Football

Top Fan Questions From the SEMO Game

Sept. 10, 2008

1. Please explain the donor parking lot opening times (and for the general public lot at Reactor Field) on game days.

The Department's standard parking lot opening times are: a) 8:00 am for games that kick off before 6:00 pm; b) 10:00 am for games that kick off at 6:00 pm or later. However, the lots will open for this Saturday's game at 7:30 am due to the early 11:30 am kickoff for the Nevada game.

2. Why was the SEMO game and upcoming Nevada game only offered on Pay-Per-View TV?

It was only after the Department of Athletics was informed that neither game would be "picked up" by network television (per the Big 12 Conference TV contract) that the Department pursued the option of Pay-Per-View. Simply put, the only two options were either "no TV" or Pay-Per-View. With demand for the Tigers at an all-time high it was the desire of MU to make the game available to as many fans and alumni as possible across the country. It is ALWAYS the desire of the Department to have games shown on network TV for maximum exposure (and revenue generation). Nevada PPV information is being finalized and will be posted to MUTigers.com in the very near future. Fans and alumni may also call their respective cable operators or satellite providers for more information on availability in your viewing area.

3. What is the new size restriction policy for items brought into Memorial Stadium? Why was it implemented?

It was recommended for security measures and fan comfort that the size of items being brought into Faurot Field not exceed 16" x 16" x 9". This new policy unfortunately caused an inconvenience particularly for fans bringing in their own padded chairback seats, many of which exceed the size restriction. This caused a number of fans to have to leave their chairback seats at the gates or return them to their vehicles last Saturday. Admittedly, in hindsight, the Department of Athletics could have, and should have, done a better job of communicating this policy to our constituents in advance… especially as it related to the chairback seats. In response, the Department will revise the policy and increase the size to 18” x 16” x 9” beginning this Saturday. Eighteen inches is the average seat width at Faurot Field.

Mizzou Athletics must discourage the use of oversized chairback seats as they can often impose on other fans' seat widths sitting nearby. More "growing pains" of having high seating demand for the #6 Missouri Tigers! In an effort to add some time to the "learning curve" for this new policy, the Department will offer some flexibility at the Nevada game for chairback size. Fans who bring chairback seating into the Stadium that does not conform to the new size restriction will be issued a card further explaining the policy and requesting compliance at future games.

4. I don't understand the new tent policy. Please explain. And, why can I not leave my car or set up my tent the day/night before the game?

The tent policy has been in place in previous years but not as strictly enforced. In 2007 there was a very high volume of tents being set up in advance of game day and also an increase in tent sizes being put up. Therefore, it was the desire of the Department to more consistently enforce the existing policies in 2008. Hopefully, the information below will be helpful in the future:

  • Tents should not exceed 10' x 10' and should be placed immediately in front of or behind your vehicle so as to not impede traffic flow.
  • Tents will only be allowed in parking lots (and adjacent grass areas) from those with parking passes in those respective lots. In other words, fans may not erect tents in lots in which they do not purchase a parking pass.
  • All parking lots at MU are student parking lots until the morning of the game. In addition, as game day approaches the Athletic Department works diligently to prepare the lots for our 60,000+ anticipated guests each Saturday (including mowing, clean-up, temporary restroom placement, etc.). These practices have been impeded by advance tent set-up in previous seasons. It is requested that tents not be set up in advance of game day and not until the lots open on Saturday. Numerous complaints were also received in previous years about the escalating issue of "staking claim" of tailgating spots in advance...especially from out-of-town fans and alumni who would arrive on game day when the lots opened only to find many of the spaces "reserved" by various means outside of policy. Now, with the revised parking policy in effect of not over-allocating the number of parking passes issued in each donor lot there should be less competition for parking spots and tailgate locations. The number of parking passes issued in each lot mirrors the number of spaces.
  • Parking spaces and tent locations are first-come, first-served for those holding the proper parking pass hangtags in each lot once the lots open on game days, not before.
  • Lastly, all donor parking lots (and the general public parking lot at Reactor Field) are now secured (i.e. blocked off) on Fridays beginning at 7pm. Cars are not allowed in the lots before the designated Saturday opening times after this time. Cars that are left in the lots overnight on Fridays will be towed. RV's are the only exceptions and are allowed in designated pass-holder lots beginning at 5:00pm on Fridays.

5. The most common positive feedback items received were for:

  • Improved traffic flow entering and exiting the donor parking areas;
  • not over-selling the donor parking lots;
  • the new courtesy cart shuttles;
  • the Welcome to the Zou team "intro video";
  • the addition of supplementary sound system speakers;
  • the academic success of our student-athletes;
  • and being ranked #6 in the country.

Should you wish to offer feedback to the Department of Athletics on any subject please visit http://mutigers.cstv.com/feedback/miss-feedback.html. The Department will review each and every email in its entirety. However, due to the volume of emails received a response cannot be given to each email. Please know that your feedback is sincerely valued and is crucial to our customer service initiatives. We are grateful for your support and for your passion for Mizzou Athletics! We hope to see you Saturday.