From Tailgating to Walk of Champions: Oklahoma's New GameDay Policies, Procedures

The Sooners' pregame rituals have changed as the program begins its transition out of the Big 12 and into the Southeastern Conference.

NORMAN — Among its new gameday procedures for 2023, the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has announced a change in the pregame “Walk of Champions.”

Rather than jamming into the corner of Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue to greet the team on as they disembark from the buses, OU fan can now spread out and line the entirety of Lindsey Street in front of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

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The Sooners' bus caravan will now empty out at Lindsey Street and Asp Avenue about 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, and the players and coaches will walk east on Lindsey before turning north onto Jenkins and then into the stadium.

Lindsey Street is also the location for new pregame tailgating opportunities (see below).

The Sooners (1-0) host SMU on Saturday at home at 5 p.m.

Here’s a rundown of OU’s new game day policies and procedures.

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TICKETING

• Digital ticketing will again be used in 2023, allowing fans to seamlessly access or transfer tickets to others via the Oklahoma Sooners app. For more information on digital ticketing, visit www.soonersports.com/digitaltickets.

• Ticket resolution areas will be located at Gates 5 and 7, as well as the main ticket office.

• For ticket availability for future games, visit www.soonersports.com/tickets.

CLEAR-BAG POLICY

• OU will continue its clear-bag policy this season. The approved clear plastic tote size is a maximum of 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. Even those bags are subject to search.

• Clear fanny pack and clear crossbody bags are permitted.

• Non-transparent clutch wallets no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches are permitted.

• Bags necessary for medical equipment will be searched at marked medical lanes at each gate.

• No other bags or purses including diaper bags are permitted and the limit on bags is one per person.

• Fans may bring an EMPTY clear, plastic water bottle less than 17 oz. into the stadium.

STADIUM ENTRY

• All stadium gates open two hours prior to kickoff.

• Tickets will indicate preferred gate entry based on seat location.

• Self-serve pedestal scanners will be used. Fans should ensure their tickets are added to their mobile wallet prior to arriving at the stadium.

• Metal detectors will be utilized at each stadium gate.

• For a list of permitted and prohibited items, click here.

PARKING

• The WAZE feature in the SoonerSports2Go app can be used to guide fans to designated parking lots.

• Game day traffic and parking information is available here.

Sooner Club Member Parking

• Sooner Club members should see their designated parking pass(es) in the Oklahoma Sooners app as all passes continue to be digital. To view the parking map, click here.

RV Parking

• Patrons parking RVs at SooneRVillage must check in with an RV parking attendant upon arrival.

Game Day Shuttles

• Public bus shuttles ($5 round trip) from Lloyd Noble Center’s north parking lot to the stadium are available starting three-and-a-half hours before kickoff and run for an hour after the game concludes.

• The ADA stadium shuttle location has moved to the OU College of Law parking lot, which can be accessed via the Chautauqua Avenue and J Willis Stovall Drive intersection. The ADA shuttle also begins three-and-a-half hours prior to kickoff, ends an hour after the game concludes and costs $5 (round trip).

PREGAME “PARTY AT THE PALACE”

• Once again, "Party at the Palace, Presented by Allstate" will be held on the lawn immediately north of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at least three-and-a-half hours before OU’s home football games until 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

• Food trucks from Midway Deli, Supermercados Morelos, HteaO and Kona Ice are scheduled to operate this season.

• Sooner fans of all ages can access Party at the Palace and take part in the festivities. Highlights include sponsor giveaways, music, food vendors and more.

• Devon Energy's innovative STEM program "SportsLabs" will once again take place on the lawn immediately north of Heisman Park on the east side of Jenkins Ave.

• Additionally, the Sooner Radio Network (flagship 107.7 The Franchise) originates the start of its pregame show live from Party at the Palace beginning two hours prior to kickoff.

NEW “WALK OF CHAMPIONS” ROUTE

• Approximately two hours and 15 minutes before each home game, OU players and coaches will arrive at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium via team buses and walk to their stadium entrance while being cheered by fans.

• This year’s “Walk of Champions” path has changed (view map here). OU’s buses will drop off players and coaches at the Lindsey Street and Asp Avenue intersection, just southwest of the stadium. The Sooners will walk east on Lindsey before turning north (left) on Jenkins Avenue and enter the stadium at Gate 13.

• The team will be led by the Sooner Schooner and OU Spirit, and the Pride of Oklahoma will perform during the procession.

TAILGATING

• In mid-August, OU announced changes to its tailgating policies.

• The university has added a public tailgating location designated along the south side of Lindsey Street between Asp and Jenkins Avenues. In this location, tailgating may only take place on the grassy area between the Lindsey Street curb and the north side of the sidewalk. Other campus areas designated for private and public tailgating will remain the same as the 2022 season.

• A map indicating designated tailgating areas and game day road closures, as well as the university’s tailgating policies, can be found here.

• Set-up times have changed from previous years. Fans wishing to set up tailgate equipment at any of the designated areas, not including Lindsey Street, will be permitted to begin at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding a home football game. Space may be occupied beginning at noon, but stakes may not go into the ground until 5 p.m.

• Out of respect for students who reside on campus, fans setting up tailgate equipment at the Lindsey Street designated area will be permitted to begin at 7 a.m. on the day of a home football game. Space may be occupied beginning at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the game, but stakes may not go into the ground until 7 a.m. on game day.

• To promote efficient traffic flow and pedestrian safety, certain roads near campus are closed or restricted on game days. Five and a half hours prior to home games, all roads and access around the stadium will be closed. Public parking on campus is limited on game days but is available in certain parking lots for $30 – cash and cards are accepted.

• As the university prepares for its inaugural SEC football season in 2024, additional tailgating expansion opportunities are being reviewed and will be announced at a future date.

VARSITY O TAILGATE

The Varsity O Tailgate is open to all OU letterwinners each home game starting three hours prior to kickoff and will close 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Every letterwinner plus one guest will be admitted to the tailgate free of charge (the letterwinner must be present upon entry). Admittance for additional guests costs $15 each and can be paid at the door upon arrival (credit card is preferred but cash is accepted). Letterwinners should refer to their email regarding the location of each tailgate.

CHAMPIONS TAILGATE

• Sooner Club members at the Silver membership level and above who have football season tickets should access Champions Tailgate passes in their Oklahoma Sooners app. Champions Tailgate is located on the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex, east of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with gates opening 2.5 hours prior to kickoff and closing 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Inclusive food and beverages are served. Click here to learn more.

BEAT THE HEAT

• Stadium cool zones are available at Sections 8, 18, 32, 44, 109 and 228, as well as the south end zone fan deck, and free water stations will be available in various stadium locations (view map here).

• Fans may bring an EMPTY clear, plastic water bottle less than 17 oz. into the stadium. Bottle-filler stations are available on all main stadium concourses.

• Fans are advised to hydrate in the days leading up to the games, especially early in the season.

FIRST AID

• The Norman Regional Gomer Jones Medical Facility is located at the north end of the stadium near Section 19 on the ground level.

CONCESSIONS

• Concession stands are located throughout the stadium (view map here).

• Traditional fan favorite items and new specialty offerings are available this season. Additional points of sale have also been added for 2023.

• OU fans across the state can now enjoy an officially licensed, premium craft beer made exclusively for Sooner supporters. OU Athletics has partnered with Oklahoma craft brewery COOP Ale Works to make Schooner All-American Ale, the Official Craft Beer of OU Athletics. Schooner All-American Ale will be available for purchase at all OU Athletics events, including at all home football games and at Party at the Palace. Find all Schooner All-American Ale locations in the stadium on the concessions map (link above).

• No outside food or beverages are permitted.

PREMIUM SUITES AND CLUBS

• Shake’s Ice Cream will be inclusive to the premium experience this season. Suite guests can place orders through their suite attendant.

• Suite holders can now order Nashbird’s Hot! Chicken Sandwiches as part of an inclusive menu option.

ALCOHOL SERVICE POLICY

• Beer and other newly offered ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages are available stadium-wide at portable concession stands.

• Service begins when gates open (two hours prior to kickoff) and is discontinued at the conclusion of the third quarter.

• All guests must be 21 years of age to purchase an alcoholic beverage. A valid ID is required for purchase. There is a two-alcoholic-beverage limit per person, per ID, per transaction. Alcohol is not permitted to leave the stadium gates nor can outside alcohol be brought into the stadium on game day.

CASHLESS PURCHASING

• A 100% cashless experience will be in place for food, beverage and retail (Apple Pay will be available at all locations).

• Mobile ordering will be available for concessions, retail and chairback purchases via the Oklahoma Sooners app.

STADIUM DROP

• StadiumDrop, an in-seat delivery and fan experience pioneer, provides fans with several options to improve their experience, including the ability to order their favorite concession food and beverages and have it delivered directly to their seat. In addition, fans can utilize express pickup, allowing fans to order ahead and skip the lines through the StadiumDrop app.

• To access StadiumDrop mobile order, fans should open the Oklahoma Sooners app and click on “StadiumDrop” in the menu.

RETAIL

• Fanatics is a proud partner of OU Athletics and offers a wide variety of merchandise throughout Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. On home football game days, The Sooner Shop has locations on the southeast and southwest corners of the stadium, as well as mobile locations at Gates 5 and 12.

• Stadium retail locations accept both cash and all major credits cards.

• The Sooner Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

• On home football game days, The Sooner Shop will open two hours prior to kickoff for games starting at 11 a.m. and remain open until approximately one hour after the conclusion of the game. For OU football games starting at noon or later, The Sooner Shop will open at 10 a.m.

SOONER TAGS

• Fans can unlock unique experiences, opportunities and offers right from their seat during OU football game with “Sooner Tags.”

• Fans simply aim their mobile device camera at the seat armrest or bleacher to instantly launch the Sooner Tag platform. Once launched, the platform provides multiple interactive modules ranging from access to real-time stats, team rosters, valuable sponsor offers, purchasing team merchandise, enter-to-win campaigns, digital programs and more.

REPORT AN ISSUE/CONCERN

• Fans are encouraged to report an issue or concern using the QR code on the “Sooner Tag” on their seat. QR codes for incident reporting are also displayed throughout the main stadium concourse.

LOST AND FOUND

• “Lost and Found” is located inside OU's Game Day Operations office (by Section 10 on main concourse in stadium's northwest corner).

• Patrons may claim lost-and-found items up to one hour after the conclusion of the game or from OU's Facility Management Office during normal weekday business hours (405-325-3060).