This Friday, Sept. 3, marks the start of another exciting season of Virginia Tech football as the Hokies welcome ACC foe North Carolina to Blacksburg for a primetime matchup. Kickoff at Lane Stadium is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN, and Tech Athletics is prepared to welcome back Hokie Nation in full force.
Below are nine things to know ahead of the return of Tech football, and the best fans in the country, to Lane Stadium Friday night:
1. The game is already sold out, but fans can still get tickets. It's been a long wait since the last time Virginia Tech played in front of a capacity crowd - 647 days, to be exact. Hokie Nation's fierce passion and loyalty never wavered, however, as the Virginia Tech ticket office sold out of tickets for this game yesterday, August 30. Fans still in need of tickets to the game against UNC on Friday, Sept. 3, should head to StubHub, the official secondary ticket marketplace of the Hokies. All tickets purchased through StubHub are 100% verified, meaning if fans have any issues with their tickets, the Virginia Tech ticket office will be able to provide full customer support.
2. WEAR ORANGE. For those fans in attendance, Friday's contest will serve as the Hokies' annual Orange Effect game in partnership with the Undergraduate Student Senate (formerly Student Government Association). Official Orange Effect T-shirts are still available for purchase online, and will also be available on-site in Hokie Village and Lot 4 before kickoff, as well as inside Lane Stadium.
3. Due to the game falling on a weekday, parking lot hours have been adjusted. In accordance with policies and the Virginia Tech campus plan to close the school at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, parking lots will not officially open until 3 p.m. that afternoon. There are some options for those with reserved parking spaces that are outlined below. Fans are not encouraged to arrive before noon on gameday, even though lots are not officially open until 3 p.m. Additional details on parking and tailgating for Friday's game can be found here.
4. Mobile ticketing has arrived at Lane Stadium. In an effort to provide a more convenient, sustainable and secure gameday experience, Virginia Tech Athletics will transition to mobile tickets for all ticketed athletic events, beginning with the 2021 fall sports season. Fans are strongly encouraged to add their mobile tickets to their digital wallet before arriving at Lane Stadium to make entering through the gates as easy as possible. With the HokieSports mobile app for iOS or Android, fans will be able to manage their account, add tickets to their digital wallet, transfer tickets to friends and family, and more. Complete details on mobile ticketing, including step-by-step instructions and FAQ's, can be found here.
5. Pregame festivities are back and better than ever. Held on the turf field across Beamer Way from the West Side of Lane Stadium, Hokie Village is the perfect place to get fired up to cheer Tech on to victory. Hokie Village opens at 2:30 p.m. this Friday afternoon, and admission is free. Offering a family-friendly atmosphere, Hokie Village features a bungee trampoline, rock climbing wall, tailgate games, live music by Exploding Sun, concessions and beer for purchase, appearances by Tech student-athletes and the HokieBird, and more. This Friday, there will also be a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on-site, administering first and second doses only.
Right across from Hokie Village is where the Tech football team buses will arrive, approximately 2.5 hours before kickoff. Help greet the squad and cheer loudly as the "Hokie Walk" begins on Beamer Way and ends at the Merryman Athletic Center. Later, join the "March to Victory" parade led by Skipper, the HokieBird, the HighTechs dance team, the Corps of Cadets spirit team and the Marching Virginians starting in Lot 5 at approximately 5 p.m.
6. Indoor mask mandates are in effect. In adherence to Virginia Tech's current policy, masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, in all indoor common areas, except for when fans are eating/drinking. This specifically applies to hallways between suites and club spaces, as well as concourses and restrooms.
7. Lane Stadium concessions go cashless - and beer and seltzers will be available throughout the venue. As previously announced, all concession stands will move to cashless payment this year and will require a debit or credit card for purchase. Fans who do not have access to a card should consider buying a prepaid credit card at Kroger in advance of the game. On gameday, there will be a limited number of prepaid credit cards available in the Hokie Shop in the West concourse.
For the first time in its 56-year history, Lane Stadium will offer beer and seltzers for purchase on the concourses, including Hardywood's Fightin' Hokies Lager. All fans will be required to show proper identification to purchase any alcohol in Lane Stadium, and transactions will be limited to a maximum of two alcoholic beverages per person.
8. A fan-friendly pricing model has been introduced for select concession items. In response to the demand for more affordable concessions options, fan-friendly pricing on certain items will be available. Fans will be able to find classic gameday fare like hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, Coca-Cola fountain drinks and bottled water at all permanent concession stands for $2.50 each. Premium sandwich options will still be available, as well as turkey legs, which will be offered in its typical space in the Southwest side of Lane, in addition to the Lower East side.
9. Gate 7 has transitioned to a student-only gate. Gate 7 (behind the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility) will now be a student-only gate. Students who wish to sit in the North Endzone will need to get a wristband upon entry and these wristbands will only be distributed at Gate 7 until the area is at capacity. All other fans should make plans to enter Lane Stadium through a different gate.
