Notre Dame Stadium Complex hosts a large number of events and activities throughout the year. Before the expansion project of 2017, it was a football stadium, but after the expansion, it has transformed into a hybrid facility that does a number of different activities. Here are some of the academics and events that the stadium hosts throughout the year.
- Football games
- Game Day Operations
- Weddings
- Concerts
- Commencement
- Classes
- Offices
- Study Spaces
- University Events
- Special Events
Football Games
The main function of the Complex is for football games. The stadium hosts about half of the football team’s games during the fall football season. This often includes afternoon games as well as the occasional night game.
Outside of the regular season, the football team uses the Complex to practice before games and to play their blue and gold game. The blue and gold game is an intersquad game to see who will get first team and who will be the back ups. This game is often played during the spring/summer time so that the team can practice and get ready for the upcoming season.
The fall games would start near the start of the semester and last only through the fall semester for the football home season. Multiple departments are helping out during the game and following up to it as well. Some of these departments are: facilities and operations, events, athletics, and ticketing department.
Game Day Operations
Some of the Game Day operations that the facility team does are:
- Safety Walks
- Security Sweeps
- Magnetometer Checks
- Facility Repairs
- Dock Management
- Elevator Programming
- Credential Sign Placement
- Walk Throughs
- Client Services
Safety Walks
Safety walks are done at different points in the week leading up to Game Day to make sure that the issues are taken care of, to reduce liability. Usually there is a safety walk for the interior of the stadium, that walks the concourses one day, and then an exterior walk that happens the day after. These safety walks are done to make sure that nothing will cause harm to anyone or that will disrupt the overall experience.
On Game Day itself, there are safety walks to fix minor details that may have been missed or not taken care of. Usually if there is a big problem that is noted, it will either be taken care of right away, the Monday after, or during a section of bye weeks to allow the proper care that is needed for the problem.
Security Sweeps
Security sweeps are done early in the morning of Game Day to allow proper care and protocol for anything that may happen. In the early morning, there are bomb sweeps in all the buildings that allow dogs to walk up and down the halls without any person interfering with them. After this, the magnetometers are then turned on and checked to make sure that they will work before workers and fans show up to the stadium.
Magnetometer Checks
Magnetometers are installed during the week leading up to Game Day, usually the day before due to weather concerns. A company called Navarro comes and makes sure that all the mags are wired up and ready to go. They also make sure that the settings on the mags are not too high or not too low so that they work correctly. The mags are always in pairs and can be turned on or off depending on the number of mags that are being used.
Facility Repairs
While the facility team does not deal with the repairs directly, they are responsible for being a line of communication about these problems. If there is a problem that arises that needs a professional or outside help to fix, then someone can call one member of the facility team and the facility member will call, or act appropriately to make sure that the problem is fixed. If the problem can not be fixed, then it will be noted and dealt with at another time.
Dock Management
The dock manager is in charge of the dock during the week of Game Day. The dock manager is in charge of making sure that all vehicles that come into the dock have a smooth transition from drive in, to delivery, to drive out. While that is taking place, the dock manager also has to make sure that the dock landing is open enough for cargo to be brought in and moved around as well if needed. During the week, they will also help with other move-ins as needed for the other points in the stadium, if it pertains to them as well. Outside of all of that, they will also make sure that, in a security standpoint, that the dock is secured and that the only people that are accessing it are the appropriate ones.
Elevator Programming
Elevator programming is done before the season and before each Game Day. Programming is done so that the elevators are open to contractors, guests, and other workers to access the floors that are needed during the week and during the event. Usually most floors are open during Game Day, such as the lower level, first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth floors for Duncan and Corbett, and first, third, fourth, and seventh of O’Neill.
Credential Sign Placement
Credential sign placement is important because it allows other workers to know who is allowed where in different areas of the facility Complex. These signs are placed on the exteriors of areas to prevent people from entering these areas, unless they have the right credentials. Some of these areas include: 1842, seventh, eighth, and ninety floors, sixth floors, cross over doors, entry into Duncan/Corbett, and to the lower level of Duncan.
Walk Throughs
Some walk-throughs that are done by the facility team are for the different buildings and the stadium. These walk throughs are done usually during the week when someone is walking to a meeting or during a security/safety walk. This allows the team to look and see what is wrong and get familiar with the Complex so that the mistakes can be noted and dealt with appropriately.
Client Services
When it comes to client services, it is not usually guest services or anything like that. It means that if there is a problem during a game and a fan or contractor needs help, then a facility member will be able to come and help and use the appropriate response that is needed for the situation to fix it.
Weddings
Weddings are a small event that takes place in the stadium Complex. People will often have weddings and have their wedding receptions in the stadium, using the seventh and maybe the eighth floors of either building. During the week there will be catering services and other contractors coming to the buildings and setting up their stations for the receptions. Facility staff are normally on call to help let contractors in or to open doors if needed. Usually the event staff are in charge and will make sure that everything will go according to plan, but facilities will be on call for an emergency call if needed.
Concerts
Concerts are traditionally held during the summer months. Depending on scheduling and other factors, there will be at least one concert during that time. Prior to the concert, the concert crew will come in and help set up. This is because they have been in meetings and know how the concert is going to lay out. They will come in and the facilities staff will come in and act as support staff.
Commencement
Commencement is a time after the spring semester where the graduating students all come together and sit in the stadium to graduate all together. The event takes place on the field of the stadium. The event has rows of chairs for the students and a stage for the leadership staff of the campus. The guests and family of the students all sit in the stands and watch on.
Classes
Some of the academic uses that the Complex has is holding classes and office spaces. The seventh floor of both Duncan and Corbett are used as classrooms during the week of the school semesters. The second to fifth floor of Corbett is used as office spaces and smaller classrooms. In O’Neill hall, the first, second, third, and fifth floors are all used as academics spaces for the music department. Some of these spaces include: classrooms, lecture halls, offices, practice rooms, and a library.
Offices
Office spaces are all over the Complex, in every part of it as well. These offices are home to different departments that work in the Complex that help run different parts of it or the campus as a whole.
- Duncan Student Center
- Lower Level
- First Floor
- Second Floor
- Third Floor
- Fifth Floor
- Corbett Family Hall
- First Floor
- Second Floor
- Third Floor
- Fourth Floor
- Fifth Floor
- O’Neill Hall of Music
- First Floor
- Third Floor
- Fifth Floor
- Sixth Floor
- While in the stadium the offices are mainly on the lower concourse either in the north end, or in/by the cross over hallways.
Study Spaces
Study spaces are also placed in different locations, whether they are a couch on a floor, or big rooms, there are multiple places for studying to happen at the Complex. Some places that students can study are:
- Duncan Student Center
- First Floor
- Second Floor
- Fifth Floor
- Seventh Floor (certain times)
- Corbett Family Hall
- First Floor
- Second Floor
- Third Floor
- Fourth Floor
- Fifth Floor
- Seventh Floor (certain times)
- O’Neill Hall of Music
- First Floor
- Third Floor
- Fifth Floor
- Sixth Floor
There is no official studying in the stadium, only in certain times and permissions are students allowed to study in the stadium. One exception was in the 2020-2021 school year, the lower concourse was open as a study hall for students to study and hang out due to COVID-19. This study hall was closed due to lack of interest and colder temperatures.
University Events
Some of the university events that are held in the stadium Complex are, to name a few, Storm the Stadium, movies in the stadium, Flu Blitz, and stadium tours. These are events that are held in the stadium’s area and even though the stadium staff does not own the events, they work hand in hand with the event staff to make sure that the event is safe, ready, and enjoyable for the other people that are coming to it.
Special Events
Special events happen throughout the year and not events that happen every year. For example, some events that have happened are: the Winter Classic, the Liverpool soccer match, and the CRU site. These have all been a one time event and are planned to either happen in the distant future or not at all again.