Early 2000s renovations In the spring of 2000, it was announced that Ross–Ade would undergo a three-phase renovation, beginning the following year. A breakdown of each phase is as follows:
Phase I (2001–2003) • Replace the 50-year-old Woodworth Memorial Press Box, located on the west side of the stadium, with a four-story pavilion, housing the Shively Media Center, 34 luxury suites, and a 200-seat indoor club level • Add outdoor club seats with exclusive access to the pavilion's suites • Expand the main concourse • Add new bathrooms and concession stands • Add a new “grand staircase” to the south end of the stadium • Replace all concrete and benches.
Phase II (TBA) • Add an upper deck to the east side of stadium
Phase III (TBA) • Add upper deck to north bend of stadium, connecting east upper deck and Pavilion While originally thought that both Phases II and III would be solely dependent upon future ticket sales, former Athletic Director Morgan Burke indicated in early 2009 that the project may move forward in the near future, regardless of season ticket sales. Phase II and phase III were never completed.
Your Ross-Ade In August 2022, the finalized plans and timeline for Phase I of renovations to Ross–Ade Stadium.
Phase I (2022) At a cost of $45.4 million raised by donors, Ross-Ade stadium will be getting a south end zone renovation that will add approximately 4,500 seats bringing the total stadium capacity to 61,441. The student section, which will be growing by 5%, will be moved to the south end zone and the area to the east of it, and the band will sit in the front of the south end zone. There will be safe standing seats, patio and deck areas, and rail seating. The Tyler Trent Student Gate will be moved. Additionally, Tiller Tunnel, named after the late Joe Tiller, will be constructed connecting the Kozuch Football Performance Center to the stadium in the northeast corner of the stadium. Finally, the team shop located outside the north of the stadium will be converted into a student-athlete dining facility. The construction began at the completion of the 2022 football season and the south end zone and tunnel will be completed by the beginning of the 2023 season. The dining facility will not be ready until at least January 2024 per Mike Bobinski on December 22, 2022.
Phase II (TBA) While it is unclear what renovations will come with Phase II, it has been said that "additional phase construction timelines will be determined by philanthropic support."
Additional proposals There has been a desire expressed by both former head coach
Joe Tiller and Burke to remove seating in the south end zone to use the land for alternative purposes. Tiller and subsequently the school's architectural department, has proposed using the land for football administrative offices and locker rooms. Burke has proposed shaping the land into a landscaped hill, providing lush views of campus scenery. Ultimately, these bleachers were removed in the summer of 2014, with restorative work performed on the concrete foundation on which the bleachers sat.
Other renovations • In 2004, a limestone and brick tunnel was dedicated to the memory of the 17 football players, coaches, alumni, and fans who died in the 1903
Purdue Wreck in Indianapolis. • In June 2006, the
Kentucky bluegrass was replaced by
Bermuda grass. The Prescription Athletic Turf system is still in use. • In July 2006,
Action Sports Media announced a ten-year partnership with Purdue, helping finance the installation of a new state-of-the-art Daktronics video board, priced at $1.7 million, and sideline advertising panel. • In June 2014, the south end-zone bleachers, which seated 6,100 spectators, were removed to avoid necessary safety upgrades and in preparation for proposed renovations. The area was converted to a patio area for fans to enjoy a more party like atmosphere. There were several tables set up with a large concessions tent anchor the middle of the area. This is the first time a regular game attendee could purchase alcohol. • In 2017, permanent lighting was installed at a cost of $5.6 million so that games could be played at night without needing to rent lighting. • In 2019, a ribbon board was installed above the north end zone seating. This Daktronics board measures . Additionally, the Tyler Trent Student Gate was installed on the east side of the stadium. • In 2020, a new Daktronics board was installed in the south end zone. This is the first HDR display in college football and measures . It is four times larger than the previous board, the second largest in college football (behind
Jordan-Hare Stadium's), and among the
largest video screens in the world. This was a $10 million project. ==Night games at Ross-Ade Stadium==