Purdue News

September 3, 1999 'Come Early, Celebrate Late' to avoid traffic snarls WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Football and fun, not traffic snarls, should be the first things on fans' minds for football Saturdays this fall at Purdue University. So Purdue Bands and the Purdue Alumni Association urge fans to "Come Early, Celebrate Late" on the campus to avoid headaches caused by congestion in construction zones on West Lafayette's State Street and the Harrison Bridge. Food, shade, music and free Purdue goodies will be found in abundance before each home game at Slayter Center of Performing Arts, Purdue's outdoor concert facility at Intramural Drive and Stadium Avenue. Alumni Cafe, catering to all fans, will open three hours before the 2:30 p.m. Notre Dame game on Saturday, Sept. 11, and the Purdue All-American Marching Band will perform a free pregame concert at 1 p.m. in the bandshell there. Following the game, fans can follow the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band out of the stadium and enjoy a free postgame concert by the Purdue Mall Fountain in front of Hovde Hall. The Purdue Bands concerts are a decades-old tradition, but they take on special importance this year with traffic conditions likely to cause fans problems en route to campus. In 1998, the Purdue Alumni Association initiated the Alumni Cafe to complement band activity at Slayter, and it went over so well that it's also becoming a tradition. "Slayter is absolutely the best place to be on football Saturdays. There's no-hassle parking, trees, and a bathroom that's luscious. It's just the best place to be," said Rita Zawisza, director of special projects for the alumni association. The cafe is catered by the Purdue Memorial Union Sweet Shop and offers sandwiches, snack items and drinks. It will open at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11, and three hours before kickoff on other football Saturdays. Tables and chairs will be set up under the cafe tent and under nearby trees for dining. WGLM Radio will broadcast live from the site, and the alumni association will distribute free bumper stickers, Purdue Pete embroidered logos, window decals, pencils, pom-poms and other items. For kids, a treasure chest, which they can dip into for free trinkets, will be set up under a huge cutout of Purdue Pete dressed as a pirate. Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity offers band shirts for sale that are unavailable in other campus locations, along various CDs. The "All-American" Marching Band's pregame show "traditionally samples the music for its Ross-Ade shows along with other fun items such as the 'Massed Happy Birthday,'" said director David Leppla. Also featured are special routines by the Flag Corps, the Twirling Line, Goldduster Dance Team and the internationally famous solo twirlers, the Silver Twins and the Golden Girl. After the game, fans who stay at the stadium to watch Purdue football coach Joe Tiller's live press conference on the JumboTron can follow the band as it performs its traditional march back to its home in Elliott Hall of Music. The band stops along the way at the Purdue Mall Fountain for a 20-minute postgame concert concluding with the traditional "Drum Major Breakdown" and "Run-Out Exit" from the fountain. As another incentive to "Come Early, Celebrate Late," Gamma Pi, an organization of Purdue Band Alumni, will offer prime parking spots by Slayter Center on a first-come basis. The $5 donation per car goes towards planned renovation and upgrading of Slayter Center facilities. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@schl-01.schl.purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page