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Southern football Saturdays are becoming a medical challenge as extreme heat inside massive stadiums pushes past what fans expect—and what many can safely endure, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
New reporting shows that temperatures inside concrete bowl stadiums across the Southeast can run 10 to 16 degrees hotter than outside, with surface readings topping 130 degrees and heat-index values climbing above 110. That’s driving a surge in emergency responses: some venues now see 60 to more than 200 medical calls per game, most tied to heat stress.
Even with cooling stations, free water and added personnel, day games remain particularly dangerous, especially as alcohol sales expand and climate trends point toward hotter seasons ahead.
Researchers warn that large stadiums trap heat in ways fans underestimate, and shifting kickoff times would require rare cooperation across conferences. For cities like Baton Rouge—with its own 100,000-plus game day crowds—the findings underscore rising risks for spectators and first responders alike.
