re: Should Tiger Stadium have been torn down, not expanded?

Parts of the lower bowl at LSU are nearly 100 years old. The newest parts of it are are at least 60 years old. The ramps are narrow, poorly lit and the concession and bathroom spaces are inadequate. Structural problems will force the lower bowl to be replaced in the next 20 or 30 years or so.

The addition of the new south end zone will make that job complicated and expensive, however. Access through the north end zone will hampered by the PMAC and protected 90-year old live oaks. I doubt it can be done between seasons. LSU should have replaced the lower bowl prior to the expansion.

Joe Dean did a study once about enclosing both endzones into a continuous upper deck. They discovered that it would be far cheaper and easier to go out to River Road and build a modern new 100,000-seat Tiger Stadium. It seems this was disregarded, by the succeeding ADs, but the fact that remains is there are 65,000 surcharge paying ticket holders in the lower bowl and many are not happy with the amenities the stadium offers, and they are staying in their RVs in increasing numbers or are leaving after a half of football.

Nostalgia for Tiger Stadium is great, but the lower bowl is going to present real problems in the near future.