Big 12 Conference Championship and Sugar Bowl victory to 6-7 and 3-9 records in 2022 and 2023, these improvements are more than welcome. Anticipated to be finished by this upcoming season's home opener, the new improvements will be sure to catch the eyes of recruits and fans alike.

Baylor is currently at a crossroads with their football program. Coach Dave Aranda is on the hot seat after two consecutive losing seasons and major coaching and roster turnover, so time is of the essence to go back to being a strong football program. Given that Baylor is predicted to finish 12th in the Big 12, many don't see this success coming this year, especially with a loaded conference.

This being said, there are a few pundits that do believe in the Bears this year and with these new stadium improvements will come an improvement in morale, recruiting and overall feeling within the Baylor program. If Baylor can finish better than expected this year, Aranda could save his job and that improvement in morale could be pushed even further.

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With how rapid the pace of change in college football is these days, the Bears are simply keeping up with the Joneses, with this being a big step forward in competing with the titans of the Big 12. For more Baylor news and Big 12 updates, be sure to keep tuned in to College Football Dawgs and Dawgs Media.