BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU announced on Wednesday it has developed a plan that will allow visiting bands to perform halftime shows on the field of Tiger Stadium.
The LSU Athletic Department, the LSU Band and the LSU Office of Risk Management engaged in a collaborative effort to restore the halftime pageantry provided by visiting bands while insuring a safe environment for all.
The plan involves re-configuring seating areas in the South End Zone so that visiting bands may take a more direct route to the field, reducing the congestion and safety hazards created by previous field entry methods.
In addition, when visiting bands are scheduled to perform, the LSU Band will perform prior to the visiting band, allowing ample time for the visiting band to exit its seats and enter the field in a precise manner.
“There are serious safety issues to consider in adopting the proper plan for on-field performances by visiting bands,” said LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva. “When both our band and the visiting band are scheduled to perform, there’s the possibility of having over 600 additional people converging onto already crowded sidelines while the game is in progress. There are legitimate safety concerns that can affect our student-athletes, so we have developed a plan to insure a more secure environment for everyone.”
“We have gladly made adjustments to our own halftime show to make it possible for visiting bands to perform on the field,” said Damon Talley, LSU Director of Bands. “It is important that we’re able to share the field with our colleagues who want to experience the unique atmosphere that is Tiger Stadium. We enthusiastically support the university’s effort to make this happen.“
The athletic department has in recent years made several modifications to the Tiger Stadium sidelines to address safety concerns. Those changes include the installation of fencing to act as a buffer between the sidelines and network TV equipment, the shifting of fencing to create more space between the sidelines and seating areas, and adjustments to some of the football team’s working procedures.
“We’re very grateful to the band and to the risk management office for working with us to find a practical solution,” Alleva said. “Our goal is to celebrate the tradition of college football while enhancing the comfort and security of everyone who visits our campus on Saturday nights.”