With a 7:30 p.m. kickoff planned for Thursdays (Oct. 21) matchup between West Virginia University and Syracuse, plans are in place to make sure no one sees red before theEers put the squeeze onthe orange.

University and City officials have been hard at work figuring out how to get parking lots emptied and traffic routed around rush hour.

No matter how far in advance we may plan, parking and traffic are still going to be major issues on game day,said Bob Roberts, director of public safety and transportation.We are just asking for everyones patience and cooperation.

Anything people can do to minimize traffic congestion will be appreciated, he said. Car pooling, walking to work or flexing their work day are all encouraged.

The earlier students and fans in general arrive for the game, the better, he added. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, or 6 oclock.

The student tailgating area known as thePitwill also be in operation two hours before kickoff and close at game time. Free food and drinks are available to students with proper ID.

A fireworks display and specialPride of West VirginiaMountaineer Marching Band performance, capped off by the1812 Overture,are being planned for halftime.

Students, employees and the general public are also reminded that the PRT is running that day and will continue to run for an hour after the game. The ride is free for those with University ID; 50 cents for others. MountainLine buses will run on their regular schedule.

Roberts said security staffing for the game will be increased to accommodate the expected attendance. Traffic, however, will be handled the same as if it were a Saturday night game. Traffic units should be in place three hours prior to kickoff and drivers will continue to exit on 705 and use Interstate 68 following the game.

Roberts suggested fans wear reflective or light-colored clothing and walk with friends for added safety.

Because this is a night game, there will be nopass outsthe ability to leave the stadium and re-enterissued for the game, athletic officials noted.

Roberts also reminds fans that if they have a question or a problem, contact the event staff or a uniformed officer for assistance.

Athletic officials said tickets still remain for the Syracuse game and can be purchased by calling the Mountaineer Ticket Office toll-free at

1-800-WVU GAME or by logging on towww.wvugame.com.

Student online ticketing for Thursdays WVU -Syracuse game began Friday (Oct. 15). Nearly 9,400 students requested tickets during the two-day registration period, according to Matt Wells, assistant sports marketing director.

On Friday, WVU officials agreed to make additional student tickets available for this game on a trial basis in response to a Student Government Association resolution. Under this agreement, 12,500 student tickets can be requested up until game day.

Wells urged students to claim their tickets by Monday night (Oct. 18); remaining tickets are available at www.wvugame.com on a first-come, first-served basis.

Below are some further game day plans as they relate to parking:

Season Permit Parking Holders in Stadium and Surrounding Lots (managed by WVU ):

• The parking lots will open to RVs at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and at 5 p.m. for all other vehicles. (A limited number of RVs will be allowed to enter in advance and park in specific locations to ease traffic congestion.) Please note: Any vehicle that is in the lot with a football parking pass before those times will be towed; this measure is being taken to ensure adequate parking for employees and patients.

• RVs must vacate the lots by 2 a.m. Oct. 22 to allow clean-up for regular Friday hospital hours.

Parking for Law School/Area 200

• Area 200 permit holders must move their vehicles by 8 p.m. Oct. 20. They can park at the Coliseum band practice field after 7 p.m. Oct. 20. The band practice field is located past the Gold Gate toward the track.

• Permit holders may return to Area 200 after 10 a.m. Oct. 22.

Parking for Patients/Visitors at RCB Health Sciences Campus Clinics:

• Special parking has been set aside for visitors and patients at the Gold South Parking Garage (Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center Section) behind the hospital. The garage is adjacent to the Emergency Department and the Cancer Center. Access to the hospital is through the Emergency Department.

• Game day passes to enter the hospital for patients and families are available at the

Gold South Parking Garage checkpoint and will be distributed by WVUH security officers.

• Note: Patients and visitors may park in this garage beginning at 1 p.m. Oct. 21. All vehicles parked there must be removed before 8 a.m. Oct. 22.

• All vehicles must be removed from parking lots between the hospital and Milan Puskar stadium by 3 p.m. on game day. Vehicles remaining in those lots after that time will be towed to lot area 80K.

• For emergency care or urgent visitations to Ruby Memorial Hospital, park in the Gold South Parking garage and enter through the Emergency Department.

• For more information on urgent visitations, or for other questions or problems with access, call Hospital Security at 598-4444.

Parking for WVU Health Sciences Employees:

• The Health Sciences Center will remain open all day on Oct. 21 and classes will remain in session along with the HSC Library.

• Lots 80 and 84 will remain open for paid permit employee parking until 5 p.m. Oct. 21; residents will park in Lot 80 (east side of building toward NIOSH ) on game day. All of Lot 81 will be available until 5 p.m. on game day, except for the portion along Van Voorhis Road.

Parking for WVU Hospital Employees, Residents and Faculty:

• Normal parking and driving patterns will be disrupted on Oct. 21 due to the game.

• All parking areas between the Hospital and Mountaineer Field, and along Willowdale Road, will become reserved game parking as of 4 p.m. Oct. 21.

• Cars parked in these lots without a football season parking pass may be towed after 4 p.m., so those working past 3:30 p.m. should park in the alternative areas (see below).

• Lot F-3, the Teal Lot, along Willowdale Road, will close at 2 p.m. Oct. 21.

• Game day parking passes for designated hospital areas will be available from employee units or from WVUH Security before game day.

• Hospital employees who also hold WVU season parking passes may leave vehicles in the football lots, but must display both passes.

• Alternate parking locations:

* WVUH Nurses, Clinical Associates and Support Associates: upper and lower lots of Prete Building on University Ave., 5:30 a.m. Oct. 21-8 a.m. Oct. 22. Shuttle service to and from Ruby provided.

* WVUH Ancillary and Support Staff working the night shift may park at WVU Area 80 lot.

* Residents, Faculty on Call, Family House Staff: Park in WVU Area 80 during the day and evening hours; display game day pass. All cars should be removed by 8 a.m. Oct. 22.

*Emergency patients, family visitors and POC staff working after 3 p.m.: Use new Gold South parking garage beside the Emergency Department. Cars must be removed from the garage by 8 a.m. Oct. 22.