June 17, 2009

OXFORD, Ohio -- Just 80 days remain until Miami University's exciting football season opener at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium (PBS) against the University of Kentucky.

Named in honor of Miami graduate and coaching legend Paul Brown, the nine-year-old facility has a capacity of 65,535 and is filled on a regular basis for games of the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. According to a Harris Interactive survey, PBS was the only football facility to make a list of "America's favorite 150 buildings and structures."

FieldTurf covers the playing surface of PBS. Identical to the artificial composition that's used by the RedHawks at Miami's Yager Stadium, FieldTurf was installed for the 2004 season at PBS. The Bengals' stadium features a futuristic, open design that incorporates views of the Ohio River and Suspension Bridge to the south and downtown Cincinnati to the north.

Two high-definition video-equipped scoreboards at either endzone ensure that every spectator has a good view of the on-field action.

Here are some facts and figures about the stadium in which the RedHawks will play on September 5.

• Dimensions: The stadium covers approximately 22 acres and is 157 feet high.

• Seating Capacity: The stadium has 65,535 seats on three levels, including 7,600 club seats and 114 private suites.

• Private Suites: Each of the 114 suites features retractable glass windows, allowing fans the option to watch in climate-controlled comfort or to bring in the outdoor experience. Suite holders enjoy premium parking, an exclusive entrance, specialized catering, personalized concierge service and elegant interior designs. Suites include 12 spacious fixed stadium seats and four elevated seats at a drink rail with a view of the game.

• Club Seating: Club patrons enjoy extra-wide, padded seats at the prime football viewing level with in-seat food and beverage service, and access to the Club Level Lounges featuring fine dining as well as prime views of the downtown skyline or riverfront.

• Fully accessible: Ramps, elevators, escalators, and stairs; Accessible to handicapped individuals.

• Scoreboards: Two end-zone scoreboards, both with video capability

• Concessions: 56 fixed locations with varied menu themes; a total of 400 points of sale

• Restroom Facilities: More than 1,200 fixtures, with separate individual family areas

• Team Facilities: Administrative offices, training facility, coaches offices, meeting rooms

• Adjacent Practice Facility: Two natural turf fields and one artificial turf field

• Retail Sales: Retail store housing NFL merchandise and eight fixed locations for novelty sales plus portable stands.

• Design Drawings: Over 1,700 drawings produced by the architects and engineers. Pasted together these would cover almost a half acre.

• Reinforced Steel: Over 11,000 tons of steel bars to reinforce the cast in place concrete. If the average bar was one inch in diameter, this would stretch for 1,560 miles.

• Cast in Place Concrete: About 95,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured.

• Structural Steel: Over 9,100 tons of structural steel.

• Doors: Over 1,200 individual doors.

• Electrical wiring: Over 330 miles of electrical wire was installed.

• Landscaping: Over 8,000 trees and shrubs were planted around the stadium.

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HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Cincinnati is the home to more than 40,000 Miami University alumni and more than 61,000 Miami constituents, so the Miami-Kentucky contest at the 65,535-seat stadium is expected to sell out quickly, according to Brad Bates, Miami's Director of Athletics.

"The Kentucky home game will see the largest gathering of Miami students, alums and fans in history which is especially appropriate given our Bicentennial this year," said Bates. "The interest for this game is very high nationally and locally, and we encourage Miami fans to order tickets immediately as we fully anticipate a sell-out given the interest, location and opponent. Finally, given the context of our economy, we offer an extremely reasonable value for high-quality family entertainment."

Fans looking for premium savings and ideal seat location get the best of both worlds by purchasing RedHawk season tickets. Season tickets--including the game against Kentucky-- are only $120. Prices are even more affordably priced for Miami faculty and staff ($105), senior citizens ($110), and youth under 18 ($100).

Individual ticket prices for the much-anticipated game in Cincinnati against Kentucky are $45 for the lower bowl, $35 for the upper bowl and $75 for the club level. Season ticket purchasers will be seated in premium seats in the lower bowl at Paul Brown Stadium for the season opener, assuring them a savings of $15 per ticket.

"We want to bring the renewed enthusiasm and energy of Miami's season opener to the front door of our Cincinnati alumni and community," said Haywood. "It's exciting to play an SEC opponent, and we expect all the Red and White faithful to come to Paul Brown Stadium and later in the season to Yager Stadium to watch us play."

Nearly 100,000 Miami constituents live within an hour's drive of Paul Brown Stadium. Members of MU's Red & White Club (RWC) will receive priority season ticket privileges. Contact the Athletic Development Office at (513) 529-8097 or email the RWC at RWClub@muohio.edu.

Miami's six-game home schedule not only includes the September 5 contest in the Queen City against the Wildcats, but also five games at Yager Stadium on the Oxford campus. An October 3 Family Weekend battle versus nationally ranked Cincinnati, a Homecoming game against 2008 bowl participant Northern Illinois on October 24, a Halloween afternoon tilt versus intrastate rival Toledo, and exciting November games under the lights against Bowling Green and MAC Champion Buffalo make up the schedule of games located in Oxford.

Tickets can be ordered online (www.MURedHawks.com), in person at the Millett Hall Box Office or by phone 1-866-MUHAWKS (1-866-684-2957) or 513-529-HAWK.

New this year, due to the challenging economic climate, Miami faculty and staff can pay for their tickets via monthly payroll deductions. Call the ticket office for details.

Fans are encouraged to join MU's Red & White Club (RWC), Miami Athletics' official membership organization that supports annual scholarship needs. Contact the Athletic Development Office at (513) 529-8097 or email the RWC at RWClub@muohio.edu.

Haywood's football squad begins fall drills in early August.

For updated information regarding the Miami-Kentucky game, visit RUMBLEattheRIVER.com.

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MIAMI'S 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

September 5 KENTUCKY (at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati) (NO TV)

12 at Boise State

19 at Western Michigan*

26 at Kent State*

October 3 CINCINNATI (Family Weekend)

10 at Northwestern

17 at Ohio*

24 NORTHERN ILLINOIS (Homecoming/Hall of Fame)*

31 TOLEDO*

November 5 at Temple*

12 BOWLING GREEN (Military Day)*

18 BUFFALO (Youth Day)*

*Mid-American Conference game

--www.MURedHawks.com--