Cullowhee, N.C. – Single-game tickets and gameday parking for Western Carolina football's August 29, home-opening matchup against Eastern Kentucky, under the new lights at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field officially go on sale on Tuesday, July 14, through the Catamount Athletics Ticket Office and online at CatamountSports.com.
 
WCU will showcase its $40 million renovations, including the Western Skybox press and hospitality facility, new LED stadium lights, upgraded video board, and a new artificial playing surface when it hosts EKU at 7 p.m. Game day promotions for the 2026 opener include a 'Blackout Whitmire' with FREE black WCU T-shirts to the first 3,500 fans through the gates, and the 15th annual Freshmen Run. The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Everyone in Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game.
 
A full game day promotional schedule for each of WCU's exciting six home dates will be released in the coming days. Single-game tickets and parking for WCU's remaining five home dates will be available for purchase beginning July 28.
 
Ticket and parking sales for the 2026 season-opener are available in person at the first-floor Athletics Ticket Office in the Ramsey Center (Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), by phone at (828) 227-2401, or online by visiting CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Advanced parking is $15 and $20 on game day, with options available at the H.F. Robinson Administration lot, Camp Festival, the Field House lot that includes ADA parking, the North Baseball Parking Deck, and the South Baseball Lot.
 
Additional game day parking options are exclusive to Catamount Club members. Contact the Catamount Club today to discuss options and join the Catamount Club today.
 
The Catamounts and Colonels meet for just the ninth time overall, and just the fourth time in Cullowhee. WCU edged EKU in the most recent meeting, 27-24 in Richmond, Ky., back in 2023, as Branson Adams hauled in an eight-yard game-winning TD reception inside the game's final 30 seconds.
 
Preseason excitement for the 2026 season continues to rev up as the Southern Conference convenes at the Hotel Hartness in Greenville, S.C., on Tuesday, July 21, for the 2026 SoCon Football Media Day. The preseason All-SoCon teams and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's head coaches, will be unveiled as the coaches and two players from each league team meet with members of the media to mark the unofficial start of the 2026 campaign. Entering his sixth season in Cullowhee, head coach Kerwin Bell is slated to be joined by all-conference candidates in wide receiver AJ Colombo and defensive back Ken Moore Jr. for the annual preseason event.
 
Riding the momentum of three consecutive seven-win seasons – and four straight winning records at season's end – season tickets for the 2026 home schedule remain on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
 
With large crowds anticipated for each home date in Cullowhee this fall, purchasing season tickets remains the best option to secure seats for WCU's six home dates. Options include general admission, reserved bleacher bench, and a few remaining chairback seats, with a Family Zone four-pack in Section FF also available. 
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tuesday, July 14 – Single-game tickets and parking for the home opener on sale
Tuesday, July 21 – 2026 Southern Conference Football Media Day (Greenville, S.C.)
Tuesday, July 28 – Single-game tickets and parking for remaining five home dates on sale
Wednesday, July 29 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Thursday, July 30 – First football 2026 preseason practice (8:30 a.m., helmet only)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Georgia State (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah  National, Cherokee)