PULLMAN, Wash. – It’s Dad’s Weekend and Armed Forces Appreciation Day at Washington State University this Saturday, when the 4-2 Cougars will take on the Oregon State Beavers in a sold-out Pac-12 football matchup beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Martin Stadium.
The weekend is jam-packed with special events for Cougar enthusiasts of all ages. And even as football takes center stage at Martin Stadium, it will be far from the only game in town, with both the 8-1-3 Cougar women’s soccer team and the 15-3 Cougar women’s volleyball team taking on Pac-12 opponents in home games slated for both Friday and Sunday.
Cougar women’s soccer will host the Buffalos of the University of Colorado in a contest starting at 2 p.m. Friday on WSU’s Lower Soccer Field. The Cougar women will return to the field at 11 a.m. Sunday in a soccer matchup against the University of Utah Utes. No tickets are required for either game.
Cougar women’s volleyball will go up against the Sun Devils of Arizona State University at 6 p.m. Friday in Bohler Gym, and take the court again at 1 p.m. Sunday against the University of Arizona Wildcats. Tickets are available for both volleyball games at 1-800-GOCOUGS.
Fans arriving Friday may want to begin the festivities at the 7th Annual Brewfest, featuring a gourmet buffet catered by the School of Hospitality Business Management. The event will feature a variety of special beers from local breweries throughout the Northwest, live music, a raffle and a silent auction. Intended only for those 21 and older, the event begins at 5 p.m. at Pullman’s Gladish Community and Cultural Center, 115 NW State St.
Other Friday events include the 12th Annual Dad’s Weekend Cultural Exhibition Luau, featuring authentic Pacific Islander foods and modern Pacific Islander dances, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the CUB Senior Ballroom, CUB 220.
Also slated for Friday evening is “An Evening with Heart,” a concert featuring renowned rocker sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson performing their biggest hits from the 70s through the 90s, including such tunes as “Crazy on You,” “Barracuda,” “These Dreams” and “What About Love.” The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Beasley Coliseum. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-325-SEAT and can be ordered online at http://www.ticketswest.com/venues/beasley-coliseum/4025/.
Saturday’s early risers may want to join the WSU Regents, WSU President Elson S. Floyd, and Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson for a 9 a.m. ceremony to dedicate the new “front door” to WSU Pullman, at the newly constructed WSU Visitor Center at 150 E. Spring St. The new center features WSU’s teaching, research, athletics and student and faculty contributions in a unique visual setting, and is set off by 15-foor-high concrete letters spelling out “WSU.”
Also on Saturday, a variety of activities for students and their dads, including Dad’s Challenge, where family members can explore their limits on the high course; Dad’s Weekend Bro-ga, an exercise regimen combining muscle, core strength, flexibility and balance conditioning; and Dad’s Weekend TRX, a series of dynamic exercises using TRX suspension trainers, are scheduled at the Student Recreation Center, 1105 North Fairway Drive. Sessions are held at various times throughout the day beginning as early as 10 a.m. More information is available online at http://www.urec.wsu.edu/events/dads-weekend/.
And as always on home game weekends, Kickoff at the CUB, an event featuring delicious food and family friendly entertainment in a festive atmosphere, will be held in the M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom of the CUB beginning three hours before game time. Attendees can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Palouse from the ballroom balcony, watch football games from around the country, enjoy Butch and the Cougar Marching band and participate in numerous giveaways and activities.
A full list of Dad’s Weekend activities is available online at http://football-weekends.wsu.edu/public/EventWeek.castle?id=31.
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 football 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 this weekend’s game are sold out. 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 at http://transportation.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.
A map of Park and Ride locations is available at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/GamedayTransit.html.