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New York, New York
How College Football Stadiums Are Evolving in 2026
August 28, 2026
College football stadiums are evolving to improve accessibility, fan experience, athlete performance and year-round use. Thornton Tomasetti has contributed to sports and public assembly projects at more than 140 college campuses, including current stadium renovations and athletics facility upgrades at Penn State, Kansas, Northwestern, TCU, UCF, and Missouri.
As the 2026 college football season gets underway, here’s a look at some of the facilities welcoming fans and athletes with new spaces, features, and capabilities.
College Football Stadium Renovations Improve the Fan Experience
One of college football’s best-known landmarks is undergoing a major transformation. At Pennsylvania State University’s Beaver Stadium in University Park, an extensive renovation is improving circulation, accessibility, and the overall fan experience. Thornton Tomasetti’s structural engineering and connection design teams, which include Penn State alumni, are supporting the project.
In Lawrence, Kansas, the transformation of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is part of the university’s larger Gateway District development. Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural engineering, connection design, and erection engineering for the multiphase project, helping modernize one of the nation’s oldest collegiate football venues while supporting its evolution into a year-round destination.
The Acrisure Bounce House at the University of Central Florida in Orlando has also undergone a major modernization program. Thornton Tomasetti served as structural engineer for the expansion and renovation of the stadium’s Roth Tower, helping update the facility for the evolving needs of fans and the university.
New Stadium Design Expands Accessibility and Campus Connections
A new home for Northwestern University football is nearing completion in Evanston, Illinois. The 35,000-seat Ryan Field features improved sightlines and accessibility, a canopy designed to contain crowd noise and limit light pollution, and new community spaces intended to strengthen connections between the stadium and its surroundings. Thornton Tomasetti is responsible for the structural design and construction engineering of the stadium, helping deliver a modern collegiate venue designed for fans, athletes, and the broader community.
At the University of Missouri in Columbia, Memorial Stadium is also ready for the new season following upgrades to its North End Zone. Our work included structural engineering, connection design, and Tekla modeling to support the stadium modernization.
Athletics Facility Upgrades Support Student-Athlete Performance
Collegiate athletics investment often extends beyond the stadium. At Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Thornton Tomasetti provided structural engineering for renovations and additions to the Bob Lilly Physical Performance Center and Simpson Family Restoration and Wellness Center.
The upgraded facilities support student-athlete training, performance, and recovery, reflecting a broader shift toward athletics environments designed to support the full athlete experience.
Across these projects, many of the priorities shaping collegiate athletics facilities are increasingly consistent: better accessibility and circulation, improved fan experiences, stronger connections to campuses and communities, and spaces designed to support athletes throughout training, competition, and recovery.
Engineering for the Next Generation of Collegiate Athletics Facilities
From stadium renovation and structural design to connection design and construction engineering, Thornton Tomasetti helps universities address the complex challenges of modern sports and public assembly facilities.