Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney Athletic Department announced today parking, tailgating and ticket arrangements for this Thursday's (September 3rd) home football game vs. fifth-ranked Northwest Missouri State.
The 2015 season opener – the First National Bank First Game -- is expected to draw a crowd large enough to set a new record for Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. In the 2005 opener, 8,823 fans watched UNK face Nebraska-Omaha to set the standard.
With the fall semester underway and night classes in session, parking on campus will be extremely limited for the 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
Fans are encouraged to use the free shuttle services that will run from Kearney High (3610 6th Avenue), West Campus (Lot # 27) and The Buckle screen printing lot. These shuttles will start to pick up at 4:00 p.m. and run for an hour after the game ends.
See the campus maps (
shuttle # 1 &
shuttle # 2/parking map) for more details about the route.
Loper and Bearcat fans are also encouraged to buy their tickets early to avoid long lines the day of the game. Log on to
www.lopertickets.com to buy single game or season tickets; around 2,500 tickets (season and single game) have already been sold and the majority of UNK's on-campus students (2,000) are likely to attend.
UPDATE: TICKETS SALES WILL STOP ON GAME DAY BEGINNING AT NOON. AT 5:00 P.M AT THE STADIUM, TICKET SALES WILL RESUME.
Gates to the stadium will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff (5:30 p.m.). Note this year UNK is offering a separate gate for fans with purses or bags. The Express Zone will be Gate C and the Bag Check line will be Gate B. Both gates are located on the West side of the stadium.
Fans are allowed to bring in unopened bottles of water. With temperatures expected to be in the mid-90's, fans are encouraged to do so.
Next, UNK fans will be allowed to tailgate in "Loperville" beginning at 4:00 p.m. This expanded area, located in
Lot # 12, will again have food and drink provided by The Cellar Bar & Grill, as well as music and a new student tailgate area.
Northwest fans are encouraged to tailgate (starting after 2:00 p.m.) in
Lot 20 located down the hill from the Kearney C.C. (2800 19th Avenue). The lot is about a block from the stadium.
During the game, the South end zone area will be turned into "Loperland", an area for young children to play on inflatables and Jump A Roos. Also, the Loper Loonies (UNK student booster group) will be making their 2015-16 debut.
Finally, for fans that cannot attend in person, check the
Loper schedule page for live audio, video and stat links.
Northwest is coming off 10-2 season in which it made another appearance in the Division II playoffs. A talented roster features preseason All-Americans Brandon Yost (defensive line) and Bryce Enyard (defensive back).
The Lopers have 19 return starters, including 2014 All-MIAA honorees
Romero Cotton (running back) and
Tyke Kozeal (linebacker).
