The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has announced that its renovation of Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will not affect the upcoming fall football season.
In June 2021, UL and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center announced that the hospital purchased the naming rights for the stadium for $15 million, which would help fund the project. At the time, officials said they expected work to begin “at some point following the 2022 football season.”
But on Monday, the athletic department assured fans planning to purchase or renew season tickets for 2023 that their seats won’t be relocated.
The demolition process is now expected to begin after the 2023 season, and the new projected timeline is “18 to 24 months,” suggesting an anticipated completion and opening date in time for the 2025 season.
“It’s just been very time-consuming and very slow," said UL athletics director Bryan Maggard. "We’re progressing. The ball continues to move. We continue to make progress. Personally, I always want things to happen faster than they do, but no, we’re moving along and we’ll get there.”
Maggard said the entire project is still technically in the back end of the design phase. If the demolition phase follows the 2023 season as hoped, season ticket holders for 2024 can anticipate the possibility of their seats changing locations.
“You never know with weather,” Maggard said of the new timeline. “Another thing about construction projects is you never really know what you’re getting into until you start breaking ground.”
The project calls for a new west tower to house premium amenities. It’s too early to know exactly what percentage of season ticket holders will have to move to the east side or the south end zone of the stadium, “but certainly in the upper deck. Anyone on the upper deck reserved would have new seats,” Maggard said.
Project upgrades will include premium suites, a club level and club seats, loge boxes and a press box, according the university's website. Amenities in the premium suites will include private indoor and outdoor seating; access to a climate-controlled club area; catering; cash bar; and a suite attendant.
The loge boxes will feature private outdoor seating and premium parking access. Club seat holders will be assigned outdoor seating with chairs with armrests and beverage holders. Loge box and club seat holders will have access to the club area, which will also serve as a dining facility for student-athletes throughout the year, the website says.
The project also includes a new videoboard, lights, sound system, renovated seating, new façade and office space for athletics staff.
The construction shouldn’t affect daily practice sessions for the team during the 2024 season, but there will be some inconveniences for fans.
“That’s just what you have to do,” Maggard said. “That’s part of the hurdle to have to overcome to get to where you want to go.”
The ultimate goal is progress.
“What I’m most excited about is offering a premium experience for people at our venue that will hopefully enhance attendance and ticket sales,” Maggard said.
As for the football season that ended with a 23-16 loss to Houston in the Independence Bowl, Maggard said he was encouraged greatly by the team’s strong finish.
“The second half of the season showed me that we got better in all areas," he said. "I know that locker room is very, very supportive of our head football coach and the coaching staff.”