Parking/Attendance Info for ESPN’s College GameDay

HARRISONBURG, Va. – As announced on Sunday morning, ESPN's premier college football show, College GameDay, will broadcast live from James Madison University on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon on the Quad in front of Wilson Hall, with other activities and live ESPN broadcasts taking place in the days leading up to the show.

All visitors for College GameDay are welcome and admission is free. Make sure to consult the information and procedures below before joining us in Harrisonburg.

Parking/GameDay Information

-Parking is available throughout campus as either general (first come, first serve) or reserved parking

-Reserved parking lots are only accessible with a valid gameday hang tag. Reserved lots will open at 6 a.m., two hours earlier than normal games and tailgating in those lots can begin at 8 a.m.

-Ticketing and towing of unauthorized vehicles from reserved lots will begin at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.

-General parking lots will also open at 6 a.m. on gameday and tailgating in general parking lots can begin at 11:30 a.m.

-Tailgating on game day is only permitted in parking lots at approved times. No tailgating of any kind will be permitted on the Quad, including no coolers.

-Visitors on campus specifically for College GameDay without reserved game parking are suggested to use general parking in the Warsaw Avenue, Mason Street and Grace Street parking decks, Q lots on Harrison Street, R14, C6, C13 and C14 on Grace Street and C7, and C8.
Football Parking Map
Complete Parking Information

-Harrisonburg will have shuttles running on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. Make sure you check here for the complete list of College GameDay bus scheduling!

-Many dining halls on JMU's campus will have special hours in celebration of College GameDay. Check here for the updated list of special hours and check out JMU Dining Services for the complete list of JMU's world-class dining!

-No unauthorized soliciting, advertising, business/organizational tabling or other on-site commercial presence is permitted near the Quad or other College GameDay set-up locations at any time.

-All buildings in the area of the Quad will be locked and inaccessible by the public.

-No public vehicle traffic will be allowed eastbound on Grace Street between South Main Street and Mason Street.

-Make sure you wear you bring your PURPLE for College GameDay's cameras and your WHITE to join the Dukes in their White Out against Villanova at 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium!

Timeline

Thursday
5:30 p.m.: The ESPN College GameDay bus arrives on campus in front of Wilson Hall! Make sure to welcome them, rain or shine!

Friday
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: ESPN will air live spots and record segments with the College GameDay crew throughout the day on Friday, beginning at 8 a.m. Sponsors will also have plenty of games and activities on the Quad all day.
3:00 p.m.: ESPN records College Football Live from the Quad! Fans are invited to stop by and be part of the show.
5 p.m.: JMU Students are allowed to start lining up to reserve their spot in The Pit for College GameDay. The Pit will be a student only area and has a capacity of 450 students. Students are allowed to stay overnight on the Quad, but tents and coolers will not be permitted.

Saturday
6:00 a.m.: The first 450 students (with a valid JACard) in line will gain entrance to The Pit.
6:00 a.m.: Parking lots on campus open.
7:00-9:00 a.m.: DJ Mac, the ESPN College GameDay DJ, performs on the Quad.
8:00 a.m.: Shuttles begin running (on and off campus)
9:00 a.m.-Noon: ESPN College GameDay show goes live from the Quad!

"The Pit"

-A 450-spectator pit area will be located immediately behind the College GameDay set

-This area will be available only to JMU students with a valid JACard and a purple shirt beginning at 6:00 a.m.

-All other fans will be invited to fill in the large lawn areas of the Quad

-Claiming space overnight is permitted, but no tents will be allowed anywhere on campus

-Large video screens with a sound system will be viewable for fans on the Quad

Rules for "The Pit"

-By entering the pit, fans are agreeing to allow ESPN to use captured media such as video or images without compensation in their broadcast and marketing of their show

-ONLY students wearing a PURPLE shirt will be permitted to enter The Pit on Saturday morning!

-NO food or beverages are allowed in the pit, please plan to dispose of them before entering

-NO bags are allowed in the pit include but not exclusive to backpacks, book bags or purses

-NO markers, pens, pencils or dry erase boards

-Signs in the pit may not be attached to poles, sticks or other extensions

-All persons entering the pit are assuming risk and are subject to search or removal by security personnel

Rules for Signs

-Signs are a favorite part of many fans of the show and will be viewable on ESPN from all areas of the Quad and we encourage fans to bring their own signs

-NO derogatory, vulgar, or political messages are allowed

-NO sponsored signs or any references to .com's or other websites

-While signs with poles, sticks or other extensions are permitted behind the GameDay set, those extensions will NOT be allowed in Bridgeforth Stadium

Activities on the Quad

Friday
Home Depot/Coke Zero Corn Hole Challenge: Coke Zero sampling, giveaways and corn hole contests!
Pizza Hut "Sign Up for GameDay" Competition: Come make your signs to get ready for College GameDay's cameras! The best sign will be featured on Saturday's telecast!

Additional ESPN Programming

ESPN will also air other programming from the Quad on Friday and Saturday, beginning with live spots with members of the College GameDay crew as early as 8 a.m. on Friday. Other set features, including live drop-ins on SportsCenter and other programming will be filmed later Friday morning. Friday's 30-minute College Football Live program will air at 3 p.m. from the Quad with a gathering of fans welcome in the Pit area. There will be additional SportsCenter live shots Friday evening and beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday leading up to the 9 a.m. airing of College GameDay.