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//  Saturday, July 31, 2010

Oklahoma State Football Fans Are High on the Future

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Posted by Seth Becker

Optimism, it is the drug of choice for the sports fan.  For Oklahoma State Cowboy football fans, there is optimism high that has not lasted as long or been as strong as it is for this upcoming season.  A big part of that is the euphoria and outright giddiness created by the completion of the $100+ million dollar expansion of Boone Pickens Stadium. 

The stadium was first built in 1920 with a capacity of 8000 and was named for Laymon Lowery Lewis, a popular dean of vet medicine.  Through the years several improvements and expansions were built.   Some of those included artificial surface in 1971, a new press box in 1980, and lights for the first time before the 1985 season.   But this latest expansion blows all that away.  Not only has seating been increased to 60,218 screaming fans, but the facilities have undergone an extreme makeover. 

A new football facility covering 146,000 square feet, on the field level alone, gives the Cowboy athletes a top notch football experience.  From the 20,000 square foot strength and conditioning center, to the sports medicine center with four hydro-therapy pools, to the new 14,000 square foot players' locker room complete with ventilated lockers, the new facility exudes class.  The spirit groups have their own warm up area.  Even Bullet, the Cowboy's spirit rider horse that sprints across the field after a Cowboy touchdown will return to his own stall located off the northwest tunnel.

And the improvements are not just for the players and staff.  A new media center will open this season, plus a ring of more than 100 suites with 4000 club seats, included in this are the only suites in college athletics that can be used for either football, or for watching a basketball game in historic Gallagher-Iba arena.   The new look of the stadium is exciting to say the least, but add to that the new jumbo screens while keeping the tightest sidelines in football, and you get a home field advantage that is going to be difficult for any team to overcome.  There is no wonder that the Cowboy program is expecting record breaking season ticket sales and attendance figures for this 2009-10 season. 

It's a unique experience, opening a new stadium.  Usually it's reserved for expansion teams or teams that have relocated.  And with those teams it's normal to have only the stadium to market to the fans.  But like I said, the optimism is running thick.   Not only are the Cowboys and their fans enjoying the new digs, they are also getting a healthy dose of returning talent.  QB Zac Robinson will be breaking some of head Coach Mike Gundy's school records.   Dez Bryant will be one of, if not the top wide receiver in the nation, and Kendall Hunter will help complete what will be a VERY high powered offense this season. 

So Cowboys fans, enjoy.  Cowboy opponents, gear up.  Football fans all over the nation, prepare to welcome a new Big 12 power, and if you'd like there is always plenty of room on the bandwagon.

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