Sights, smells and people can capture one’s attention on gameday, but nature’s call in the Grove is readily recognized.
Since 2001, the university has used Hotty Toddy Potties to provide convenient restroom facilities for gameday fans. The potties are much more than simple porta-potties.
Felisa Redmond, assistant superintendent in the custodial shop housed under the University Physical Plant, said the potties are essentially “restrooms on wheels.”
Even though gamedays are on the weekend, several days must be set aside to prepare the potties for fans.
While not in use, the potties are stored at Whirlpool Trails, a recreational trail in Oxford. On Thursday before a home game, a service station hooks the potties to a truck and takes them to their designated locations. Once there, they are hooked up to the water supply for the area. On the eve of gameday, the potties undergo a final inspection that involves cleaning by six custodial workers.
During the grandeur of gameday, the custodial staff is in full swing. At each potty, there is a male and female worker for each respective side of the trailer that maintains it throughout the day. Every hour, the valve on the potty must be opened so the water pressure can be maintained; if not, the toilets will not fill with water.
As workers are needed to maintain the potties, so are many supplies. Redmond says supplies all depend on each game; one potty, which is nine stalls, will typically unroll one-and-a-half cases to two cases of jumbo toilet paper.
One game weekend will also consume about 300 gloves, as the custodial team is constantly cleaning and maintaining the potties to keep them sanitary. According to Redmond, the cleaning and stocking process for one potty takes about forty-five minutes.
Once the festivities of gameday have drawn to a close, the potties are unhooked and transported back to Whirlpool Trails, where they will remain until the Thursday before the next home game.
On each potty, there is a men’s side and a women’s side. The men’s side has two stalls, four urinals and a sink; on the other hand, the women’s side contains seven stalls and four sinks. The potties are also fully equipped with heating and air conditioning. There are also smaller versions of the full-sized potties that are handicap accessible. The potties are trailers that are positioned centrally to the Grove.
Before the Hotty Toddy Potties came to the Grove, using the restroom on a gameday could be quite frustrating. Redmond describes that the public restrooms in buildings near the Grove were open; however, stalls were limited and lines would often be extravagant.
The student body is also well-pleased with the potties. Senior marketing and corporate relations major Christina Windom appreciates the convenience of the potties.
“It seems like there is never a line, like there is at the restrooms at the surrounding buildings.”
Redmond is glad the university puts the potties to good use on gamedays.
“Fans love the Hotty Toddy Potties,” Redmond said. “We have continued to receive great compliments on how neat they are and how good they smell. “When fans are satisfied, we are happy.”
