Your front-row pass to the atmosphere, fans, and culture at each stop of our coverage tour.
By: vickie Mathis
Yulman Stadium – The Heart of Tulane Football
Nestled in the heart of Uptown New Orleans, Yulman Stadium stands as a symbol of Tulane University’s rebirth and pride. Opened in 2014, this 30,000-seat venue brought Green Wave football back to campus for the first time in nearly four decades, replacing the days spent downtown at the Superdome with a more personal, electric game-day atmosphere.
Beyond the turf, Yulman represents community. It’s where students, alumni, and locals come together to celebrate resilience — fitting for a university that has faced and overcome its share of challenges. From post-Katrina recovery to climbing back into national football relevance, Yulman has been both a symbol and a stage for Tulane’s determination.
And when the Green Wave rolls, the city listens.
Tiger Stadium – Where Saturday Nights Last Forever
They call it Death Valley, and for good reason. On fall Saturdays in Baton Rouge, Tiger Stadium transforms from a massive concrete bowl into one of the loudest, most intimidating venues in all of college football. With more than 102,000 fans roaring in unison, it’s a place where legends are born and visiting teams’ dreams go to die.
the echoes of the Golden Band from Tigerland, the boom of “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” and the energy that builds as the sun sets over the Mississippi create a game-day experience unlike any other. When the lights come on, Death Valley comes alive
On a Saturday night in Death Valley, under the glow of those purple and gold lights, there’s nowhere else in the world quite like it.
Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium – The Pride of Pirate Nation
The smell of barbecue in the air, purple and gold flags waving high, and a crowd ready to sing “Purple Haze” as the Pirates charge onto the field. This is Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, home of East Carolina football and one of the most passionate fan bases in the country.
More than a stadium, it’s a symbol of ECU’s identity — grit, pride, and a never-quit attitude. Through ups and downs, the Pirates’ spirit never fades. When that team runs out through the smoke, and “No Quarter” flies high, you know you’re in Pirate country.
Dowdy–Ficklen isn’t just where the Pirates play.
It’s where Pirate Nation lives.
Kidd Brewer Stadium – The Rock of the High Country
Kidd Brewer Stadium, home of the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Known affectionately as “The Rock,” this is where passion meets elevation, and where small-town pride has fueled some of college football’s most unforgettable moments.
Opened in 1962, Kidd Brewer started as a humble 10,000-seat field. Today, it holds more than 30,000 fans, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in intensity. When App State takes the field, the roar that rolls through Boone feels like it echoes off every mountain ridge in the Carolinas.
Tailgates stretch across the hills, fans line Stadium Drive waving the black and gold, and the Appalachian State band’s pregame echoes through the valley. When the team charges through the smoke and the crowd shouts “Go Apps!”, there’s no mistaking it — football here is a way of life.
At Kidd Brewer Stadium, it’s not just about the game. It’s about belonging to something bigger — a mountain town, a tradition, and a team that refuses to be overlooked.
This is Boone.
This is The Rock.
This is App State football.
Kenan Memorial Stadium
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Tucked beneath the tall pines and Carolina blue skies sits one of college football’s most picturesque settings — Kenan Memorial Stadium, home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. It’s not the loudest stadium in the country, nor the biggest, but there’s something special about the way it feels. It’s a place where tradition meets tranquility — where every Saturday, that calm Carolina charm gives way to electric energy.
Game days at Kenan carry a rhythm all their own. Tailgates stretch across Franklin Street and through campus lawns, filled with barbecue smoke and laughter. The Bell Tower chimes echo through the trees as fans make their way down to the stadium. And when the Tar Heels run out onto the field, the air feels different — charged but peaceful, competitive yet connected.
For visiting fans, it’s hard not to be taken aback by the beauty of it all. For Carolina faithful, it’s home. Every win feels just a little bit sweeter here, every loss softened by the sound of that alma mater sung under the night sky.
Kenan Memorial isn’t the loudest or flashiest stadium in college football — but that’s never been the point. It’s Carolina through and through — proud, graceful, and unforgettable.