The Chattanooga Red Wolves SC plans to expand the seating capacity of CHI Memorial Stadium to hold more than 6,000 people while also converting the playing surface from synthetic turf to natural grass.
The capacity of the East Ridge facility will rise from the current mark of more than 4,000, said Sean McDaniel, president of the professional soccer club owned by businessman Bob Martino, in an interview Friday.
"It has always been intended," McDaniel said about the growth.
In addition, work will start later this year after the Red Wolves' season to remove the stadium's artificial turf and install grass, he said. McDaniel said the artificial turf has been "fantastic," but grass is preferred.
According to the Red Wolves, the multimillion-dollar changes are aimed at creating expanded opportunities for the stadium that's at Interstates 75 and 24 and where the club opened play in 2020.
There are also plans to offer concerts at the facility, Caroline McWhorter, president of stadium development, said in an interview. With the increase in seats and use of the playing surface, the stadium could hold from 8,000 to 12,000 people, she said.
"We're working on concerts," McWhorter said.
Switching to grass will enable the stadium to attract more prestigious soccer matches and exhibitions, including drawing teams from Europe, McDaniel said.
"Many European teams want to play on grass," said McDaniel, adding grass is a faster surface than artificial turf. He said many facilities will wet the grass to boost the speed of the game.
Bolstering stadium capacity comes on the heels of the announcement Tuesday that the Red Wolves organization will field one of as many as 14 teams comprising the new USL Women's Super League, McDaniel said.
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Bob Martino is seen at CHI Memorial Stadium in East Ridge in 2021.The U.S. Soccer Federation requires a "top tier" team offer in excess of 5,000 seats at its playing facility, he said. The existing Lady Red Wolves will remain in the USL W League, according to the organization.
An influx of visitors coming to watch additional games and events will create a major economic benefit for the Chattanooga market, owner Martino, a Utah developer, said in a statement.
"These visitors will stay in Chattanooga's hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop with retailers in the region," he said.
The new seating is slated to go on the east side of the stadium when installation starts late this year, McDaniel said. It will offer both seat-back and bleacher seating, Martino said.
Overflow crowds can congregate under the huge scoreboard on one end of the facility, McDaniel said.
The move to grass will require the hiring of added personnel for maintenance, according to McWhorter.
"They'll have to be there to take care of the grass year-round," she said.
Earlier this year, the Red Wolves expanded the stadium to make room for nearly 1,000 more people. The team also added amenities in an investment that Martino then put at more than $1 million.
"We're expecting larger crowds," Martino said in an interview at the time, adding there were several Red Wolves sellouts last season. "We knew we had to bring in more capacity."
In addition to more seats, the club added a multilevel indoor and outdoor sports bar called Howl, along with a second so-called "party pad" for community groups, he said.
Meanwhile, outside the stadium footprint, work continues on the first 16 townhouses going up on the 110-acre tract, which is called The Gateway. Eventually, about 144 townhomes are slated for the site, Martino said. Also, the $140 million first phase includes more residences and commercial space.
But Martino said he's continuing to wait for construction of a widened road into the site from Ringgold Road.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.