American Idol finalist to sing national anthem at FIU stadium grand opening

MIAMI – American Idol finalist and former FIU student Syesha Mercado will be the special guest of the Athletic Department at the grand opening of the new on-campus FIU Stadium on Sept. 20, when the Golden Panthers host the University of South Florida.

Mercado has agreed to sing the national anthem preceding the inaugural home football game, which will be televised live by ESPNU. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Since American Idol, Mercado has made guest appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet and WSVN’s Deco Drive. Mercado accepted the Golden Panthers’ invitation, taking time off the 2008 American Idols LIVE! Tour.

FIU Stadium’s completed first phase includes a capacity of 18,000 and features 1,500 club seats, a 6,500 square foot Stadium Club, an upper concourse and 19 premium suites. Seating includes both chair back and bench seating, all with backrests, for fan convenience. Additional phases of construction will include a student support complex and will bring the stadium’s seating capacity to approximately 45,000.

The new stadium becomes the only Division I on-campus football stadium south of Orlando in Florida.

For tickets and information, call the FIU Ticket Office at (866) FIU-GAME (348-4263).

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Media Contacts: Richard Kelch at 305-348-3164 or kelchr@fiu.edu

About FIU:

Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 21 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will open in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.