The upgrades to Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium remain on pace to be completed before the Golden Eagles’ first game of the season.
Athletic Director Casey Fox said despite a few unexpected setbacks at the start, the project has largely gone along without a hitch. Fox said many of those issues stemmed from unanticipated concrete blocks underground.
“We’re going to be pushing it well into August,” Fox said. “Even with the first football game they’ll probably to have to come back and do some finishing touches before the second football game. We’re crossing our fingers that no more unforeseen things pop up and we stay on schedule.”
The new upgrades are just one piece of the puzzle, Fox said, as the school’s athletic programs look to earn more trust from the fan base and student body. Fox said it helps that the football team appears to be on the rise.
“Just putting in new improvements will only lead to so much curiosity,” Fox said. “But that would be a short-term fix for building the football program up and our athletic department. We have to continue to invest and have success with football.”
Fox said the new additions to the stadium’s west side will increase fan engagement and the overall viewership experience
Over the next two years, the University plans to expand the walkways on the east side and add in handrails by the 2027 season.
“We’re trying to enhance the overall experience for the whole stadium as we move forward,” Fox said.
The Golden Eagles finished last season 11-2 with wins over Gardner-Webb and Davidson. Tech will kick off the season with a home opener against the Monmouth Hawks on Saturday, August 29.
“Ultimately, the goal is to be competitive and compete for conference championships for all of our program,” Fox said. “I’m a believer that it starts with football, and football having success will drive more revenue and more eyes on this and, ultimately, we want to expose — not only the athletic department — but the whole university to the country and show what a hidden gem, so to speak, that Tennessee Tech is as a whole.”