Five things every student needs to know in Lane Stadium

A wide shot of the fans at Lane Stadium

Whether you are brand new to campus or returning for another year, welcome to Virginia Tech! As you may know, the Hokies will kick off their football season at Lane Stadium on Sept. 2 against Old Dominion. But before you go to your first game and bounce around to “Enter Sandman” with 65,632 of your closest friends, here are some tips for what to expect.

Get there early to be in the North end zone

Students are positioned in two main areas, mostly blocked off from the rest of the stadium. The early arrivers sit in the North end zone, under the scoreboard and behind the Marching Virginians, fairly close to the field. The rest of the students sit to the side in the east stands, much higher up from the field. Also, the longer you wait to arrive at the stadium, the longer it will take to get through the gates and you might miss the aforementioned “Enter Sandman” tradition.

Bring a set of keys

Every third down is known as a “key play,” when all fans shake their keychains in unison to create loud sounds of metal crashing into metal in an attempt to distract the opposing team. If you want to participate in the tradition, come prepared with a keychain and some keys to shake.

Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen

You will be outside and standing in the sun for several hours, which gets hot, especially early in the season. Drink water in the hours leading up to the game so you aren’t paying for expensive stadium bottled waters — and make sure to apply sunscreen.

Check the bag policies

Lane Stadium — along with all other venues on campus — has a fairly stringent bag policy, so ensure your bags are in compliance. You could also go empty handed save for bare essentials, forgoing a bag altogether. Lane Stadium allows a clear bag that does not exceed 12”x6”x12”, a small clutch bag no larger than 4.5”x6.5” or a Ziploc one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag.

If you didn’t get season student tickets, try the lottery

If you haven’t purchased student season tickets, unfortunately, all the available ones are now sold out. Each game, Virginia Tech makes a limited number of tickets available through a free ticket lottery. If you want to enter, visit tickets.hokiesports.com/student/lottery/. If you want reminders about lottery deadlines, text “HOKIES” to 83200 to receive updates.

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