PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University will kick off the Labor Day weekend and open the 2016 football season at home this Saturday (Sept. 3), when the Cougars play host to the Eagles of Eastern Washington University at 5 p.m. in Martin Stadium. By mid-week, fewer than 1,000 tickets remained available for the season-opening football game. Tickets can be ordered by calling 1-800-GOCOUGS.
As always, the WSU home game weekend will be marked by a series of special events on the Pullman campus for Cougar fans and friends. And once again, Cougar football won’t be the only WSU team playing on the Palouse this weekend, as the Cougar women’s soccer team will face two quality opponents in home games on the lower soccer field on both Friday and Sunday night.
The soccer matchup Friday at 7 p.m. will pit the Cougar women against the Grizzlies of the University of Montana, while the 7 p.m. Sunday matchup will feature the Cougs facing off against the Bison of North Dakota State University in another non-conference contest.
As always on home game weekends, Saturday’s events will include Kickoff at the CUB, featuring food and family-friendly entertainment in a festive atmosphere in the CUB senior ballroom beginning three hours before the game. Attendees can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Palouse from the ballroom balcony, watch football games from around the country, and participate in numerous giveaways and activities.
Also on Saturday, the general area of Rogers Field to the west of Martin Stadium will be the site of a number of activities, including the corporate tent area, Cougville, a children’s play area complete with activities and inflatables and the Cougar Den. Food and refreshments are available in all three locations.
Fans attending the football game Saturday will find that there has been no change as yet this year to Martin Stadium alcohol policies, despite news media reports regarding a plan to expand beer sales inside the stadium this season.
Existing rules allow alcohol sales inside the stadium to fans in club seats and suites only. Alcohol can be purchased and consumed outside the stadium in the Hollingbery Fieldhouse before the game and in the “Cougville” area at Rogers Field before the game and at halftime. Fans will also be allowed to exit and re-enter the stadium this Saturday.
Fans should also note that, under a recent policy change, the WSU Pullman campus has been designated as tobacco and nicotine-free, requiring that those products be secured, extinguished and/or disposed of prior to entering WSU Pullman property or exiting private vehicles on the Pullman campus.
Parking
General parking for home football games is available on campus in designated parking areas. General parking permits can be purchased online prior to game day for $15 or at the entrances to the lots on game day for $20. General parking lots are filled on a first come, first served basis. Game Day parking information and a link to a campus general parking map are available online at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/Gameday2.html. 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.
Additional information about Park and Ride locations is available at http://www.pullman-wa.gov/departments/pullman-transit/52-departments/pullman-transit/1025-football-service
Overnight RV parking permits for this weekend’s game have been sold out. Additional RV parking information is available online at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/RVParkingRegions.html.
Fans should also note that Stadium Way will be closed from three hours before kickoff until 1½ hours after the end of the game. Find helpful Gameday Traffic and Travel information at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/GamedayTraffic.html
Media contact:
Robert Strenge, WSU News, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu
