GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team will have its home opener in the new and improved Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium this Saturday against Northwestern State at 6 p.m. Athletics director Paul Bryant and the GSU athletics department would like to announce several exciting changes to the football game day experience.

"There are several things that the fans will see when they come on campus. We will have a kid's zone that will cater to our kids," said Bryant. "The tailgating area will be an enhancement that the fans will experience that will be something they haven't experienced in a while. We're going to be doing more interactive activities with our fans with the jumbotron. We're going to have a dance cam, a smile cam, and a kiss cam, and that's going to enhance the game day experience. We want this to be a very festive type environment for our fans; it's an exciting time for our fans at Grambling State University!"

Expanded parking – Game day parking will now expand from the stadium parking lot to the parking lot across from Brown Hall on the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street.

Increase in security – GSU campus police will join forces other local police forces and security companies to assist in the traffic flow to and from the game. The increase in security will also provide more coverage for safety across campus on game days.

Field turf installation – This offseason Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium saw its first major upgrade since the stadium opened in 1983. Hellas Construction, based in Austin, Texas installed Matrix® Turf, organic Geo Plus® infill, and a Cushdrain® pad. Hellas' Cushdrain pad allows for proper drainage, absorbs stress and diffuses points of impact, adding safety for athletes with increased shock absorption and reduced concussions. The 100% organic Geo Plus® infill is recyclable, made from carefully selected cork and coconut fibers, which resists compaction, increases traction, and is proven to reduce field temperatures up to 40 degrees, compared to rubber infill. The road that leads from the back gate of the stadium support facility down to the field has also been repaved with cement.

Retaining wall with padding installation – In the end zones of Robinson Memorial Stadium are four-foot-high brick retaining walls installed by Hellas Construction. For players' safety, the walls are covered in padding installed by Promats Athletics.
Video board/sound installation – A new digital scoreboard has been installed by NEVCO of Greenville, Illinois. The display of the video board is 47.18' x 22.5' and will allow the GSU athletics marketing team to engage with fans during the game, increase in-game promotions, and show live game action and replays. Sign installment was done by Shreveport Neon Signs and the new sound system was handled by Gulf Coast Sound.

Stadium cleaning – C&W Services spent the month of August cleaning the stadium by pressure washing the reserved seating and general admission sections on both levels of the stadium. Interim director of facilities management Frank Carr and his team have been very devoted to ensuring that the stadium is a pristine environment for the game day experience.

Pre-game show – The pre-game show will feature an on-field performance by the GSU World Famed Tiger Marching Band. This show will also include an intro video before the football team runs out of the Tiger head inflatable. 

Concession items and outside food vendors – In addition to the concession items being sold by Aramark, outside food vendors that will be inside the stadium for home games will include Johnny's Pizza, Wingstop, Daryl's Landing, and a snow cone truck.
Concession stand hawkers – For the first time, Aramark will now have concession stand hawkers to walk both levels of the stadium selling food and beverages to the fans.

Outside merchandise vendors – GSU athletics is now allowing outside merchandise vendors to set up at GSU's home football games. For just $300 per game vendors will be provided 9'x9' tent and sell their products. Vendors will be prohibited from selling Grambling merchandise and food. For more information, contact the GSU Athletics Business Office at (318) 274-2089 or at (318) 274-2514.

Prez Rick's Kid's zone – GSU athletics will now include a kid's zone during home games this season for kids ages 4-10. The kid's zone will be located on the home side of the stadium and monitored by students in the Family & Consumer Sciences department at the university. The Kids Zone is free and is open from 4 to 6 p.m.

Tailgating area – This season, the GSU athletics department will introduce a new RV park for tailgating located next the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center and in the front of Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. There will no longer be RV tailgating on the hill by the softball field.

Game themes and colors – Each home game will have a game and color theme, beginning with Military Appreciation Day and White Out on Sept. 9. The Jackson State game on Sept. 16 will be High School Day and a Black out. More information about game themes can be found on the GSU athletics website at www.gsutigers.com.

Game programs – Game programs will be sold by members of the GSU Softball team on game days for $5. This program will include game notes, coaches' profiles, rosters, advertisement, and additional information.

Redesigned website - www.gsutigers.com received a major update in January when it upgraded to the newest version offered by SideArm Sports. Content and additional links have now been updated and improved for smoother navigation throughout the website.
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video