WSU Cougar football season kickoff set for Saturday

falkPULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University will kick off the Labor Day weekend and open the 2015 football season at home this Saturday (Sept. 4), when the Cougars play host to the Vikings of Portland State University at 11 a.m. in Martin Stadium. At mid-week, more than 5,000 tickets remained available for the opening football game. Tickets can be ordered by calling 1-800-GOCOUGS.

Also this weekend, in recognition of both those who have lost so much and those who have given so much in the face of the region’s recent wildfires, WSU Athletics will be making free tickets to this week’s opening game available to firefighters, relief workers and affected families, who can also call 1-800-GOCOUGS to make arrangements to obtain free tickets.

Additionally, WSU will be giving a free end zone ticket to the game to anyone who brings three food items or a case of bottled water to the Cougar ticket office Saturday. Donations will go to Second Harvest of Spokane, Wash., to be sent to local communities affected by fires. Items can include peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned meats like tuna and chicken, hearty soups and stews, whole grain cereals and healthy granola bars and crackers.

The Cougars are also partnering this week with KXLY News (TV and online) in Spokane to provide 200 tickets for people who make cash donations to the Red Cross at the Spokane Federal Credit Union, 601 W. Mallon Ave., Spokane.

Events

As always, the WSU home game weekend will also 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, as the Cougar women’s volleyball team will be taking on three quality opponents over the weekend in tournament play in nearby Moscow, Idaho. In games slated for Memorial Gym at the University of Idaho, WSU volleyball will take on UC Irvine Friday at 4:30 p.m. and return on Saturday to play Seattle University at 10 a.m. and tournament host Idaho at 7 p.m.

WSU women’s tennis team is also hosting its annual Play With a Cougar event, Friday evening at the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. Tennis begins at 4 p.m. Fans are invited to join the team for an evening of fun activities, tennis competition and one-on-one tennis instruction. A raffle and silent auction will take place during dinner, which is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Various WSU memorabilia including basketball and football tickets, signed memorabilia, tennis camp certificates and many more Cougar items will be available in the silent auction. Attendees will receive a Cougar Tennis t-shirt. Tickets are $20 for the tennis and dinner or $20 for the dinner and social.

Other Friday events include the Feast of the Arts, a popular sellout dinner series beginning with a reception at the Museum of Art/WSU and a gourmet meal prepared by WSU’s School of Hospitality Business. This year’s featured wineries, and Wine-By-Cougars partners, are Barnard Griffin, L’Ecole No. 41, Maryhill Winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Mercer Wine Estates. The menu for this Feast will feature a rosé, several red and white varietals, and a main course of lamb. For more details, a full menu, and registration, go to http://www.alumni.wsu.edu/feast. Cost is $115 for WSUAA members and $135 for non-members.

Fans arriving between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday may want to begin the festivities at the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center with a wine tasting event showcasing the WSU Viticulture and Enology label, Blended Learning, featuring a 2013 Methode Champenoise Brut and 2013 Methode Champenoise Brut Rose, presented by WSU Director of Viticulture & Enology, Thomas Henick-Kling. A $5 tasting ticket includes tastes of all wines being featured that day and a commemorative wine glass (while supplies last). Tickets are available at the door without reservations.

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 at 8 a.m. 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.

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 Cougar Mania, 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.

For a complete list of activities, see https://footballweekends.wsu.edu/events/category/labor-day/.

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. A map of Park and Ride locations is available at http://www.parking.wsu.edu/GamedayTransit.html.

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.

For a complete list of athletic related information: www.wsucougars.com/gameday/.

Media contact:

Robert Strenge, WSU News, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu