President Capilouto and Mayor Gray Join Forces on Game Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2011) — University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto and Mayor Jim Gray today prepared for their first UK home football game as the leaders of the university and its hometown, respectively.

The two announced plans for a Game Day Task Force that will help fans get to and from the stadium on Saturday, encourage respect for the neighborhoods near Commonwealth Stadium and keep everyone safe in the process.

“We want everyone to have fun and enjoy the game, and that includes the residents of the neighborhoods that surround the university," Gray said.

Capilouto said, “We are grateful to our fans for their tremendous support for our football team. At the same time, we must remember to celebrate their success the right way — a responsible way — one that shows our respect for the neighborhood and upholds our institution’s reputation.”

The task force involves a variety of city, state and university offices including UK, city and state police, who control traffic, enforce parking laws and ensure safety; Athletic Department personnel; Division of Waste Management representatives, who work with the Division of Code Enforcement and the Division of Fire and Emergency Services to keep neighborhoods clean; and the Division of Streets and Roads employees, who clean up litter on streets and curbs.

Initiatives include:

•           Police are encouraging fans to tailgate safely. Trash containers will be available on the public sidewalks leading toward the stadium.  Beverage containers cannot be taken into Commonwealth Stadium, and UK has a new recycling effort underway in the tailgating areas on game days. Laws as they relate to severely intoxicated people and under age drinking will be enforced.

•           Police urge motorists to be patient as they drive to and from the stadium. A traffic plan is in place.

•           Parking violations in the neighborhoods around the stadium will be strictly enforced. It is against the law to park in the front yard of a residence.

•           Extra police officers from UK, the Lexington Division of Police, and the Kentucky State Police will be on duty in and around the stadium and surrounding neighborhoods. Approximately three dozen city officers will be patrolling the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium, in addition to those who are assigned to traffic control to provide more focused and pre-emptive enforcement efforts.

•           On-campus parking is available in the following areas:

            o          Free: Parking Structure #2 - accessible from University Drive near the

                        W.T. Young Library

            o          Free: Parking Structure #3 - Kentucky Clinic parking off Huguelet Drive

            o          Free: Parking Structure #6 - On the corner of Virginia Avenue and

                        Press Avenue

            o          Parking Structure #7 – located near the Johnson Center — opens four hours

                        prior to kickoff. Each vehicle will be charged a flat fee of $20 instead of the

                        regular hourly rate.

•           Code enforcement officers will cite residents for trash and debris violations.

•           Fire and Emergency Services will be in the area.

•           For more information: http://www.ukathletics.com/fbgameday/.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Carl Nathe, (859) 257-3200 or carl.nathe@uky.edu