By Courtney Schmitz

When Mississippi State University (MSU) gave final approval for renovations to expand the premium seating options at Dudy Noble Field in the winter of 2024, the directive was clear: complete the upgrades in time for the highly anticipated home baseball series against in-state rival Ole Miss. With just six weeks from approval to completion, the turnaround time left little room for error.

A Flexible Seating Solution

University stakeholders sought to improve the game-day experience at the MSU Bulldogs’ home stadium, which holds the NCAA on-campus attendance record of 16,423. At the same time, they wanted to avoid committing to a static, single-use solution. The goal was to create a flexible solution that could deliver a strong return on investment while enhancing the game-day experience for a loyal fanbase that has supported the team and Dudy Noble Field for decades.

To meet these objectives, the university worked with Sightline, which offers the Flex Suite system, a modular premium seating solution designed for flexibility and scalability. Built on a forkliftable aluminum frame, the system is designed for rapid deployment, reconfiguration and transport, whether within a single venue or across campus. Delivered as fully assembled units, each section integrates platforms, railings and seating into a single structure, with customizable and optional features like signage, drink railing, TVs and fridges. This approach minimized on-site construction and enabled a faster installation without sacrificing functionality or quality.

An Enhanced Fan Experience

The team carefully chose materials and finishes that are durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions while blending seamlessly with the stadium’s existing structural elements. Custom fabrication capabilities allowed Sightline to incorporate tailored design elements in-house. A decorative speckled walking surface, custom cable railing and integrated drink rails contributed to a more premium environment while maintaining the system’s flexibility.

Additional enhancements further elevated the experience. Integrated drink rails with custom acrylic backsplashes and Di-Noc infill panels were installed to reinforce a cohesive, premium aesthetic. Despite the compressed timeline, the renovations were completed in time for the Ole Miss series, one of MSU’s most electric sporting events of the year, which the Bulldogs ultimately won.

Scaling and Evaluating the Solution

Based on the positive feedback from fans and university staff, MSU expanded the Flex Suite concept beyond its baseball facility. What began as a fast-track solution for Dudy Noble Field quickly proved its value as a cross-venue strategy. Flex Suite was later introduced to Humphrey Coliseum, home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. This transition from an outdoor stadium to an indoor arena highlighted the system’s adaptability.

Adapting the system for “the Hump” required targeted modifications to align with the venue’s layout. Additional infill platforms and step units were installed to ensure seamless integration within the arena, while a dedicated concessions area exclusive to the Flex Suite sections at Humphrey Coliseum allowed the university to offer a differentiated experience at an affordable price point.

This project also provided an opportunity to evaluate the system in real-world conditions. By observing fan interactions and gathering feedback during the baseball season, the team identified opportunities for refinement. Insights from Dudy Noble Field informed adjustments that further improved comfort and usability when the system was implemented at Humphrey Coliseum.

Looking Longterm

As colleges and universities continue investing in athletic facilities, balancing premium experiences with long-term flexibility is becoming increasingly important. Solutions like Flex Suite that can adapt across venues and evolving programs offer a strategic alternative to traditional fixed construction, which may be difficult or costly to modify in the future.

At Mississippi State University, what began as a time-sensitive installation evolved into a scalable model for premium seating across campus while also creating new revenue opportunities. Collaboration with university stakeholders enabled the team to deliver a solution that met immediate demands for the Ole Miss series while supporting future use across athletic programs.

Courtney Schmitz is Director of Sales at Sightline Commercial Solutions.

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Sports has the power to unite diverse groups around a common goal. For schools at all levels, athletics can serve as a foundation for a school’s identity and is a crucial component of efforts to ensure healthy lifestyles.

The value of an athletics program goes beyond winning championships as schools increasingly rely on sports facilities and fields for myriad of functions. From practice time to game day and from intramural programs to sports tourism, sports fields are asked to do more than ever.

This expanded role of sports fields brings with it a number of challenges for schools, especially those school systems or institutions with natural grass fields. First, the cost to maintain these existing fields can increase year after year. Not only does the grass need consistent maintenance, but weather conditions can severely damage the field, requiring ongoing capital improvements.

Weather doesn’t just impact a field’s maintenance, it also can severely restrict the ability of a school to use the field. Grass fields that flood can’t be used for practices, games, or other events, forcing schools to cancel programming or find alternative and less desirable options. For example, poor field conditions at Hampton University caused flooding and erosion that prevented teams from practicing on the field and forced practices to move to an indoor gym during periods of heavy rain. A new synthetic field solved this issue so outdoor teams can play in various weather conditions, helping prepare them for upcoming games and freeing up the indoor gym for other programs. With demands for sport programming on the rise, all schools need to maximize their facilities, including sports fields.

Finally, a major challenge for existing natural grass fields is safety. Ensuring all participants are in a safe environment is the top priority for any school. Unfortunately, natural grass and older turf fields can result in harder surfaces with higher GMAX scores, a key consideration in potential concussions. Likewise, fields that flood easily can create uneven and unstable surfaces, resulting in more injuries.

Recognizing these serious concerns, more K-12 school systems and colleges and universities are exploring synthetic turf sports fields. Synthetic field technology has advanced exponentially in recent years and offer an array of benefits, especially when compared to natural grass fields.

Notably, synthetic fields can be more durable and multipurpose. The use of organic infill materials made with coconut husk, cork, corn husk, and other materials are a more widely accepted alternative to traditional crumb rubber infills. These materials may provide for softer surfaces as well as reduce the amount of heat trapped on a field. Improved shock pads are also installed underneath synthetic fields to further enhance safety. Vastly improved drainage of artificial fields further reduces maintenance costs and allows a field to be in use more often. For example, new synthetic turf fields installed at Henrico County, Virginia high schools can drain 12 inches of water per hour.

Henrico County offers a timely example of school districts recognizing the value of new synthetic turf fields. The county has initiated a multi-year phased project to replace the natural grass fields at its high schools with new artificial turf. The fields are designed and engineered to reduce maintenance, enhance safety, and ensure proper drainage. The field materials, site design, and underdrain systems all work together to create new synthetic sports fields that meet the county’s needs. In an innovative move, the county’s Department of Recreation and Parks to maintains the fields in an effort to streamline maintenance and ensure the new fields are leveraged for sports tourism and revenue-producing events.

College and universities see significant merit in these new fields as well. William and Mary, for example, installed synthetic turf on intramural fields at the college’s campus in Williamsburg, Virginia. This move now allows the college to program the field for additional hours and use it for a wide array of athletic events, including team practices and intramural programs. More opportunities to use these fields means that the college can offer additional athletic/recreational opportunities for students and maximize their investment in the synthetic fields.

That investment is an important consideration. Synthetic turf fields are more expensive to install than natural grass fields. However, the investment can be partially recouped through the decrease in long-term maintenance cost and the potential to generate revenue by renting the field for more uses. Many schools that face capital expenditures for their existing fields recognize the enduring investment in a new artificial field and long-term value that field brings. The initial capital investment can also be financed in many ways, including bonds, fundraising, and financing options from manufacturers.

Sports field design is about more than a set of plans; it is about creating the thrill inherent in competition and that feel of a game-winning moment. Engineering these experiences, made possible by superior athletic facilities and sports fields, involves a team approach. Increasingly, more K-12 school systems and colleges and universities are looking to synthetic fields to provide that experience and better results.

Justin Cornwell is a Project Manager and Jeff Nelson is a Business Development Manager with Draper Aden Associates, a Mid-Atlantic engineering, surveying, and environmental services firm. Draper Aden has led design and construction administration for dozens of sports fields for K-12 schools and college and universities.

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