Clemson has installed handrails in the lower level at Memorial Stadium in an effort to improve fan safety.
“For people to be able to get up and down. It’s something that was asked. The stadium in the lower part of it was built in the 40s. There’s a lot of updates needed,” said Jeff Kallin, Clemson University senior associate athletic director of communications.
Clemson is also asking fans to wait until the game clock has ended before storming the field, where fans meet at the PAW logo in centerfield.
“The tradition is everybody meets at the PAW after the game clock has ended. Everybody starts jumping over the barriers and everybody’s running towards the PAW with all the players. After that, we play alma mater and everybody huddles in and we all sing alma mater together,” student Alex Hagedorn told WSPA.
Clemson's ask is response to a new Atlantic Coast Conference rule that states only student-athletes, coaches and authorized personnel are allowed on the field before, during and after the game is over.
“What we’re asking our fans to do is to wait until after the alma mater to come and join us on the field. It’s going to be a little bit different. It won’t just be quite like when the clock hits zero. We’re really asking people to wait before coming on [the field]. There are significant fines that are associated with it, but we also want to make sure that the visiting team has the opportunity to be able to get off the field,” said Kallin.
This will be the first season Clemson offers alcohol inside Memorial Stadium. Fans can now purchase alcohol, two drinks at a time, a kiosks located throughout the stadium.
“In the lower bowl, over by Gate 13 and then in both of the upper decks, those folks that are going to be designated drivers for their group can actually go over. They’re able to register, they’ll get a wristband, they’ll sign a covenant saying that they plan to be a designated driver that day,” said Kallin.
