When Phillip Fulmer expects Tennessee's Neyland Stadium renovation to begin

The construction green light is in sight for the south end zone renovation at Neyland Stadium.

Construction could begin in December or January, Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday during a meeting with the Board of Trustees’ special committee on UT athletics.

Fulmer said Tennessee has about $180 million raised for the project through philanthropic gifts and debt financing. That reflects the amount pegged for the project when it was approved by the board in November 2017 as Phase I of an overall $340 million stadium renovation.

The State Building Commission also approved the project, which is not slated to use tuition revenue or tax revenue.

What happened since Neyland Stadium project was approved?

Much has changed since the project gained board approval, and construction never commenced.

Fulmer replaced John Currie as Tennessee’s athletic director on Dec. 1, 2017. UT also had turnover at the chancellor and president positions, and the board was overhauled and reduced from 27 to 12 members by the UT FOCUS Act, approved in 2018.

Fulmer announced last November that he was pumping the brakes on the project while the athletic department evaluated its design and scope.

“We’ve had, I think, lots and lots of great ideas,” Fulmer told the committee on Wednesday. “The practical part of it has to kick in as to what we really want to do for the fan experience, what we have to do for the safety of the people, particularly in the south end zone. We’re staying in the south end zone for the most part.

“And then, obviously, what we can afford to do at this particular time. We have a good amount of the money raised. There will be a little bit more to do. It will affect the south end zone in a great way.”

Fulmer told the News Sentinel earlier this month that the athletic department is being mindful of UT’s Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, which must vacate South Stadium Hall, where it currently calls home.

“We want to be good neighbors and good partners with campus,” Fulmer said earlier this month.

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What project will entail

UT has not detailed whether the south end zone renovation plans have changed substantially since the project underwent re-evaluation after Fulmer became AD. The athletic department is expected to release updated renderings after the new plans are finalized and announced.

Fulmer did offer some details Wednesday as to what the renovation will entail. It will include improving the south end zone facade to mimic that of Gate 21, the well-known plaza entryway on the northwest side. The project also will result in pavilions and areas in front of the south end for fans to gather.

“We’re going to extend the perimeter a bit of the stadium to try to draw more people to the stadium sooner,” Fulmer said.

Fulmer said he wants to keep ticket prices in mind in other areas of the stadium.

“One of my goals as we go through this process of finalizing what we’re going to do with the south end zone and adjusting some seating values is to get our tickets affordable enough in other parts of the stadium — non-premium parts of the stadium — so that our people can come,” he said.

Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.