Wildcats Take Out the Trash

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2010) -- Football fans have a lot to look forward to as the University of Kentucky Wildcats’ first home game of the season kicks off Saturday.

There’s a new coach, a new team, new traffic patterns, new stadium regulations, new parking directives and hopefully a new attitude about good sportsmanship and good stewardship.

Plans are in place to dramatically expand the recycling efforts in the tailgating areas around Commonwealth Stadium, enhancing the existing programs that capture recyclables within the stadium. In a partnership between UK Recycling, UK Athletics and Big Blue Sports Marketing, a concerted effort is being made to recycle the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of waste that football fans produce on game days.

Beginning Saturday, up to 15 recycling stations staffed by student workers will be scattered throughout Red, Green and Blue parking lots adjacent to the stadium. Each station will sport a 15-foot-tall feather banner to help fans locate the right place to deposit their empty beverage containers, specifically aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles.

In addition, recycling staff will also walk through the lots collecting material, handing out transparent blue bags for recyclable material, and answering questions about the program.

In an effort to make game day more enjoyable for everyone, the UK event management staff has announced the following operations changes for home-game Saturdays at Commonwealth Stadium this fall. The changes will affect several aspects of game day operations, including tow-behind trailers; guests’ golf cart use; adjustments to parking and tailgating along Cooper Drive; closure of Hospital Drive on game days; and backpacks’ entry into Commonwealth Stadium.

Below is a detailed description of the changes being made on game day:

Tow-Behind Trailer Policy

--Tow-behind trailers will not be allowed to park on paved surface lots within the Commonwealth Stadium complex, unless they too have a parking permit.
--Guests bringing a tow-behind trailer, without a parking permit for the trailer, will be directed to the nearest grass lot (Orange or Purple).
--All tow-behind trailers will be directed to park in the periphery of the Orange or Purple grass lots.
--Guests bringing tow-behind trailers, without a parking permit for the trailer, may contact the KFund parking office (859) 257.6300 in advance to setup an in-person exchange of their Red, Blue or Green permit for an Orange or Purple grass lot permit.

Guest Golf Cart Use

--Beginning 2010, guests’ golf cart use will be prohibited on the Commonwealth Stadium Complex to include all parking lots, sidewalks, streets, etc.
--This includes motorized scooters/coolers, etc.
--Scooters used by individuals with disabilities will be permitted
--Guests are asked not to bring golf carts to the complex.

Cooper Drive Tailgate and Parking

--Tailgate setups and parking vehicles may begin no earlier than Noon on Fridays prior to Game Day.
--Beginning Noon on Friday, two vehicles will be permitted to parallel park outside/along painted 6’ restraining line, within each designated tailgate area.  Vehicles will be restricted from parking in any water retention ditches, flood areas, sidewalks and otherwise marked off areas.

Game day traffic on hospital drive - UK Medical center emergency room 

--Hospital Drive, connecting Limestone and University Drive, will be closed strictly for Emergency Room traffic on Game Day.  Guests with Parking Structure #1 permits may access Parking Structure #1 via University Drive only.

No Backpacks

--Beginning 2010, guests’ backpacks will not be permitted in Commonwealth Stadium.
--Purses, small handbags, etc. will be permitted and all bags are subject to search.

Parking

--Parking Structure #7 will be available for football parking. UK parking permits are not valid in this parking structure on days of home football games. Located on Sports Center Drive approximately three blocks from Commonwealth Stadium, the structure will be open for football parking four hours before kickoff. The cost is $20 per vehicle per game. PTS also offers several other parking facilities free of charge. For more on PTS game day policies and parking options, as well as a schedule of home football games, visit www.uky.edu/Parking/parking-football-gameday-parking.html .
--If you plan to attend the game, tune your radio to 1700 AM for game day parking and travel information.

Please visit the UK Football Game Day website www.ukathletics.com/fbgameday for all your game day information needs. Should you have questions/concerns regarding your game day experience, please submit an email to UKGameday@uky.edu.