Golden victory has taken on a literal meaning this season outside of Tiger Stadium, where an aureate glow emanates from the corridors along the top of the stadium’s north side after each home football win.
As part of a $1.5 million upgrade to the stadium’s northern facade, the Tiger Athletic Foundation installed new lights capable of beaming hundreds of different color schemes, said Ronnie Haliburton, senior associate athletic director of facilities and grounds.
Currently, the 48 LED fixtures are programmed for red, white, blue, purple and gold, Haliburton said — meaning the stadium’s northern concourse may light up like an American flag on Independence Day.
“We’re continually tweaking the system,” Haliburton said, adding that additional options for holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day are also in the works.
This fall, the LED lights turn on at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during weeks with a home football game, cycling off around 8:30 or 9 a.m. leading up to game day.
Workers manually turn off the program during the game, but if the Tigers win, like they have every week so far this season, golden beams light up the corridors.
“It’s not gaudy, and it’s not overpowering,” Haliburton said, adding that the fixtures are visible to drivers crossing the Mississippi River Bridge into Baton Rouge.
“Hey, look, she can shine,” he said, comparing the 92,000-seat concrete giant to a woman getting a makeover. “You put a little makeup on, a little lipstick and she can shine again. I’ll take her to the dance any day.”
The program could expand to the eastern and western sides of the stadium, as well as the future southern expansion.
The lights stay off during away-game weeks, Haliburton said.
