As seemed likely, Sac State is going to try to move up as an independent. Pretty crazy but Luke Wood seems monomaniacally focused on this. https://fearthefcs.com/2025/04/02/sacramento-state-trying-to-join-fbs/

I think you are correct in what would be the easiest and least expensive build, but man, an upper deck on the east side might as well be called the broiler pan section for early season games. An upper deck and skyboxes on the west side would be more valuable seats but I don’t know how that would work without rebuilding the press box.