Miami Announces Football Game Day Enhancements

Oct. 20, 2010

“U Respect” is aimed to encourage positive behavior among our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans with a focus on increasing awareness and a commitment to sportsmanship at all Miami Hurricanes athletic events.” RESPECT THE GAME. RESPECT THE FANS. RESPECT THE U. What it means to be a Hurricane fan? It means that you represent and cheer for the THE U with the highest levels of PASSION and CLASS. Respecting THE U means that you cheer with all your heart for the ‘Canes, while granting visiting fans and their team the same RESPECT. Respecting THE U means that you will do everything in your power to better the NAME and TRADITION of the Miami Hurricanes. Read more on the U Respect campaign on HurricaneSports.com.

CORAL GABLES – In an effort to provide an optimal game day experience for all patrons at University of Miami home football games, the UM athletics department and Sun Life Stadium have planned several enhancements to the game day operations including an increased security presence, opening parking lots 5 hours prior to kick-off for North Carolina and directional parking.

“The game day staff at Miami and Sun Life Stadium are committed to providing a first-class college football environment,” said Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt.  “We have, and will continue to work diligently in an effort to improve the traffic and parking flow at the stadium, increase the security presence, provide a higher level of customer service at the pass gate and further emphasize the shared policies for fan conduct.

“We want all of our fans to help by taking pride and abiding by the U Respect code of conduct: respect the game, respect the fans, respect the U.”

Beginning with this Saturday’s game against North Carolina (7:30 p.m. on ESPN2) the following changes will be instituted:

Increased Security Presence & Law Enforcement
UM and Sun Life Stadium have increased the ratio of security to fans to the highest level. UM and Sun Life Stadium have asked security and local law enforcement authorities to be more vigilant and make every effort to arrest or eject individuals that act outside the law.
What to Expect on Game Day: A more visible presence of security staff, law enforcement and university personnel monitoring game day atmosphere.

Opening Time of Parking Lots
Parking lot gates will open at 2:30 pm for the North Carolina game.
What to Expect on Game Day:  By opening the parking lots 5 hours prior to kick-off for this game our fans will experience less traffic and parking congestion.

Directional Parking
All parking, both pre-purchased and those purchased on-site, will be directed by stadium personnel to individual parking spots at Sun Life Stadium.
Reason for Change: Previously, fans were allowed to select any parking spot in their lots during the first hour. The change (supported by UM, Sun Life and local law enforcement) was made to ease congestion inside the stadium lots, which should in turn have a positive impact on traffic flow outside of the stadium. In the past, the 60 minutes of open parking created several safety issues and made vehicle movement difficult for the majority of fans who arrive in the three-hour time-frame immediately prior to kickoff.
What to Expect on Game Day:  All cars will be directed to spots in the lot relevant to their parking privileges and fans can expect a more efficient and organized drive into the stadium and to your specific lot.  Groups of fans that want to congegrate together for tailgating purposes will need to enter as a caravan of cars and/or plan to arrive at the stadium at the same time.
History: UM utilized directional parking during its time as a patron at the Orange Bowl and during the three hours prior to kickoff during its entire time at Sun Life Stadium.

Revocation of Ticket Privileges
Any ticket holder that is ejected or arrested during a UM football game will be subject to the revocation of their ticket privileges for the remainder of the 2010 season, subsequent UM football seasons and/or other ticketed events at Sun Life Stadium.

Traffic Alerts
UM, Sun Life Stadium and security will utilize permanent highway/turnpike electronic signage, temporary roadside electronic signage and 560 WQAM to better communicate traffic and parking information throughout the `Canes four hour pregame show.  As parking lots fill and congestion areas develop on the streets and highways leading into the stadium, WQAM will alert fans to alternate and/or more efficient ways to get into the stadium.
What to Expect on Game Day: Updates on a regular basis, as often as every 15 minutes, on the home of the Miami Hurricanes…. 560 WQAM.
How You Can Help: The earlier you arrive, both at the parking entrance and stadium entrance, the quicker traffic moves. Please plan to arrive at the earliest possible time to decrease the amount of time it takes you to get you into your seats for the game.

Tailgate Policies
UM, Sun Life Stadium and law enforcement will monitor the tailgating area at the same level as inside the stadium.
What to Expect on Game Day: A greater presence from law enforcement and security personnel in an effort to provide a collegial and positive game day atmosphere.

Pass Gates
To relieve congestion at the pass gates, UM and Sun Life Stadium have moved former UM players and high school coaches to new locations at the stadium.
What to Expect on Game Day: Below are the current gate assignments for each pass gate guests:
Gate D                  Community Relations
Gate D                  Visiting Team
Gate F                   High School Coaches
Gate G                  Former Players (Club Entrance)
Gate H                  Football Recruits
Gate H                  Non-Football Recruits
Gate H                  Player Guests
Gate H                  General Will Call