News release courtesy of the Texas A&M University System:
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp today announced Dec. 21 as the implosion date of the west side of Kyle Field, representing a significant milestone in the second phase of the $450 million stadium redevelopment.
Texas A&M’s last football game of the 2014 regular season is on Thanksgiving Day against SEC Western Division rival LSU at Kyle Field, although some preparatory work for phase two of the stadium redevelopment has already begun primarily in the north plaza. Kyle Field will officially become a construction zone approximately two hours following the conclusion of the LSU game, with credentialed construction access only.
The historic first deck of Kyle Field’s west side will be removed mechanically by heavy machinery, similar to the first deck of the east side following the 2013 football season. The overall process to prepare the stadium for the Dec. 21 implosion of the second and third decks as well as the press box will take several weeks.
More details regarding the implosion of Kyle Field will be provided in the upcoming weeks:
The implosion will occur in the early morning daylight hours of Sunday, Dec. 21. A more specific time will be announced approximately a week prior to the event.
The exclusion zone for the Kyle Field implosion will include Joe Routt Blvd. and Wellborn Road, which will require temporary road closures.
Public viewing of the Kyle Field implosion will be available from the Reed Arena lawn and parking lots, as well as from Lot 61 (gameday Lot H). The West Campus Garage and Blue Bell Park will be closed for private events.
A live web stream of the event is being planned. Credentialed media will have access to the roof of the West Campus Garage, with additional footage from within the exclusion zone to be provided post-event. Additional information for the media and regarding the web stream is forthcoming.
Specific instructions for campus facilities and personnel in preparation for the implosion will be distributed prior to the end of the fall semester.
The Kyle Field project has been recognized as the largest stadium redevelopment in the history of college football. Scheduled for completion in time for the 2015 season, the new west side of the stadium will feature new suites and premium areas for fans, the majestic Hall of Champions and state-of-the-art facilities for television broadcast media. Final seating capacity of the stadium will be 102,512.