SMU Football Gameday: Boulevard, Ford Stadium, food, drinks tips for fans attending TCU game

The SMU Mustangs take on the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday at 4 p.m. CT inside Gerald J. Ford Stadium on The CW. As the Battle for the Iron Skillet approaches, we wanted to pass along Boulevard and Ford Stadium tips for fans.

Boulevarding…

Whether you use ride-share or park, the Boulevard has an open container policy, which means you can bring your own beverages of choice and stroll the campus from Dallas Hall to the bottom of the Boulevard near Mockingbird. There are various food trucks and providers near the flagpole at the top or along Binkley Ave. For SMU fans, “Boulevarding” is a way of life. Stop by and say hello to anyone as SMU’s version of tailgating has tents up and down the Boulevard.

Armstrong Fieldhouse

If the Boulevard’s not your thing, the Armstrong Fieldhouse (use the Binkley Ave. entrance) has beverage stands (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) as well as TVs, tailgating games and tables for fans to cool off. There’s a Mustang Club section, but whether you’re a visiting fan or a Mustang fan, the Armstrong Fieldhouse is available to you. Pick up food from food trucks and come inside to cool off and eat. It’s an easy way to enjoy some games while you wait to enter the stadium.

Ford Stadium Happy Hour, water stations

When Ford Stadium opens 90 minutes before kickoff, check out the East Plaza where Happy Hour is underway. That’s half-priced beers for those who want to get into the stadium early. There’s also food vendors along that beer garden style setup on the east side of Ford Stadium.

SMU’s installed numerous water stations all over the concourse. Fans can fill up their own water bottles at these stations. A little known area is in the northwest corner of the stadium is the Heritage Hall “Comfort Zone” where fans can get out of the heat and cool off, if they so choose. It’s inside the stadium and is in the northeast corner, accessible via the concourse.

Meet the Garry Weber EndZone Complex

SMU’s new $100 million, 192,500-square-foot facility is SMU football’s new football operations center and has enclosed Ford Stadium. The first and third floors make up the Armstrong Football Center. Included is the locker room, players lounge, rehabilitation and sports medicine center, as well as a weight room with a field entrance where SMU runs out for home games. The second floor is the hospitality level with buffets with food cooked in-house in the new kitchen. The club level also includes 1,200 club seats.

With the new endzone complex, SMU’s also upgraded its video boards and ribbon boards around the stadium. It’s also installed a state-of-the-art sound system.

Key Ford Stadium Policies

Click HERE for Ford Stadium map of concessions, bathrooms, entrances, etc.

SMU Stadium Bag Policy: All bags entering Gerald J. Ford Stadium must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and may not exceed 12 x 6 x 12 inches. Bags may be one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags. Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, will be permitted with or without a strap.

Concessions: Concessions open 90 minutes before kickoff. All concession stands are cashless. The concessions accept AMEX, Visa, Mastercard and Discover as well as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay (plus any other NFC/RFID mobile pay wallets).

Getting into Ford Stadium: All guests ages 3 and above must have a valid event ticket or credential to enter Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Ford Stadium has a no re-entry policy. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis at Guest Services, located behind section 117. Fans entering Ford Stadium are subject to bag checks and security screenings before entering the stadium. Please see below under “Security and Safety” for prohibited items.

Bring your own water: All fans are allowed to bring in one sealed, unopened bottle of water.

Parking: Gameday parking can be purchased for the season through the SMU Athletic Ticket Office. For more information, please visit smumustangs.com/parking or call (214) 768-4263. Please note, there is no RV parking on SMU’s campus on gamedays.

Will Call: Will Call is located at the main box office at the northwest corner of Ford Stadium between Gates 3 and 4. SMU player guests and non-football recruits are located at the Gate 1 satellite office. The main box office will open approximately three hours prior to kickoff.  The box office at Gate 1 will open 90 minutes before kickoff. 

Strollers: Strollers are not permitted inside Gerald J. Ford Stadium. All fans with strollers must enter through Gate 5 and check their stroller at Guest Services. No strollers are permitted in the seating area.

SMU-TCU Gameday Times of Interest

8:00 AM: Boulevard opens

12:00 PM: Parking lots open | Boulevard closes to non-pass holders

1:00 PM: Armstrong Fieldhouse opens to everyone – Peruna’s Pals, Mustang Club, and Alumni Tailgates available

1:30 PM: Boulevard closes to all traffic

2:00 PM: Mustang Walk– Located at the south end of the Boulevard

2:30 PM: Gerald J. Ford Stadium opens | East Plaza Pre-Game Happy Hour (half-priced beer) begins

3:30 PM: Armstong Fieldhouse closes/Boulevard & Tailgating shuts down

3:40 PM: Pre-Game Hype Show begins – be in your seats!

4:00 PM: Kickoff!