Kinnick Stadium Construction Project Taking Shape [PHOTOS]

Last year, the University of Iowa replaced the turf on the field at Kinnick Stadium. That was the beginning of a 3-year project on the stadium that's been home to the Iowa Hawkeyes football team since 1929. This off-season, the changes are much more noticeable to fans.

The north end zone was totally torn down when the season ended in November. Cedar Valley Steel has posted a series of photos showing the way things look now:

So what's really happening here? A lot of things you'll like. According to Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta, the north end zone hadn't had a renovation in more than three decades. 1986 was the last time work was done on it. It was time. Gary says, in the video below, wider seats and aisles are on the way, along with 200 percent more restrooms for women and almost 100 percent more for men. There will be more concession stands in the north end zone and that end of the stadium will now be totally enclosed. Can you say, 'Kinnick is going to be even louder?!'

This fall, all the seats will be in place but some of the concession stands and restrooms will be in a temporary state. When fans arrive for the first game in 2019, that's when the project will be totally complete, at a total cost of $89 million.

Kinnick Stadium's capacity is currently 70,585. That will drop slightly, to under 70,000. However, I think every fan will agree that a little more seat room and wider aisles is well worth that price. I'm glad the University of Iowa felt the same way.