Rice Stadium student section relocated
The Rice Stadium student section has been relocated to sections 106 and 107, according to an announcement from Rice Athletics on X.
Previously, the student section was sections 115 and 116, which are located on the visitors’ side of the field near the south end zone. The announcement on Monday relocates students to the home side of the field near the north end zone. Students will now be seated close to the ramp that players and staff use to get from the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center to the field.
Rice Athletics’ announcement also notes that the relocation will move students “out of the sun and into the fun.” With all home games scheduled for the afternoon or evening, positioning students on the home side of the field will keep them shielded from the sun for some or all of the game.
“We’re excited about the move,” Student Association president Trevor Tobey wrote in a message to the Thresher. “Shifting the student section to a cooler, shaded area will be a game-changer and bring students closer to the action for key moments like the team entrance. We’re pumped for this season and expect this to be the loudest year yet.”
The decision to relocate the student section was made collaboratively by Rice Athletics, Rice Rally Club and members of the Student Association, according to deputy athletic director Kevin Dwan.
“This is something that we have been talking about and asking Athletics to consider for a long time,” Rice Rally co-president Priya Armour said. “We really wanted to give students a place where they could sit comfortably for the game, to hopefully encourage more people to stay for longer.”
Armour said that, during previous seasons, many students would relocate to the home side of the field or leave the stadium altogether, rather than spending the entire game in the designated student section. She hopes that offering students protection from the sun will encourage them to arrive earlier for tailgate activities and remain energetic during the whole game.
“A larger and more energetic student section will create a better home-field advantage for the team, which will help lead to more wins,” Dwan wrote in an email to the Thresher.
Although the relocation of the student section is official, some components are still in the works. Rice Athletics is seeking the community’s input as it works on naming the new student section.
An email went out to all students with a form to submit name ideas for the new section. Submissions will close Wednesday, with the five most popular ideas being put to a final vote.
“Personally, I’m a big fan of [naming it] the Rice Bowl, but we will see where things end up,” Tobey wrote.
Students’ first opportunity to enjoy the new seating arrangement will come on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m., when Rice hosts its home opener against the University of Houston.
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