2020 TDECU Stadium Procedures & Guidelines
10/2/2020 8:54:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Athletics Department is reminding fans of the new and enhanced gameday safety protocols and plans being instituted at TDECU Stadium for the 2020 football season.
Based on consultation and guidance with state and local health officials, American Athletic Conference and university leadership, TDECU Stadium will currently operate at an approximate 25 percent of capacity this season. This reduced capacity model with appropriate social distancing will allow UH Athletics to provide fans a safe and enjoyable experience during attendance at games this fall.
Fans will enter TDECU Stadium through designated gates to provide a more efficient and convenient entry process. In addition, patrons will be required to wear proper face covering devices at all times throughout an event at TDECU Stadium (excluding when eating or drinking at their seats).
UH Athletics also announced in June a move to mobile ticketing and parking to ensure a contact-free and convenient fan entry experience. TDECU Stadium will also offer fans expanded in-stadium services including more "cashless" options at concession and merchandise locations; as well as, in-seat food and beverage services through sEATz. For more information, click here.
TDECU Stadium Capacity & Ticketing
- With an increased emphasis in safety, security and convenience for fans in mind, Houston Athletics has implemented mobile ticketing beginning for the 2020 season that will allow fans more flexible and useful options in managing their ticket experience.
- TDECU Stadium capacity will currently operate at an approximate 25% capacity for the 2020 season.
- With mobile ticketing, Houston Athletics fans will enjoy various benefits, including reduced wait lines and quicker access into event venues, eliminating printing, delivery, loss or stolen tickets along with more convenient access options into TDECU Stadium.
- Fans are encouraged to download their tickets to their digital wallets prior to each game.
- In the rare event a fan cannot make a game, the new system provides opportunities to resell their tickets on StubHub.
- For more information on mobile ticketing, click here.
Students
- For more information on student tickets for UH home games are available at UHCougars.com/students.
- Students will be able to enter through Schroeder Gate 2.
- Due to reduced capacity and social distancing requirements with COVID-19, Student section seating will be expanded for the 2020 season to include sections 323-325, 333-335 along with its previous seating section locations.
- Student tickets will be issued reserved seating in 2020 in the designated sections to provide proper distancing during the events.
- Students claiming tickets in 2020 will be required to wear proper face covering devices and to sit in the assigned reserved seat issued during the ticket claim process.
- To assist with providing a safe environment and mitigating spread of COVID-19, UH Athletics is encouraging all students attending Houston football games to participate in self-assessment screening prior to attending games this fall. A link to the self-assessment can be found here.
Enhanced Sanitation & Cleaning Protocols
- To assist with providing a safe environment and mitigating spread of COVID-19, UH Athletics is encouraging all fans to participate in self-assessment screening prior to attending games this fall. A link to the self-assessment can be found here.
- As part of Houston Athletics new and enhanced safety and cleaning measures, all athletic venues will be routinely sanitized and disinfected including all high-frequency touch points and locations throughout the facilities.
- Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed throughout TDECU Stadium along with plexiglass guards will be located at all points-of-sale, premium seating locations and other designated locations throughout the facility. Social distancing markings will be installed to assist with queuing and providing proper distancing at various designated public locations throughout TDECU Stadium.
- All fans will be required to wear a mask or proper face guard shield while on university property and inside its venues; along with being asked to regularly wash their hands and properly distance themselves when possible.
Physical Distancing
- The TDECU Stadium footprint will be expanded to allow for physical distancing.
- Fans should maintain six-feet of physical distancing at all times.
- Elevator use will be limited capacity (two people at a time). Fans who need to use elevators are encouraged to arrive early.
- Physical distancing will be implemented at all gates, concessions stands, restrooms, merchandise stands and other designated locations at the venue.
- Fans will be encouraged to use stairs rather than elevators when possible.
Entry Gates & TDECU Stadium Footprint
There are five guest entrances to TDECU Stadium, so fans are encouraged to enter through the designated entrances outlined below that will assist in creating a safer and more convenient access experience for event patrons.
Gates will now open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Schroeder Gate 1
Northeast corner of the stadium at Legends Plaza
Recommended entrance if seated in sections 232-239, 332-335, loge box 36-42
ADA elevator to 200/300 level seats
ICON Gate 2
Southeast corner of stadium
Student entrance, all guests
Recommended entrance if seated in sections 101-105, 240-242, 301-306
Beth and Dan Bellow Club Entrance
South side of stadium
Club, suite level and south side loge box members
Recommended entrance if seated in club seats sections 106-112 and all suites
ADA elevator access to 300 level seats
Gate 3
Southwest corner of the stadium
All guests.
Media will call
Credentialed game day working staff entrance
Recommended entrance if seated in sections 113-121, 217-221, 307-315
Gate 4
North side of the stadium
All guests
UH player guest ticket pickup, visiting team player guest ticket pickup
Recommended entrance if seated in sections 122-131, 224-231, 323-331, loge box 27-35
Tailgating & Campus Closures
- Tailgating will not be permitted on Houston's campus in 2020.
- Prohibited items:
- Trailers
- Tents/Canopies/Structures of any kind
- Displays – decorations, lights, etc.
- Bars and any communal food/beverage
- Coolers
- Catering or Food Sales
- Tables and chairs
- Grills or any portable cooking mechanism
- Generators
- Fencing/Flooring
- Televisions
- Portable Audio Systems (setups and outside of vehicles)
- Prohibited items:
- Face masks are required on campus, especially when it is not possible to maintain appropriate physical distancing.
- All campus buildings and bathrooms will be closed.
- Limited Porta-potties will be available outside the stadium.
Concessions & Cashless Options
- TDECU Stadium will now be offering expanded cashless transaction options at all concessions, parking lots, merchandise and ticket booth locations throughout the venue.
- Prepackaged food offerings will be available at concession stands throughout TDECU Stadium for the upcoming season.
- As part of our efforts to create a safe and convenient gameday guest experience at TDECU Stadium, we are now providing all guests mobile ordering options and in-seat delivery through the sEATz app. Fans can order beer, hot dogs and all their favorite concessions on their phone and have the order delivered directly to their seat location in minutes.
- In addition, for fans who prefer a more traditional way of ordering food and drinks, sEATz will have "contactless" servers in the stands taking cashless concession orders with mobile tablets. Fans can place their concession order with the sEATz server, swipe their own credit card and in minutes a sEATz team member will deliver the order directly to the fan's seat location.
- Download the sEATz app here for the safest and easiest way to order concessions on gameday.
Pre-Game Events
Game day events, activities and gatherings are canceled this year, include:
- All UH programmed and public tailgating within the stadium footprint
- UHAA Party on the Plaza
- “H” Association Tailgate
- Shasta Square
- Cougar Walk
- CougaRVillage
- RedZone
- Kids Zone
Parking Lots
- Reserved and gameday parking passes can be downloaded onto your mobile phone. The pass will grant you admittance into designated parking lots on campus based on availability in each lot.
- All parking lots will now open three hours prior to kickoff.
- Advanced and gameday cash parking will be available in Lot 16 and Stadium garage (based on availability)
- Advanced Parking Options:
- Regular surface Lot 16 parking -$10
- Premium Stadium garage parking - $30
- Day of Game Parking Options:
- Regular surface Lot 16 parking - $20
- Premium Stadium garage parking - $40
- Advanced gameday cash parking may be purchased by clicking here.
- For complete gameday parking information, please click here.
- Advanced Parking Options:
Gameday Campus Construction
- As you make your way to the TDECU Stadium this fall, you will notice major road construction on Cullen Blvd. For many of our fans, this is the primary route to enter campus prior to a home football game.
- Due to the high-volume of construction, we’re asking fans to plan ahead as they travel to TDECU Stadium for the 2020 season and recommend fans using alternative routes to avoid congestion on well-traveled roads.
- Fans can click here, to access alternate route information for TDECU Stadium.
CougarRV Village
CougaRV Village is unavailable for the 2020 season.
Premium Areas - Suites/Club Spaces
- "Suite hopping" will be prohibited.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in each suite and club area.
- Suite menus will be adjusted for "grab-and-go" items.
- Food and drink must be consumed in seating area and will be served in to go boxes.
- Bill Yeoman Hall and the Cougar Club will still be available at reduced capacity levels. Both areas will have single point of entrance and exit.
- Sideline access for Cougar Pride members will not be available for the 2020 season.