• On-campus parking Lots open at 8 a.m.
• Tailgating officially begins at 2:30 p.m. (alcohol permitted)  
• Gate 1 Ticket Booth opens at 10 a.m. for ticket sales and Will Call
• Ticket Booths at Gates 2, 3, & 4 open at 3:00 p.m. 
• On-Campus pregame "Cat Walk" begins at 3:35 p.m. 
• Stadium Gates open for all admission at 4:30 p.m.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. on ESPN+

Saturday, Aug. 30 – Game Day Promotions:  

• First Bank First Weekend – Western Carolina raises the curtain on its 2025 season with it's first game under the lights since 2021 as the Catamounts welcome Gardner-Webb to Cullowhee;
• Following Saturday's game, fireworks again light up the western North Carolina sky with a postgame extravaganza, presented by Ingles, and media partners iHeartMedia and 99.9 FM Kiss Country, and Star 104.3;
• The "Pride of the Mountains" marching band will have its first halftime performance of the season. Following the POTM performance, the youth Pee Wee Division from Smoky Mountain and Cherokee will take the field, competing in a youth football scrimmage;
• First Bank First Weekend continues Sunday evening as the two-time defending Southern Conference women's soccer champion Catamounts host No. 2 Tennessee at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex … Admission all season long is FREE, courtesy of First Bank.

Where to Buy Tickets / Game Day Parking: 
Purchase – and PRINT – tickets in advance through CatamountSports.com 
 
Where to Park: 
$20 – Single Game parking on game days | $15 – in advance of game day

Lots: HFR Admin Building (SOLD OUT), North Baseball Parking Deck / South Baseball Lot, Field House ADA (SOLD OUT) & Van Accessible (MUST be accompanied by verified ADA documentation)

Catamount Club Reserved Parking Lots:
Camp Lab Festival Parking, Field House Lot, Creek Lot, and Belk Lot – a reminder that the Stadium Lot is OFFLINE his season with on-going construction to the Western Skybox.
- Media Reserved Lot is at the St. David's Church Parking Lot
- With postgame fireworks on Saturday, be reminded that the pedestrian bridge closest to the Camp Festival Parking will be CLOSED;

Student Tailgate Lot: Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center (tailgating spots must be reserved in advance by student groups; the tailgate lots open at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday) 
 

Catamount Nation! Here is 10 Things you should know before game day!#CatamountCountry pic.twitter.com/GybVbFbTwf

— Western Carolina Athletics (@Catamounts) August 28, 2025

Additional Game Day Parking Information:

• Parking lots on campus open for entry at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 … For fans that have purchased a game day parking spot, please print out the ticket or have it on your mobile device upon arrival at the parking lot to show the attendant to gain admission;  
• In accordance to University policy, tailgating including alcohol begins three and a half hours before the announced kickoff time – on Saturday, Aug. 30, that time is 2:30 p.m. … NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PERMITTED before the designated time … Tailgating activity involving grills, tents, etc., is NOT permitted within the North Baseball Lot Parking Deck … Also, please be reminded to park in assigned numbered parking spots;  
• General Admission parking: A few FREE parking options are also available down Little Savannah Road behind the Catamount Travel Center and past the Cullowhee Post Office at the WCU Health & Human Science (HHS) parking lots, subject to availability (FREE SHUTTLE, see below) … It is also suggested that fans consider taking Old Cullowhee Road to the old entrance to the WCU campus and utilize parking in the lots in the middle of campus or behind Hunter Library on game day;   
• Catamount Club Reserved Parking Lots (parking pass required) include Camp Lab (Lot13), Belk (Lot14), Jordan-Phillips Field House (Lot12), Creek (Lot9C) Lot, and Camp Lab Festival Parking (Lot4A) ... All patrons with parking passes should enter the main entrance of the WCU campus, display parking credential to gain access to their designated, assigned parking lots;   
• Student Tailgating Lot (pass required): Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center Lots (Lot 13) … those spaces are reserved on-campus by student organizations for each game day; 

 
Note: WCU Parking & Transportation will run a FREE "Tailgate Express" CatTran Shuttle for each home football game this year, beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. Vehicles will be directed to park at the Health & Human Services (HHS) Lot and HHS Adjacent Lot down Little Savannah Road where patrons will be picked up. The FREE shuttle will transport fans to both the Ramsey Center circle drive for West Side seating and Gate 1 entrance for patrons with East Side tickets. Shuttles will also be available after the game for return trips to these lots. Please note that this is not a shuttle around campus – just to and from the parking lot to the stadium.
  
STADIUM CLEAR BAG POLICY: 
REMINDER – Western Carolina Athletics enforces a clear bag policy. Only standard clear bags, 12-inches by 6-inches by 12-inches in size, small purses approximately 4.5-inches by 5-inches not including the strap, and clear gallon-size storage bags are permitted. Diaper bags (child must be present upon entry) and any medical-related bags will be allowed … Please be reminded that umbrellas are not permitted within the stadium. 

The Catamount Club: 

• The Purple Zone (requires RSVP): Located on the Ramsey Center Patio – is open from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. to qualifying Catamount Club members; 
• Paws Porch (requires a ticket and credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Field House; doors open at 5:30 p.m.; 
• Catamount Corner (requires a ticket and a credential): Located on the Northwest patio of the Ramsey Center; opens at 5:30 p.m.; 

 
ON GAME DAY: 

• WCU Athletic Ticket Office: (828) 227-2401 – phone lines open beginning at 9 a.m. until Noon for ticket information and phone orders ONLY – NO WALK-UP SALES through the Ramsey Center Ticket Office; 
• Gate 1 Ticket Sales on the West Side of the stadium open at 10 a.m. for walk-up sales and for Will Call pickup; 
• Ticket sales at all other gates begin at 3:00 p.m. – Gates 2, 3, and 4; 
• All stadium gates open to the public at 4:30 p.m. ... Gate 6 for Player Pass also opens at 4:30 p.m.; 

 
 WILL CALL: 

• Remember to bring proper photo identification to pick up tickets at WCU's Will Call; 
• Main Will Call for picking up purchased tickets or tickets being left for pick-up is at Gate 1; however, fans can receive Will Call at any entrance gate ticket booth; 
• Guests of WCU Chancellor's Office can pick up tickets at Will Call at Gate 4; 
• WCU Football Player's Guest will utilize Gate 6 (as well as Dance/Cheer guests) ... Those who are on the player pass list must show a photo ID to pick up tickets. Player Pass Will Call does not open until 4:30 p.m. when the stadium gates are open; 
• Football Recruits: Northeast Concourse, enter the Southeast doors of the Ramsey Center. Arrivals after 4:30 p.m., please go to Gate 6; 
• All Other WCU Recruits: Gate 6; 
• High School Coaches: Present valid ID card to any ticket booth and receive up to TWO free admission tickets ... Pick up tickets from any ticket booth -- NOT the school's player pass location. 

 
 TICKET PRICES: 

• Chair Back Reserved: Adult $37 Youth (Ages 3-12) $27 – Sections DD, JJ, KK, LL; 
• Bench Back Reserved: Adult $32, Youth (Ages 3-12) $22 Sections JJ, MM 
• Bleacher Reserved: Adult $32, Youth (Ages 3-12) $22 Sections D, E, F, J, K, L 
• General Admission: Gameday $23 Adults and $18 for Youth (Ages 3-12) G, GG 
• Full-time WCU students: FREE with Cat Card 
• WCU Student Guest: $13 (WCU students can purchase two guest tickets and sit in the WCU student section) 
• Children 2 and under do not need a ticket. 

- Please note – there is a $5 transaction fee charge on each ticket when using a credit card 
 
PLAYER PASS/HIGH SCHOOL COACHES/COMPLIANCE

• Player pass is located near Gate 6
• Those who are on the player pass list must show a photo ID in order to pick up their tickets … Once player pass tickets are picked up, the individual MUST enter the game;
• High school coaches can pick up their two complimentary tickets from any ticket booth - not at the player pass entrance;

 
 Other Helpful Game Day Hints: 

• Arrive early to avoid long lines entering Whitmire Stadium ... Also, numerous gates allow entry to the stadium – familiarize yourself with the best gates to get you to your seats for all the pregame festivities … There will be a cash-only table for ticketing at Gate 1; 
• Be sure to enjoy a variety of stadium fare at the Catamount Dining concessions stands, proudly serving ice-cold Pepsi products, bottled water, and Gatorade – or other vendors such as Tubby's Kettle Corn & More, along with Kona Ice on the West Side of the stadium. On the east side of E.J. Whitmire Stadium, fans can get Farmhouse Lemonades, Sunset Slush, along with Betty's Funnel Cakes. Bojangles' sweet tea will be sold from the concessions stands;
• Alcohol will be available for purchase in both the east and west concourses of the stadium. Beer, wine, cider, and hard seltzers will be available in Whitmire Stadium for fans 21 years of age or older. Fans will need to show their valid ID when purchasing alcohol and may only purchase two (2) alcoholic beverages per valid ID with the ID holder present at the time of transaction. Sales will begin when gates open 90 minutes before kickoff and close at the end of the 3rd quarter. No alcohol will be permitted to enter or exit the stadium. 
• Western Carolina students will be able to use their declining balance with their CatCard ID at the stadium concessions stands – it does not apply to the other vendors that have sales points at the stadium on game day, only the Catamount Dining concessions stands.

 
Catamount Merchandise: 

• The WCU Bookstore will have merchandise stands on both the east and west sides of the stadium for the purchase of Catamount merchandise. The main WCU Bookstore (311 Memorial Drive, between the Campus Rec Center and Hinds University Center) will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.