SEC Media Days: Vanderbilt Needs New Stadium, Mason Says

ATLANTA, GA -- He doesn't want the Taj Mahal, but he does want more than what Dudley Field currently offers.

During his appearance Thursday at SEC Media Days, fifth-year Vanderbilt head football coach Derek Mason said it's time for the Commodores to get new digs.

"We're not looking for the Taj Mahal. We don't need that. College football isn't even moving in that direction. The NFL isn't moving in that direction. What we need is a stadium that speaks to Nashville, that speaks to Vanderbilt University and gives us our best chance for success," he said.

Because Vanderbilt is the only school in the conference in a city with top-flight pro sports - in fact, Nashville has two teams with a Major League Soccer team on the way - Mason said the school has to find a way to remain competitive for the sports fans' dollars.

"The reality is Nashville is a growing city. It's one of the fastest growing cities in the country, it's exciting. In that market, it's a competing market. When you have other teams with other facilities, everybody is looking for the best buy. So, looking at Vanderbilt we have to do a better job, we're doing a better job," he said.

Calls to replace Vanderbilt Stadium are nothing new, with many fans complaining that the largely all-bleacher facility is dated. Notably, athletic director David Williams made the case nearly two years ago the university should explore replacing the stadium. Vanderbilt was linked to a stadium-sharing scheme with the MLS team, but that idea was shot down, in part because it would require significant off-campus travel from West End to Nolensville Pike.

Mason said Thursday university administrators "understand the need for" a new facility and "it's moving in that direction."

Vanderbilt has played at Dudley Field since 1922 with the current version of Vanderbilt Stadium built in 1981.

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