Murray State University Athletics
Tent City and the Racer Community
10/28/2022 3:06:00 PM | General
A short story on the Tent City
A tradition that has run for more than 30 years, Tent City is an annual event that takes place during the Homecoming game at Murray State.
Thousands of alumni from all over the world are invited back to campus for the Homecoming football game. Large tents will line the interior of Roy Stewart Stadium prior to the football game.
Tent City gives an opportunity for alumni and current student body to get together and represent their organizations, be it Greek life, academic units, residential colleges or student organizations.
Before Tent City was founded in the 1980s, a formal gathering for the alumni was held every Homecoming Weekend. The director of alumni relations at the time, Donna Herndon, was looking to offer a less formal event that would appeal to younger alumni and a larger group of the Racer community.
Thus Tent City was born.
"The idea was to bring alumni with families, whether they are involved in Greek Life or not, it is to bring people of different groups together," said Carrie McGinnis, director of alumni relations.
The involvement of the alumni and student-organizations has kept the tradition running forward. As the number of student organizations grow so will Tent City and its importance in the Racer community.
"Once (students) graduate, the event becomes something that they look forward to returning to," said McGinnis. "They want to meet their fellow college friends and Tent City is where everyone gathers."
Tent City started at the corner of the intersection where highway 121 and 641 meet, where the Murray State University gate is now located.
Now Tent City is set up inside the walls of stadium in the form of white tents that will stay up through the game.
Homecoming football has always been a big part of Tent City as it is half of the reason why the Racer community gathers.
"Tent City brings a lot of people back to campus so that they can get together. Alumni that do not usually go home to Murray to watch a football game will do so because they will be watching with their colleagues and friends," said McGinnis.
In this year's Homecoming game, the Racers will take on Tennessee State as part of their Ohio Valley Conference campaign.
While the Racers look to get a win over the Tigers, 36 student groups will take part in this year's Tent City and showcase their student organizations.
Tent City open three hours before kick-off, Saturday at 10 a.m. and will remain open until kick-off at 2 p.m.
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Thousands of alumni from all over the world are invited back to campus for the Homecoming football game. Large tents will line the interior of Roy Stewart Stadium prior to the football game.
Tent City gives an opportunity for alumni and current student body to get together and represent their organizations, be it Greek life, academic units, residential colleges or student organizations.
Before Tent City was founded in the 1980s, a formal gathering for the alumni was held every Homecoming Weekend. The director of alumni relations at the time, Donna Herndon, was looking to offer a less formal event that would appeal to younger alumni and a larger group of the Racer community.
Thus Tent City was born.
"The idea was to bring alumni with families, whether they are involved in Greek Life or not, it is to bring people of different groups together," said Carrie McGinnis, director of alumni relations.
The involvement of the alumni and student-organizations has kept the tradition running forward. As the number of student organizations grow so will Tent City and its importance in the Racer community.
"Once (students) graduate, the event becomes something that they look forward to returning to," said McGinnis. "They want to meet their fellow college friends and Tent City is where everyone gathers."
Tent City started at the corner of the intersection where highway 121 and 641 meet, where the Murray State University gate is now located.
Now Tent City is set up inside the walls of stadium in the form of white tents that will stay up through the game.
Homecoming football has always been a big part of Tent City as it is half of the reason why the Racer community gathers.
"Tent City brings a lot of people back to campus so that they can get together. Alumni that do not usually go home to Murray to watch a football game will do so because they will be watching with their colleagues and friends," said McGinnis.
In this year's Homecoming game, the Racers will take on Tennessee State as part of their Ohio Valley Conference campaign.
While the Racers look to get a win over the Tigers, 36 student groups will take part in this year's Tent City and showcase their student organizations.
Tent City open three hours before kick-off, Saturday at 10 a.m. and will remain open until kick-off at 2 p.m.
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