Tulane University has announced several major donors to its new on-campus football stadium and revealed the facilities that will bear their names.
 
The new stadium will be named Yulman Stadium to recognize the generosity of Richard and Janet Yulman.

Richard Yulman is the retired chairman and owner of mattress manufacturing giant Serta International as well as a member of the Board of Tulane, the university's main governing body. Yulman donated $15 million toward construction of the $55 million facility, which will open in time for the 2014 football season.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, the university also announced two additional major gifts to the stadium project.

The new football field will be named Benson Field after New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and his wife Gayle, who donated $7.5 million to the project.

In 2010, after 25 years of Tom Benson’s leadership, the New Orleans Saints’ first-ever Super Bowl victory became a symbol of the city’s rebirth after Hurricane Katrina. Now, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation is providing the naming gift for Benson Field, which will inspire and unite the university community in the same way the Saints’ win did for New Orleans two years ago.

The Jill H. and Avram A. Glazer Family Club will be the club space for premium ticket holders. Tulane alumna Jill is a member of the university’s board and Avram (Avie) is a member of the university’s President’s Council. The Glazers supported the project with a multi-million dollar gift.

To date, the university has raised $45 million of the $55 million needed to construct the stadium, which will have 25,000 seats, and a total capacity of 30,000.  Tulane is raising the money through private donations via the Home Field Advantage campaign.