The UCF Knights football team takes on the Big 10’s Maryland Terrapins at Bright House Networks Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know, from pregame fun to parking, for the annual Family Weekend game.
Clear Bag Policy
The clear bag policy remains in effect at the stadium to provide a safer environment and expedite the entry process. Fans are encouraged not to bring any bags, but if they do, only these are allowed:
Tickets
It’s family weekend, when lots of parents and siblings are on campus, so tickets are going fast. As always, students get in free. But if you’re a student and you haven’t bought guest passes yet, don’t wait or your family could miss out.
Guest Passes can be purchased for $25 at the CFE Arena Box office – due to construction, enter through Jimmy John’s and proceed into the CFE Arena lobby – or at the box office on the west side of the stadium.
For all others, call 407-UCF-1000 or check here for more information about season ticket packages and single-game tickets.
Timeline
There’s plenty of fun planned outside the stadium before kickoff, including family-friendly games and inflatables, giveaways and food trucks from Burger U, Cousins Maine Lobster and Sweet City Gelato.
11 a.m.: Check-in begins for tailgating on Memory Mall. Tailgating starts in all lots at noon.
3:30 p.m.: The first of three shows by the Monster Motocross Team begins.
4 p.m.: Hypersona, the opening act of the free UCF Tailgate Concert Series presented by FM 96.9 The Game, takes the stage at IOA Plaza. They’ll be followed by headliner Cowboy Mouth, a New Orleans-based band known for its fusion of alternative, roots rock, and jam band influences.
4:45 p.m.: Fans can watch the Knight Walk from IOA Plaza on the west side of the stadium as the team arrives and walks around the stadium.
5:30 p.m.: The Marching Knights band marches down Memory Mall and stops to play school songs in front of the CFE Arena before joining Knightro, Pegasus and the Spirit Squad in leading the March to Victory down East Plaza Drive to the stadium.
Parking and Traffic – Friday and Saturday
On game day, parking is free for fans in red and blue zones, which includes Garages A and I, all B lots (near Millican Hall and Libra Drive) and Lots H1-H4 (near the Performing Arts Center).
Gold Zone lots near the stadium require a game day parking permit. For those with a Gold Zone permit, E Lots, Baseball and Softball lots, and Garage F will open at 8 a.m. All other campus lots and garages will open at noon.
As a reminder, UCF will continue to offer $20 cash parking in Garage H on game days, which will be available to all fans. The proceeds fund first-generation scholarships.
To expedite postgame traffic, North Orion Boulevard will only be open to traffic traveling from Gemini Boulevard to McCulloch Road starting at 8:30 p.m. Saturday until postgame traffic is cleared. Vehicles will not be able to enter campus from McCulloch Road during that time. Among others, this will impact residents of Towers III and IV and those who park in Garage E, who should plan accordingly.
Shuttles
Fans can avoid game day traffic by parking at Research Pavilion and catching a Park and Ride shuttle. Fans may park at the Research Pavilion building, located at 12424 Research Parkway in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to campus, and be transported to parking lot D1 near Memory Mall. The shuttles start two hours before kickoff and end two hours after the game ends.
Shuttles will continue to pick up students from all the apartment complexes around campus that are normally serviced, except for NorthView, Tivoli and Northgate because they’re so close to the stadium.
Other shuttles will service the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona, Rosen College and Palm Valley.
Tailgating
This season, prime tailgating spots on Memory Mall are again available to students and alumni only through the Knights on the Mall online reservation system. All spaces are already reserved for Saturday’s game. For the rest of the season, the reservation system will open at 6 p.m. on the Sunday before each home game. The spots go fast, so be ready.
Only Memory Mall requires reservations. Knights fans are welcome to tailgate without reservations in any other allowed areas on campus, and all fans are still welcome to enjoy the other activities on Memory Mall.
Pro tip: For tips on becoming king or queen of all tailgaters, check out Pegasus magazine’s Ultimate Tailgating Guide.
Alumni Indoor Tailgate
Head to the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center for the Indoor Tailgate from 4-6 p.m., where alumni and guests will find a free, family-friendly zone. Make sure to show your alumni key card and driver’s license at the door.
Indoor Tailgates feature air-conditioning, clean restrooms, other NCAA games on big screens, a live DJ, a kid-friendly game room, barbecue available for purchase and more.