For 422 University of Tennessee football fans, the Neyland Stadium experience is going plush.

As for the other 106,000 or so, Saturday's home opener against the University of California will offer at least a glimpse of renovations and amenities to come.

Phase I of a $105 million stadium renovation will be unveiled Saturday. The first major additions since 1999 feature the 422-seat East Club area and the new north end zone concourse.

"I think what has happened is that we've exceeded our concept drawings,'' men's athletic director Mike Hamilton said Thursday.

"I hope our club patrons will feel like we over-delivered on what we told them we're going to have here.''

The East Club offers outdoor theatre-style seating and a posh indoor foyer with football-theme decorations and a panoramic view of downtown and Fort Loudoun Lake.

"To a person, when they step off the elevator, the reaction has been 'wow!' '' Hamilton said.

Even the elevator doors they step out of are etched with scenes from 1930s-era games.

The widened north concourse includes new concessions, restrooms and a 2,500-square-foot Tennessee Traditions souvenir store that opens at 8 a.m. game days at Gate 20.

"Fans will be able to see what the plan is long-term for Neyland Stadium,'' Hamilton said.

Phase I was completed by contractor Johnson & Galyon from plans drafted by McCarty Holsaple McCarty Inc., in conjunction with Pieper Sports Facility Consulting.

Future renovations call for 1,589 club seats in the south end zone.

Creating the East Club reduced overall seating by 2,041 to 102,038. Hamilton said capacity will never dip below 100,000.

Hamilton also said the last of 50 new RV parking and tailgating spaces at the soccer stadium were sold Thursday.

Some fans will be relieved if the Vols can avoid tense finishes. UT's new policy bans smoking in concourses and restricts it to ramp areas and the Gate 21 plaza.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.