There are few things more exciting than Louisiana Tech Football season here in Ruston! It’s a special time of year when students, alumni, locals, and fans from all over the country come together to cheer on the Bulldogs. The 2020 season looks different than most, but we’re still gearing up to celebrate LA Tech football throughout the community.
While some of our normal game day traditions are on hold for 2020, there are still plenty of ways to have a fun and safe game day experience. See below for information on what to expect on LA Tech game days this year and how you can still enjoy a game day experience in Louisiana’s College Town.
What to Wear: Show some spirit! Whether you prefer a jersey or a button up, you aren’t truly ready for gameday unless you’re in LA Tech colors. Be sure to sport your best red on November 14 for the “Red Out” game. For all other home games, fans traditionally wear blue. Also, don’t forget to check the weather. Umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stadium, so rain boots and a poncho are your best bet for rainy games. Many local shops offer apparel perfect for game day. Check out some of those here.
Parking: Refer to the map below to see all the available parking options. New in 2020, due to the construction of the new softball and soccer facilities, the white parking lot has moved to the south of Joe Aillet Stadium. Additionally, the Young Alumni lot has moved to the corner of West Alabama Avenue and Tech Drive. Parking passes have moved to digital form this season. Mobile parking passes can be viewed on a fan's mobile device or can be printed from their Louisiana Tech Ticketmaster account and brought to the stadium. Parking Lots open three hours prior to kickoff for home games this season.
Shuttle: If you’d rather not worry about parking near the stadium, take advantage of the free Tech Trolley shuttle service, offered by the City of Ruston. Park in Downtown Ruston and catch the shuttle in Railroad Park (101 W. Park Ave.). The shuttle drops fans off at the south side of Joe Aillet Stadium and runs continuously starting 2 hours prior to kickoff and up until 1 hour after the game.
Tailgating: The bad news - traditional pregame festivities within Bulldog Village will be put on hold for the 2020 season. Tailgating within Bulldog Village and on campus will not be allowed. Pre-game meals at Argent Pavilion for LTAC donors and Alumni Association members will also not take place this season.
The good news – you can still “tailgate” with pre-game food and drinks at any of Ruston’s local restaurants. The majority of local eateries offer game day food and drink specials to help get you in the Bulldog spirit! Downtown Ruston is a great place for pre-game meals and shopping, especially with the convenient shuttle service offered on game days.
Tickets: Fans can purchase single-game tickets to Louisiana Tech football games in the office, over the phone at (318) 257-3631, through email, or online. Single-game tickets will not be sold on LA Tech gamedays this season. All tickets will be digital this year to help limit the contact between event staff and the fans entering. Tickets can be viewed on a fan's mobile device or can be printed from their Louisiana Tech Ticketmaster account and brought to the stadium. There will be 1,000 complimentary student seats per game. LA Tech students beyond that number can purchase an individual seat if available at a discounted price. If not all tickets are sold, more complimentary seats will be made available for LA Tech students.
Fans with questions regarding any of the new LA Tech Athletics policies should contact the LTAC office at (318) 497-7986 or the ticket office at (318) 257-3631.
Stadium: Following state restrictions, the seating capacity at Joe Aillet Stadium for the 2020 season will be 25 percent (or 7,140 available seats), including the 1,000 complimentary student seats per game. LA Tech Athletics will have room to place all season ticket holders within the stadium on gamedays. All stadium and facility entrance points will have line-queues to direct fans' path into the stadium with signage and floor decals requiring fans to maintain physical distance. Clear bags will now be required in an effort to expedite the entrance process.
All fans will be required to wear a face covering in Joe Aillet Stadium on gameday in accordance with the State of Louisiana Mask Mandate. The order requires face coverings for everyone ages eight and older, except for anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering.
Other viewing options: No tickets? No problem! There are plenty of places in the area to kick back and watch the game. The following local restaurants will be screening home games for fans: Beau Vines, Champs, Daq’s Wings & Grill, Dawg House Sports Grill, Log Cabin, Ponchatoulas, and Portico. Eat, drink, and enjoy the game from the comfort of your favorite Ruston restaurant/bar, all while supporting local businesses that need the love now more than ever!
Where to Stay: Any of Ruston’s area hotels are the logical choice, of course. All are located within 8 minutes of the stadium. If you want to add a little adventure to your game day experience, rent a camping or RV site at the beautiful Lincoln Parish Park.
Yes things look different this football season, but there’s still no better place to be on a LA Tech Game Day than in Louisiana’s College Town. Round up your quarantine crew, pack your blue and red, and head to Ruston this season to cheer on the Bulldogs!
2111 North Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-2031 | 1-800-392-9032
