Dabo: Clemson needs larger spring game crowd than pizza party turnout
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney expects a record-breaking crowd to be on hand when the Tigers play their annual spring game inside Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
“I really want to challenge our crowd and our fans to show up,” Swinney said. “If we can have 30,000 people show up for a pizza party, we ought to have 50,000 show up, at least, for a spring game. A lot of new guys, new faces, so I really want to challenge our fan base to come and enjoy a great day at Clemson.”
The Memorial Stadium gates will open at 11 a.m. for Saturday’s spring game, which is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. The game between members of this year’s team will be preceded by the Sons of Clemson game, a flag football matchup featuring alumni from several generations of Clemson football It begins at noon.
Fans will be able to enter Memorial Stadium through Gates 1, 5, 9, 11 and 13. First-come, first-serve seating will be available throughout the lower deck. Parking will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is free.
“It’s a big recruiting day for us as well, so hopefully we’ll have a great, great crowd and really start this season off the right way,” Swinney said.
Clemson set its current spring game attendance record in 2015 with an announced crowd of 37,000.
Other Events
In addition to the spring football game, two additional Clemson varsity sports teams will be hosting exhibition contests on campus Saturday. Clemson’s volleyball team will play Presbyterian College at 9 a.m. and Erskine at 10:30 a.m., both at Jervey Gym. The Clemson men’s soccer team will play a 4 p.m. exhibition match against Clayton State at Riggs Field. Admission is free for all contests.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clemson will host its 13th “Be a T.I.G.E.R” Field Day, in which Clemson student-athletes will participate in a day of play with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Participants will receive a free T-shirt and other prizes. Families are welcome and parental guidance is encouraged. Admission is free.
Clemson’s second annual Walk for Veterans will begin at 10:15 a.m. at the President’s House. The 0.88-mile walk, which seeks to promote Clemson’s rich military heritage and provide funding to the Clemson Student Veteran Association Endowment, will conclude at the Scroll of Honor. Registration is $15.
Clemson’s ticket office, at the IPTAY Center, will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Can’t attend the spring game?
While there will be no television broadcast of Saturday’s game, the game will be broadcast live online and available to watch free on WatchESPN.
This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Dabo: Clemson needs larger spring game crowd than pizza party turnout."