Kroger Field Gameday Changes: Rupp Arena Ice Cream, Parking, LED Light Show

The 2024 Kentucky Football season kicks off Saturday night. If you’re going to Kroger Field to cheer the Cats on vs. the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, we’ve got some gameday changes to pass along, some of which are sure to please the Big Blue Nation.

The KSR Pregame Show starts at 3:30 p.m.

Let me save you a text to Ryan Lemond. The KSR Pregame Show starts four hours before home games, or, in Saturday’s case, four hours and 15 minutes. Turn your radio or streaming device to 630 WLAP or one of the many affiliates across the state at 3:30 p.m. to hear Matt Jones and the crew preview the season opener at KSBar and Grille. Better yet, join them there.

The Lextran Shuttle WILL be running

The Lextran gameday shuttle will be running on the Virginia Avenue (next to KSBar) and downtown routes. All shuttles begin three hours prior to kick-off and end one hour after the game is over. Bus fare is $1 each way and exact change is required.

Parking changes

Farm Road and sections of the Orange Lot are under construction this season. Farm Road will not be accessible throughout the duration of the season for vehicle and foot traffic. The northeast end of the Orange Lot will be reserved for the construction of the new USDA building. Tailgating space will be limited in that area

The Non-Reserved Disabled lot has been relocated to the William T. Young library lots at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Columbia Avenue. A shuttle will pick up from both lots and drop off at Gate 4 of Kroger Field. Bus parking has been moved to two different locations, the primary location will be on University Drive and the secondary location is on Stadium View Drive, in the Barnhart Family Athletic Complex.

Waze will take you to your parking lot

If you have a parking pass, finding your parking lot is even easier. UK Athletics has partnered with Waze to provide interactive directions to your permitted parking lot. Please download the Waze App and utilize the QR Code in your parking information email (you can also find them here).

Season parking permits and tickets are mobile, so once you arrive at your parking lot, show the parking permit on your smartphone to the attendant for entry. Do yourself a favor and save your tickets and parking pass to your smartphone’s digital wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Pay) before leaving home. If you don’t have a parking pass, click here for a map of available lots.

The Cat Walk starts at 5:30 p.m.

With a 7:45 p.m. kickoff, the Cat Walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. Line Talbott Todd Way from Gate 1 to Gate 12 to greet the Cats as they arrive at the stadium and training center. This week’s “Lift Them Up Kid of the Game” is 11-year-old Isabella Bruner, of Berea, Kentucky. Isabella was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and severe migraines at age three. She will lead the Wildcats down the Cat Walk in a custom-built push cart. Her favorite color is blue and she loves puppies, potatoes, and reading (same).

Kroger VIP Tailgate

Kroger is hooking loyal customers up with a VIP tailgate, which will begin two hours prior to kickoff on the lawn next to Bluegrass Technical and Community College. Kroger customers can enter the Kroger Tailgate Experience by showing a Kroger receipt(s) dated within 7 days of the event totaling $35 (or more) per person. Games, food, drinks (including alcohol), music, and more will be available. ID is required for entry.

Self-service pedestal ticket scanners

Last season, Kentucky added self-service pedestal scanners to most Kroger Field entrances to speed up fan entry. When fans arrive at their designated gate, the scanner will invite them to scan their ticket. There are two ways to scan tickets at a pedestal ticket scanner:  

• For tickets saved in your mobile wallet without a barcode (“tap & go” tickets), tap the back of your phone to the icon on the top of the pedestal scanner. 
• For tickets with a dynamic barcode, scan the barcode below the screen on the pedestal. 

Screenshots and screen recordings of tickets cannot be used, as they will not scan. UK Athletics has fully transitioned to mobile ticketing at all venues. For more information, visit  UKathletics.com/mobiletickets.

Lap tickets for infants under 12 months

All fans regardless of age must have a ticket, but lap tickets will again be available for infants 12 months and under. Lap tickets are only available on game day and may be purchased at the Kroger Field ticket office (between gates 9 & 10) for $10 by an accompanying adult with a ticket.

Clear bag policy

The SEC’s clear bag policy remains in place. Each fan will be permitted to carry one large clear bag – either a one-gallon Ziploc-style bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear bag – plus a small clutch that does not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″.

Take advantage of our KSR+ KICKOFF SALE to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including game threads, in-depth scouting reports, and the latest recruiting and roster intel. Use promo code KICKOFF24 for 50% off the annual price.

Free Water

It could still be very warm on Saturday night as the cold front slowly makes its way through the Bluegrass. Take advantage of UK’s complimentary water stations to stay hydrated. Four large water tanks are located on both the lower and upper concourse that fans will be able to use to fill cups that will be provided. Concession stands do not offer complimentary water.

Free “Player Series” Posters

Fans attending the first three home games can pick up one of the new “Player Series” posters for free at Chevy Park, formerly the Big Blue Zone, outside Gate Four. Tomorrow, the first three posters of the nine-part series will be available featuring the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Three more posters will be available at Kentucky’s Week Four game vs. Ohio and three more when Kentucky plays Murray State on Nov. 16.

Where to get your beers and seltzers

Last year, Kentucky finally opened up beer and seltzer sales to the general public at Kroger Field. Sales will have a limit of two (2) per transaction. Identification checks will take place at each transaction. For football, alcohol sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter. 

Here’s a map of this year’s beverage stands:

Rupp Arena ice cream now available!

I saved the best for last. This year, Taylor Belle’s is joining the concessions offerings at Kroger Field. Outside of Section 19, you’ll be able to purchase the soft serve made famous at Rupp Arena, in addition to the hand-dipped ice cream at stands outside Sections 1 and 13.

LED Light Show

By now, you’ve heard us talk ad nauseam about Kroger Field’s new LED lighting system. This summer, the new lights were installed along with new ribbon boards as part of a $7 million upgrade to the stadium. The lighting system is 75% more energy efficient than the previous one and will allow Kentucky to do light shows like the ones you’ve seen in Rupp Arena and Kentucky Proud Park during timeouts and breaks in play. Get ready for some Grooooove Streeeeet.

Kentucky recently practiced under the new LED lights at Kroger Field. Mark Stoops said it was just one way to get the Cats ready for Game 1.

“We did put them on at times so they wouldn’t see it for the first time in the game.”

🔗 https://t.co/fq8xdwrjCA

🎥: @UKAthletics pic.twitter.com/Udqmm3ygCu

— KSR (@KSRonX) August 27, 2024

You can get in on the fun too. Instead of using a hashtag to get on the video board, fans can visit this link during game week to add photos (+text) that will appear on the video board on gameday in Kroger Field. These photos and texts will be monitored to ensure they are appropriate. The earlier you submit your pictures, the better chance you have of making the video board, so get yours in now.