Before embarking on a six-day journey across the South promoting Troy athletics, John Hartwell wants to rally the troops at home.

Trojan Tour ‘14 gets underway Thursday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, something that Hartwell, Troy’s athletic director is excited about.

“Last year the Troy stop was kind of the back end of Trojan Tour,” Hartwell said. “This year we are using it as the springboard or kick off event. We want our donors and season ticket holders, and those potential donors and season ticket holders, to come out and here from our coaching staffs and mix and mingle with them. Trojan Tour is a friend-raiser for our athletic department and we are excited about it.”

The tour will make stops in Atlanta and Columbus in Georgia, Destin and Pensacola in Florida and Birmingham, Dothan, Greenville, Florence, Mobile, Montgomery and Troy in Alabama. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with Hartwell, football coach Larry Blakeney, basketball coaches Chanda Rigby and Phil Cunningham, baseball coach Bobby Pierce and new softball coach Beth Mullins.

Each of the tour stops will allow fans to interact with Trojan head coaches and administrators, in addition to hearing the latest about Troy Athletics, give-a-ways, autographs and more. Fans will also have the ability to purchase season tickets for Troy’s 2014 football season at each stop.

“It is a chance for folks to get out and here about what we have going on, and we are obviously very excited about it,” Hartwell said. “We are less than six weeks away from football reporting, and volleyball and soccer reporting as well. This gives us an opportunity to promote our program as a whole and gives fans an opportunity to purchase season tickets if they choose.”

The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. is being held on the Stadium Club level of the R. Douglas Hawkins Tower adjoined to Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Admission is $20 per person, with dinner and a Troy athletics gift bag provided to each guest. Children 12-and-under are admitted at no charge.