UPDATED: 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. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon on the Quad in front of Wilson Hall.

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.

-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 and Grace Street parking decks, Q lots on Harrison Street, C5, C6, C13 and C14 on Grace Street and C7, C8 and R9 near Memorial Hall.
Football Parking Map

-Many of the dining halls on JMU's campus will operate with special hours this weekend. Make sure you check out the list of changes and take advantage of the changes!

Timeline

Thursday
5:30 p.m.: The ESPN College GameDay bus arrives on campus near the fountain!

Friday
2:00 p.m.: ESPN records College Football Live from the Quad! Fans are invited to stop by and The Pit will be open for JMU Students.
4:00 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 500 students. Students are allowed to stay overnight on the Quad, but tents and coolers will not be permitted.

Saturday
5:30 a.m.: The first 500 students (with a valid JACard) in line will receive a wristband to gain entrance to The Pit.
6:00 a.m.: Parking lots on campus open.
6:30 a.m.: The Pit will open for the 500 wristbanded students.
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 with Head Coach Everett Withers joining the crew at the desk at 9:45!

"The Pit"

-A 500-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 beginning at 6:30 a.m.

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

-Claiming space overnight is welcome, 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

-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

-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!
Cheez-It "Real Fan of the Week": Fans can participate in a variety of Cheez-it themed games and Cheez-It will pick 2-4 fans as their "Real Fans of the Week"!

Additional ESPN Programming

ESPN will also air other programming from the Quad on Friday and Saturday, beginning with live spots with Sam Ponder as early as 9 a.m. on Friday. Other set features will be filmed later Friday morning. Friday's 30-minute College Football Live program will air at 2 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 7 a.m. Saturday leading up to the 9 a.m. airing of College GameDay.