Vanderbilt could be opening their SEC schedule in professional style. According to a report by The Tennessean, it is expected Vanderbilt will announce a home game against Ole Miss will be moved to LP Field, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The announcement could come as early as this afternoon, as a press conference with Vanderbilt officials is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (central) at LP Field.
The game is currently scheduled for September 6. Moving the game from Vanderbilt Stadium, with a seating capacity of 40,350, to LP Field, with a listed seating capacity of 69,143, gives an opportunity for more Vanderbilt fans to support their team, but there should be plenty of Ole Miss fans making the trip as well. It is possible Ole Miss could bring a larger crowd as well, which is a negative of moving a home game for Vanderbilt that is countered by extra potential ticket revenue.
As has been speculated by some on Twitter, moving a notable conference game to an NFL stadium in the year after James Franklin has left the program may not be much of a coincidence. Franklin had embraced the opportunity to create a true home field advantage at Vanderbilt Stadium, and for the most part that turned out to be a successful strategy.
LP Field could become a future home of some more early season college football as well. The stadium is being used for a sales pitch by the Music City Sports and Entertainment Group to start a brand new kickoff game in Nashville as early as 2016.
UPDATE (3:34 p.m.): As expected, the game being moved to LP Field has been formally announced.