Renovations ahead of schedule at Bragg Stadium
Photo submitted by FAMU
By Brian Howard
FAMU Office of Communications
FAMU football fans will not have to wait much longer to see the new renovations at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Phase 1 of the renovations is ahead of schedule as the Rattlers will open fall camp on Aug. 5.
Ram Construction and Development was awarded the contract after the university received $10 million from the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency board. Phase 1 began in February with the east side of the stadium being renovated.
Phase 2, which is slated to begin in late November after the completion of the 2021 football season, will focus on the west side.
“Fans can expect a brand-new experience with their stadium,” said Heath Anniin, president of Ram Construction and Development. “They will be on a solid base that’s comfortable and drains well. There won’t be any issues of deterioration for probably a couple of generations.”
Anniin, a 1997 graduate of FAMU, said the fans will be able to enjoy the renovations as the university moves into a new era of football in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The renovation includes replacing all steel pans and seats, water blasting, repair and repainting of the steel frame infrastructure or replacement of the steel beams, seating replacement as well as upgrades to restrooms for handicap/ADA accessibility.
“The east side will have new aluminum versus steel seating and will be much louder than the old steel,” said Michael Rowe, project manager. “Bragg Memorial Stadium is a big part of Tallahassee. We are excited to be working on it and looking forward to that first game.”
The stadium was built in 1957 and saw its first renovation completed in 1983. It would be another 35 more years before there was an upgrade. In 2018, FAMU moved away from the grass playing surface and installed AstroTurf RootZone 3D3 to the stadium, as well as a new scoreboard located in the new end zone.
The Rattlers’ home opener is set for Sept. 11 against Fort Valley State. Plans are in place for attendance to be at 100 percent capacity this season.
