UK, City Want Football Fans to be Aware of Changes for 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2015) – With the beginning of football season only days away, the University of Kentucky together with the city of Lexington today announced  changes and issued several reminders concerning game day operations on Saturdays at The New Commonwealth Stadium this fall.

To help spread the word, UK Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Monday was joined by Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and other city and university officials at a news conference detailing those changes, several of which are directly related to the stadium construction and renovation project.

"We want to thank our fans for their tremendous support of our football program," Monday said. "Our transformed stadium is an absolutely beautiful venue for UK football. With these exciting upgrades come changes to habits and routines, so we are asking for everyone's help and cooperation as we host the first game in the new stadium this Saturday evening."

The Kentucky Wildcats will play Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 5.

“Lexington’s pulse quickens when the students come back to campus and football season opens. We want fans from all over the state to fill up the new stadium and have a great time,” Mayor Gray said. “Our visitors should be aware there’s a lot of construction on campus and around town. Please celebrate safely and respect the neighborhoods that surround the stadium.”

Other speakers at the news conference included UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, UK Student Government President Austin Mullen, and the respective police chiefs of the university and the city, Joe Monroe and Mark Barnard.

A few highlights as to what fans need to be aware of coming to the stadium complex:

• Many season-ticket holders were reassigned to new parking lots this offseason. Specific directions for respective permits are included with season ticket books.
• Fans are encouraged to display their parking permit when they leave their homes, enabling traffic personnel to efficiently sort and direct vehicles approaching the stadium complex.
• New Permits in 2015 -- Silver, located off of Farm Road, accessible via University Drive; The Arboretum, located off of Alumni Drive, accessible via Tates Creek.
• Non-permit parking is available on Cooper Drive on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at noon ET on Fridays.  Additional non-permit parking is available in Parking Structures #2, #3 and #6. 
• Miller Transportation will operate campus and downtown shuttle routes independent of UK Athletics. More information is available at http://millertransportation.com/ and Miller Transportation can be reached at 859-255-2707.
• LexTran will not operate the UK Football Express Campus & Downtown shuttles for the 2015 season, but all regular LexTran routes will operate on game day. More information is available at http://www.lextran.com/route-maps/uk-football.
• Tow-behind trailers may not park on paved surface lots within the Commonwealth Stadium complex, unless they too have a parking permit. Guests bringing a tow-behind trailer on game day, without a parking permit for the trailer, will be directed to the nearest available grass lot.

75th District State Representative Kelly Flood assisted in bringing the now-completed Alumni Drive project to fruition and added her congratulations to all who played a role in its completion.

“This greenway beautifies our city and the UK campus while creating greater safety for drivers, walkers, and cyclists," said Flood. "It also deepens the ties of goodwill between neighbors and across the city, the university and the state.”

As has been the case during the last several years, backpacks and large bags are prohibited from entering Commonwealth Stadium. Fans will be permitted to bring in one small bag, no larger than 13.5 inches x 10 inches x 7 inches. The bag must fit within sizing bins at all entrance gates. UK officials are encouraging fans to arrive early and bring as few items as possible.

UK Athletics has created a game day central website for fans to get answers about all game day operations questions. Before stepping foot on campus for a football game this fall, fans are strongly encouraged to visit http://ukathleticsgameday.com/football/ for all game day information needs.

On the site, fans can read all about the 2015 game day operation changes, including GuestAssist – customer service text-messaging system; Twitter; Directions & Pre/Postgame Traffic; Parking/Tailgating Policies; Downtown & Campus Shuttles; RV Information – permitted RVs, non-permitted RVs; Maps – showing permit parking, non-permit parking, pre/postgame traffic flow and stadium diagram; Commonwealth Stadium A-Z – stadium services, policies and procedures; About Lexington.

Should you have questions/concerns regarding your game day experience, please submit an email to the UK game day email account (BBNFirst@uky.edu). The UK Athletics event management staff will respond to your inquiries in a timely manner.  

For real-time updates regarding game day information, follow UK Athletics-Gameday on Twitter: @UKGamedayInfo.

For more information on game day operations, visit: http://www.ukathletics.com/news/2015-kentucky-football-game-day-information-09-02-2015                                                           

MEDIA CONTACTS: Carl Nathe, UK Public Relations, 859-257-3200, carl.nathe@uky.edu; Susan Straub, Mayor's Office, 859-258-3111, sstraub@lexingtonky.gov.