Though the completion date will be later than previously expected, project officials hope the new Tiger Gift Center will be completed in time for Christmas.Senior Associate Athletic Director Eddie Nunez said construction on the new Tiger Gift Center is running smoothly, despite the completion date being pushed back from Dec. 1 to mid-December at the earliest.”Every other day something may be delayed that puts us a day or two behind,” Nunez said. “But then something will come in early that will offset the delayed materials. It all evens out.”Nunez said officials have tried to push up the projected completion date by making up for lost time but have not had much luck.”We’re hoping to have it completed by mid-December so our fans will have it in time for the Christmas season,” Nunez said.Workers are now focusing on the interior of the gift center, putting in drywall, air vents and other infrastructure, while waiting for the glass windows to be delivered, Nunez said.He said neither the cost nor plans have significantly changed.”Once in a while something minor will pop up that needs to be changed, but that’s just pennies to us,” he said.Because the project was not completed by the start of the 2008 football season as planned, Nunez said workers and officials are taking their time to ensure the project is completed efficiently.”Since there is no impending deadline, we want to make sure that it is done right so that we don’t have problems down the road,” he saidNunez said he plans to do something unique for the grand opening, though the plans have not yet been discussed. “The grand opening will most likely be centered on a basketball game,” said Mark Ewing, senior associate athletic director. “We’re not sure of anything yet, but we’ll definitely do something significant.”Nunez said the key to the marketing plan will be emphasizing the store, which sells the same brands and apparel LSU players and coaches wear, as the “official LSU sports shop.” “You can always find the same products at other places, but this is the official home of all LSU athletic gear,” Nunez said.
 
 
 
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