Tiger Stadium is now smoke-free

Beginning with the 2007 LSU football season, smoking will be prohibited in all areas of Tiger Stadium as a result of a state law that went into effect this year, and parking lots on River Road have been improved to accommodate all-weather parking.

Those and other policy and procedure changes that will go into effect in 2007 are outlined in the 2007 LSU Fan Guide being mailed to all Tiger season ticket holders this month with their season tickets. The LSU Fan Guide is also available online at LSUsports.net. LSU will begin mailing season tickets the week of August 13.

The “Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act” became law in the State of Louisiana on January 1, 2007. The statute La. R.S. 40:1300.252 specifically prohibits smoking in any public building, defined as a building owned or operated by the state or any other political subdivision of the state.

All of LSU’s athletic facilities are considered public buildings under this statute. Additionally, a public place also covers sports arenas, educational facilities and any enclosed areas to which the public is invited.

Previously, smoking was not allowed only in the seating areas of Tiger Stadium, but was permitted in the concourses of the facility.

Smoking had already been prohibited in LSU’s indoor facilities, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Carl Maddox Field House and LSU Natatorium. Smoking will now be prohibited at LSU’s outdoor facilities as well, such as Alex Box Stadium, Tiger Park, the LSU Soccer Complex, Bernie Moore Track Stadium and Dub Robinson Tennis Stadium.

For Tiger fans looking for free parking, the parking lots on River Road – called the Levee Lots -- have been refurbished to make them functional for all weather conditions. In the past, these lots were subject to closure when rain made them unusable. The Levee Lots are located on River Road between Skip Bertman Drive and Gourrier Lane.

Fans are advised that much of the lot known as The Fairway on Gourrier Lane will be unavailable for parking this fall due to the construction of the New Alex Box Stadium. When the stadium is completed by the 2009 season, the baseball parking lots at that facility will be available for football parking.

Other policy changes include a time restriction on parking along Nicholson Drive in the days preceding football games and the addition of a mobile police unit in the Touchdown Village motor home parking lot.

For safety reasons, beginning with the 2007 football season, vehicles may not park on the shoulders of Nicholson Drive between North Stadium Drive and Gourrier Lane prior to 7 p.m. on Fridays before football games. Vehicles parked on Nicholson Drive can cause obstructed views for vehicles traveling on Nicholson Drive and for students walking to classes. Fans are advised that vehicles that park on Nicholson Drive prior to 7 p.m. on Fridays will be towed.

For the increased security and enjoyment of motor home owners in Touchdown Village, LSU Campus Police will operate a Satellite Police Unit in this lot beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Sunday morning each football weekend. This unit is being located in Touchdown Village to enforce safety and noise policies that are designed to enhance the motor home tailgating experience.

Also, there will be no specific restriction on the size of stadium seats that may be brought into Tiger Stadium, except that any seat that impedes on the comfort and enjoyment of a fan in an adjacent seat (in front, behind or to the side) is prohibited. Fans are advised that any stadium seat measuring 16 inches wide or less will fit into any seat in Tiger Stadium. In some portions of Tiger Stadium, seats wider than 16 inches may fit.