Image of fans cheering during a night football game at Tulane University Yulman Stadium

Tulane University Yulman Stadium


An aerial grayscale image of the former stadium at Tulane University during a Sugar Bowl game with "Sugar Bowl" written on the field

The crown jewel of Tulane University's athletics complex, Yulman Stadium marked a renaissance which returned football back to campus after 40 years.

Tulane University’s original football stadium had been a favorite neighborhood gathering spot for generations of New Orleanians and the site of many iconic Sugar Bowl and Super Bowl games. After demolition of the former stadium in 1979, football games were played downtown at the overscaled Superdome miles from campus. As the last piece of the university’s athletic master plan, the new Yulman Stadium brings college football, and the community, back to campus.

Aerial image of Tulane University's athletic facilities with Yulman Stadium at the center. The adjacent existing buildings of "Reily Center, Hertz Center, and Wilson Center are labeled. Labeled numerically are the different components of the project.

The new stadium is carefully integrated into the dense surroundings of Tulane University’s landlocked urban campus. Nestled into the narrowest part of campus, the project—which connects to the existing Reily, Hertz and Wilson Centers—includes (1) a new pedestrian entry plaza, (2) the new stadium with (3) Benson Field, and (4) a new adjacent Practice Field.

Image at dusk of Yulman Stadium's east façade showing its interconnection with Hertz Center, together framing a large pedestrian entry plaza

Yulman Stadium is strategically interconnected with the existing Hertz Center—another Multistudio athletics project that was completed in 2011. The two buildings frame the inviting new pedestrian entry plaza. The stadium’s zinc panel system filters light into the concourses and allows for a monumental eastern façade expression that anchors the open space of the entry plaza. The result is a unique place that responds to its particular time and cultural milieu.

Detail image of the Yulman Stadium metal scrim

Built for fans, yet sensitive to the neighborhood

Sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhood context was paramount and influenced design decisions relative to architectural massing and material expression.

Along the east elevation, the perforated metal screening shades concourses and filters light into circulation space while framing views.

The use of pre-engineered seating for three sides of the stadium reduced its height closest to the residential area, resulting in a more comfortable, appropriately scaled neighborhood edge. The west elevation’s materials were carefully selected to shield residents from the stadium’s artificial light and crowd noise.

The north elevation butts up against the new practice field. The practice field cleverly covers a 600,000 gallon underground water detention system, lessening the immediate impact on the city’s storm water pumping station and ensuring every square foot on this tight campus site is utilized to its maximum potential.

Only at Tulane. Only in New Orleans.

From the outset of the design process, the design team held true an underlying mantra, “Only at Tulane. Only in New Orleans.” This idea of a community coming together became a touchstone for every design decision.

The inviting new pedestrian entry plaza with Yulman Stadium and Hertz Center as its backdrop becomes a destination for pre-game processionals from tailgating areas to entry gates—creating a new game day ritual. Outside of football season, the stadium becomes a year-round campus asset as a teaching and gathering place.

Image of the home side of Yulman Stadium looking from the "party deck"

The stadium provides standard seating, premium seating, viewing terraces, concessions, club level environments, a multipurpose room, a press box, and visitor locker rooms (the home locker rooms are within the existing Wilson Center).

Premium seating along the home (east) side of the stadium connects to communal “party deck” terraces at either end overlooking the field.

Image of Yulman Stadium's concourse graphics that feature the university's historical football imagery

Ride the Green Wave

Concourses are animated with branded wayfinding signage and historical imagery. Fans are able to easily find their way and not only experience the game, but also reminisce about Green Wave history.

Join the club

The Glazer Family Club is a premier club level private lounge space with 1,500 seats, two club rooms including the President’s Suite and Bunker Suite, two bars, expanded concessions, and a large meeting space. The Bunker Suite offers unique views at field level, making one feel a part of the team.

Image of a Benson Field pregame at night with Green Wave fans and celebratory flamethrowers

A total game day experience

Yulman Stadium gives Green Wave fans a more intimate environment to cheer on their team and an opportunity for an authentic on-campus tailgating experience.

The new stadium celebrates Tulane’s decorated athletic history and traditions using a modern architectural vocabulary that marries old and new in tandem with branded wayfinding signage and historical imagery for a total game day experience.

Image of crowds of people in the Yulman Stadium entry plaza
Working closely with the central administration and our Athletics department, Multistudio listened to us, helped us refine and focus features important to the campus, the program, our students, and brought our vision to life for Yulman Stadium and the Hertz Center...The results are spectacular. The impact these beautifully designed facilities have had on our campus is immeasurable. Yvette Jones Former Executive Vice President for University Relations and Development, Tulane University
Location
New Orleans, LA
Size
218,000 sq.ft.

30,000‑seat capacity with 4,500 premium seats

5,000 sq.ft. multipurpose center

15,000 sq.ft. of suite level programming
Sustainable Design
LEED Silver
AIA Kansas
Citation Award, Excellence in Architecture
AIA New Orleans
Merit Award, Honor Awards Program
AIA Louisiana
Merit Award, Honor Awards Program
AIA Gulf States Region
Merit Award, Honor Awards Program
Associate Architect
Lee Ledbetter & Associates
Photographers
Tim Griffith, Cory Fontenot, & Patrick Quigley (Gulf Coast Air Photo)
Multistudio asterisk