Fans: Like a Husker football Saturday, but in April

For the first time, the Husker Red-White Spring Game is sold out for, and fans will get a full gameday experience April 19, complete with some pedestrian and traffic congestion caused by the 80,000-fan convergence on downtown Lincoln. Kickoff for the spring football game is 1 p.m., with a Husker baseball game beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Hawks Field.

Fans are reminded that there will be no tickets sold on Saturday, but those who haven't picked up tickets can arrive at the Ticket Office beginning at 9 a.m. The Husker Nation Pavilion will open at 10 a.m. at Ed Weir Track/Nebraska Soccer Field to complete the gameday experience. Memorial Stadium gates open at 11:30 a.m.

All students eighth grade and below taking the Drug Free Pledge will be admitted free, and Drug Free Pledge participant numbers could reach more than 10,000. All students should pick up their Drug Free Pledge Card at the Husker Nation Pavilion, or at Gate 16 (northeast corner) or 24 (southeast corner), where they can enter the stadium. All students taking Drug Free Pledge are asked to sit in the general admission seating, unless their parents have purchased reserved seating for them. The Spring Game will be shown live from the Husker Nation Pavilion and students may also take the Drug Free Pledge from the Pavilion by watching the big screen.

Only the following groups will be allowed entrance to the Spring Game without a ticket: Those taking the Drug Free Pledge (must have Drug Free Pledge card); UNL students and staff (must have UNL N-Card); Former Nebraska Football players (must have player lanyard); children under 6 years of age.

Parking and traffic recommendations:

-- The Husker baseball game vs. Kansas at 3:30 p.m. at Haymarket Park will remove the Haymarket Park parking from availability for football fans. Only those showing baseball tickets can park at Haymarket Park.

-- Athletics Department officials suggested using the StarTran system to bus to the stadium and arriving plenty early. In addition to regular route service, StarTran will operate Big Red Express bus service to and from the UNL Spring Game from two outlying locations: Southpointe Pavilions, 27th Street and Pine Lake Road (buses will load in the loop on the west side of Von Maur); and Slumberland/Toys R Us, 27th and Superior streets (buses will load on Kensington Drive just south of Slumberland).

-- Big Red Express service will begin operating two hours prior to kickoff with continuous shuttle service to the east side of the stadium. Last buses will leave from the express lots to the stadium at approximately 12:15 p.m. The fare for the Big Red Express services from these outlying locations is $4 each way. Buses will depart immediately after the end of the game from the east stadium back to the express parking lots. Passengers will need exact change when boarding the bus. For additional information on regular route service or the Big Red Express, call StarTran customer service at (402) 476-1234.

-- As in the fall, some parking lots on and near the UNL City Campus are reserved for those who have paid reservations, but some paid public parking will be available, including the Parking Garage at 17th and R streets. Handicapped parking with shuttle service is available at 19th and R streets. Some parking availability will be different from the regular season; again, leave time if you need to find different parking. City-operated parking lots downtown and street parking are also available.

-- Stadium Drive, the street on the west side of the stadium, closes at 7 a.m. Saturday.

-- The taxi cab drop off/pick up location will be at the corner of 14th and Vine streets east of the stadium. Other passenger drop-off and pick-up will not be allowed in front of the stadium before or after games. The recommended drop-off location is 12th and R streets.

-- As a reminder to out-of-town visitors: The West O Street (Harris) Overpass is closed for construction and travelers should use Cornhusker Highway or Capitol Parkway to enter downtown Lincoln from the west. Check the city of Lincoln Web site (http://lincoln.ne.gov) for traffic and parking information.

Check for updates and other information at www.huskers.com and click on the Red-White Game Fan Information link.