Tulane Univ. is "more than happy to show off" the new Yulman Stadium, which makes its debut Sept. 6 when the football team hosts Georgia Tech for its home opener, according to Scott Kushner of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. Tulane AD Rick Dickson said that the new venue is 65% complete. He gave a tour to local media members on Friday of the stadium's "various rooms, platforms and seating areas." Tulane is "selling the vision of intimacy, uniqueness and high-level amenities to its fans." Tulane Assistant AD/Marketing & Event Sales Jason Potuto said, "We want this to be a real taste of New Orleans." The new venue includes a 94-by-24-foot LED video board that will "greet fans from the north end zone when they enter." Dickson said that the stadium will "hold 30,000 people." Tulane Exec VP/University Relations & Development Yvette Jones said that if necessary, at a later date, the east sideline and north end zone "can be expanded to add anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 total seats." The Glazer Club, "located between the upper and lower levels of Yulman’s home sideline, is only open during games to donors who pledged at least $50,000 in donations over five years." Dickson said that the club is more than 80% sold out (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/6). In Baton Rouge, Ted Lewis noted the focus of the $80M on-campus stadium "is on amenities." The "important thing is that, for the first time since back in the day, Tulane has a stadium to call its own." But parking "is going to be a problem" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/6).
REBEL YELL: The MISSISSIPPI PRESS reported Ole Miss on Friday "officially named the newly renovated indoor football practice facility the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center." The renovation and expansion of the Manning Center was "made possible by gifts to the Forward Together Campaign." In partnership with Ole Miss athletics, the Manning family and the family of Billy Van Devender "made significant contributions to the campaign in order to honor Olivia and Archie Manning." The facility is "located beside the South End Zone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium" (GULFLIVE.com, 4/4).
