With 18,000 new chairback seats available for rental in Memorial Stadium in 2010, outside chairback seats will not be permitted at Cornhusker home football games.
The reason, said Butch Hug, associate athletic director for facilities and events, is that many chairbacks that are sold in stores are larger than Memorial Stadium's allotted seat space. Hug said the department's new chairbacks have thicker seats and fiberglass backs that are molded for the comfort of the fan and do not take up the knee space of the person seated behind them.
One other significant change in stadium policies is that all tickets at all gates will be scanned with an optical reader for entrance and for re-entry if someone chooses to leave the stadium.
Fans will again have the ability to report safety concerns to UNL Police via text-messaging. Anyone with a cellular phone and short message service capabilities can initiate a text message to 69050, keyword, "UNLPD," and type in their complaint and location. Standard SMS rates will apply. The text number is different from the one used in 2009 and is printed on the back of all tickets.
Other stadium policies remain unchanged from previous years.
Reserved parking lots will open 6 hours prior to kickoff.
UNL students will be seated in Sections 9 through 14 in the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium, and all student seating will be general admission rather than reserved seating. Students with tickets for East Stadium seating (Sections 9, 10 and 11) must pick up a required wristband at the tent east of Gate 23 beginning three hours prior to kickoff each game; when stadium gates open, they may enter Memorial Stadium through Gate 21, 22 or 23. Wristbands are not required for students with tickets for South Stadium seating (Sections 12, 13 and 14, entering through Gate 24). UNL students must present a valid N Card with their ticket for admission. Required ticket validation for non-UNL students using UNL student tickets is available at the Athletic Ticket Office on the ground floor of the Stadium Drive Parking Garage. Validated student tickets for East Stadium seating require a wristband.
Fans are asked to help the "Big Red Go Green" in a stepped-up recycling program this fall by depositing their plastic bottles and cups in marked recycling bins located near every trash receptacle.
Memorial Stadium gates will open 1 hour and 30 minutes before kickoff of each game and ticket holders are encouraged to enter the gate number printed on their ticket. Express lanes will be in effect at stadium gates again and fans are encouraged to "travel light." Ticket-holders who are not carrying items that are subject to inspection (purses, fanny packs, camera bags and water bottles) can use the express lanes. Fans carrying such items must use the other lanes. Backpacks are not permitted in Memorial Stadium.
The Husker Nation Pavilion will be back for its seventh year at Ed Weir Stadium at the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium. It will be open 3 hours prior to kickoff and have food vendors, games, a big-screen TV, bands, the Husker Sports Network pre-game show, the Kids Zone, face painters, appearances by former players, cheerleaders and the Cornhusker Marching Band. Stadium Drive on the west side of the stadium will also have food vendors and some game-related activities.
Other Memorial Stadium policies for the 2010 football season are:
- The Athletic Ticket Office and Huskers Authentic open 4 hours prior to kickoff.
- Memorial Stadium, like all university buildings, is a non-smoking area. Those who want to smoke must leave the stadium to do so, but their tickets will be scanned for re-entry. Re-entry passes are available at each gate. Persons re-entering the stadium are subject to rescreening.
- The following items are prohibited in Memorial Stadium: Guns, knives, backpacks, glass, cans, coolers, Thermoses, video cameras, umbrellas and pets. People will be asked to return such items to their vehicles or home. Purses, fanny packs, and small camera bags are allowed but are subject to search. Plastic water bottles are permitted but may be inspected.
- Alcoholic beverages of any type are not allowed in the stadium. In addition, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in city and university parking lots and property.
- Throwing of any object in the stadium is prohibited. Any person throwing any object is subject to immediate removal from the stadium. Rules allow game officials to penalize the home team if objects are thrown onto the playing field.
- The Stadium Assistance Team, wearing orange jackets bearing the word "Security," can help with any problems fans may encounter. If fans become separated from their friends, they should report to any First Aid station for assistance.
- Lost and found areas are located at the south end of the east and west concourses.
Parking and Traffic Policies and Procedures
- Most parking lots on the City Campus are reserved for those who have paid reservations on game days. Paid public parking on City Campus is available at $15 per stall at the Parking Garage located at 17th and R streets.
- Parking for people with disabilities is available for $15 per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis in Booster Lots 5 and 9 on the south side of Salt Creek Roadway between Stadium Drive and 14th Street northeast of Memorial Stadium. Lots 5 and 9 have cart shuttle service to the stadium for individuals with a preapproved shuttle pass. This shuttle is radio equipped and will be stationed during the game at the northeast corner of the stadium and on the east side for those patrons needing to return to their vehicles. According to officials in the Athletics office, the preapproved shuttle passes are sold out. Charter and shuttle bus parking is available on W Street between 14th and 16th streets.
- Stadium Drive, the street on the west side of the stadium, will be closed on game days.
- Star Tran will offer the Big Red Express shuttle service to and from the stadium from sites around Lincoln. The shuttle service will run from Southeast Community College, 88th and O streets; Holmes Park, 70th Street and Normal Boulevard; Westfield Shoppingtown Gateway, 61st and O streets; North Star High School, 5801 N. 33rd St.; and Southpointe Pavilions, 27th Street and Pine Lake Road. For more information, call (402) 476-1234 or visit http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/startran.
- 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.
- Up-to-date statewide road information can be found online at http://www.nebraskatransportation.org. Highway conditions and a brief weather report can be obtained by calling 511 on a home or cell phone.
- Tom Simons, University Communications