The lot next to Baker Center would be one choice. It's not too bad of a hike and you could always drop off those in dire need at Baker then go park the car.

I whipped this up, assuming that the parking arrangement will be the same this year as I used the 2019 season parking map as a template.

https://imgur.com/a/olZ5KZB

You'll be happy to learn that we designate a free lot for visiting fans only. The Hocking River lot (HR) is very close to the stadium and all the tailgate activities. Feel free to park all your cars there :)

Our parking situation is a bit different from many other schools in that we really don't have a huge, sprawling lot next to the stadium. We have several small to medium lots scattered around campus.

There's a $10 lot across the street from the Heritage College Pediatrics (HC), a $5 lot next to the Life Sciences building (LS), and a $10 lot next to the Tennis Center (T). As you can see, the HC and T lots are a bit small and very close to the stadium, so trying to get all 10-20 of your cars in those might be wishful thinking. The LS lot is a bit bigger, but I think it also fills up quickly. I have actually never stepped foot in any of these buildings, so I don't know if they will be open for bathroom access on gameday.

Some people will say park next to Baker Center (B). Baker is the student center and will be open all day. I've circled its lot in red. I don't think this is actually a lot open to the general public on gameday. When I was a university employee 10 years ago, my trick was to park there for games because it was not open to the public, but I could still use my employee pass. Baker is not far from the LS lot, so if you park on the east end of that lot, you have a short walk under the Richland Ave. bridge to Baker for bathroom access. Don't bother with the tiny $10 lot (X) next to Baker.

Your best bet might be to park in the Morton lot (M) for $5. Even though it's marked as a shuttle stop, it's not a bad walk to the stadium, and should have decent room for your group. Morton is a lecture hall building, so again, I don't know if it will be open for gameday. But it is across the street from Nelson Commons (N). Nelson is a dining hall and should have bathroom access. The blue lot circled in red at Nelson is actually a ground level garage beneath a huge dorm complex, so it's not a good place to tailgate in itself, but between that lot and the Morton lot is what we call "South Beach" (SB). This is an open lawn where students will lay out, throw the frisbee around. Maybe you could set up your camp there if you don't need power from your car. I've never parked in that area for gameday... does anyone know if people do that? Tailgate on South Beach?

The lots north of the Morton lot are a bit removed from the gameday hoopla. I'm surprised they aren't shuttle stops, but if walking is no problem, they could be good options for Syracuse fans to stake their claim. The check mark shaped lot is across from Jefferson Marketplace (on-campus grocery store) and should be open for bathroom access. Northwest of that lot is parking adjacent to McCracken and Siegfried halls. These are academic buildings, so again, not sure if they would be open on gameday.

I think Morton is a gameday lot but it's small and fills up quickly.

The lot next to Baker is hit or miss depending on what's going on at Baker. I've been able to park there for games but the last we were there they funneled us back to the Life Sciences (LS on your map) lot. LS might be the closest lot that doesn't fill up quickly. It also has a shuttle to Peden and is relatively accessible to facilities at Baker and Grover Center (although Grover sometimes smells like a latrine on weekends).

Guys, thanks for stepping up on this question.

Ahh South Beach. The best place to be during spring quarter when I lived in Weld and True Houses my first two years at OU. Gladly took the scenic route those hot days in May and June or practiced my golf chipping as best as I could.

+1. May is the best month in Athens.

I'll take it a step further - May and first two weeks in June.

How will parking passes work with electronic tickets?

I had them use the money I paid for my 2020 season tickets in 2021. No 2021 football season tickets show up in my account on the website. I emailed the Athletic Department many months ago and they assured me my tickets were covered. I'd like to tell them to charge me to send printed tickets and passes instead but I don't even see how to do that. Contact Us does not even work on the website.

Not sure how schools can do digital parking unless every lot attendant has a scanner. I know at Syracuse (where parking is like Ohio with many smaller lots) they are going to mail out hanging tags to go along with digital tickets.

political perk ;)

I had to look up where the Archery Range is, lol. That's a neat, scenic spot across the river from Peden and if you're getting there as early as you say you are, I think your whole group might fit, but you won't have good bathroom access... I think the nearest option in that case would be to cross the roundabout traffic to the OU Inn. I don't know how they fill it with cars, but there also might not be a whole lot of room if the kids in your group want to throw the ball around or something like that.

If you were to park in the Tennis Center lot, on your exit, they would probably direct you away from Richland by having you turn right on South Green Dr, take that all the way to Mill St, R on N 1804 Way or Elliot St, then right on Stimson Ave where you can follow the signs to 50.

If you end up parking in the Life Science lot, curling around to get to Richland Ave will be a huge PITA. You'd actually be better off going into uptown Athens by taking a right onto Union St, left onto Court St, right on Carpenter where Court dead ends, and Carpenter becomes Stimson.

I still think the Morton lot is your best bet. It should have enough room for your group arriving as early as you say. Even if Morton Hall is closed, Nelson Dining Hall is right across the street and will have clean bathroom access, and you have south beach right across the street so your kids can stretch out. After the game, you would go north on Stewart, right on Mill, left on Elliot, right on Stimson.

Just know that the intersection of Richland and Shaffer/South Green Dr will be traffic central both pre and post game.

I would expect an elbow to elbow capacity crowd.

I hope that those in your group who are staying in Parkersburg schedule some time to see Athens and the campus and not just Peden Stadium, I realize that possibly the only hotel rooms some could find were in WV but I recommend the full Athens experience.

https://athensohio.com /