Hawaii announces sellout of Vanderbilt game, first since 2007
By Keith Farner
Published:
SEC fans might do a double take at the stadium size for Vanderbilt’s game against Hawaii on Saturday, but for the first time since 2007, Hawaii will have a sellout crowd, the program announced.
The Rainbow Warriors are in their second season at a temporary stadium, the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. The capacity at Ching Complex is 9,346.
Hawai’i’s last home sellout occurred Dec. 1, 2007 against Washington at Aloha Stadium, when the recorded attendance was 50,000.
Saturday’s season opener is scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Hawaii poses an interesting challenge for Vanderbilt, as the Rainbow Warriors brought in more than 50 new players and hired former star quarterback Timmy Chang as head coach.
“They’re gonna be tough,” Lea said on Tuesday, per Vandy247. “We’re expecting a fight. This is a proud program. They’ve been to bowl games five of the last six years. They won 10 games in 2019. They beat two Power Five teams that season. This is well-known to be a challenging place to play. I think the unique nature of the environment that we’re in now is gonna make it especially challenging. Obviously their head coach is a Hawaii legend and a guy that there’s a lot of energy around on the island in support of the early build in this program. So, again, you’ve got a prideful group that has got an opportunity to play against an SEC team here to open the season at home. They’re gonna be up for the fight.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
