THE FOOTBALL GAME DAY EXPERIENCE Each season the SC State Game Management team works tirelessly to improve the Game Day experience for fans. The Game Management team is committed to constantly evaluating and enhancing each and every facet of Game Day Operations with respect to hospitality, communication, safety, and security. SC State home football weekends are like no other, and we realize how important they are to our alumni, our fans and our athletes. We are committed to making the SC State football experience better than ever. During the current season, we are looking to build upon the positive momentum that we established in the last few years. We continue to invite feedback from our fans and will incorporate additions and changes in the future to improve the Game Day experience. The Game Management team is excited about the football season and we are eager to welcome our BULLDOGS and visiting fans to campus. GAME ZONE What is the Game Zone? The Game Zone is the perimeter defined within and around the Oliver C. Dawson Football Stadium where patrons can actively and safely enjoy SC State football games and tailgating. The Game Zone is defined by five entry points: Gate/Entrance 1 Russell Street & Buckley Street; Entrance 2 at the Ticket Kiosk on Naylor Street near Mitchell Hall; Entrance 3 at the Ticket Kiosk on Geathers Street in front of Rowe Hall; Gate/Entrance 4 Goff Street & Buckley Street; and, Gate/Entrance 5 Hwy 21/Chestnut Street and Wilkinson Blvd. Please refer to the map for greater clarity. Fans entering the Game Zone in vehicles will be required to have a game ticket. Vehicles that enter the Game Zone will need a valid reserved parking pass purchased in advance of game day. Pedestrians entering the Game Zone will also be required to have a game ticket for entry into the Game Zone area. Season ticket holders are required to bring their game ticket/parking pass for entry into the Game Zone. On football game day, patrons entering the campus via Gate 2 (Russell Street at Pinckney Street) and Gate 3 (Magnolia at Geathers) are not required to have a game ticket to enter. However, vehicles entering the campus at these points may be required to pay for parking.
CUSTOMER SERVICE SC State Athletics, as well as the University, takes pride in providing good customer service to the alumni, faculty/staff, students, and friends. It is our intent to provide you with a fun-fill experience while attending our athletic events. We ask all of our stakeholders, however, to avoid waiting in lines by purchasing game tickets in advance of game day. Avoid standing in long lines at the stadium gates by coming into the stadium when the gates open two hours prior to game time. Avoid being in traffic jams by arriving on campus and parking your vehicles four hours prior to game time. However, there may be occasions where long waits are inevitable. Game Management asks for your patience and understanding during these times. Know that we will be working hard to alleviate the situation as fast as possible. FIRST AID If emergency medical assistance is needed, contact the nearest security agent or law enforcement officer. Emergency Medical Technicians are on duty on the field immediately behind the home football team and on the visiting team side of the field as well. On game day, two ambulances are deployed at the stadium for medical emergencies if needed. LOST PATRONS Lost patrons and persons looking for lost patrons should proceed immediately to the nearest security agent or law enforcement officer in the stadium for assistance. PREGAME TRADITION The teams take the field for pregame warm-ups approximately 90 minutes prior to kick-off. Pregame festivities, including the SC State Marching 101, begin approximately 30 minutes prior to kick-off. All fans are urged to arrive at their seats at least 30 before kick-off and enjoy the pregame experience. STADIUM POLICIES/PROHIBITED ITEMS NO RE-ENTRY NO SMOKING OR USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS NO UMBRELLAS NO STROLLERS NO ICE CHESTS OR COOLERS NO OUTSIDE FOODS OR DRINKS NO SIGNS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
STADIUM RAMPS The stadium is designed with ramps for easy access to seating areas. Signage is visible for those persons needing access to handicapped seating. STADIUM ELEVATOR Individuals with the proper credentials may access and utilize the elevator located inside the Stadium on the Home Side behind Section I. STUDENT PICK UP Parents/Guardians/Friends needing to pick up university students from the campus on game weekends are encouraged to do so on the Friday prior to Game Day. Otherwise, on Game Day you will be subjected to the same traffic and parking rules outlined in other sections of this document. Exceptions to this rule will be handled by the University Police Department. TOBACCO POLICY Oliver C. Dawson Stadium is a tobacco-free facility. SC State prohibits the use of tobacco products in/outside of the stadium. WILL CALL WILL CALL will open four hours prior to game time and is located in the Crawford-Zimmerman Building lobby at the corner of Pinckney and Naylor Streets near Gate 2. A pictured I.D. is required to obtain items from WILL CALL. HANDICAPPED PARKING HANDICAPPED PARKING will be available to the general public for $15 in the parking lot at the Library. To access this parking lot, the vehicle must have displayed on its rearview mirror a state (of residence) issued HANDICAPPED PARKING permit. To the extent possible, shuttle service to and from the stadium may be provided from this parking lot. However, all passengers utilizing the shuttle service must have a game ticket to enter the Game Zone. For Season Ticket holders, there is also handicapped parking available in the Game Zone on Felton Field. To access this parking area, the vehicle must have displayed in its rearview mirror a state (of residence) issued HANDICAPPED PARKING permit as well as a SEASON PARKING PASS purchased in advance of game day from the SC State Ticket Office. SEASON PARKING PASS Season Ticket holders are privileged to purchase a SEASON PARKING PASS when purchasing their season tickets. The current $80 SEASON PARKING PASS (subject to change in subsequent seasons) allows the season ticket holder to have premium parking on either Mitchell Field or
Felton Field after coming into the Game Zone through Gate 1 (only at Russell and Buckley Streets). For more information about SEASON PARKING PASS contact the SC State Ticket Office. VIP PARKING STATE Club members are given the opportunity to select VIP Parking when they enter STATE Club membership at the $1,250 level (Millennium level) or above. VIP Parking is on the paved parking lot on the south end of the stadium underneath the scoreboard and on Mitchell Field along Buckley Street sidewalk in front of the stadium in special designated spots. For more information about VIP Parking, call 980-254-8291. LIABILITY Neither SC State University nor the Athletics Department will be liable for any property loss or damages to vehicles or contents while on the campus of SC State. MEDIA PARKING Media parking will be located on Mitchell Field across from the Oliver C. Dawson Stadium just to the left of the entrance to the parking lot. Members of the media should request parking credentials online at scsuathletics.com under INSIDE ATHLETICS at ATHLETICS MEDIA CREDENTIALS REQUEST by Monday of game week. For more information, please call 803-536- 8227. PROTOCOL FOR PARKING LOTS Game Zone parking will open four hours prior to kickoff. All other parking lots gates will open four hours prior to kickoff unless otherwise announced. If you come through Gate 2 or Gate 3 and intend to park on campus outside of the Game Zone, be prepared to pay the current parking fee of $15. If you are faculty/staff or a student and you display a CURRENT VALID PARKING DECAL, you may park in any available parking space outside the Game Zone without charge. Faculty, staff and students should check with the University Police Department to purchase PARKING DECAL. SECURITY SC State makes every effort to ensure that all fans are able to enjoy the best fan experience. In the unfortunate event that threatening or illegal behavior is observed, guests are encouraged to contact the nearest event security or the nearest law enforcement agent. Do not hesitate to report suspicious behavior or unruly individuals.
TRASH/RECYCLING SC State conveniently places receptacles for the disposal of trash throughout the stadium and in parking areas. Please help us keep the area enjoyable by disposing of all bagged trash into these receptacles. Recycling is encouraged. Whenever possible, please dispose of recyclables in the proper containers throughout the stadium. VENDORS Soliciting or vending of any goods or services is strictly prohibited in the parking lots on game day. You must seek permission from the Athletic Department to lease a vending space. For more information call 803-533-3743. Those wanting to lease space to sell non-food items, such as clothing, jewelry, etc., should send an email to ticketoffice@scsu.edu for more information. PETS Pets and animals are not allowed on the SC State campus at any time. For the health and safety of those attending our athletic events, we ask that pets not be brought into these events. Please do not leave pets and animals unattended anywhere on the campus. Service animals are certainly welcomed with their handler. UMBRELLAS For your safety and the safety of those attending our football games, you are asked to leave your umbrellas in your vehicle. They are not allowed in the Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. PARKING AND TAILGATING The policies regarding parking and tailgating are clearly outline online at scsuathletics.com under INSIDE ATHLETICS at TAILGATING AND PARKING POLICIES. You are encouraged to read those policies and procedures to have the best experience on FOOTBALL GAME DAY.