COLLEGE STATION (April 11, 2012) -- Texas A&M has hired the sports facility design firm Populous to explore options for the future of Kyle Field, including renovation plans and plans for a new stadium.

The study for the 83,002-seat stadium will look into costs, construction timelines and other factors before presenting them to the university.

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin says the school's July move to the Southeastern Conference has created "an unprecedented demand for football season tickets" and the school wants to expand the stadium to meet that need.

The Aggies expect any major construction to begin after the 2013 football season, but school officials say minor construction will be done to the stadium before this season.

Kyle Field was built in the late 1920s and was expanded in 1967, 1980 and 1999.