OU is giving a facelift to the 72-year-old Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for next season.

The OU Athletic Department is currently working on the addition of nine luxury suites to the lower level of the press box.

These boxes will be available for fans, donors or anyone interested in reserving them for games. Four of the suites will accommodate up to 12 spectators at once, while the remaining five larger boxes will serve 24 people.

"What we plan on doing is to use them (the luxury suites) to determine the interest in suites and luxury boxes," said Larry Naifeh, compliance officer for the Athletic Department.

If the luxury suites go over well with the fans, the Athletic Department will continue to update and renovate the stadium, adding extra perks for fans and spectators.

Before deciding on construction of the suites, Naifeh said that the members of the athletic department looked into other universities and how they did success-wise with luxury boxes.

Naifeh also said that the boxes will be a good addition to the stadium and for the fans that will be making use of them.

"Suites develop a good revenue for the university and the Athletic Department," he said.

"They provide a nice amenity for fans. The view from the suites is going to be spectacular."

The boxes are being constructed in the lower level of the press box, approximately 120 feet off the ground and 350 feet from the center of the field.

The boxes will extend the length of the press box, which is 192 feet long.

The construction is being done by the W.L. McNatt Company for $836,000.

Construction is planned to be finished for the first game of the season against San Diego state on Sept. 9.

Prices for suite rental have not yet been decided, but information concering reservations will be released in a few weeks by the athletic department. Thursday, June 22, 1995
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