The opening of South Dakota State's new football stadium won't come with a kickoff - rather with a concert - this September, when one of the biggest names in country music comes to Brookings.

Luke Bryan, the 2015 Country Music Association’s and the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, will preform at the new Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Thursday, September 8, 2016 – two days before the Jackrabbit football team plays their first game in their new on-campus venue, hosting Drake.

Since his first studio album in 2007, Bryan has sold more than seven million albums worldwide, the last three have reach #1 on the country album chart. Since 2013, six of the nine songs he's released have gone to #1 on the country singles chart. Before taking the stage in Brookings, he will perform at several sports venues around the country including Wrigley Field in Chicago and the new Minnesota Vikings stadium in Minneapolis.

SDSU Football Stadium
South Dakota State University
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The Brookings event has been dubbed 'Jacks Bash', and is a joint effort by SDSU and First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, the exclusive sponsor of the concert. SDSU students will be given the chance to purchase tickets at a discounted price of $25 per seat, that opportunity will come via e-mail starting April 8. New and renewed Jackrabbit football season ticket holders will also be able to purchase reduced priced tickets for $50. A limited number of tickets will go on sale to the public April 29, with tickets starting at $75 (plus taxes and fees).

Organizers are expecting more than 25,000 people for the private event.

Dana J. Dykhouse stadium will replace Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, the home for South Dakota State football for more than 50 years. The new facility will seat more than 19,000 and cost $65 million to build.

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