History links
By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – The best advice I can give the 22,000 fans who will attend Old Dominion’s football opener against Virginia Tech on Friday is something you may have heard from your parents as a kid: Get there early.
And once you do, head to Kaufman Mall, a place where you can enjoy the tailgating experience without having to drag things out of your car, cook, and clean up.
If you’re not familiar with Kaufman Mall, it’s several acres of open space that stretches from Hampton Boulevard to the Webb Student Center. It is a short walk from the south end of the stadium on 49th Street.
There is a beer garden and food vendors, a giant screen television that will carry the best of college football and a band that will play near the ODU Lion Fountain. There are also dozens of chairs to sit on.
Plus, there’s entertainment for your kids: there are plenty of bounce houses and plenty of room for them to run around.
There will be a live band at every home game. This week it’s The Finns, the rock and roll band from North Carolina that also mixes some country music into their performances.
A can’t-miss event for ODU fans: The football team holds its pregame Monarch March from the Webb Center to SB Ballard Stadium at 4:45 p.m. It’s always a pretty impressive moment when the Monarchs leave the Webb Center, for players and coaches alike. and the fans.
The Monarchs march into the stadium at the south gate, where they all touch the head of an ODU lion before entering.
The band and cheerleaders also gather to perform at the Kaufman Mall fountain about 45 minutes before game time.
I advised getting there early because this game is played on a Friday and there are often traffic jams on Hampton Boulevard on Friday afternoons.
Fortunately, ODU closes its campus at noon and opens all football parking lots at 3:00 p.m., four hours before the Hokies and Monarchs kick off. This means all tailgate lots open four hours before the game as usual.
There’s a Virginia Tech alumni event at Kaufman Mall, and I know it goes without saying that you should treat our guests with courtesy and welcome them to our campus. Many Tech alumni in Hampton Roads are also ODU fans.
After all, ODU was founded in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary and VPI.
ODU and Tech fans interacted amiably in the previous three games, with fans sharing food and drink in the tailgate lots. The hospitality between the two groups was incredible in two games in Blacksburg and four years ago in Norfolk.
Let’s do four in a row and counting.
ODU and Tech play each of the next 10 seasons, counting Friday.
Below are some reminders and updates on what’s new at SB Ballard Stadium
PUBLIC PARKING
If you don’t have a parking pass, your best bet is to head to one of the two parking decks on either side of Chartway Arena, located on Hampton Boulevard between 45th and 43rd Streets.
They are a short distance from the stadium – I park there and it’s a five minute walk to SB Ballard Stadium. Best of all, parking is free.
Additional open lot parking will be available in front of the new Health Sciences Building, which is under construction, off 43rd Street. There is also free parking.
I would not advise parking in the Larchmont, Lamberts Point or Highland Park neighborhoods unless you want a parking ticket. Parking is not allowed in many of these neighborhoods unless you live there. Check the street signs carefully if you decide to park there.
WILL CALL
Will Call is in the southeast door adjacent to the Silver Lot. It will open around 3:00 p.m. The stadium gates will open at 5:00 p.m., half an hour earlier than usual.
TRANSPARENT BAG POLICY
A reminder that ODU has a clear bag policy. You can bring a small bag, up to 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, and a wallet, but anything larger must be kept in a clear bag. And everything will be searched before entering the stadium.
The cheapest and easiest way to pack your stuff is to grab a clear gallon ziplock bag from the kitchen and use it. ODU Bookstore also has clear bags and some of them are trendy.
Have questions about our clear-bg policy? Check out the Q&A section of the story below.
ODU TRANSPARENT BAG POLICY
WHAT’S NEW
It will be allowed to the general public buy beer and wine for the first time this fall. ODU has been cautious about allowing alcohol sales at sporting events, but after a successful trial during men’s and women’s basketball, the University is expanding sales to football games.
For reference, Scope and Harbor Park have allowed the sale of beer and wine for years. Virginia, Virginia Tech and JMU do as well.
Mixed drinks are not permitted in the stadium except in premium seating areas such as the Priority Automotive Club or The Deck. And you can’t bring alcohol into the stadium – you have to buy it from the stadium vendors.
ODU installed cup holder to the 5,474 back seats of the chair. The cup holders are large and will hold the large stadium cups where soft drinks are served.
All 482 chair back seats of the Cox Business Lodge Lounge the premium seating area in the south end zone has been replaced. And as has been the case since 2009, all loge seats are sold out.
You’ll also notice new branding in the stadium. This is ODU’s first season in the Sun Belt Conference and all Conference USA signs and logos have been replaced.
TICKETS
A limited number of The Deck premium seating area tickets are available for Virginia Tech. Located in the second-floor concourse on the west side (ODU bench) of the stadium, fans can partake in a buffet of refreshments and a cash bar and mingle in an area reserved for patrons of Deck.
For information, contact Justin Ross at 757-683-3360 or jross@odu.edu
Deck ticket holders also get good seats in the stadium. But the Deck area in the lobby offers an unobstructed view of the field and the TowneBank scoreboard. I recently paid a visit to The Deck and it’s a great place to watch a game.
When available, Deck tickets are $1,000 for the season, $350 for the Tech game and $150 for each of ODU’s other five home games, including the Nov. 12 season finale against James Madison.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Email me at hminium@odu.edu or reach me on Twitter at @Harry_MiniumODU
SOME FOOTBALL STORIES FROM THE PRE-SEASON
The ODU and Virginia Tech coaching staffs have plenty of connections
ODU season ticket sales are booming
ODU’s Kevin Reihner is one of the youngest and brightest coaches in the nation
The ODU football team has adopted an adorable yellow lab
Sun Belt best place for ODU
