How will the new Doak Campbell Stadium project affect me?
Thousands of Florida State’s season ticket holders eagerly await the Seminoles’ season opener against Alabama on Aug. 30 and the reveal of the most dramatic renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium since it was built in 1950. Still, others remain anxious about the changes to the iconic stadium, wondering: How will the changes to Doak affect me?
Season ticket holders, especially those on the west side, are asking about the cost of seats and the value they will derive from the new features. And for those who don’t attend home games, they wonder how the west stadium will look, sound and feel during television broadcasts.
In the first part of The Osceola’s series on the $250 million project we focused on why the east side of the 74-year-old stadium was renovated and the west side replaced. In the second part we focus on the west side seating options offered to those season ticket holders whose bleacher seats were removed by the project and the seat selection dates.
Focused on west side seat holders
The demolition and reconstruction of the west side of Doak Campbell Stadium with wider seats, more legroom and wider aisles reduced seating capacity and that forced a total reseating. Over the past two years, Florida State has focused exclusively on meeting with those account holders. The ticket representatives scheduled one-on-one meetings to explain the details of each of the new seating sections on the westside to help ticket holders understand their new seating options.
FSU conducted more than 4,000 one-on-one presentations, with many reserving one of the three premium priced products – eight Founders Suites, 32 Founders Loges and nearly 2,300 premium club seats – or the mid-priced chair-back seats and lower-priced west sideline bleacher seats. Others chose the Dunlap Champions Club or bleacher section elsewhere in the stadium, while still others have yet to choose.
Those ticket holders who reserved 2025 season tickets will be among the first to select seats in the exclusive re-seating process. Westside ticket holders, who have yet to reserve 2025 season tickets, are encouraged to do so to participate in the reseating process.
Seat selection dates:
Dunlap Champions Club – Ongoing
West Sideline Club – March 18 – March 24
West Chair-back – April 1 – April 7
Bleacher and Parking – May (dates TBD)
While the focus of this article is on the west sideline seating products and pricing, which has increased for many, and significantly so for some, we’d be remiss if we didn’t report the price of seating remains unchanged in the main stadium seating on the east sideline, and the north and south end zones.
New section numbers | Previous numbers | 2025 | 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
108-110 | 9-11 | $750 | $750 |
107, 111-112 | 8, 12-13 | $550 | $550 |
113-120 | 14-16, 117-119 | $400 | $335 |
122-126 | 121-123 | $400 | $335 |
Chair-back seat product
The Chair-back seat section is located right above the club seats on the west sideline and features a 20-inch-wide, mesh-bottom seat with backrest, armrests and cup holders and an extra six inches of legroom. In addition to comfort, the extra legroom makes it easier to get to and from seats.
Chair-back seat holders also have access to the new stadium amenities, which include well-lit concourses, enhanced concessions, restrooms, a social gathering area with a bar on the south end of the west concourse, as well as wider aisles with handrails and speed steps to make the path to seat safer and easier than in years past. The modern design of the concourses will also improve the flow and movement of people throughout the stadium, limiting congestion and time spent in lines.
Chair-back seat prices
New section | Previous number | Number | Price including booster contribution |
---|---|---|---|
Zone 1 sections | 131-133 | 33-35 | $2000 per seat ($500 per seat, $1,500 annual contribution credit) |
Zone 2 sections | 130-134 | 31-32, 38-39 | $1,500 per seat ($500 per seat, $1,000 annual contribution credit) |
Zone 3 sections | 129, 135 | 29-30, 36-37 | $1,250 per seat ($500 seat price, $750 annual contribution credit) |
The chair-back price includes the ticket price ($500) as well as the annual contribution to Seminole Boosters, which determines membership benefits.
Chairback seats also require a one-time, tax-deductible, capital campaign contribution ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per seat based on location and can be paid over three years. These tax-deductible gifts are vital to funding both the Doak project and the new Dunlap Football Operations Building.
Chair-backs priced between club seats and bleacher seats
The chairback seat prices are less than half the price of the premium Club Seats, but still a larger investment than many ticket holders paid for bleacher seats in prior years.
How much more?
Well, that depends on what a ticket holder chose to spend in years past. For example, the new annual price for two seats at midfield (Zone 1 between the 30s) is $4,000, which is $50 more than what a Silver Chief ($3250) with two bleacher seats ($700) paid after capital campaign gift is paid.
But those same two Zone 1 seats require $2,300 more for a ticket holder who paid $1,700 for two seats with the minimum contribution ($500 per seat).
Ticket holders will also have the option to select chair-back seats in Zone 2 (30 to 15 yard line) during the seat selection process at $3,000 for two seats (plus capital gift). They could also select seats in Zone 3 (15 to goal line) and pay $2500 for two chairbacks (plus capital gift).An economic option is to select two seats in the west sideline bleachers (endzone sideline) for $1200 (see below).
West sideline bleacher seats
The enhanced bleacher seats, located on the west sideline of the north and south end zone are priced at $600 per seat, which includes the seat price ($350) and $250 toward a Seminole Booster membership. The enhanced west sideline seats do not require a capital campaign gift.
New Section Number | Previous Section Number | Notes |
---|---|---|
127-128 | 27-28 | $600 includes seat price, $350 and $250 booster membership |
136-37 | 36-37 | $600 includes seat price, $350 and $250 booster membership |
These west sideline bleachers have been enhanced with six inches more legroom and at least two inches more width than prior year bleachers. And these seats share all the amenities of the modern west concourses, concessions, restrooms and social gathering area with a bar mentioned in the Chair-back section above.
Price comparison isn't apples to apples
While it is natural to want to make an apples-to-apples price comparison, how do you do it when you have apples-to-bananas products; a 74-year-old stadium vs. a brand-new stadium?
While some ticket holders have no problem visualizing how this new seat experience compares to the past, most people wonder how the new seats will look and feel compared to the bleachers of prior years? How much value is there for me to have a 20-inch Chairback seat over the snug 15-to-16-inch metal bleacher with less legroom?
It’s a significant question that’s hard for ticket holders to answer until they see it and feel it.
Some ticket holders, who struggled to climb Doak’s steps, are factoring the “speed steps” and handrails into their value analysis. Rather than struggling with stairs that were 8 or more inches tall, the speed step cuts the rise of each stair in half, and the handrail provides added ease and security.And how do you place a dollar value on the enhanced restrooms, which will be brand new and more plentiful, especially the women’s facilities, or the social gathering area with adult beverages?
Naturally, there are many features to consider, and each of us have our own individual calculations.
Making those value comparisons is difficult when all you have to work with is written words, renderings and construction pictures. For that reason, it was important for FSU to invest all the time it took to schedule face-to-face interactions which were intended to help existing ticket holders understand the difference in experience and price, as well as the many seating options now available in Doak.
The stadium is now at the point where ticket holders can sign up for hard hat tours to help visualize the size of the concourses and the scope of the project as well as to feel the differences. Stay in touch with your ticket representative to schedule a tour.
Memories lie ahead
Season ticket holders have been concerned about the impact these changes will have on the spirit of Doak. And while their anxiety is understandable, those of us who have traveled to away games and bowl games know this -- FSU fans bring the party wherever they go.
To my way of thinking, where I sit at the party matters less than attending the party to see old friends, conjure memories, stir emotions, and make new friends and memories. How about you? How do you think the new stadium will affect you?
It won’t be long before the University of Alabama rolls into Doak for a long-overdue welcome that I don’t want to miss. So, find a chair, any chair, and make the Alabama game the party folks will be talking about for another 74 years.
We hope this series on the Doak project answers a few questions and inspires you to call the ticket office to make sure you are making a fact-based decision in time to be among the first to select seats in the new Doak Campbell Stadium.
Look for the third installment of this series – listing all the seating options in Doak – prior to the public seat selection process coming later this spring. If you’d like to share your seating experience with me for an upcoming article, or want to discuss, you can email me at jkutz@theOsceola.com or call 850.508.8690.
Join the Osceola for 30 days for free, using promo code Osceola30
Follow The Osceola on Facebook
Follow The Osceola on Twitter
Subscribe to the Osceola's YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Osceola's podcasts on Apple
-
Florida State hires Seminole alum Luke Loucks as new head basketball coach, succeeding Leonard Hamilton
Loucks played for outgoing Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton from 2008-12, making the NCAA tournament in each of his four seasons.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Seminole Spring Weekend set for April 3-6
Florida State Athletics will celebrate Seminole Spring Weekend presented by Whataburger from April 3-6, when five Florida State sports will be playing home events.Men’s tennis will begin the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Seahawks' 2025 season projection with Sam Darnold, according to the SportsLine Projection Model
With Geno Smith out and Sam Darnold in, the model has crunched the numbers on how the quarterback switch affects the Seahawks' season outlookCBS Sports - 3d -
Luke Loucks is the latest former Seminole to return to Florida State as a head coach
Former FSU basketball player Luke Loucks succeeds Leonard Hamilton as the men's basketball head coach.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
FSU softball sweeps doubleheader from Pitt on alumni weekend
The Florida State softball team was back at JoAnne Graf Field for an ACC series opening weekend against Pittsburgh. Entering ACC play, the Seminoles had a 22-5 record and a No. 10 national ...Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Nintendo Announces New Store That Will Be Open After Switch 2 Reveal
While Nintendo fans eagerly await the April 2 Nintendo Switch 2 broadcast , the Mario company made a different announcement today. Nintendo will open an official Nintendo store in San Francisco ...GameSpot - 2d -
How to watch Alabama softball's SEC weekend series vs Mississippi State: Live stream, times
Alabama softball opens SEC play at home this weekend against Mississippi State. Here is how to watch.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
How Alabama plans to do some “soul searching” after loss to Florida
Alabama experienced some deja vu in the SEC Tournament. Now it has to respond like it did last season.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Clemson football season ticket prices are going up for 2025 season: What Tigers fans need to know
Clemson football will charge more for its season tickets in 2025, which includes seven games at Memorial Stadium. Here's why Clemson increased prices.Yahoo Sports - 9h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Jordan Poole pulls up from 35 feet to stun Nuggets, while Alex Sarr posts career-high 34 points
The Wizards (!) have won six of their last 10.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Oregon State Baseball: Beavers Take Down Santa Clara 8-0
PROMO: Join BeaversEdge.com and get 30 DAYS FREE!MORE: Scrimmage Nuggets: Defense Wins | Day 6 Interviews | Recruiting Notebook: New Futurecast, QB Visit & MORE | Where Is OSU WBB Projected In NCAA ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Player grades: SGA's 48 points carries short-handed Thunder to 113-107 win over Pistons
Player grades for the Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-107 win over the Detroit Pistons.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
With one month to play, streaking Rockets improve to No. 2 in Western Conference standings
With Denver’s shocking loss to Washington, the Rockets (43-25) enter the season’s final month at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
This LPGA player got married at Mar-a-Lago and celebrated with Donald Trump, Elon Musk
Dani Holmqvist's Palm Beach wedding was a star-studded affair.Yahoo Sports - 16m
More in Sports
-
Jordan Poole pulls up from 35 feet to stun Nuggets, while Alex Sarr posts career-high 34 points
The Wizards (!) have won six of their last 10.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Women's Bracketology: UCSD seals first bid, Harvard's win keeps Ivy intrigue alive
After Harvard sealed its NCAA tournament spot, the number of Ivy teams in the field remains unclear.ESPN - 10m -
All eyes on top eight teams, top 16 seeds ahead of Selection Sunday and women’s NCAA bracket
Where the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds play in the regionals is as big of a question this Selection Sunday as which bubble teams will be in the field.ESPN - 10m -
Men's Bracketology: The Mountain West will see four teams -- for now
Colorado State beat Boise State for the Mountain West title, and automatic bid. This is good news for Indiana.ESPN - 10m -
75 years of innovation: How F1 has evolved since 1950 and where it's headed
To celebrate F1's 75th anniversary, ESPN charts the sport's evolution since 1950 through its most iconic cars, and details where it's headed in 2026.ESPN - 10m