FRESNO, Calif. – As fans get ready to return to Bulldog Stadium, GoBulldogs.com is sharing a few tips for the game day experience before the 'Dogs kick off the 2019 season on Saturday against Big Ten conference opponent Minnesota.
Game one is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff and Coach Tedford and co. want the Red Wave to enjoy the extended pregame festivities and be in their seats ready to be LOUD when the Bulldogs run down the ramp before kickoff.Â
What to know…Â
Family Fun Zone
All new to the pregame festivities in 2019 is the Family Fun Zone – located where the baseball team calls home – Bob Bennett Stadium at Pete Beiden Field. This area is free to enter and will be open, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
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4:30 p.m. – Doors open, Mini Bulldog footballs given away to the first fans in attendance
5-6 p.m. – Meet the official Bulldog Blitz team members
6-6:30 p.m. – Photos and Autographs with members of the Bulldog Spirit Team
5-7 p.m. – Face Painter
5:30-7:30 p.m. – Meet and touch tons of exotic reptiles and animals with Reptile Ron
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• Bounce House, QB Challenge, Pop A Shot, Mini Putt Putt (3 Holes), Wiffle Ball, Corn Hole, Jenga, Checkers, Chess, Connect 4, Washers, Bucket Ball, Foosball Tables
• There will be Robertito's available for food purchase, drinks and picnic tables setup.
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HAPPY HOUR
In an effort to encourage arriving early, Fresno State Athletics announced over the summer that all concessions inside Bulldog Stadium will offer a hot dog and soft drink combo for $5 prior to kickoff.
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The fan-friendly "Happy Hour" special will be for sale starting 90 minutes before kickoff, when gates open, and conclude once the game starts.
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MAP to all concessions at Bulldog Stadium - LINK
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Attention Students: Game 1 means, Run to Victory!
The #FSRunToVictory is this Saturday. An initiative entering its second year unveiled by the Bulldogs' director of athletics Terry Tumey.
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Tumey has invited ALL NEW (freshman or transfer) students to run across the turf like the team does before Fresno State and Minnesota take the field Saturday night. Students wanting to participate are being asked to meet near the student entrance (located in the southeast corner of the stadium) at 5:30 p.m. for free tacos, free shirts and free tickets (while supplies last) and then RUN TO VICTORY just before the teams take the field.
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Photo from 2018 Run to Victory (above)
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March to Victory
Coach Tedford will lead the Bulldogs on their "March to Victory" starting at 4:55 p.m. The entire team will depart their meal room and make a loop around the west side of the stadium, walking through the tailgate area of the white lot and engage with the fans. The team will re-enter the stadium and march from the north end zone to the south end zone (before stadium gates open) and finish walking through the blue lot before entering the locker room to dress out. The walk will take the team 15 minutes.
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March to Victory route pictured (above) Beer Sales Locations
Beer will be available for purchase at 3 satellite areas in the north, east, and west sides of the stadium. Beer will not be sold by the existing concession stands. Sales will stop at the end of the third quarter. Patrons will be able to take their beverages back to their seats and there will be a two-item limit per sale.
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Game Day Timeline (vs. Minnesota)
6 hours to kickoff (1:30 p.m.)  – Parking lots open/Bulldog Blvd. opens
4 hours to kickoff (3:30 p.m.) – courtesy shuttle begins to transport fans to stadium
3 hours to kickoff (4:30 p.m.) – Family Fun Zone (at Beiden Field) opens
1.5 hours to kickoff (6 p.m.) – Stadium gates open
1.5 hours to kickoff (6 p.m.) – "Happy Hour" concessions start
12 minutes to kickoff (7:20 p.m.) – National Anthem
5 minutes to kickoff (7:30 p.m.) – The Bulldogs take the field
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Parking (link to map)
Parking lots open six hours prior to kickoff. Parking permit machines are not active on game days, game day parking passes are available for sale starting six hours prior in the green lots.
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A limited number of ADA spaces are available on a first-come first-serve basis in the red, white and blue lots beginning six hours prior to game time. A state approved parking permit with a matching driver's license must be presented along with the $10 parking fee for admittance. Once the stalls are full in the red, white, and blue lots, additional accessible parking is available in Lot P1, off of Shaw and Maple Ave. There are courtesy shuttles provided to transport fans to the stadium from the green parking lots.
ADA Parking
There are a limited number of accessible parking stalls available in the Red, White, and Blue parking lots around Bulldog Stadium. These parking lots will open up 6 hours prior to kickoff, and accessible parking is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a $10 charge to park in the accessible stalls, and a valid ADA placard must be presented.
Additional accessible stalls are located in campus Lot P1. Once those stalls are filled, other guests will be accommodated in the general P1 parking area.Â
From Bulldog Stadium, Lot P1 can be accessed by traveling south on Cedar, East on Shaw, and turning Left on Maple to enter the lot.
There is a drop off area at the entrance to Lot P1, where fans can wait while parking.Â
University Traffic Operations will be present with a courtesy golf cart if needed.
Additional ADA information can be found here (link)
No Smoking
No smoking policy – Fresno State, and all CSU property – will remain to be smoke, tobacco, and vapor free. Smoking, and the use of tobacco products and vapor/e-cigarette devices are not permitted in the parking lots, or anywhere inside of Bulldog Stadium.Â
 Tailgating
The University welcomes responsible tailgating as a part of the pageantry and culture of college sports.
Lots open six hours prior to kick off.
Vehicles may remain in the lots up to two hours following the game.
Alcohol cannot be consumed in the green parking lots.
Glass containers and charcoal fires are prohibited.
Fresno State is a tobacco free campus, tobacco products are prohibited.
Tailgaters are responsible for cleaning up all trash within their tailgating area.
Stakes are not allowed to be used for securing tents. Weights or water barrels can be used.
Alcohol may not be sold in any manner.
Glass containers are not permitted in the parking lots and tailgate areas
Charcoal fires are not permitted in the tailgate or parking areas
 Entry
There are seven entry points around Bulldog Stadium. (North, East, Student Entrance, ADA Gate/SE, South, Player Pass gate, Southwest, and Northwest gates).
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Electronic metal detection devices will be in use to enhance the security presence at Bulldog Stadium. All bags and persons entering the stadium are subject to search. A list of prohibited items can be found at the gate. (Link to stadium rules).
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There are no in-and-out privileges at Bulldog Stadium. Persons leaving the stadium will not be re-admitted. Alcohol is not permitted to leave the stadium.
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The student entrance is located in the southeast corner of the stadium. All students must have a valid Student ID. Student tickets are not valid at other entrance gates, and all students must use the student gate.
 Bag Policy
Bag sizes will be limited to 16"x16"x8". Backpacks and other large bags are not permitted.  There is a bag check location at the Northeast, Southwest, and ADA/SE gate, where fans can check in their larger bags and strollers for free.
 Water
Unopened plastic bottles of water smaller than one liter will be allowed in the stadium. Pardini's, our stadium concessionaire, will provide a cup of water upon request.Â
 Tickets
The stadium ticket office (only open on game days) is located on the south side of the stadium in the Lexus Blue Lot. The main ticket office is located on the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Parking in the Lexus Blue Lot is restricted to pass holders only.Â
 ADA Seating (more info)
Accessible and companion seating is available at the top of the following sections: 7, 8, 14, 15, 27, 28, 34, and 35. Seating is also available at the bottom of sections: 30, 31, and 32.
When purchasing tickets, please inform the box office – or select on the website – whether you need a wheelchair accessible seat or a companion seat.Â
Fans who have difficulty navigating stairs are suggested to make seat selections at or near the top row of each section.Â
There will be courtesy carts near the entrance gates once you enter the stadium that will assist fans in getting up to their seats. Carts will also be used to bring fans back down at the end of the game.
 Game-Day Shuttle
There is a free shuttle service for all fans parking in the Green Lots for football game days.
Shuttle buses begin 4 hours prior to kickoff, and will run through the end of the 1st quarter.
Bus Stops are located along Barstow Ave at Woodrow Ave., down Woodrow Ave, and the Maple roundabout near the Kremen Education Building. All shuttle buses run the same route, and drop off at the North entrance to Bulldog Stadium.
The buses picking up from the Kremen Building will also make an additional stop at the Bulldog Lane entrance, so fans can access the ticket office.
Starting at the end of the 3rd quarter, the shuttle buses will pick up at the North entrance to Bulldog Stadium, and return fans to the same stops along Barstow, Woodrow, and Maple.
There is an additional shuttle bus picking up from the Maple roundabout that is specifically equipped to accommodate fans in wheelchairs, and those that need mobility assistance.Â
Please let the Traffic Operations Staff, Parking Staff, or Bus Drivers know if you are in need of any other assistance.
 Inside of Bulldog Stadium
The following entrance gates are nearest to each of the parking lots and drop-off areas at Bulldog Stadium:
Blue Lot – ADA Gate (SE Corner), or South Gate
White Lot – Southwest Gate
Red Lot – East Gate
Purple Lot – North East Gate, or North Gate
Shuttle Bus – North Gate
If you have parked in the ADA stalls in the White Lot or Red lot, please inform the parking staff if you would need a courtesy ride to the gate entrance.
Once inside of the entrance gate, there are benches and waiting areas for the free golf cart shuttles that can take you near your seats. Golf carts will pick up and drop off from the designated loading zones at the bottom, and the designated areas at the top of the stadium.
After the game, the carts will return you to the entrance gate nearest to your parking lot.
If you need assistance while inside of Bulldog Stadium, you can use our Text Messaging service. Text the word BADDOG to 69050 along with your issue and location, and game management personnel will assist you.
Please notify any game management or security staff if you need further assistance while at Bulldog Stadium.
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