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Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/30/26

Key Takeaways

  • Bowers Stadium has reopened following a major renovation that modernizes the 1986 facility with a new press box, upgraded hospitality areas, and enhanced amenities for athletics and year-round campus events.
  • The project improves accessibility, circulation, and the overall fan experience by addressing aging infrastructure, enhancing sightlines, and creating more efficient movement throughout the stadium.
  • The redesigned venue supports both athletics and broader campus use with flexible gathering spaces, including a VIP lounge and patio deck, that can accommodate student events beyond game days.

Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design. The new facility includes a new press box, updated hospitality spaces, and updated amenities for stadium programming.

The stadium was built in 1986 and needed a series of upgrades to address accessibility standards, aging infrastructure, and modern standards for university athletics stadiums.

“College athletic facilities today have to support much more than the game itself,” said Scott Klaus, AIA, LEED AP, Stantec principal and Sports & Recreation Global leader. “At Bowers Stadium, together with our partner DLR, we helped the university improve how people experience the venue, from the way fans move through the concourse to how athletes connect to the field, while creating flexible spaces that serve the program year-round.”

The new press box supports contemporary broadcasting and game-day operations, the news release reports. New premium hospitality areas and flexible gathering spaces, such as the VIP lounge, can support student events throughout the year. The design was mindful of crowd circulation and sightlines. A patio deck next to the VIP lounge connects via bridge to the main concourse, providing multiple, layered views of the stadium, field, and fans.

“From day one, the goal was to create a more engaging and versatile stadium experience that meets the evolving expectations of today’s student-athletes and fans,” said Greg Garlock, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, DLR Group principal and Sports Design leader. “This renovation enhances how people move through and connect within the venue, while introducing premium spaces and modern amenities that will support Sam Houston State University’s athletics program and broader campus community well into the future.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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