PELLA—Fans are reminded that new parking regulations take effect Saturday for Central College's home football season opener.
The Dutch (1-0) tackle No. 19-ranked Randolph-Macon College (Va.) (1-0) in a first-ever non-conference meeting at 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
Access to the main parking lot adjacent to P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium is available at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $10 per car and $20 for an RV. Additional paid parking will be available at 10 a.m. at the baseball field north of the stadium. Tailgaters from visiting teams are encouraged to use this option but it's open to others as well. An additional entry gate in the northwest corner of the stadium will be opened to ease fan access.
Plenty of free street parking near Kuyper Gym remains, Vice President for Athletics Eric Van Kley said, and free golf cart shuttles will be available for fans to take to the stadium. In the past, the shuttles were only available from the main lot but this year the free service will extend to those parking in other areas as well. Fans can also park free in other college lots, including the Roe Center at the corner of West Fourth Street and University Street southeast of the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.
Tailgating activity has steadily increased in recent years, Van Kley said, so revenue generated from the parking fees will go towards adding more staff to supervise the parking lots and help create a safe environment for fans.
"We love the enthusiasm that the fans generate but, again, it's important that we control the space to keep everybody safe and allow them to enjoy the activities," Van Kley said.
Van Kley also notes that all additional revenue will go directly towards supporting Dutch athletics teams.
"Costs for fielding Central's 20 athletics teams continue to rise," he said. "We want to ensure that Central student-athletes continue to have the same kind of life-changing experiences that our teams have enjoyed for so many years. Creating additional athletics revenue through parking fees is new to Central, but increasingly common at other colleges and universities, including those in Division III. We continue to be grateful for Central fans' incredible support."
The regulations are only in effect for Central's home varsity football games but apply to attendees of all home sporting events Saturday as well as on September 27, November 1 and November 15.
