PHOTO: Duke unveils 'Devils Deck' at Wallace Wade Stadium with DJ, yard games, endless food and drinks for just $45
On Monday, Duke unveiled its plans for a new section at Wallace Wade Stadium. The section will be called the 'Devils Deck' and will feature yard games, a DJ, and endless food and drinks.
According to the Sports Business Journal, the Devils Deck is an "all-inclusive area" that will span seven sections of the stadium's north end zone and will be free from reserved seating arrangements. It will be accessible to students for $35 and non-students for $45.
The Devils Deck is the product of a collaboration between Duke and WME Sports. While the project's cost is yet to be disclosed, the Sports Business Journal report states that it has "a capacity for 1,500 patrons and replaces about 5,000 bleacher seats." Other partners involved in the project are AFR Furniture, Beck Group, LeChase Construction and Production Management One.
The Devils Deck will likely be a major attraction as the Blue Devils prepare for a crucial 2024 CFB season.
How did Duke perform in 2023?
The Duke Blue Devils football team started the 2023 college football season on a four-game winning streak, with the most impressive victory coming in Week 1 against the No. 9 ranked Clemson Tigers. The Blue Devils started the season by putting 28+ points on each opponent.
The team's first loss came against No. 11 ranked Notre Dame in Week 5. They lost four more games for the rest of the regular season, with only one coming against an unranked opponent.
The Blue Devils capped off the season with a victory in the Birmingham Bowl over the Troy Trojans. Several players had a breakout year for the Blue Devils, but none more so than wide receiver Jordan Moore who hauled 62 receptions, 835 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
What to expect from Duke in 2024?
Manny Diaz enters the scene as the the Blue Devils' newest coach, becoming the 24th head coach in program history. Diaz has been active in recruiting and has secured the commitment of five-star quarterback prospect Maalik Murphy. The Blue Devils are currently ranked 61st in recruiting by 247 Sports.
With these developments, the program is expected to improve from its 8-5 record last season. Moore and some other stars will return, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the ACC. Two major returning stars are quarterback Grayson Loftis and safety Jaylen Stinson.
Loftis returns for his sophomore season after taking Riley Leonard's starting job. He had 1,006 passing yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games (five of which he started).
Meanwhile, Stinson will aim to build on a solid 2023 where he recorded 88 tackles, six pass deflections, a sack and one interception in 13 starts.
Duke's first game of the year is a home matchup against the Elon Phoenix on Friday, August 31, 2024.