Planning key for Mizzou fans on game day, as stadium renovations rage on

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Athletics is urging the Mizzou faithful to plan out their game day more than ever before, as renovations to the north end zone at Faurot Field will rage on through the 2025 football season.

Although MU worked to make the changes to the game day experience as minimal as possible, there are a few things that fans will need to plan for, before making the trip to Memorial Stadium.

"We're gonna ask our fans to. bear with us as they experience this season just a little bit differently," Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch said.

As construction crews look to stay on target to finish the upgrades to Faurot Field by the start of the 2026 campaign, Veatch said that construction will still be going on on game days. So, if fans see steel flying around or construction vehicles running during their tailgates, that is all going according to plan.

With narrower walk-ways and less gates open, Mizzou does expect there to be an increase in congestion, where foot traffic is concerned. As a result, the Tigers will be opening up the gates to Faurot Field 30 minutes earlier than normal, a full two hours before kickoff.

"We're asking fans to plan ahead, particularly their walking route to the stadium," Veatch said.

The tunnel that runs under Stadium Boulevard will remain open for foot traffic on game days, however the paths are much more narrow than fans are accustomed to. Veatch said you may want to plan an alternate route into the stadium, if possible.

In addition to planning your walking path, be sure to plan which side of the stadium you enter in on, as well, as it will be much more difficult to cross from the east to west side, or vice versa. If your seats are on the east side enter through the gates marked with an 'E' and if your seats are on the west side, then enter through the gates marked with a 'W.'

Once inside the stadium, fans will be able to get a full view of the construction zone.

Right off the bat, you'll notice that there is no north end zone video board. The athletic department decided to go with a smaller scoreboard and play clock that is mainly for teams to use, as they march northward on Faurot Field.

"That was cost prohibited, really not a good investment of resources," Veatch said when asked about the video board.

In addition to the changes due to the ongoing north end zone renovations, Mizzou Athletics has also made some significant improvements the game day experience. You can find a list of those updates below.

• New custom designed LED stadium lights, allowing for choreographed light shows
• New Tiger Fans Zone, opening three and a half hours prior to kickoff on the lawn at Tiger Avenue across from from Tiger Avenue Parking Structure.
  • Large-screen TV showing games around the country
  • Food trucks and seating
  • Beer sales
  • Tiger Team Store merchandise sales
  • MU Health Care Kids Zone featuring a video game truck playing EA Sports College Football 26
  • Coca-Cola Student Tailgate
• Enhanced and increased pyro at key moments on game day
• A new camera placement inside the locker room to get the crowd excited for the team runout
• A re-worked in-game script designed to help keep up the energy even during breaks in play
• Six concessions locations at Memorial Stadium featuring Fan-Friendly pricing, consisting of $2.99 hot dogs, popcorn, chips, 16 oz fountain sodas and 12 oz Dasani water
• New concession items
  • BBQ Bacon Wrapped Conecuh Sausage Dog (Section 121)
  • Boulevard Beer Brat (Section 106 and Boulevard Concession Stand at Section 123)
  • Boulevard Beer Cheeseburger (Boulevard Concession Stand at Section 123)
  • Boulevard Beer Cheese Fries (Boulevard Concession Stand at Section 123)
  • Loaded Nachos (Una Vida Concession Stand at Section 118)

Veatch said all of the improvements coming to Memorial Stadium in 2025, but especially the renovations to the north end zone, are going to make Faurot Field an even more iconic place to be.

"If you're coming up to our to our stadium and you're thinking about the front look of that stadium, that'll be maybe next to the columns, the next sort of most visible call it selfie point that you see on our campus. I think there's something important about that. There's also going to be a massive club section inside that space that will seat I think around 500 for other special events. Probably the largest venue in the in the city of Columbia and we were up there the other day and you can actually look back and see Jesse Hall and Memorial Stadium from that space," Veatch said. "So, just the opportunity for that space to be utilized not just by us on game days, but by the university and folks in our community throughout the year."

Mizzou will kickoff the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28 against Central Arkansas, as fans will get their first real glimpse at all the construction.