UK Football Game Day: What to Know for 2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2021) — With the Wildcats set to play seven home games in 2021, University of Kentucky Athletics has continued its work to provide the best and safest possible fan experience at Kroger Field. That work has led to the following upgrades and operational changes for the upcoming season, which begins when UK hosts University of Louisiana at Monroe noon Saturday, Sept. 4.

• Game Day — UK Athletics anticipates tailgating, bands, cheerleaders, the Chevy Catwalk and nearly everything that goes along with college football Saturdays to return this season.
• Campus COVID-19 Policies— UK Athletics plans to follow all Campus COVID-19 Policies. Health and Safety Guidelines for UK can be found BBNfirst@uky.edu.
• Game day ticket office hours— The Kroger Field ticket office, located between gates 9 and 10, opens four hours prior to kickoff and closes five minutes into the third quarter.
• Guest Services — In addition to normal assistance, fans are encouraged to stop by any of the five guest services locations on the concourse for posters, temporary tattoos, first game cards and more from Coca-Cola.
• Clear bag policy — As a reminder, the SEC’s clear bag policy remains in place at Kroger Field as an additional safety measure and to facilitate entry. Each fan will be permitted to carry one large clear bag — either a one-gallon Ziploc-style bag or a 12” x 6” x 12” clear bag — plus a small clutch that does not exceed 4.5” x 6.5”. The small clutch allows privacy for small personal items and is also easily searched. The clear bag policy improves public safety by making bags easily searched and significantly reducing faulty bag searches. Fans are encouraged not to bring bags to reduce touch points.
• Kroger Tailgating Experience — Kroger will host a VIP tailgate event, which will begin two hours prior to kickoff for each home game, in the lawn next to Bluegrass Technical and Community College. Kroger customers can accumulate fan reward points by purchasing participating items at their local Kroger stores, then going to Kroger.com/fanrewards to redeem. These points can be used for free admission to the Kroger Tailgate Experience, including food and beverage. Customers will be sent an email confirmation that can be shown at the entrance to gain admission to the tailgate.
• Big Blue Zone/UK Sports Network Countdown to Kickoff — This season, the UK Sports Network Countdown to Kickoff presented by Don Franklin Auto will be in the Big Blue Zone outside of gate four. The Big Blue Zone will open three hours prior to kickoff.
• Food trucks/giveaways — Prior to the game, there will be food trucks from BHG, Salsarita’s, Kentucky Strong BBQ and Kona Ice. Kentucky Farm Bureau, Kentucky Select Chevy Dealers, Raising Cane’s and One Holland will all be on site with fan giveaways.
• Complimentary water — Complimentary water is available to fans throughout both the lower and upper concourse of Kroger Field. Four large water tanks are located on both the lower and upper concourse that fans will be able to use to fill cups that will be provided.
• Tailgate setup — Fans are asked to not set up tents or trailers in the Kroger Field complex prior to noon on Fridays leading up to game day in order to facilitate preparations. Also, all vehicles, tents and trailers must be removed by noon on Sundays following game day.

Season tickets, mini packs, group tickets and single-game tickets are still available for Kentucky’s seven home games, including season packages starting at $199 apiece. To learn more and to secure seats today, visit MASKING FAQs

Regardless of vaccination status, all guests, staff and vendors will be required to wear a mask while visiting any of the indoor areas of UK’s campus including indoor areas within Kroger Field. Masks will not be required in the concourse areas or in the upper or lower seating bowls of the stadium as well as outside club seating and suites with the windows open if you are fully vaccinated. All fans are strongly encouraged to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, while not actively eating or drinking.

Fans will not be required to show proof of vaccination to enter Kroger Field, however in accordance with CDC guidelines, unvaccinated fans should wear a mask at all times when around others.

• When do unvaccinated individuals need to wear a mask at UK Athletics events?
  • At all times, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Vaccinated individuals are required to wear masks in all indoor spaces.
  • Restrooms, Longship Club, Central Bank Club, inside of the Lexus Loge, the Central Bank Press Box, all elevators, the KFB Recruit Room, the Player/Guest Entrance, First Aid rooms, offices and any other spaces that are fully enclosed.
  • Individuals who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear masks when entering through most gates. Masks do need to be worn by everyone through the following entrances: Suite lobbies, Commonwealth Tower Lobby, Recruit Room Lobby and the Player/Guest Entrance.
  • No, not in open air locations if you are vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals need to wear a mask at all times both indoors and outdoors.
  • Yes, all are expected to wear a mask while inside restrooms or any indoor space.
  • Because they are unvaccinated, all children ages 2-12 are expected to wear masks. Any child aged 12-18 that is fully vaccinated should follow the above mask guidelines.
  • If you are vaccinated you are not required to wear a mask in the seating bowl. If you are unvaccinated you are required to wear a mask in the seating bowl.
  • All individuals are required to wear a mask while on University of Kentucky shuttles and Lextran buses.

  Game Days follow UK campus masking protocols. However, mandatory testing for unvaccinated students and employees is an employee/student campus protocol only, and doesn’t apply to the game situation.

  As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

  In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.