During Monday’s Brownwood Lions Coach’s Show on KOXE, head football coach and athletic director Sammy Burnett announced the first phase of renovations at Gordon Wood Stadium were underway, as the artificial turf removal process began earlier in the day.

The current turf – which was installed prior to the 2016 season – will be removed and replaced, while brighter LED lights will supplant those which have illuminated the playing surface below for more than 20 years.

“The turf should be done by the middle of June,” Burnett said. “I’m excited to see it, it has a little different look to it and I’m really liking that. I got to design the turf and the way it looks and I’m excited to see it down, it’s a high quality turf. We’re also going to have phenomenal lighting. The lighting is also going to flicker colors and bring a little spark, so it’s going to be pretty neat.”

The rest of the stadium renovations – ADA/code improvements (ramp access, aisles and stairs renovated for code compliance, ADA parking), new concessions and restrooms, home bleacher addition of 1,000 seats, and a new press box with elevator – will begin immediate after the conclusion of the 2024 Lions’ football regular season.

“By the start of the 2025 school year hopefully we’ll look up and it will be all completed and we’ll have some of the best facilities in the state of Texas for our kids,” Burnett said.

The renovations are part of a $59 million bond that was passed by Brownwood voters in May 2023.