Kroger Field Gameday Info: What you need to know before Kentucky vs. Toledo

The 2025 Kentucky Football season kicks off on Saturday afternoon. If you’re going to Kroger Field to cheer the Cats on vs. the Toledo Rockets, we’ve got some gameday information to pass along. No big changes from last season, but we could all use a refresher, right?

Tickets are still available

Saturday’s game isn’t quite a sellout. Some tickets are still available. In fact, you can get tickets for just $25 each thanks to the 250 Lex promotion. Saturday is also Wildcat Marching Band Honor Day, Girl Scouts Day, Cheer Day, and Swim Day, with specially priced tickets for those groups. Click here for more information.

The KSR Pregame Show starts at 8:30 a.m.

Let me save you a text to Ryan Lemond. The KSR Pregame Show starts four hours before home games, or, in Saturday’s case, four hours and 15 minutes. Turn your radio or streaming device to 630 WLAP or one of the many affiliates across the state at 8:30 a.m. ET to hear Matt Jones and the crew preview the season opener at KSBar and Grille. Better yet, join them there. The bar opens for breakfast at 9 a.m. ET.

The Lextran Shuttle WILL be running

The Lextran gameday shuttle will be running on the Virginia Avenue (next to KSBar) and downtown routes. All shuttles begin three hours prior to kick-off and end one hour after the game is over. Bus fare is $1 each way, and exact change is appreciated. If you park in the KSBar parking lot, we kindly request that you come on in and purchase something from us or one of our neighbors.

Waze will take you to your parking lot

If you have a parking pass, finding your parking lot is even easier. UK Athletics has partnered with Waze to provide interactive directions to your permitted parking lot (interactive map). Please download the Waze App and utilize the QR Code in your parking information email. Kroger Field lots are open to fans on game day beginning at 8 a.m.

Season parking permits and tickets are mobile, so once you arrive at your parking lot, show the parking permit on your smartphone to the attendant for entry. Do yourself a favor and save your tickets and parking pass to your smartphone’s digital wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Pay) before leaving home.

Kroger VIP Tailgate

Kroger is hooking loyal customers up with a VIP tailgate, which will begin two hours prior to kickoff on the lawn next to Bluegrass Technical and Community College. Kroger customers can enter the Kroger Tailgate Experience by showing a Kroger receipt(s) dated within 7 days of the event totaling $35 (or more) per person. Games, food, drinks (including alcohol), music, and more will be available. ID is required for entry.

The Cat Walk starts at 10:30 a.m.

With a 12:45 p.m. kickoff, the first Cat Walk of the season will begin at 10:30 a.m. Line Talbott Todd Way from Gate 1 to Gate 12 to greet the Cats as they arrive at the stadium and training center. This week’s “Lift Them Up Kid of the Game” is 11-year-old Molly Mangan from Frankfort, Ky. Molly was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and receives an infusion every four weeks along with routine blood draws and follow-ups. Molly loves taekwondo, where she is a red belt; garden club; cooking; baking; and 4-H. 

Gameday Timeline

• 8:00 AM: Kroger Field parking lots open
• 8:45 AM: Kroger Field ticket office opens (between Gates 9 and 10)
• 9:45 AM: Chevy Park opens (outside Gate 4)
• 10:30 AM: Cat Walk (Gate 1 – Talbott Todd Way – Gate 12)
• 10:45 AM: Gates 4, 9, 12 & Suites/Commonwealth Tower Lobby opens
• 10:45 AM: Kroger Tailgate opens
• 11:15 AM: All gates open
• 11:45 AM: UK takes the field for pregame warmups
• 12:25 PM: Wildcat Marching Band takes the field
• 12:30 PM: “My Old Kentucky Home,” National Anthem
• 12:40 PM: UK intro – Team runs onto the field

Self-service pedestal ticket scanners

In 2023, Kentucky added self-service pedestal scanners to most Kroger Field entrances to speed up fan entry. When fans arrive at their designated gate, the scanner will invite them to scan their ticket. There are two ways to scan tickets at a pedestal ticket scanner:  

• For tickets saved in your mobile wallet without a barcode (“tap & go” tickets), tap the back of your phone to the icon on the top of the pedestal scanner. 
• For tickets with a dynamic barcode, scan the barcode below the screen on the pedestal. 

Screenshots and screen recordings of tickets cannot be used, as they will not scan. UK Athletics has fully transitioned to mobile ticketing at all venues. For more information, visit UKathletics.com/mobiletickets. Save your mobile ticket to your Apple or Google Pay wallet before arriving at the stadium to avoid connectivity issues.

Lap tickets for infants under 12 months

All fans, regardless of age, must have a ticket, but lap tickets will again be available for infants 12 months and under. Lap tickets are only available on game day and must be purchased at the Kroger Field ticket office (between gates 9 & 10) for $15 by an accompanying adult with a ticket.

Clear bag policy

The SEC’s clear bag policy remains in place. Each fan will be permitted to carry one large clear bag – either a one-gallon Ziploc-style bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear bag – plus a small clutch that does not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″.

Free Water

Saturday’s weather looks absolutely perfect, but you still may get warm underneath the afternoon sun. Take advantage of UK’s complimentary water stations to stay hydrated. Four large water tanks are located on both the lower and upper concourse that fans will be able to use to fill cups that will be provided. Concession stands do not offer complimentary water.

Empty plastic water bottles, smaller than a liter, are permitted to be refilled inside. Empty containers made of glass, aluminum, or hard shell are not permitted.

Beer, Seltzer offerings

In 2023, Kentucky finally opened up beer and seltzer sales to the general public at Kroger Field. Sales will have a limit of two (2) per transaction. Identification checks will take place at each transaction. For football, alcohol sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter. 

Here are your options:

Canned

• $12 Nutrl (Pineapple)
• $12 12oz High Noon (Peach)
• $12 12oz Surfside – Tea or Lemonade
• $11 12oz Mango Golden Road Cart
• $11 16oz Michelob Ultra
• $9 Modelo
• $9 16oz Bud Light
• $9 16oz Black Cherry Seltzer
• $9 16oz Yuengling Lager
• $9 16oz Yuengling Flight

Draft

• $12 Lexington Brewing
• $12 Cougar Bait
• $11 Michelob Ultra
• $9 Bud Light
• $9 Yuengling Lager
• $9 Yuengling Flight

UK has not updated the beverage map with this season’s offerings, but here is last year’s map of where to find a cold one:

Concessions

There are a few new concession offerings this season. Katie’s Happy Hot Dogs and Scratch Smokehouse BBQ join the food lineup at Kroger Field. Last year, Taylor Belle brought Rupp Arena ice cream to the stadium; this year, she’s expanding by adding smash burgers to the menu. Yum.