Mizzou Football Team Returns To West Sideline For 2018 Home Games
8/7/2018 11:10:00 AM | Football
COLUMBIA, Mo. – On-going construction of the University of Missouri's new south end zone complex at Memorial Stadium has forced the Tigers to switch sidelines for their 2018 home football games, school officials announced today. For the first time since the 2000 season, Mizzou will work from the West sideline while its opponents will occupy the East sideline.
"After discussing this issue more than a year ago, it was our intent to switch sidelines and make the necessary seating changes at the same time the South End Zone facility came on-line in 2019, however, as we've game-planned for 2018 with our staff, construction team and the Southeastern Conference, we believe that this move must be made in 2018 to avoid logistical challenges that would be problematic for both teams and the game officials," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk.
Our goal is to provide the safest possible environment for our student-athletes, coaches, game officials and fans, and making this change will eliminate the teams from having to cross the field upon entry and exit to Faurot Field, something that we were strongly urged to avoid by both the SEC and our game management staff. This move also ensures that the heart of the construction site will not have to shut down for our home games which will help the project stay on track."
For the 2018 season, Mizzou's locker room has been relocated to portable trailers that will be outside of the construction site, while the visiting team locker room will remain in the stadium's Southeast corner. However, both teams will enter and exit Faurot Field from the same tunnel, which will divided by a 7-foot tall fence with a windscreen cover.
In order to implement this plan for the 2018 season, Mizzou asked for and received a waiver from the SEC's Commissioner's Regulations, which do not permit the visiting team bench to be directly in front of the student section. The waiver was granted based upon the unique circumstances associated with the on-going construction, the natural buffer that exists between the visiting team bench and student sections at Memorial Stadium, the lack of alternate routes available to prevent the teams from crossing paths when entering/exiting the field and Mizzou's commitment to secure the visiting team bench area.
"We are grateful for the assistance we received from Commissioner Sankey and his staff, and believe that we have an effective plan in place to provide a safe and secure bench area for visiting teams at Memorial Stadium this season," Sterk said.
Beginning with the 2019 football season, Mizzou will adjust its student seating sections at Memorial Stadium to comply with the SEC Commissioner's Regulations.
Mizzou Football opens the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium. Fans wishing to purchase season tickets can do so at MUTigers.com/FBTix or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the team on social media (@MizzouFootball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook).
