7/9/02

AU TO MAKE CHANGES TO GAME-DAY SATURDAYS ON THE PLAINS

AUBURN -- Auburn University is implementing changes to parking, safety and tailgating procedures for game-day activities on campus beginning with the 2002 football season.

The changes will enrich tailgating experiences on campus and will not affect most fans. Included in the plan is the development of parking lots for RVs and vehicles, adding more than 1,650 parking spaces on campus.

Detailed information on the changes can be found on the university's web site. An e-mail address (gameday@auburn.edu) and phone number (334/844-9999) have also been established so Auburn fans can make comments and suggestions.

The changes are rooted in the terrorist attacks on the United States, past incidents of damage to university buildings and property and the preservation of the campus's landscape and heritage.

"We have to do more to ensure the safety and security of everyone on campus in all situations while maintaining our football game traditions," said AU President William F. Walker. "These changes will guarantee that the traditions of Auburn game day will continue for all Auburn faithful. We encourage our alumni, fans and visitors to come to campus, and we ask for your cooperation so that we all enjoy football on the Plains."

The terrorist attacks prompted the nation's insurance industry to identify NCAA I-A football institutions as being at a higher risk. The industry now requires universities to develop detailed information on disaster preparedness, the ability to respond and measures for controlling loss.

University officials are also concerned about incidents on previous football weekends when campus buildings were vandalized and student work, university equipment and research were destroyed. Safeguarding areas of campus for future generations is also a consideration.

The additional parking lots and a more organized parking system will implement several campus security and safety initiatives, including maintaining access for emergency vehicles and personnel, providing accessibility in accordance with the American Disabilities Act, protecting university utility systems and protecting the university's research projects and student work.

The university plans to make the following changes beginning with AU's first home football game Sept. 7:

** Provide six organized parking areas for vehicles, with two specifically designed for RVs. A shuttle service to and from the stadium will be established for fans who park on South Donahue Drive in the area of the Ham Wilson Arena.

** Create an RV-free zone in the central part of campus bounded by Magnolia Avenue, College Street, Samford Avenue and Donahue Drive. This zone will create additional areas for tailgating and parking in the core part of campus.

** Prohibit the use of stakes, ropes, ribbons or other measures to mark off individual tailgating areas until after 4 p.m. the day before game day. No one will be authorized to reserve parking spaces for themselves or others.

** Create vehicle-free green spaces for picnicking and tailgating on some lawn areas. The university will provide picnic tables and benches in Graves Amphitheatre, Cary Hall lawn and Cater Hall lawn.

During the 2001 football season, the university studied parking and tailgating on campus in certain densely parked areas -- Graves Amphitheatre, Cary Hall lawn and Cater Hall lawn -- to count vehicles in those areas to verify how many vehicles would be displaced by making these areas vehicle-free. During the 2001 Auburn-Alabama game, officials counted about 300 vehicles parked in those areas.

Those areas are now designated as vehicle-free, green spaces for tailgating and picnicking. Other vehicle-free green spaces are: in front of the Nichols ROTC Center and Wallace Center lawn; the corner of Mell Street and Roosevelt Drive; the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Donahue Drive; and the lawn area between Sewell Hall and Plainsman Park.

To assist fans in establishing their tailgate spots in these areas, the university is developing a drop-off system much like the University of Mississippi has created in The Grove. Fans can still tailgate in these areas and there is first-come, first-served parking available in nearby lots.

The university's decision to convert some areas of campus into green spaces is part of a master plan that has been approved by AU's Board of Trustees. To be implemented over several years, the plan calls for an ultimate goal of a pedestrian-friendly core campus and recommended certain campus areas -- Graves Amphitheatre as one example -- be preserved for alumni and students.

The new parking areas being developed will provide spaces for approximately 175 RVs and more than 1,500 spaces for automobiles, SUVs and other vehicles -- several times more than the estimated 300 spaces being lost by eliminating parking in some green areas. New parking areas include:

** A horseshoe-shaped area behind the Nichols ROTC Center and Wallace Center (designated for RVs);

** An area behind the Max Morris Drill Field area (designated for RVs); and

** Four areas on Donahue Drive near the Ham Wilson Arena (designated for all vehicles).

Other improvements include hot-charcoal containers for fan use and nine high-quality modular restrooms to be placed strategically around campus. These restrooms will be connected to the campus electrical, sewer and water systems.

As was the case last fall, academic and administrative buildings will be locked on game-day. Seventeen campus buildings and facilities -- Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, the Athletic Complex, Foy Student Union, the Alumni Center, the AU Hotel & Dixon Conference Center, Dudley Commons, Engineering Shop 1 (ground floor), Facilities Division Building 5, the Intramural Field House, the Old Physical Plant Building, Parker Hall (east end only), Draughon Library, Ham Wilson Arena and Plainsman Park -- will be open during game days. Haley Center will be open until kickoff, Mary Martin Hall will be open until noon and Jordan-Hare Stadium opens two hours before game time.

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jul02: AU-gameday