The on-campus Yulman Stadium will officially open Sept. 6 when Green Wave football squares off against Georgia Tech. The stadium, which began construction in January 2013 and cost $73 million, features state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.

The stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000 people, includes several premium-seating options for fans and alumni. Among these is the Jill H. and Avram A. Glazer Family Club, a climate-controlled club space, which offers unobstructed views of the field and has a private entrance from the Hertz Center.

All premium-seating options at Yulman have a minimum donation requirement, with ticket distribution managed through a Loyalty Point program to ensure equal opportunities to long-time ticket holders and new donors alike. The Glazer Family Club, the Westfeldt Terraces, Premium and Corporate sections, and Booster Clubs, all located on the east side of the stadium, require annual donations ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 or more.

The Family Fun Zone, Young Alumni section, Reserved section, Students section and Visitors section do not require a donation fee.

At the center of Yulman lies Benson Field, a high-quality synthetic turf field. The field is named after New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner, Tom Benson, and his wife Gayle Benson, who serves with her husband on the Tulane Board of Administrators. The field color boasts a unique design, alternating between olive and dark green.

Each end zone is patterned with a green-and-white checkerboard – a homage to the look and feel of the old Tulane Stadium, the facility that stood as the university’s on-campus football venue from 1926 to 1980.

Tulane played its football games in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the last 38 years. While the Superdome has its benefits, the venue rarely sold out.

Tulane Director of Athletics Rick Dickson said he believes that Yulman, in addition to other recent changes, will provide a significant boost to the school’s football program.

“This is a day that all of our student athletes, our coaches [and] our staff have been looking forward to, and our fans, as well,” Dickson said. “Tulane is back on the big stage, and this reflects and symbolizes Tulane’s renewed commitment to athletics at the highest level.” 

President Michael Fitts said he is excited for football to return to Tulane’s Uptown campus. 

“It’s a beginning on so many different levels,” Fitts said. “This extraordinary stadium is going to change the tenure of sports here and the vibrancy of the campus.”

Anticipation for the brand new stadium and the upcoming football season is noticeable on campus. The school will host a weeklong celebration which will include fireworks, pep rallies and other events leading up to the Wave’s Sept. 6 home opener from Sept. 2 until game day.