Employee Appreciation Tailgate Oct. 8

Employee Appreciation Tailgate Party

In appreciation of NC State’s dedicated employees and their families, Chancellor Randy Woodson will be the host of a football tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 8, before the Central Michigan game.

The party includes barbecue, hotdogs, picnic sides and soft drinks—starting three hours before kickoff in the paved lot at the corner of Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road (see map). You’ll need your employee ID to get you and your family in to the event, and to enjoy the free food provided by University Dining.

“It feels like we’ve been through a lot this year,” Woodson said, “a tornado, an earthquake, a hurricane, budget reductions, organizational realignment and a new strategic plan. While we might joke a little about the year so far, we’ve had plenty that could have been a distraction. Our faculty and staff maintained their focus. We need a few minutes to thank them for their hard work, relax and celebrate.”

In addition to free food, there will be plenty of entertainment for employees and their families. The ESPN/Jeep interactive entertainment area will be right next to the employee tailgate location, which will also have live music and face painting.

Game time has not been set yet. The party will start three hours before kickoff and end an hour before game time. You can also visit the Fan Zone and enjoy the other game day festivities after you stop by the employee event.

NC State will provide food, drinks, tables, chairs, music and entertainment. (see event layout). Anything employees bring to the event (coolers, containers, food, drinks etc.) will be the responsibility of the employee and cannot remain at the tailgate location after the event concludes. Refer to the stadium guidelines to learn more about what you can and can’t take to the game with you.

Registration

All Employees planning to attend the event should register online. As part of the registration process, employees can request game tickets and parking passes.

Tickets

About 3,400 tickets reserved for the event which will be available through a lottery to those who register. Employees can register for two free tickets, and can optionally request to purchase up to two additional tickets for $10 each. All tickets for the event will be distributed through lottery. The deadline to register for tickets is Friday, Sept. 23.

Parking

The university has reserved 500 parking passes for the Vet Med parking deck for this event (see map). Parking passes will be distributed as part of the ticketing process, and will follow the same lottery process.

Employees who do not receive a parking pass will need to make other parking arrangements. (See map for parking options(?))

Red Terror busses will be running on game day starting 3 hours before kickoff. Employees can park at the Dan Allen Parking Deck (see map) and take the Red Terror bus from the D.H. Hill Library bus stop. Parking at Dan Allen is subject to availability.

Check real-time bus location via your
web-enabled cell phone to determine
bus arrival/departure times
http://ncsu.transloc.com/

Additionally, employees can plan to park at other public lots, subject to availability.

What to Expect

Event layout map.

FAQs

How can I get tickets?

Register online before Sept. 23. Tickets will be distributed via lottery.

When will I know whether I have a ticket?

Can I buy tickets in addition to my free tickets?

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes, if you insist but c’mon, it’s free food. If you just have to bring something from home, it’s your responsibility to clean it up before game time. Your mama doesn’t work here!

Can I set up my own tailgate at the event?

Traditional Wolfpack tailgates often include tents, sound systems and maybe a pig smoker. But space is limited. Tables, chairs and entertainment will be provided. We’re doing the work for you…all you have to do is show up.

Can I bring alcohol?

Depends. Are you 21? If so, you can bring beer and unfortified wine during tailgates. Please refer to tailgate policies for more. (does this exist? I think so. Dick C would know.) Coolers or other containers are your responsibility. Please refer to stadium rules for what you can bring to the event.

Where can I park?

There are a limited number of parking passes (500) available for the Vet Med parking deck across Blue Ridge. Dan Allen Parking Deck on main campus can also be used for game parking – plan on catching the Red Terror bus in front of DH Hill Library. Give yourself an extra few minutes. Additional public lots in the stadium area are available first-come, first-served.

I didn’t get a parking pass. How do I get to the tailgate and stadium?

Red Terror busses will be running game day. Service starts 3 hours before kickoff. If parking on main campus (Dan Allen Parking Deck), use the Library bus stop. Also, if you have one of those new-fangled smart phones, you can check online for up-to-the-minute bus locations.

How do I get from the tailgate to the stadium?

After a couple hours of free barbecue and such, a short walk will be just the ticket, right? It’s about three-quarters of a mile from the tailgate party to the stands. You might want to do some stretches, just in case. Be sure to stop by the Fan Zone and enjoy the other game day festivities once you get to the stadium.