Many would say that Auburn University has one of the best gameday atmospheres in college football, but for Athletic Director Jay Jacobs, that still wasn’t enough.
Using data collected from a fan survey, Auburn set out to transform the football gameday experience with numerous improvements and renovations, including, most notably, a new 190-by-57-foot video board.
The new video board, which is the largest in college football, has received a bulk of the attention, but fans might be pleased by the other improvements to the gameday experience, such as a state-of-the-art sound system.
The new sound system, designed by notable audio-visual systems company Daktronics, is completely digital, unlike the stadium’s prior sound system. No longer will sound bounce off the stadium’s glass windows, sometimes resulting in distortion.
David Sturzenbecher, Daktronics project engineer for sound, said in a press release that Jordan-Hare Stadium’s new sound system “is in the top 10 percent, output wise, our company has ever designed.”
Internet connectivity, another fan concern, will also be improved for the 2015 season. The addition of several Verizon cell towers on campus and infrastructure in the upper levels of the stadium will increase the strength of Jordan-Hare Stadium’s Wi-Fi service. These improvements are also expected to bolster the Wi-Fi service for fans tailgating outside of the stadium.
Not all improvements are technological, however.
New concession stands on the lower west side will reduce the length of wait time for fans, and the concession stand options are more efficient and diverse than in previous seasons. The prices of water and hot dogs have been reduced, BBQ pork sandwiches will be sold at all stands and funnel cakes will be sold at 12 locations inside the stadium. In addition, local food vendors will serve fans outside of the stadium.
According to the survey, one of fans’ biggest complaints about the gameday experience was the quality of the stadium’s bathrooms. All of the bathrooms in Jordan-Hare stadium have been newly painted, and restroom attendants will help keep the bathrooms clean and prevent long wait times.
“Auburn has one of the best gameday experiences in college football, but we never stop looking for ways to get better,” Jacobs said in a press release. “We are committed to doing everything we can to improve how our fans feel about their time on campus. When our fans tell us what’s important to them, we listen and we take action. Our fans will see improvements big and small when they come to Jordan-Hare Stadium on gameday.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
