<p>This comes less than a week after Tulane hired a new basketball coach and announced plans to build a new basketball practice facility. A new commitment on sports in the works?</p>
<p>I don't recall sports being a deciding factor in any threads on this forum, but I have read that it is a major issue with Tulane Alumni and donors in general. Coming from Nebraska I am well aware of the linkage between football and $$$. A good football team can pay a lot of bills, and the name recognition that a winning sports program brings is something money can't buy-- just ask Duke.</p>
<p>This could be interesting. I’m from Alabama (where football is huge) and it would be nice to have a football stadium on campus. It’s not a big deal but it would be nice not to have to go all the way downtown if I want to watch a Tulane football game.</p>
<p>I can’t believe they’re just now talking about it. I know it sounds dumb, but a major school in the south without a stadium on campus doesn’t seem right. I was really bumbed when I visited and saw the atmosphere outside the dome on saturday, wish it was more like I saw at Vandy. Don’t think I’m the only one on this either</p>
<p>As a more recent Tulane alum (and New Orleans native) I’ve always heard how great Tulane Stadium was and how even going to the Saints games when they played at TU stadium was a blast. I’ve never met anyone who had been there that didn’t miss the on-campus stadium. After reading your post Scorpio, I drove over to the campus after dinner to see if there really would be room for a 40,000 person stadium. There really is. I mean the tennis courts and the remaining modular dorms would have to be moved but there really is plenty of room. </p>
<p>When you consider the number of SEC or SEC predecessor titles that Tulane has in it’s history, it’s really a shame that they don’t still have a stadium on campus. They won or shared the title in 1920, 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1939, and 1949. Even if you look at the years when the SEC itself existed, Tulane still has 3 which is more than Vandy, South Carolina, Sewanee (former SEC), Arkansas, MSU, and Kentucky. While I’d love for them to change up the football program by allowing JUCO transfers, this would probably be the biggest thing TU could do (outside of rejoining the SEC, which will never happen) for its football program.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this Scorpio! Made my day. :)</p>
<p>Dumb question, but is there parking for 35,000 fans? </p>
<p>The old stadium was a monster, but it hosted how many Super Bowl and Sugar Bowl games over the years? As I recall it hosted the Sugar Bowl the year it was torn down, right?</p>
<p>Interesting YouTube footage of the old stadium:</p>
<p>You would really need parking for non-students who would be driving in. That would be about 25,000 people (assuming a packed stadium). Then figure 3 people per car on average that’s about 8000 cars. So if they added a parking garage there could be room. </p>
<p>Tulane Stadium hosted 3 Super Bowls and every Sugar Bowl from 1935 to 1974.</p>
<p>I was there for the last 2 years of playing in Tulane Stadium and the first 2 years of playing in the SuperDome. The context of playing downtown was different then. The Dome was like a “wonder of the world” kind of phenomenon, and people thought it would be an attraction that would help Tulane recruit, therefore have more competitive teams, therefore fill the place up, etc. Didn’t quite turn out that way, but the same decision would probably have been made anyway because the two main drivers of the decision were:</p>
<p>1) The stadium was old and costly to maintain. Don’t forget the Saints played there too, and so payed a nice rent check to Tulane. Once the Saints were gone there was absolutely no financially feasible way to keep it maintained and safe for use just for Tulane football; and</p>
<p>2) Tulane needed the land. The university is obviously very very limited in how much it can expand in its current location. By tearing down Tulane Stadium the school was able to build new dorms, build a first class recreation center, and increase parking.</p>
<p>That being said, having a football facility such as is being discussed makes a lot of sense, once one accepts remaining in Div I football. Should be interesting to watch how this plays out (no pun intended).</p>
<p>Where would they put the staduim? I heard they are getting rid of that senior modular housing down by Reily center, so perhaps thats where they are building either the basketball facility or maybe thinking about the football stadium. Is there enough room?</p>
<p>Hope TU can increase its school spirit and game attendance. A winning team would help :)</p>