University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
A Great "New" Stadium
8/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
A Great "New" Stadium
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Fans who will be a part of the anticipated record crowd in Roberts Stadium for Saturday?s Southern Miss-Jackson State game will encounter several changes that give the legendary stadium an almost completely ?new? look. First-time fans may take that new look for granted, while longtime Golden Eagle fans will be quick to notice and appreciate the changes.
In fact, fans will see some of the changes even before entering the stadium. The newly-opened Athletic Center has been incorporated into the stadium complex, and that will change the way some fans enter the stadium. For many years, fans could traverse the fenced walkway at the north end of the playing field to move between East and West Stadium parking areas.
For a variety of reasons, that walkway will no longer be open for pregame use. Fans will, instead, move between East and West Stadium by taking the sidewalks ?in front of? the new Athletic Center, an increase in distance of 50-75 yards. This also will give more fans the opportunity to fully appreciate the new facility.
The primary reason for the change involves stadium security concerns. ?The walkway between East and West Stadium that fans have used in the past, will continue to be open year round, just not on game days,? said Athletics Director Richard Giannini. ?Since the new Athletic Center is now an integral part of the Roberts Stadium complex, and taking into consideration the security we must provide for our fans, we will keep the area between the new building and the field secured (closed) for each home game.
?This is the only way we can maintain the necessary security and control access to the stadium inself. I really feel that the slight increase in distance fans will have to walk will be well worth it, once fans are inside the stadium and see how the changes have enhanced the entire facility. Fans will be able to go on the field following the game. The walkway will be open every day of the year, except for game days.
?The approach we?ve taken in incorporating the new Athletic Center into the stadium complex is one that has become popular throughout the country. The way our facility is constructed, as part of the stadium, offers several advantages, including allowing the Golden Eagle team an impressive way to enter the stadium for games, and displaying the entire stadium/Athletic Center complex to the many visitors to the athletic offices each year.
?We ask our loyal fans help us inaugurate our new facility and quickly turn it into an even tougher place for opponents to play as well as ?the place to be? on Southern Miss game days.?
