2024 Kentucky Football Gameday Information
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ahead of the 2024 Kentucky football season, Kentucky Athletics is announcing important reminders and new features in the gameday experience.
Big Blue Nation will return to Kroger Field for the first of eight home games in 2024 when Kentucky hosts Southern Miss on Saturday, Aug. 31.
2024 UK Football Home Schedule
Aug. 31 – Southern Miss, 7:45 p.m. ET/SEC Network
Sept. 7 – South Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ET/ABC
Sept. 14 – Georgia, 7:30 p.m. ET/ ABC
Sept. 21 – Ohio, 12:45 p.m. ET/SEC Network
Oct. 12 – Vanderbilt, TBA
Oct. 26 – Auburn, TBA
Nov. 16 – Murray State, 1:30 p.m. ET/SEC Network+
Nov. 30 – Louisville, TBA
Helpful Links
Need a parking map, with a permit, click here
Need a parking map, with no permit, click here
Need a parking map with non-reserved disabled parking, click here
Need more information on the UK Athletics Clear Bag Policy, click here
Need to find a section, click here
Need a snack, click here.
Need a beverage, click here
New in 2024
UK Athletics continues working to create the best possible experiences for Kentucky football fans at Kroger Field.
Improved lighting and ribbon video boards are new to Kroger Field this season. The LED lighting system includes the ability to do light shows during timeouts and breaks in play similar to those at games in Rupp Arena and Kentucky Proud Park. The new ribbon boards have greater functionality, featuring sharper visual resolution than the previous set and expanded capability for display of video and graphics.
The new LED lighting system is 75% more energy efficient than the previous system.
Also new this year, instead of using a hashtag to get on the video board, fans can visit this link during game week to add photos (+text) that will appear on the video board on gameday in Kroger Field. These photos and texts will be monitored to ensure they are appropriate. Fans are encouraged to add content before Friday to have the best chance of being included on the video board.
Farm Road and sections of the Orange Lot are under construction for the 2024 season. Farm Road will not be accessible throughout the duration of the season for vehicle and foot traffic.
The northeast end of the Orange Lot will be reserved for construction of the new USDA building. Tailgating space will be limited in that area
The non-Reserved Disabled lot has been relocated to the William T. Young library lots at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Columbia Avenue. A shuttle will pick up from both lots and drop off at Gate 4 of Kroger Field.
Bus parking has been moved to two different locations, the primary location will be on University Drive and the secondary location is on Stadium View Drive, in the Barnhart Family Athletic Complex.
Taylor Belle’s is expanding their offerings at Kroger Field this year. Taylor Belle’s will offer the soft serve ice cream made famous at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center outside of section 19, in addition to their hand-dipped ice cream located near Section 1 and 13.
Alcohol and concessions
Having begun sales of alcoholic beverages at home games in 2023, those offerings will continue at University of Kentucky Athletics home events in 2024-25.
In Kroger Field, beverage offerings will include beer and seltzer products. Sales will have a limit of two (2) per transaction. Identification checks will take place at each transaction. For football, alcohol sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter.
Click here for more information as well as to view beverage and concessions offerings maps.
UK Athletics will continue ticket features intended to improve fan safety and make entry to Kroger Field easier.
Self-service pedestal scanners will be in place at most Kroger Field entrances to help ease fan entry.
When fans arrive at their designated gate, the scanner will invite them to scan their ticket. There are two ways for fans to scan their tickets at a pedestal ticket scanner:
- For tickets saved in your mobile wallet without a barcode (“tap & go” tickets), tap the back of your phone to the icon on the top of the pedestal scanner.
- For tickets with a dynamic barcode, scan the barcode below the screen on the pedestal.
Click here to learn more about the self-service pedestal scanners.
Alongside Ticketmaster, SafeTix™, will remain in place, helping ensure fans’ mobile tickets remain secure when attending Kentucky events.
As a reminder, screenshots and screen recordings of tickets cannot be used, as they will not scan.
If you have any questions, please visit UKathletics.com/mobiletickets.
Parking permits will be scanned at lot entry, so be sure to have your mobile permit ready prior to leaving home. You may also be asked to show the permit on your phone prior to arriving at your lot entrance. This will assist traffic personnel to efficiently sort and direct vehicles approaching the complex.
RV Parking Update
On-board generators are permitted. Exterior or pull-along generators must have an exhaust extension.
For safety reasons, all motor homes/RVs are required to utilize exhaust extensions or “smoke stacks” to channel exhaust fumes to the top of the motor home/RV.
TRAFFIC
To find specific travel routes into permitted lots, visit the UK Athletics Gameday Website. Fans traveling in the area but not attending the game are encouraged to use the Waze app, available for Apple and Android devices.
Key Reminders
Fans are encouraged to arrive early.
Large crowds are expected throughout the season. Fans are encouraged to leave plenty of time getting to Kroger Field to avoid late rushes to get into the stadium just before the game starts.
Mobile Ticketing & Parking
UK Athletics has fully transitioned to mobile ticketing at all venues. All tickets will be mobile and no physical season ticket books will be printed. Season ticket holders and individual game buyers will use the UK Athletics App to access and manage tickets. Season ticket holders may also manage tickets by visiting UKathletics.com/MyUKAccount from a mobile device’s web browser.
Season parking permits will also be issued via mobile delivery, and ticket holders with parking will access and display parking permits on a smartphone for entry into the stadium lots.
To avoid game day issues, UK Athletics encourages all fans to view tickets and parking permits and save them to a smartphone’s digital wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Pay) in advance of arriving at Kroger Field.
Parking permits will be scanned at lot entry, so fans should have the mobile permit ready prior to leaving home. Fans may also be asked to show the permit on a phone prior to arriving at the lot entrance. This will assist traffic personnel to efficiently sort and direct vehicles approaching the complex.
Fans should enter the stadium at the assigned gate that will be listed on their mobile ticket.
For more information, helpful tips, and FAQs, visit UKathletics.com/MobileTickets.
Disabled Services
With a valid state-issued handicap hang tag fans can park in the non-reserved disabled lot, which has been relocated to the William T. Young library lots at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Columbia Avenue. The capacity of lot is 206 vehicles. This lot will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost per vehicle is $50, and we will only accept card payments. A shuttle will pick up from both lots and drop off at gate 4 of Kroger Field.
A limited mobility guest golf cart shuttle is available from Gate 6 to any other gate outside of Kroger Field. Golf carts are not permitted to drive into the parking lots for patron assistance. Check with the Guest Services for additional help
Guest Services booths are located outside of Gates 1, 4, 9 & 12; inside on the lower concourse near sections 6, 16, 26 & 36; On the upper concourse near sections 206.
Student Tickets
UK students should visit UKStudentTix.com for information on season passes, including how and when pass holders can claim tickets for each game. Instructions are also available for how and when students can purchase single-game tickets.
Nursing Mothers Suite
There are six family restrooms located throughout the stadium that will accommodate nursing mothers. They are located on the lower concourse near section 4 and 24 and on the upper concourse near section 20, 40, 204 and 224. There is also a nursing mother’s suite inside gate 2.
Additionally, there are four first-aid locations that will accommodate nursing mothers.
UK Athletics also reminds fans of the following important information for game day this season:
Text assistance
The Game Day Assistance program enables fans to start a conversation with UK Athletics staff. Fans can text UK MESSAGE & SEAT LOCATION to 69050.
Email questions
Fans with questions or feedback about football game day can contact UK Athletics by emailing BBNfirst@uky.edu.
Game day ticket office hours
The Kroger Field ticket office, located between gates 9 and 10, opens four hours prior to kickoff and closes five minutes into the third quarter. Advance ticket sales are strongly encouraged, and payment cards are the preferred method of payment in order to limit handling of cash.
Clear bag policy
As a reminder, the SEC’s clear bag policy remains in place at Kroger Field as an additional safety measure and to facilitate entry. Each fan will be permitted to carry one large clear bag – either a one-gallon Ziploc-style bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear bag – plus a small clutch that does not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″. The small clutch allows privacy for small personal items and is also easily searched. No backpacks, including clear backpacks are permittted. The clear bag policy improves public safety by making bags easily searched and significantly reducing faulty bag searches. Any non-clear bags left unattended at the gates will be evaluated and disposed of.
Kroger Tailgating Experience
Kroger will host a VIP tailgate event, which will begin two hours prior to kickoff for each home game, in the lawn next to Bluegrass Technical and Community College. Kroger customers can enter the Kroger Tailgate Experience by showing a Kroger receipt(s) dated within 7 days of the event totaling $35 (or more) per person. Come join us at each home game for games, food, drinks, music and more! It’s fun for the whole family and a great place to fuel up before the game. ID required for entry.
Complimentary water
Complimentary water is available to fans throughout both the lower and upper concourse of Kroger Field. Four large water tanks are located on both the lower and upper concourse that fans will be able to use to fill cups that will be provided. Concession stands do not offer complimentary water.
Lap tickets for infants under 12 months
The policy that all fans regardless of age must have a ticket remains in place, but lap tickets will again be available this season for infants 12 months and under. Lap tickets are only available on game day and may be purchased at the Kroger Field ticket office (between gates 9 & 10) for $10 by an accompanying adult with a ticket. The lap ticket policy only applies to regular-season home football games.
Gate 12 congestion
Fans should be aware of expected congestion in the concourse inside gate 12 and the plaza outside gate 12 both pregame and postgame due to team movements and plan accordingly. Starting about 90 minutes prior to kickoff and lasting until approximately 40 minutes prior to kickoff, the team walks from the football facility to Kroger Field, restricting fan movement. The gate 12 area is also shut down postgame to allow the team to return to the locker room.
Permits for tow-behind trailers
In order to maintain the integrity of reserved parking lots for all guests, tow-behind trailers will not be permitted on paved surface lots within Kroger Field, unless they too have a permit. Guests bringing a tow-behind trailer, without an additional permit, will be directed to the nearest open grass lot.
Tailgate setup
Fans are asked to not set up tents or trailers in the Kroger Field complex prior to noon on Fridays leading up to game day in order to facilitate preparations. Also, all vehicles, tents and trailers must be removed by noon on Sundays following game day.
Ticket holders with parking permits should be sure to follow the outlined traffic routes to access their specific parking lot. Pre-game routes into each permitted lot are detailed in the Directions section below. Fans are strongly encouraged to view their mobile parking permits and save them in their phone’s digital wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Pay) in advance of arriving at Kroger Field. Parking permits will be scanned at lot entry, so be sure to have your mobile permit ready prior to leaving home. 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 and #6.
A variety of ticket options are still available for select games during the 2024 season. For more information, please visit https://ukathletics.com/ticketing/football/.
Sustainability/Recycling
The University of Kentucky encourages all guests to recycle. As you tailgate around the stadium, we ask that you place all recyclables into any of the recycling receptacles stationed throughout the area.
Waste diversion at Kroger Field has increased to 32% in 2023 from 8% in 2017. UK thanks guests for helping reach the goal of zero waste at football games by 2030.
If you are parking in any of the color-coded reserved parking lots, you will be given recycling bags as you enter the parking lots. Please deposit aluminum cans, plastic, or glass bottles. Please do not deposit food or paper in these bags. Before you leave the lots to enter the game, please leave your bags behind your vehicle so that bags are accessible for collectors
If you tailgate postgame, please locate the nearest recycling receptacle, and deposit your recyclable beverage containers before you leave.
During the game, while inside Kroger Field, please deposit any recyclable beverage containers into the designated blue receptacles.
The Big Blue Crew will be making their way around stadium parking lots beginning two hours prior to assist with distribution of recycling and trash bags.
Traffic
During the two-hour period prior to kickoff, lots could be filled according to availability. If your designated lot is full upon arrival, you will be directed to the next available lot.
