JACKSONVILLE – The countdown is on for Jacksonville State's 2024 football campaign, with the season-opening kickoff against Coastal Carolina on Thursday, August 29, a little less than three weeks away.

With Jax State's jump to FBS and Conference USA last season, the Gamecocks embarked on a series of gameday improvements that brought numerous construction zones to campus. Fans returning to campus will be pleased to note that a majority of the recent projects have been completed and construction inconveniences have been greatly reduced. Last month, Jax State officially opened both its new student dining hall and the Loring and Debbie White Football Complex. The newest dorm on campus also begins operations in the North Village this fall.
 
Along with these improvements, Jax State has announced a series of changes to improve the overall gameday experience at Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium.
 
STADIUM
Upon arrival, fans will notice a new look to the playing surface of newly rebranded AmFirst Stadium. The new AstroTurf field turf carries Jax State's vintage "Fightin' Gamecock" logo cornered by Conference USA marks. The new turf replaces a field that was previously installed prior to the 2016 season.
 
Behind the west endzone, the new Loring and Debbie White Football Complex stands in place of the former football fieldhouse. The new football operations center houses a spacious locker room, sports medicine facilities, meeting spaces and coaches offices in addition to 10 Gameday Suites that feature both indoor and outdoor seating.
 
A new Daktronics Ribbon Board located on the White Complex in the west endzone will enhance the fan experience this season. The new video board is over 160 feet long and 3 ½ feet tall and stretches the width of the endzone. This new addition will allow full-color display to instantly present up to 360 degrees of ribbon-style video clips, animation, advertisements and real time scores and statistics.
 
AmFirst Stadium is also receiving a brand new sound system upgrade with the addition of more than 10 high efficiency full range acoustic speakers for a maximum audio experience and coverage of the Stadium. In addition, five new Dynacord amplifiers with DSP and Dante will power the new system and speakers, all designed and installed by Daktronics.
 
TICKETS
Fans have more seating choices than ever before inside AmFirst Stadium with the addition of Open-Air Suites and Loge Sections on the north side of the stadium in addition to traditional Club Level and Reserved seating options. A new ticketing software powered by Paciolan will allow fans to manage all aspects of their tickets from their mobile device beginning August 15.
 
There are four access points for ticket holders into AmFirst Stadium. The main ticket plaza and Gate A are located in the southeast corner of the stadium. Two additional access points are located on the northeast portion of the stadium at Gates B and C along Trustee Circle. However, these locations are access-only and will not sale tickets. Another ticket booth is located at Gate D on the northwest corner of the stadium.
 
Students receive free admission with their University-issued Student I.D. and may enter at any gate.
 
CASHLESS STADIUM
All ticket booths as well as concession stands inside AmFirst Stadium are cashless for the second-straight year. In addition to traditional concessions, fans can dine at our Food Truck Rally behind the east endzone where many of your favorite local food trucks will be at home football games ready to serve their delicious menu offerings. Payment methods for concessions and food trucks will be credit and/or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
 
Fans on the north side may visit either concession stand at each end of the field again this season, a service that was interrupted last year due to active construction.
 
TAILGATING
The ROOST, Jax State's reserved tailgating area, is excited to announce it will expand to various parts of campus to support the high demand of fans. Each package reserved includes a tent and table that will be set up and taken down for you along with one parking space. Each purchase also comes with a SWAG bag filled with various Jax State and The ROOST goodies.
 

The ROOST (A)   Location: TMB Lawn	Packages: Touchdown Package: Season Tailgate spot for $300   Field Goal Package: Single Game Spots for $50 per game.
The ROOST (B)   Location: Behind UREC	Packages: Touchdown Package: Season Tailgate spot for $600.00   Field Goal Package: Single Game spots for $100.00 per game
The ROOST (C) Location: Next to Red Lot off Mtn. Street and Cole Drive	Packages: Touchdown Package: Season Tailgate spot for $600.00   Field Goal Package: Single Game spots for $100.00 per game

 
The ROOST tents can be reserved by calling Olivia Riddle 256-782-5871.
 
Students will continue to use the campus quad located north of the stadium as their central tailgating area.
 
PARKING
Many parking lots around campus become reserved or paid lots on gamedays. Available parking for those that need to empty reserved lots can be found around Trustee Circle or the North Village part of campus.
 
Paid parking lots are available on a first-come, first-served basis on gamedays and are designated as GREEN LOTS. These lots are located in front of University Rec (UREC) and Mason Hall. Free parking areas that provide shuttle service to and from the stadium are available at Stone Center, Brewer Hall, Rowe Hall, Houston Cole Library and Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Meehan Hall Suite and Club Level ticket holders will have the option to park in the RED LOT in front of Meehan Hall. Suites for the new White Complex will have access to the ORANGE LOT on the west side of the stadium, while ticket holders who purchase outdoor Open-Air Suites on the north side will be allowed to park in the GOLD LOT directly behind the suites.
 
A new Accessible Parking Lot has been created next to Curtiss Hall between ORANGE and GOLD Lots. Fans that require accessible parking may park there and enter the stadium at nearby Gate D, which is directly adjacent to a new ADA-compliant seating section inside the stadium.
 
RED, ORANGE, GOLD, BLUE and PURPLE Lots located around the stadium are permit lots that require a pre-issued parking pass and will not be accessible on game days without the appropriate credentials.
 
All parking lots will reopen immediately after the game to students.
 
The RV Lot, located next to the RED LOT, also requires pre-issued passes to enter. Gates open for the RV Lot at 3 p.m. two days prior to each game day (Thursday for Saturday, Tuesday for Thursday and Monday for Wednesday). 
 
PREGAME
The popular Gamecock Walk returns to its traditional location this season as coaches and players will unload from buses in the Meehan Hall lot and walk along the sidewalk on the west side of Meehan Hall and up to the new White Football Complex. The walk takes place approximately two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff time.
 
All gate open two hours prior to kickoff again in 2024. For the most efficient entry fans are encouraged to save their digital tickets to their digital wallet to ensure proper scanning upon entry. Fans must also adhere to Jax State's Clear Bag Policy. Each ticket holder is allowed one large clear bag such as a one-gallon Ziploc style bag or clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag that does not exceed 12" by 6" by 12", plus a small clutch purse.
 
Items such as cameras, binoculars and blankets are allowed to enter, however, cases for those items such as a camera case will not be allowed in the stadium. Diaper bags with an accompanying child will be allowed.
 
DIGITAL GAME DAY PROGRAM
The Gamecock Gameday Program that fans enjoy will return to digital form for the second-straight season. In addition to being available for FREE, the digital format allows that all fans can access the same great program they're used to reading now on their devices. Posted around the stadium will be QR codes that will lead fans directly to the Digital Gameday Information Hub that will provide up-to-date information on both teams. There will also be a limited number of roster cards available around the stadium that will also have the QR Code.
 
ALCOHOL POLICY
AmFirst Stadium guests are encouraged to drink responsibly. Guest must be 21 years of age or older to purchase and consume alcohol. Proper identification is necessary to purchase any alcoholic beverages. Each guest is limited to two (2) alcoholic beverages per transaction. All alcohol sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter. Stadium Management reserves the right to discontinue sales at any time. Guests will not be allowed to bring alcohol into or out of Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium. Guests will not be permitted to enter the stadium if they appear intoxicated. Drunk and disorderly behavior, or violation of any alcohol policy will result in ejection from the stadium without refund.
 
FAA Temporary Flight Restriction In Jacksonville Game Days
Security Instruction, 14 CFR section 99.7, Jacksonville State University's (Jax State) move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2023 now requires a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over Burgess Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium.  The TFR includes all types of aircraft, manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, including drones. The requirement is for three nautical miles from the center of the Stadium, 3,000 feet above ground level, one hour prior to kickoff and until one hour after the game ends.
According to the FAA, flights conducted for operational purposes of any event, stadium, venue, and broadcast coverage may be authorized with an approved airspace waiver.