BIG SCORE!

UT Austin tackles football stadium renovation and scores major upgrades

Katie Friel
UT Austin tackles football stadium renovation and scores major upgrades
DKR's renovation should take two years. Rendering courtesy of Populous

This article originally appeared on CultureMap.

Spending a Saturday watching football is one of Austin's great rites of passage, but the experience is about to get even better. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas at Austin is set to undergo a major renovation — and score some big upgrades. 

On September 20, Texas Athletics announced that DKR is slated for a series of expansion and renovation projects designed to enhance the fan experience, as well as benefit players and coaching staff. Included in the $175 million project is the expansion of the south end zone, a move that will enclose the stadium for the first time in its 95-year history.

With Missouri-based architecture firm Populous at the helm, DKR's other renovation upgrades include:

  • New entry towers
  • A Longhorn-shaped balcony designed into the end zone seating and visible from the air 
  • Student concession areas and eating patios overlooking the field
  • Upgraded offices for coaching staff
  • New stage for Longhorn Network's GameDay show and visiting networks
  • Specially designed premium experiences such as field-level club seats and seats next to the Bevo corral

Continue reading on CultureMap.

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The Tigers beat the Astros, 7-4. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Javy Báez capped a five-run third inning with his ninth career grand slam, and the Detroit Tigers avoided a series sweep by beating the Houston Astros 7-4 on Wednesday.

Baez’s two-out homer off AJ Blubaugh (0-1), a 24-year-old right-hander making his major league debut, put the Tigers ahead 7-1. All five runs were unearned due to shortstop Jeremy Peña throwing error on Kerry Carpenter's grounder.

Riley Greene tied his career high with four hits.

Brenan Hanifee (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Jackson Jobe, who allowed three runs, four hits and four walks in three innings. Detroit has won five of seven and nine of 13.

Blubaugh (0-1) struck out two in a 1-2-3 first and gave up seven runs — two earned — and five hits in four innings with six strikeouts and a walk.

Blubaugh was optioned back to Sugar Land after the game.

Peña hit the first career leadoff home run, the first of his three hits, but Colt Keith hit a two-run homer in the second to put Detroit ahead for good.

Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the fifth and Victor Caratini homered in the seventh against Tyler Holton.

Holton struck out Yainer Diaz to strand two runners in the seventh and Tommy Kahnle struck out Christian Walker to leave two runners on in the eighth.

Houston went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.

Key moment

Báez drove a high sweeper over the left-field scoreboard.

Key stat

Houston allowed five unearned runs in the third inning after giving up three in its first 29 games.

Up next

Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (1-3 4.00 ERA) opens a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

Tigers: RHP Casey Mize (4-1 2.12 ERA) opens a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels and LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 4.31) on Thursday night.

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