Graphic: Alli Moore Information: Ole Miss Athletics
This week University Police and the athletics department are preparing to brave a surge of fans that will be attending Saturday’s game against the University of Alabama.
Although this game is receiving the most attention compared with this season’s previous match-ups, gameday parking will not be largely affected.
Due to the game being early in the afternoon, some times are being moved up.
“The only changes we are making for this week are the times that we will begin checking for passes onto campus and opening of the lots,” said Brian Russell, assistant director of game operations. “The barricades onto campus will begin at 5 a.m., and the lots will open by 6 a.m.”
The barricades are placed at each campus entrance and serve as a checkpoint to ensure that vehicles have the proper credentials to enter campus on gamedays.
As far as alternative parking areas being opened to the public, there will be no new openings. Fans can utilize private parking if available.
Russell advises that if you are parked in a privately owned space in town that offers shuttle bus services, the shuttle service may not be able to pick people up and return them to their vehicles. Many shuttles drop off on Gertrude Ford Boulevard before the game, but only the approved city shuttles are allowed into this area following the game.
Just as there will be relatively little change for the upcoming rivalry Saturday, the game will be treated the same as any other game has. Vehicles that do not have a residential decal or an official gameday parking credential will not be allowed on campus. Any cars found in violation of gameday parking regulations will be towed.
As many fans contemplate where they will park Saturday, students, both on-campus and off-campus, should also plan ahead concerning their transportation. Russell advises students that park on campus to ensure they are parked in their respective residential parking areas. For students living off-campus, it is highly recommended to use the city shuttle system. Parking in one of the various lots is free, but riding to and from campus costs $5 per person.
Gameday parking during large-scale games such as Saturday’s match-up can cause troubling situations for students as well as parking services.
Senior education major J.J. Nelson said living off campus can be difficult for students on gamedays.
“Being off campus creates a whole new problem because I must think about getting there first,” Nelson said. “Sometimes traffic is so bad, that does not happen. Once on campus, I rarely can find anywhere that is remotely close to park, and if I do, it will usually cost a good deal.”
Shuttles will run from Oxford High School, Oxford Middle School, the Oxford Activity Center and Northwest Community College. Shuttles will begin running at 7 a.m.
For fans wanting to come earlier than 7 a.m., Oxford University Transit will run from the Jackson Avenue Center and Oxford High School starting at 6 a.m. OUT is free of charge and will only run from the high school for an hour.
