Purdue unveils plan for end zone patio area at Ross-Ade Stadium (Photos)
After the south end zone bleachers of Ross-Ade Stadium were knocked down a few weeks ago, Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke alluded to a plan for a temporary patio area to replace the stands. On Tuesday, that plan was unveiled.
The school said the decision to get rid of the bleachers was made in order “to avoid necessary maintenance to ensure their safety” prior to a major renovation in the future. In the meantime, the patio area will be available to season-ticket holders and Purdue students who purchased a “VIP Card.”
Here’s what it will look like.
According to a release from Purdue, fans will be able to purchase “typical tailgate food and beverage, including beer and wine.” The patio will open 90 minutes before kickoff and close once the game has ended.
Among the amenities of the patio is a 3,200-square-foot high-peak tent, several pergolas, patio-style furniture including tables with umbrellas and six 46-inch televisions. The 16,000 square-foot space is “limited to 1,500 fans at a time.” The lower bleachers of the south end zone, which seat close to 1,000 fans, will remain as they were.
Purdue will now be the second school in the Big Ten to serve alcohol at its stadium.
The Boilermakers finished 1-11 in 2013, so the program needs all the help it can get to attract fans to the stadium. The team's season opens up at home against Western Michigan on August 30.
For more Purdue news, visit GoldandBlack.com.
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