��ֱ�� State University hosts ASU on Sept. 6 in 2025 home debut with new Junction and Amphitheater tailgating zones

Contact: Harriet Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.—As excitement builds for ��ֱ�� State University Head Coach Jeff Lebby’s second season leading the Bulldogs, the university is reminding fans about safety precautions and other updates ahead of the Saturday [Sept. 6] matchup against the Big 12 conference for the Arizona State University Sun Devils. With a 6:30 p.m. kickoff in Davis Wade Stadium, gates open two hours before the game.

Perhaps the most impactful changes for MSU football fans will be fundamental changes in tailgating zones that will significantly enhance the gameday experience for longtime Bulldog fans and visitors alike in The Junction, MSU’s premier gameday tailgating area and one of the most iconic in the Southeastern Conference.

The desire for fan and family safety in The Junction has been a consistent point of feedback in MSU’s post-game and post-season surveys of fans and visitors alike. Changes to MSU tailgating structures and regulations were made in concert with MSU Athletics, Student Affairs, the MSU Student Association, the Special Events and Gameday Committee, MSUPD and other campus entities.

“For the last two years, the university has examined ways to make the tailgating experience more enjoyable, safer and more in keeping with what the university community—our students, faculty, staff and alumni—have told us they desire on Saturdays in The Junction,” said MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter. “We met with the MSU Student Association in listening sessions. At the top of the list for our students was their desire to have a designated area for them on gamedays.”

After a comprehensive examination of the future of the gameday experience by MSU Athletics and the university administration, the decision was made to move MSU students into the Amphitheater and then to move Southern Tradition Tailgating into The Junction.

Moving Southern Tradition Tailgating into The Junction will create uniformity as well as a safe and vibrant environment befitting a Southeastern Conference university. Southern Tradition customers will have more sidewalk access and an easier path to and from the stadium.

Diagram of Southern Tradition tailgating tents in The Junction

Patrons who previously tailgated in The Junction have the option of becoming a Southern Tradition customer or relocating to public areas across the street in front of Dorman Hall, Barnes & Noble or the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building, among other areas, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The safety and security of our university community and visitors is always our primary concern,” said Salter. “We believe these changes will significantly enhance the gameday experience and prioritize gameday safety for many years to come.”

Students will have the opportunity this year to set up their tailgates in an exclusive student area in the bowl of the Amphitheater. Please make sure your personal tents or supplies are placed to the south of the sidewalk in the Amphitheater and not on the stage.

All tailgating areas will open at 4 p.m. the day before a game. (Exception: There may be conflicts if Friday night concerts are hosted but students will be notified of any other exceptions).

An MSU Police Tent will be set-up at the top of the Amphitheater hill for gameday assistance. You must follow all general tailgating guidelines as well as the MSU Student Code of Conduct.

Fans can visit for the most current gameday information, and up-to-the-minute transportation details will be available at . Other gameday and campus information can be found by following on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Gameday parking on campus is reserved for Bulldog Club members or is available for purchase using a debit or credit card. Multiple roads close on campus on gamedays with most roads only being accessible by those with a valid reserved or paid gameday permit. ESPN2 is broadcasting the MSU-ASU contest.

General Tailgating Rules and Guidelines

REMINDER: Personal tents or supplies may not be placed in tailgating areas to hold tailgating spots until 5 a.m. the day before home football games. You cannot set up your personal tent until Friday at 4 p.m.

All picnic areas close at midnight daily. MSU is not responsible for any tailgate items left before, during, or after the game.
No non-MSU-provided amplified music will be allowed in The Junction. TVs and radios will be allowed, but large speakers or elevated speakers will NOT be allowed.
Do not block sidewalk spaces. Only set-up in designated grass areas.
No wheeled vehicles or trailers are permitted (i.e. large grills that are pulled with a vehicle).
Generators are allowed, but battery inverters are preferred.
Charcoal grills are allowed, but charcoal must be fully extinguished and disposed of in a responsible manner. Fire pits are not allowed.
Garbage (black bags) and recycling (green bags) should be sealed and left for collection at your tailgating location or disposed of in a trash or recycling container. Black and green bags are available on the poles located throughout gameday areas.
The university will follow local ordinances and state laws regarding alcohol.
Small tents are permitted in public areas and the Amphitheater. No stakes larger than 1/4 inch in diameter and no longer than 6 inches. No ropes. Larger tents must be rented from Southern Tradition Tailgating, the tailgate services and tent services provider for the MSU campus. All fans wishing to acquire tailgate services (small pop-up tents) or tent services (large tents) should coordinate directly with Southern Tradition Tailgating at ��ǰ��SouthernTraditionTailgate@yahoo.com. (Anyone charging for setting up more than 10 tailgate setups is NOT allowed on the MSU campus. Any fan acquiring services from a service that is not allowed on campus should understand they may be removed from campus.)
University departments interested in tent services should contact MSU Event Services at 662-325-3228.
Connection to university utilities is strictly prohibited.
Pets are prohibited on campus beginning at noon the day before a game, except for service animals as prescribed by law.
Loading zones are available prior to gameday road closures. Loading zone use is limited to 5 minutes, with a person remaining with the vehicle.
Fans should pull to the curb, unload supplies by the curb, and immediately proceed to designated parking areas.
Safety lanes must remain clear and unobstructed.
Smoke-Free means that smoking in any form is prohibited on the MSU campus including: Cigarettes | E-Cigarettes | Cigars | Pipes | Hookah | Similar Devices. For full details, please visit .
Davis Wade Stadium will again be fully cashless in 2025. Fans are encouraged to bring their debit or credit card or purchase a pre-paid card at a local bank or retail store prior to visiting campus.
The grass space between campus sidewalks and open public tailgate areas was expanded last season from 8’ to 12’ to allow improved pedestrian movement throughout The Junction and other public tailgate areas on campus.

Parking Lot Ingress and Egress

REMINDER: Reserved parking lot ingress and egress is only allowed via certain streets. Please visit to familiarize yourself with road closures, roadblocks, and the required route into and out of your parking area.

Road Closures, Friday and Saturday

—B.S. Hood Drive closes at 2 p.m. and remains closed until roads open post-game; Barr Avenue from Collegeview Drive to Garner Circle closes at 6 a.m. on Saturday and will remain closed until roads open post-game; Stone Boulevard from Hwy. 12 to Bully Boulevard closes on Saturday from four hours pre-game or three hours pre-game for an 11 a.m. kickoff until roads open post-game; Bost Drive Extended from Old Bully Boulevard to Stone Boulevard closes on Saturday from four hours pre-game or three hours pre-game for an 11 a.m. kickoff until roads open post-game; Clyde Sheely Drive at Bully Boulevard closes at 7 p.m. on Friday and will open for F1 permit holders Saturday morning, and then reclose Saturday after the game and remain closed until early Sunday morning; and Clyde Sheely Drive at Stone Boulevard will close on Saturday morning until roads open post-game.

Roadblocks beginning Saturday, 5 a.m. (morning games) or 7 a.m. for afternoon or evening games

—Famous Maroon Band Street at Stone [residents must enter their zones on Band Street from Hardy with their purchased windshield credential]; Magruder Street at Presidents Circle; George Perry Street at Bailey Howell Drive; Bailey Howell Drive at Collegeview Drive; Bailey Howell Drive at George Perry Drive; Lakeview Drive at George Perry Drive; Barr Avenue at Bailey Howell Drive; Lee Boulevard at Wingo Way; Herbert Street at Wingo Way; Moseley Road at Wingo Way; Morrill Road at Hardy Road; Hardy Road at Presidents Circle; Clyde Sheely Road at Bully Boulevard; and R.L. Jones Circle at Bully Boulevard.

Roadblocks beginning Saturday 4 hours before kickoff or 3 hours before 11 a.m. game

—Collegeview Drive and Hwy. 12 off ramp; University Drive at Camp St.; Hardy St. and Blackjack Road; Bully Blvd. and Old Bully Blvd.; and Bost Dr. at Lot 28.

Transit Services

Free transit service is provided by Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) on gamedays from various on- and off-campus locations to Newell Grissom and Old Main Academic Center. For schedules, routes and stops, visit .

From Research Park Public Parking Area (North Campus | Hwy. 182)

North Campus transit service is provided from 100 Research Blvd. (Public ADA Parking) and other Public Parking areas in the Park to Old Main Academic Center (4 hours prior to kick off until 2 hours after game)

From Wise Center and Rec Plex (South Campus | Blackjack Road and Hail State Blvd.)

South Campus transit service is provided from the Animal and Dairy Sciences (Public ADA Parking) lot and other Public Parking areas on Wise Center Drive to Newell Grissom (4 hours prior to kick off until 2 hours after game)

From Davis Wade Express (Lampkin and Jackson Sts.)

Provided from the Lampkin St. and Jackson St. intersection to Old Main Academic Center (4 hours prior to kick off until 2 hours after game). Given the construction in downtown Starkville, this route will operate with one shuttle instead of two as it has in previous years. Capacity will be reduced, and headways will be increased. We encourage those that have utilized this route to use the Starkville Central SMART route or use the North or South Campus park and ride facilities mentioned above.

SMART Routes

Routes provide continuous service Monday-Saturday, including gameday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until 2 hours after game (whichever is later).

Starkville Central SMART Route: Walmart Supercenter, Kroger, Avenue of Patriots, Whitfield Street, Greensboro Street, Methodist Church, Starkville Daily News to Old Main Academic Center
Starkville South SMART Route: Walmart Supercenter, Kroger, Medicaid, Sportsplex, Lynn Lane, Loxley Way, Wise Center, and Animal Dairy Science to Newell Grissom
Starkville Northeast SMART Route: OCH, Reed Place, Garrard Road West and East, Walmart Neighborhood Market, Starkville Flatts to Old Main Academic Center
Bus tracking information can be found by visiting .

From ��ֱ�� Horse Park

Transit Service is provided from the ��ֱ�� Horse Park to Newell Grissom (4 hours prior to kick off until 2 hours after game)
RV reservations with the are required. No coolers are allowed on any MSU Transit buses. Visit for more information.

Rideshare

The designated pick-up and drop-off location for rideshare will once again be on Collegeview Drive at the Soccer Fieldhouse.

Restroom Locations

Buildings—Allen, Hilbun, Bost Extension “B,” Butler-Williams/MSUPD, Colvard Union, McArthur, Newell-Grisham, Roberts, Soccer Press Box, Welcome Center
Trailers—Fresh Foods, Junction Jane and Johns
Portables—Bost, East Herbert/IED, Herzer, Pace Seed grass, and Sorority grass lots; Amphitheater, North Garage-east, east and west Wise Center (Vet School), West Dorman (moved from east side); Research Park bus stop

Eateries for Saturday

Perry Food Hall

Bark: 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

1921 Café: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The Beet Drop: 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Starbucks: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

State Fountain Bakery: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Subway: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Azalea Dining

State Slice: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Colvard Student Union

Chick-Fil-A: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Panda Express: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Union POD: Noon – 4 p.m.

C-Stores

Hathorn POD: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Dogwood POD: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Basic first aid is available at the MSU Police tents set up in The Junction.

Tickets are available for the game and can be purchased now at , by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office, first floor, Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The ticket office on the north side of Davis Wade Stadium also opens three hours before kickoff.

��ֱ�� State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at .

��ֱ��