PULLMAN, Wash. Cougar football returns to Martin Stadium for a Pac-12 matchup Saturday with the California Golden Bears. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The first 10,000 fans will receive a Mike Leach Bobblehead doll to celebrate the new coach.
By mid-week, about 3,500 tickets remained available for the game. The WSU Athletic Department anticipates near sellout crowds for all five home football games this season.
This sports weekend begins Friday evening with the Cougar Basketball Experience, which also marks the official start of the 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball season. Join Ken Bone, June Daugherty and the men’s and women’s basketball teams for an evening of excitement, competitions and prizes.
Schedule of events
ZZUMania
Friday, Oct. 12, Bohler Gym – Doors will open at 8 p.m.
Tip off your Cougar basketball experience with ZZUMania, the official start to the 2012-13 Cougar basketball season. Join Ken Bone, June Daugherty and the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they dunk, shoot and scrimmage the night away. This event is free and includes free t-shirts to the first 250 fans, a chance to win $500 in textbooks from Crimson & Gray, a chance to win two courtside seats to men’s basketball vs. Gonzaga on Dec. 5, a performance by the WSU Cheer Team and Crimson Girls, team scrimmages and a dunk contest.
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First Down Friday
A 5 p.m. pep rally in Wheatland Mall parking lot starts things off, follwed by games and face painting for the kids, Cougar Gold cheese from Ferdinands, a tailgate BBQ and beer and wine garden, and live music by Eric E.
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Game day events
As always, WSU’s home football weekends will be packed with a variety of activities and events for the Cougar faithful of all ages. Fans and visitors arriving for the game, however, will want to take into account a number of key changes, particularly as they relate to parking accommodations and the location of certain pre-game events.
Cougville, Cougar Mania, Cougar Den
Fans young and old have a variety of options before and after the game. The general area of Rogers Field to the west of Martin Stadium will be the site of a number of activities that open three hours prior to game time. Cougar Mania, the corporate tent area, remains located on Rogers Field. Just adjacent to the west, kids will find Cougville, a relocated play area complete with activities and inflatables. To the east, under the Martin Stadium scoreboard, fans can meet and socialize in the Cougar Den. Food and refreshments are available in all three locations.
Game day parking
General parking for home football games is available on campus in designated parking areas on the eastern side of campus for $20. Visitors will note that some general parking areas in some locations on campus have been redesignated and are no longer available for general parking. Vehicles not parked in designated parking areas for home football games are subject to citation.
General parking permits can be purchased online prior to game day or at the entrances to the lots on game day. General parking lots are filled on a first come, first served basis. A campus general parking map is available online here. For additional information regarding general parking, call WSU Parking & Transportation Services, 509-335-PARK (7275).
For the convenience of those who might wish to park off-campus, WSU has teamed with Pullman Transit to establish six local 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. The Park and Ride lots will be open three hours prior to home games and are available at the following locations:
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Valley Road Play Fields, Valley Road and Merman Drive.
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Chief Joseph Apartments, Terre View Drive between Merman and North Fairway Road.
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WSU Research Park, Eastgate Boulevard and Terre View Drive.
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Pullman Aquatic Center, Larry Street and Hall Drive.
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Airport Road and State Route 270.
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Living Faith Fellowship on South Grand Avenue.
A map of Park and Ride locations is available here. More parking information is available online here.
RV parking
Recreational vehicle parking permits for this game have been sold out, but there are a number of options available for fans. RV parking information is available online here.
Cougar Corridor
In an effort to give fans from Spokane a faster and more enjoyable route to the game, WSU and local community and law enforcement officials this weekend will establish the Cougar Corridor, a marked diversion route along Highway 27 from Rosalia, which will provide fans a faster route south through a number of local towns to Pullman. Volunteers will keep businesses (and bathrooms) open along the way and offer additional food and beverages to fans.
For a complete list of activities on campus: www.footballweekends.wsu.edu.
For a complete list of athletic related information: www.wsucougars.com/gameday/.