Vaught - Hemingway Stadium | American Galvanizers Association

Vaught Hemingway Stadium has always been in a mode of constant improvements that would be good for the stadium, good for the Athletic department but most of all good for The University of Mississippi.

Built in 1915 as a federally sponsored project, a series of expansions and renovations have gradually expanded the stadium and modernized its amenities. Recent expansions replaced the south end zone bleachers with a rounded bowl, adding luxury boxes and covered club seating in an upper deck. These and other expansions increased seating capacity making the stadium the largest in the state. The stadium and game day experience have undergone a number of upgrades for the 2012 season such as a large high definition video display, more concessions, restrooms and aesthetic improvements such as hot-dip galvanized handrails.

The Ole Miss stadium is an open air stadium and required a coating that would withstand the elements and the constant abrasion of fan traffic. Because HDG becomes harder than the steel itself, use and maintenance is more cost-effective than the previous painted handrails. The stadium is cleaned each week by high pressure washing so HDG handrails minimize the labor for cleaning. Maintenance personnel were constantly repairing or repainting the painted rails which were rusting and bleeding rust from the inside. HDG rails are protected on the inside and outside eliminating this expense. HDG has played a huge role in lowering the operational cost of the stadium by helping lower maintenance cost. This benefits the University so the football and other athletic programs can expand.

The exposed HDG rails accent the blue and red color scheme of the stadium for an aesthetically appealing addition for the renovation. While the specifiers will always want the most attractive improvements, they also want the sustainability that will lead to a better future for the program. Since this was an existing facility, all the rails had to be field measured, fabricated, galvanized and installed individually. Each piece was designed for a specific location. The HDG handrails provide another benefit, that of safety and liability for the 62,000 plus fans who are moving about the stadium. A rusted, painted handrail could be an accident waiting to happen, so why take the chance? Just galvanize it.