Anyone who knows anything about college athletics knows LSU football is one of the largest and most well-funded athletic programs in the country. Not many things prove this more than the purple-and-gold-themed mammoth venue we know as Tiger Stadium. Known to many as “Death Valley,” this 102,321-seat football stadium is the mecca of college football for LSU fans around the nation.
Stadium renovations and upgrades seem to be all too common at the University. LSU Athletics recently announced a $4 million upgrade funded by the Tiger Athletic Fund for three of its main athletic facilities.
The upgrade will bring the most innovative technology to Tiger Stadium, Alex Box and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center through new HD TVs installed inside the venues.
The huge spending on obtaining and terminating coaching staff all while making players’ amenities comfortable and creating a great fan experience might seem a bit wasteful to a lot of people.
The truth is, successful athletic programs attract a great number of students to different schools across the country. The notion that successful collegiate program increase application rates and overall exposure is known as the “Flutie Effect.” Good football is a huge example of this, especially here in the South.
Funding to make our athletic program competitive and attractive to students and athletes is essential, especially in the Southeastern Conference.
LSU Athletics is committed to providing the best athlete and fan experience possible. Even though it might not look too good on the field or court often times, the accommodations at LSU venues are more than sufficient for players and spectators.
The initiative to make fans safe, happy and comfortable, even at a high cost, should be of the utmost importance to a college program. Some might say the University takes this a bit too far, especially if you are anywhere near Tiger Stadium at night.
Lately, more and more students and fans have questioned why the stadium lights are on every night, even during the off season. Good sense would tell anyone that this is wasteful and the lights should be cut off while there is no one there to enjoy the view.
“It’s not a TV,” said LSU Senior Associate Director of Athletics Robert Munson. “Common sense says to turn them off, but you could potentially damage the system entirely.”
If the lights were turned off for a prolonged amount of time, moisture could build up and cause severe damage. It seems leaving the lights on saves money that could be spent on avoidable repair in the future. Leaving the lights on also helps spur break-ins and trespassing, two things that have been all too prevalent at the University.
Frankly speaking, it is easy to understand how the constant spending on LSU Athletics could seem wasteful. In the end, fortifying the prestige and joyous atmosphere of LSU Athletics for fans and current students is worth every dime.
Justin Franklin is an 18-year-old political communication freshman from Memphis, Tennessee.