Regarding proposed changes to The Hill

Mar 31, 2023, 3:35 PM

Regarding The Hill and the proposed changes.......

I know a lot of people have seen a very rudimentary drawing and plans to perhaps change The Hill. I had a few phone calls about this yesterday and hopefully can add some clarity other than "this is happening" from people that don't have a clue.

First off, I don't know if it's happening or not. It's in the RFP (or RFQ) stage. Once that is complete, then it would still need approval from the BOT. Right now? It's in the exploratory stages to better get an idea of feasibility.

Second...thus does not add amphitheater-style seating. Or any seating. The plan would be to terrace, or tier, the hill and take away some of the slope on either side of the middle (the middle, where the Tigers run down, would stay the same). Then those terraces (or tiers) would be added, and they would be 12 inches in height (so, not a seat). It would make it safer and easier to stand.

The grass hill would and remain and would still be sloped, just sloped less; people tend to congregate at the bottom and on the flat part, so this would make more parts of The Hill better for viewing and, perhaps just as important, add new ways to load The Hill at the top. Clemson doesn't tell people whether to stand or sit now and wouldn't after this is done. A very important piece of this is the capacity of The Hill. This plan would NOT decrease capacity, and that has been the plan since the start. No one wants to take away capacity. Would it increase this way? That is to be determined.

Hopefully, that makes sense.