The University of Tennessee’s campus and the neighboring Fort Sanders have undergone dramatic change and construction over the past few years. Most recently, improvements have begun on Phillip Fulmer Way and on Neyland Stadium.
Right in front of Neyland Stadium, on Phillip Fulmer Way, students can see that the road has been reduced to one lane and that fences and construction equipment line up along the road. This is all a part of UT’s Phillip Fulmer Pedestrian Improvements Project.
According to the Campus Master Plan, “Streetscape enhancements at Phillip Fulmer Way improve the pedestrian experience between Food City Center and Neyland Stadium for events and game day. Enhancements along Neyland Drive include new sidewalks, lighting, plantings screening the Neyland Parking Garage and consistent signage to improve the University’s presence at an important gateway to campus and the pedestrian experience.”
The project aims to provide a better pedestrian experience on campus, mainly to alleviate congestion during game days. Phillip Fulmer Way will remain closed until August 2025 while construction is ongoing.
Major improvements to Neyland Stadium are happening at the same time. The plans have undergone several changes and updates — improvement projects were initially signed off on by the Board of Trustees in 2017.
In June of 2022, at the request of director of athletics Danny White and his team, the Board of Trustees expanded the plans for Phase 1 of stadium improvements. This expansion included a total budget increase of $108 million, raising the total cost of Phase 1 to $288 million.
The plans include several different individual projects. According to a 2022 press release by UT Sports, we can expect new signage, “V-O-L-S letters – add two sets of letters to reintroduce a traditional stadium feature.” Other highlights include new founders’ suites with elaborate space and lounge areas.
The project plans to improve stadium-wide Wi-Fi infrastructure for those who have experienced poor internet connection at games. The new founders’ suite is being added as another lounge below the existing structure on the southwest side of the stadium.
There has been a recent flurry of activity and plans for significant changes on and around Neyland Stadium. Over the summer of 2024, UT released plans for a Neyland Entertainment District.
The project focuses on totally reinventing Neyland’s face on the Tennessee River. Plans include a hotel, condos, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and more. Plans continue to attempt to tie in Neyland with the surrounding campus and river.
In July, UT announced its intention to award the Neyland Entertainment District project to the 865 Neyland Project Team, whose members have had experience working on similar projects with other sports teams. The Neyland Entertainment District plans also attempt to connect Neyland with the Food City Center.
These project connections for the many different construction plans aim to continue improving the experience of game day attendees, particularly pedestrians.
Overall, UT is investing heavily in its infrastructure to provide an enhanced experience for students, staff and visitors. The various projects underway, from pedestrian improvements on Phillip Fulmer Way to developments inside Neyland Stadium, reflect a commitment to growth and modernization. While it’s clear that all these projects will take some time before completion, UT is already moving quickly to meet its goals.
