All structural work on the expansion of Scott Stadium at the Carl Smith Center was completed last week.
The expansion adds 16,500 seats to the stadium, a new parking garage and new facilities for University Career Services at a cost of $86 million.
Work on utilities, the 44 new luxury suites and press boxes should be finished by Aug. 21, in time for the season opener against Brigham Young University Sept. 6, said Richard Laurance, director of the Carl Smith Center Expansion at Scott Stadium.
"Right now the main concentration is utility work in the interior, which includes the president's box, the press box, Bryan Hall level two and the entrances to Bryan Hall," Laurence said. "We have at least 300 people on the site-some for seven days a week."
Director of Athletics, Terry Holland said landscaping work will continue into the fall.
Holland also said the increased seating may force more fans to park away from the stadium.
While a new parking garage will add just over 6,000 spaces, the expansion of the stadium's perimeter will eliminate nearly as many spaces, leaving a net increase of only 250 spots.
Holland said fans can use parking lots at the Medical Center and Downtown Mall and then ride shuttles to the game.
It's not in the fans' best interest to have more spots near the stadium, because it creates gridlock, he said.
The University has "plenty of spaces compared to other stadiums," he added.
The first in a series of life safety and building code inspections and administrative reviews was held on May 11.
Safety inspections will continue during July and August, and final inspections on the stadium and parking garage are scheduled for the end of August.
The expansion project started in the spring of 1998 after Carl W. Smith, Class of 1950 graduate and former Cavalier football player, donated the initial $25 million for the football stadium's renovation in July 1997.
Smith's donation is being supplemented with contributions of private gifts and grants, Laurance said.
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