Tennessee Tech unveils transformed Tucker Stadium ahead of historic first season in the Southern Conference

The revitalized venue will open its doors for the first time at Tech’s home opener Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Golden Eagles take on Monmouth University. The game will also mark Tech’s first as a member of the prestigious Southern Conference after more than 75 years in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The stadium’s state-of-the-art 86,790-square-foot West Side will elevate fans’ gameday experience with chairback seating, accessibility improvements, climate-controlled club-level seating and premium suites, as well as expanded concessions – including a campus outpost of Cookeville’s iconic Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House and national brands including Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Crumbl Cookies, Bojangles and Domino’s Pizza.

The stadium’s historic East Side also was upgraded with new paint and handrails, along with six food trucks that will serve fans at home games throughout the season.

In the lead-up to the stadium’s unveiling, prominent Tech alumni and community leaders participated in a video series highlighting the Golden Eagles’ upcoming season. Participants included retired NASA astronaut and former Golden Eagle football player Barry “Butch” Wilmore; season 17 winner of NBC’s The Voice and former Golden Eagle football player Jake Hoot; CMA- and ACM-nominated radio personality Philip Gibbons; Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Amy New; Cookeville Regional Medical Center CEO Buffy Key; and Tech Sports Hall of Fame inductee and former Vice President for Student Affairs Marc Burnett, among others.

The renovations follow a historic comeback for the Golden Eagles under Head Coach Bobby Wilder that led to back-to-back championship seasons in the OVC. For the upcoming season, Tech earned No. 14 and No. 15 spots in the two most recent preseason Top 25 polls for the Football Championship Subdivision.


“Coach Wilder and our student-athletes have delivered consistent wins on and off the field, and we knew it was time to give them a winning stadium to match the level of play that they’ve brought to Cookeville these last few seasons,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “The new Tucker Stadium will be the Upper Cumberland’s premier venue and a point of pride for students, alumni and community members. We can’t wait to welcome fans home at our Aug. 29 opener. It will be a historic day in the life of our university that is not to be missed.”

Casey Fox, director of athletics, said the new stadium marks a turning point in Tech’s athletic program.

“Tennessee Tech has proven that we are serious about investing in our student-athletes and recognizing the role of university athletics as the ‘front porch’ to this campus community. We are ready to go toe-to-toe with our new conference rivals, and this stadium is the perfect place to do it,” added Fox.

The excitement at the Aug. 29 opener will be enhanced with new student tailgate experiences – including a sold-out tailgate park – a postgame drone show, giveaways and pregame and halftime performances by the 190-member Golden Eagle Marching Band.

Fans attending games at the new stadium also will see new policies designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, including a clear bag policy, which prohibits backpacks, purses and tote bags, and a no-reentry policy. Fans can find a full list of policies and frequently asked questions here.

The Christman Company served as construction manager and general contractor for the stadium project.

Single-game and half-season tickets are available for purchase at www.ttusportstickets.com.