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Important Fan Info For Saturday's Game
September 03, 2015 05:02 PM | Football
The list of prohibited items at Milan Puskar Stadium this year now includes “selfie sticks” and drones - something I never imagined writing when I first started journalism school back in 1987.
According to April Messerly, West Virginia University assistant athletic director for facilities and operations, those two items present security/safeties issues, particularly drones.
“The technology for drones is improving constantly and the FAA has airspace clearances on game days when you have more than 30,000 people in one location,” she said.
Actually, the protected airspace the FAA has designated around stadiums with at least a 30,000-seat capacity is 3,000 feet and a three-nautical-mile radius, Messerly noted.
“The Big 12 Conference has informed us if game officials see a drone in or around the stadium while the game is going on, play will be stopped,” she said. “In a lot of instances, drones are innocent, fun and enjoyable hobbies for people, but they can also pose a safety concern when you consider all of the people at any given athletic event.
“If people are operating drones from their private property and it crosses into protected airspace, I am told law enforcement will become involved,” said Messerly.
With ongoing construction on the east side of the stadium, Messerly is encouraging Mountaineer fans to pay attention to all signs, particularly in construction areas, and plan on entering the stadium a little earlier than usual.
“A half hour before kickoff may not be enough time, especially on the east side,” she said. “The East Gate is going to be very congested and lines may appear longer because the queuing space has been decreased due to construction. Students must enter at the east gate, but fans who normally enter the east gate are encouraged to enter another gate.”
Messerly said the number of stadium entry points will remain the same.
Some other items to consider when attending Saturday’s season opener against Georgia Southern:
* An additional parking lot has been added (Lime Green) this year near Pierpont Apartments next to Oakland Street, just a short walking distance to the stadium. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be purchased on-site for $40.
* All recycling at the stadium is now single stream. Volunteers will go throughout various parking lots during pregame distributing bags. Signage inside the stadium will be updated with images of all items that can be recycled.
* University Avenue from Overhill Street to Fourth Street is closed as the city of Morgantown’s work continues on the intersection at Third Street and Beverly Avenue. Work is not expected to be completed on that reconfigured intersection until the end of September, at the earliest.
“All traffic will be pushed down Eighth Street to Beechurst Avenue,” Messerly said. “Fans coming through town and driving up University Avenue will be unable to use that road to get to the stadium until the new intersection is completed.”
Morgantown city police will have one officer at the top of Eighth Street to help funnel traffic down to Beechurst and there will be two officers at the bottom of the hill to direct traffic in both directions.
“The plan right now is to allow traffic to proceed both ways at the bottom of Eighth Street and Beechurst,” said Messerly.
And once fans arrive at the stadium, Messerly emphasizes continued patience, understanding and awareness when encountering construction areas.
“These are temporary inconveniences for much needed long-term improvements to Milan Puskar Stadium,” she noted.
A crowd of 53,000 is expected for Saturday’s game, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
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