Lane Stadium Tickets

Lane Stadium
Lane Stadium is a stadium located in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is the home field of the Virginia Tech Hokies, a college football team. It was rated as number one home field advantage in all of college football in 2005 by Rivals.com. It is also ranked #2 on ESPN.com's "Top 10 Scariest Places to Play", behind LSU's Tiger Stadium.

History
In 1963, Stuart K. Cassell, namesake of Cassell Coliseum and a former school administrator proposed building a larger stadium to replace Miles Stadium, a 17,000-seat stadium. Construction of Lane Stadium began in April 1964.

It took a total of four years to complete construction. However, the first game in the new stadium was played in 1965, when VT beat William & Mary 9-7. At the game, only the west stands and center section of the east bleachers were completed.

It was not until the summer of 1968 that construction was completed on Lane Stadium, with an official cost of $3.5 million. This brand new stadium seated 35,050, which featured a press box for guests, writers, stats crewmembers, scouts and coaches.

Naming
The stadium is named after Edward H. Lane, a graduate of the university and a former member of the Board of Visitors. Lane headed an educational foundation project that raised over $3 million for the original construction. As many stadiums built at the time, the original stadium consisted of two bowed sideline grandstands and endzone bleachers.

Late 80s
Lane Stadium remained mainly unchanged for 20 years, but in the 1980's the stadium started to expand and update technology. The year 1980 saw the expansion of the east stands to increase the capacity to 52,500.

Two years later, the Stadium installed a brand-new lighting system that would help the team get its first nationally broadcast game on WTBS, a 21-14 win over state rival University of Virginia.

Before the 1989 season began, the stadium added 16 flags and got a new paint job, which included the maroon and orange stripes inside the stadium.

New Century
The 2005 season also saw new addition to the playing field. Hokie Stone now adorns the walls of each end zone. New kicking nets have also been installed in both end zones. A new video screen ? ? larger ? has replaced the old one.

New lights that will double the amount of light and reduce shadows on the field were added as part of the renovation as well. The traditional "Home of the Fighting Gobblers" sign was also removed from the West Stands during this renovation.

The Rituals
The Highty Tighties, Virginia Tech"s Regimental Band, leads the football team to the stadium during the pre-game walk. Virginia Tech"s Corps of Cadets march into Lane Stadium and stand in formation on the field during the National Anthem and Rendering of Colors.

The cheerleaders start a back and forth call of "Let's Go" and "Hokies" with the east and west stands before the game. Metallica's Enter Sandman is played before the football team enters the stadium, and VT"s civilian marching band, the Marching Virginians leads the crowd in the "Blacksburg Bounce".

A turkey gobble is periodically played over the PA system to rile up the crowd. This gobble is done in memory of Floyde "Hard Times" Meade, a local boy who was adopted by the corps and became the school"s first mascot in the late 1800"s. He later brought trained turkeys to games to walk the sidelines during games and gobble on command.

Since 2002, the students have designated one Orange Effect game where all fans are asked to wear orange. The Orange Effect game is always played against a team that does not use orange as a team color.