WSU readies for Homecoming and the Battle of the Palouse

PULLMAN, Wash. – It’s Homecoming and the Battle of the Palouse this weekend at Washington State University, where a full slate of events will begin Friday and continue throughout the day on Saturday until the 2-1 Cougars take the field at Martin Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Vandals of the University of Idaho. 
By Thursday, fewer than 1,500 tickets remained available for the Homecoming weekend football game.
 
Fans arriving early Friday may want to take in the WSU Museum of Art exhibit Made in U.S.A.: Rosenquist/Ruscha Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation, opening at 10 a.m. and running throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. Those who wish can join the Palouse Cougar Club at Banyans on the Ridge at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club at 11:30 a.m. for the WSU Football Kickoff Luncheon or purchase a selection of fresh picked peaches, plums, apricots, pears or apples at the WSU Tukey Orchard Fruit Sale, running from noon to 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday near the intersection of Airport Road and Terre View.
 
As always, Friday’s evenings main event will be the 2013 Homecoming Bonfire, featuring special appearances by WSU athletic teams, Butch, the Cougar, and the WSU Marching Band. The bonfire begins at 6 p.m. on Flag Lane, located directly across Stadium Way from Beasley Coliseum. Later that evening, fans can take in the Nuthouse Improv Comedy Show, at Daggy Hall on the WSU campus beginning at 8 p.m.
 
Saturday events include An Honors College Homecoming Mixer and Brunch in Room 110 of the Honors College Lounge beginning at 9:30 a.m. Those with time on their hands before the game can stop by Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe for ice cream or to stock up on Cougar Gold cheese beginning 4 hours before the game or attend Kickoff at the CUB, featuring delicious food and family-friendly entertainment in the M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom. Attendees can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Palouse from the balcony and join in activities catering to both children and adults. Numerous giveaways, a tailgate-toss, an appearance by the Cougar Marching Band, music, and large-screen TVs featuring football games from around the country add to the enjoyment.
 
Fans are reminded that the west end of Martin Stadium is now the construction site of WSU’s new $61 million state-of-the art football operations building, scheduled for completion next May. Those arriving for the game should take into account a number of changes related to that ongoing construction:
 
  • The west end of Martin Stadium is closed. While Cougville will return for pregame at home WSU football games, the west end of Martin Stadium, including Gate I, will be closed for the 2013 football season. Fans can access Cougville at Rogers Field from either Glenn Terrell Mall or Colorado Street. Fans entering Martin Stadium are encouraged to use Gates E, F, G or H for access to the South side of the stadium and Gates A or B for North side access.
  • The student entrance for the 2013 season will be Gate A, in the Northeast corner of Martin Stadium (by the Main Ticket Office and Cougar Pride statue). There will be no Martin Stadium access via Bohler Gym or Hollingbery Fieldhouse in 2013.
  • Access to Hollingbery Fieldhouse and Mooberry Track will be limited. Fans are encouraged to use Stadium Way (from the North/East) or Glenn Terrell Mall (from the South/West) to access Martin Stadium. Please refer to your ticket for your specific entrance gate.
 
Recreational vehicle (RV) parking permits for the Homecoming weekend are sold out. A list of off-campus RV parking sites is available at the (temporary) WSU Visitor’s Center inside of Barnes & Noble – The Bookie Too, Stadium Way Retail Center, 405 NE Stadium Way, 509-335-INFO (4636).
 
General parking for home football games is available on campus in designated parking areas on the eastern side of campus for $20.General parking permits can be purchased online prior to game day or at the entrances to the lots on game day. Game Day parking information and a link to a campus general parking map are available online here. For additional information regarding general parking, call WSU Transportation Services, 509-335-PARK (7275).
 
For the convenience of those who might wish to park off-campus, WSU has teamed up with Pullman Transit to establish Park and Ride locations where fans can park vehicles for free and catch a Cougar-themed Pullman Transit bus for the ride to Martin Stadium. Buses are scheduled to arrive and depart from each location at approximately 15-minute intervals. The Park and Ride lots will be opened three hours prior to each home game.
A map of Park and Ride locations is available at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/GamedayTransit.html.