One project in the renovations of the north side of Tiger Stadium is in full swing with the LSU football home opener in the books.
Twelve of the 428 windows on the north end have been replaced so far as part of a campaign to restore the outside of Tiger Stadium and protect it from decay because of the elements. Donations are pouring in quickly from supporters of the window overhaul.
The Tiger Athletic Foundation is offering fans the opportunity to donate $2,000 to sponsor a window and have their names permanently recognized in Tiger Stadium.
Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Joe Alleva said the feedback on the window renovations has been encouraging, as about 150 windows have already been funded.
“Everyone I’ve talked to who has seen the windows thinks they look great,” Alleva said. “Imagine what the stadium will look like when they’re all finished. It will be beautiful, a lot better, and it will help protect the stadium from future damage coming from the outside in.”
Ben Broussard, vice president of development for TAF, said the price for each window should actually be higher, but the project was jump-started by a supporter of LSU athletics to make the cost decrease for donors.
“[The price] should actually be more because we need to replace lead paint and asbestos in the windows,” Broussard said.
A banner with the words “The Preservation of Tiger Stadium” has been placed outside the stadium next to the bay of replaced windows, which charts the project’s progress and how fans can donate to sponsor a window.
Broussard said the banner will be updated with the most current number of windows funded in time for LSU’s matchup Saturday against West Virginia.
“We’ve had significant support from [donors in] Shreveport and Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lafayette,” Broussard said. “Any time we have a project that’s as significant as this one, we’ll absolutely reach out to Houston and Dallas and Atlanta, as well because we’ve got people who are very fond of Tiger Stadium there.”
Alleva said the purpose of refurbishing a bay of 12 windows on the north side this year is to give people a taste of how much the improvement is needed to maintain the distinctive allure of Tiger Stadium.
“When the season is over, we can do them all at one time,” Alleva said. “We’re not going to build another Tiger Stadium, so we have to take care of it.”
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]