ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot visits the University of Louisville for this weekend’s game featuring the Cardinals and Florida State at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. This is a special opportunity for Cardinal fans to have a fun, spirited and safe time as the football team prepares for a top-10 matchup. It is also a chance for the University of Louisville to be showcased on a national stage this weekend.
The location for the ESPN College GameDay set will be on the lawn in front of the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex, outside the northeast corner of the stadium. Lines are expected to form for fans to gain access to the areas closest to the stage beginning at 4 a.m., however, tents are not permitted. The pit behind the stage will open about 5 a.m. on Saturday.
The first 500 UofL students with a valid ID will receive a special Louisville Cardinals gift, an adidas tailgating survival kit, and a food and drink voucher for use inside the stadium for the game. Check-in for UofL students will be outside of Gate 1 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the northeast corner.
Access to the Stadium and GameDay Area
Reserved parking lots surrounding the stadium will open at 6 a.m., an hour earlier than the usual time of five hours prior to kickoff. Parking in all Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium lots are limited to those with reserved parking passes. Traffic patterns and parking will remain the same as with other home games. Plan to arrive early to ensure enough time for parking and entry into the stadium.
Additional parking is available for a fee at the Kentucky Exposition Center. KEC Gates 1 and 4 will open at 3:45 a.m. and all other gates there will open at 6 a.m.
Pedestrian traffic will be directed to the sidewalks past Gate 1 of the stadium toward the front of the Schnellenberger Football Complex. There will be no pedestrian traffic permitted on the access road between the football practice fields and the stadium.
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats for the game by 11 a.m. for player warmups and the live in-stadium ESPN College GameDay program. A special “Happy Hour-and-a-Half” will be in place for Saturday’s game. Domestic beer will be available for $3 for draft and $4 for canned beverages throughout the stadium for the pregame period when gates open at 10:30 a.m. and the special price will stop at noon.
Rules for “The Pit”
- Fans may arrive early to begin lining up for access to the pit at 4 a.m. ET, with the area being open around 5 a.m.
- Fans entering the pit will be checked by a security wand
- No bags, backpacks or purses permitted in the pit
- No offensive, vulgar, inappropriate or solicitation signage will be allowed (i.e., no political, religious, or .com, .org, .net signage)
- No signs on a stick
- No pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards
- No food or drinks
- Throwing of objects is prohibited
Schedule of Events
Friday
1:30 – 2 p.m. College Football Live will be live on ESPN from the GameDay set
UofL students and Cardinal fans are encouraged to be present in the pit area behind the stage for the live program. A cornhole challenge and other fan games will be available at the site. Free parking is available in the F and G lots, located between Floyd Street and the east side of the stadium.
Saturday
4:00 a.m. Fans may begin lining up near Gate 1 for access to pit
5:00 a.m. The pit behind the ESPN College GameDay set opens
The first 500 UofL students with a valid ID will receive a special Louisville Cardinals gift, an adidas tailgating survival kit, and a food and drink voucher for use inside the stadium for the game. Check-in for UofL students will be outside of Gate 1 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the northeast corner.
6:00 a.m. Parking lots surrounding Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium open.
(Parking is limited to those with reserved parking passes)
During the
morning ESPN SportsCenter is expected to have reports live from the GameDay set
9-11 a.m. ESPN College Gameday will be live on the lawn in front of the
Schnellenberger Football Complex (outside NE corner of stadium)
9:45 a.m. CardMarch — Fans are encouraged to participate in the pregame CardMarch, which provides fans an opportunity to greet the Cardinals and cheer them on as the team enters the stadium. The team will be dropped off on the south side of the Denny Crum Overpass on Central Avenue two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. With the assistance of the UofL marching band and spirit groups, the team will walk from the Green Lot, through the tunnel and into Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Fans are invited to arrive early and create an entrance way for the players as they head into the stadium. For those not attending the GameDay set, look to provide support for the team as they arrive.
11 a.m – noon ESPN College GameDay will be live inside the north end of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for the final hour of the program. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats in the stadium at this time for player warm-ups and the live program.
12:06 p.m. Florida State at Louisville game kickoff
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