KNOXVILLE — Neyland Stadium’s size has typically been a problem for the University of Tennessee’s football opponents.

Its six-figure capacity also comes with a price to pay at home, though. A nine-figure price.

UT officials led a media tour of Neyland’s newest enhancements on Wednesday afternoon. They claim the second of four or five construction phases will be completed by the Vols’ Sept. 13 home opener.

Phase two started with last season’s LED scoreboards and ring of honor, but most of its construction started after the team’s late November home finale.

Some changes — such as larger concourses, and a brick trim replacing the field-level hedges — are noticeable.

Others — such as a sparkling new lockerroom, field-level media center, letterman’s club room and new club seats — will be enjoyed by a select few. The new lockerroom leads directly to the North end zone, though, which associate athletic director John Currie said would give the team a “wider, more explosive” look while running through the ‘T.’

The renovations are scheduled to be completed between 2013 and 2017, for a price tag exceeding $200 million. Currie said the new club seats generated $26 million, which fully funded the second phase of construction.

Athletic director Mike Hamilton said UT’s self-sustaining athletic department opted for a gradual renovation to ensure financial responsibility. Or, as Currie stated, “If we get to the point where we have no more money, we’re not going to be halfway through a phase.”

Currie cited several statistics while maintaining UT’s stance that its still getting “good bang for its buck,” but he didn’t shy away from blaming the sharp increase in construction costs for doubling the project’s initial $100 million mark.

“We weren’t the only people surprised by such a drastic increase,” Currie said. “But if we were to build a new, state-of-the-art, 100,000-plus football stadium, it would cost more than $800 million.”

Much of the 87-year-old stadium’s water, electric and sewer systems needed complete overhaul, and there are now 300 percent more women’s restroom facilities. Family restroom facilities also were added.

Renovations aside, simple maintenance work inside such a mammoth structure doesn’t come cheaply. Currie said paint and labor on a small portion of the stadium’s seats cost approximately $750,000. He called the corrosion-preventing paint a necessary purchase — and a delay “risky.”

“It might sound crazy to say, ‘That’s what it costs these days,’” said Bud Ford, UT’s associate athletic director for media relations. “But that’s what things cost these days.”

Added Currie: “These were expensive renovations, and some of them won’t just jump right out at you, but I think people will appreciate the results.”

The brick wall shrunk an already-tight space outside the South end zone’s corners. Currie said the department has “noticed that ... and talked about that.” Overall, though, the renovations have undeniably improved the stadium’s efficiency.

“We’d had several problems with wasted space,” Currie said. “We’ve definitely improved that part.”

Plans for Neyland’s third renovation phase will be announced this fall, but Currie said construction will be split into the next two offseasons. Full details haven’t been released, but phase three is scheduled to include a large statue of General Robert Neyland and brick work around the stadium’s steel exterior.

“We’re going to blend it into The Hill; give it a more traditional, collegiate look,” Hamilton said earlier this year. “It’s going to look tremendous.”

And it’s going to cost a lot more money.

Tech Talk