Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota on October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at North Dakota
South Dakota State University Athletics
2025 SDSU Football Tailgating Policies
RULES:Â
- For all games, all tailgating lots will open five (5) hours prior to kickoff and will close at kickoff. Tailgating activities during the game, during halftime, or after game conclusion are prohibited. Tailgating areas must be vacated one (1) hour after conclusion of the game.
- SDSU reserves the right to adjust opening tailgate times due to inclement weather, early game times, weekdays, or other conditions.
- All persons consuming alcohol must be 21 years of age, have valid ID, and receive and wear a wristband from designated University agents. Tailgate activities, including consumption of alcohol, outside designated areas and times are prohibited. Wristband stations will be located around the tailgate lots. If you wish to consume alcohol you must present your Valid ID at a wristband station and receive a wristband.
- Glass bottle or containers
- Hard alcohol
- Pets (other than documented service animals)
- Bulk containers
- Bongs/funnels
Please follow these policies to help us keep the tailgate experience enjoyable for everyone.
- Smoking & Tobacco Free Campus - South Dakota State is a tobacco free campus.
- For the lot north of the SJAC (ORANGE LOT), we will continue to limit the number of vehicles/structures in the grass space. Each grass space will be allowed 2 cars and one additional structure (RV, shed, ice shack, etc).
- The remaining parking passes that you receive with the purchase of your reserved spot will be for the gravel area (GREYÂ LOT) north of the reserved tailgate spaces.
- For safety reasons, NO cars will be allowed to drive and/or park in the reserved tailgate lot (ORANGE LOT) within 2 hours of kickoff.
- For the lot northwest of the stadium (PINKÂ LOT), we will be selling reserved spaces on season basis. Pink passes will not be able to be used an any other lots. No structures, vehicles or anything can be left in the lot after 5pm on Sunday after the game each week.
- All fans entering the reserved tailgate lot must have a spot they are invited to. No loitering in the reserved tailgate lot.
- In the hard surface parking lots fans will not be able to reserve spots or take up multiple spots for their tailgate activities.
- No hard liquor or glass bottles are allowed in any of the tailgate lots.
- Owners to a reserved tailgate space (ORANGE OR PINK LOT) must be a Jackrabbit Club member at the State Level or higher.
- The ORANGE LOT, directly north of Dana J Dykhouse Stadium, is designated as reserved tailgating only. Only two (2) vehicles and one (1) additional structure (RV, shed etc) per spot will be allowed into the "Reserved Tailgate Spaces" (ORANGE LOT). Other vehicles must park in the gravel "Reserved Tailgate Parking Lot" (GREY LOT). Spots are only sold on a season basis, however if spots remain in the Reserved Tailgate Gravel Lot 1 hour prior to kickoff, single spots will be sold to General Public for $5 per spot. A $15 fee will be assessed to change or replace a tailgate sign. No vehicles will be allowed into the ORANGE LOT area beginning two (2) hours prior to kickoff. The tailgate opportunity is $750 and includes two (2) parking passes for the ORANGE LOT and four (4) parking passes for the GREY LOT.
- The PINK LOT, northwest of Dana J Dykhouse Stadium, is designated as a reserved hard surface parking lot. Fans can purchase 4 parking spaces on a season basis and use those spaces as they wish (can park 4 cars or 1 car). Cost for 4 spots will be $650 for the entire season. Spaces in the lot will be numbered and you cannot use spaces outside the ones you purchased. All vehicles, structures, etc must be cleared from the lot by 5pm on the Sunday following each home game. Proper parking passes must be presented to park in this lot.
- The YELLOW LOT, directly west of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, is for loge and suite premium seat holders. A proper parking pass must be presented to park in this lot. Tailgating is allowed.
- The BLUE LOTS are paved, priority parking-only lots that include tailgating. Only season-ticket holders, qualifying members of the Jackrabbit Club. Parking spaces within BLUE LOTS are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Blocking or saving spaces is prohibited. Tailgating is allowed. Passes for BLUE LOTS are valid for vehicles only at a cost of $10 and vehicles must fit between standard parking space dimensions of 9’W x 18’L.
- The LIME GREEN LOTS are designated as paved, non-reserved parking lots. Tailgating is allowed within these lots on a first-come, first-served basis. Blocking or saving spaces is prohibited; fans who wish to tailgate together should arrive together. Only one parking space is allowed per vehicle. For the safety of all fans, tailgate occupants are not allowed to block driving lanes. NO RV's or Large Vehicles.
- The GRAY LOTSÂ area on the west edge of the Grey lot is for RV's and large vehicles only. These spaces can reserve an RV spot in advance through the University Parking Services. These spots will be located and marked in the gravel lot north of the SJAC.
- Individuals are responsible for reviewing and must abide by the University Football Tailgate Policy listed as part of the official University Policies and Procedures Manual and are responsible for such compliance. This document is an abridged version of the policy.
- All persons consuming alcohol must be 21 years of age, have valid ID, and receive and wear a wristband from designated University agents. Tailgate activities, including consumption of alcohol, outside designated areas and times are prohibited. Wristband stations will be located around the tailgate lots. If you wish to consume alcohol you must present your Valid ID at a wristband station and receive a wristband.
- If alcohol is possessed or consumed, it must be in a can, plastic bottle, or plastic cup. No glass containers or bulk containers (kegs, party balls) are permitted. No beer bongs, funnels, or devices to facilitate the rapid consumption of beer. Multi packs of alcoholic beverages carried shall not exceed twelve (12) individual servings.
- No animals, except service animals, are allowed in the parking or tailgate areas.
- Open fire pits are not allowed. Fires must be contained to a grill or fire pit, must be supervised, and must be extinguished before leaving tailgate area. Hot coals must be disposed of in designated receptacles only, which are designated on tailgate maps. All fire materials are subject to University review and approval.
- For all games, all tailgating lots will open five (5) hours prior to kickoff and will close at kickoff. Tailgating activities during the game, during halftime, or after game conclusion are prohibited. Tailgating areas must be vacated one (1) hour after conclusion of the game. SDSU reserves the right to adjust opening tailgate times due to inclement weather, early gametimes, weekdays or other conditions.
- Only Jackrabbit Sponsors will have the ability to display their corporate marks and logos within their tailgate areas. A "Jackrabbit Sponsor" is defined as an organization or individual that enters into a contract with SDSU Athletics or through Jackrabbit Sports Properties.
- Patrons licensing tailgate areas/vehicle owners are responsible for compliance, behavior and safety of all fans tailgating with their vehicles or assigned spots.
- Staked tents are prohibited in concrete or asphalt lots. Placement of tents using stakes greater than 12 inches long in other areas requires approval from University and will require a utilities locate by proper authorities.
- Vehicles may be left in the tailgating lot during game. Participants may return to their vehicles to retrieve items and leave the event. All vehicles, furniture, and personal belongings must be removed from the tailgate lots within one (1) hour after the conclusion of the football game.
- During the season there will be no maintenance to the tailgate lot ie, mowing grass, snow removal, ice build up etc.
- All University approved sheds, vehicles, and other tailgating equipment must be removed from tailgating spots leased for the entire season within seven (7) days after the last home football game. Items left will be removed at the owners' expense.
- Parking on the softball field, baseball field, football practice field, research plots, Highway 14, Jackrabbit Avenue, and other non-parking spaces is strictly prohibited. Vehicles parked in those areas will be towed at the owner's expense.
- A trash deposit is not required, but tailgaters are required to clean their areas at the conclusion of each football game. Tailgaters leaving excessive trash will forfeit all tailgating privileges for the remainder of the season.
- University Police Department, University Administration, and the SDSU Athletic Department may remove anyone from tailgating lots for violations of any of these policies, violations of University Football Tailgating Policy in full, or for unlawful actions or actions inappropriate to the tailgating environment and may result in forfeiting all reservations and a ban from all tailgating lots.
- No refunds will be awarded.
- No weapons or firearms are allowed in the tailgate lots.
- The tailgate lots will be monitored by the SDSU Athletic Department and patrolled by the University Police Department.
- South Dakota State is a smoking & tobacco free campus. See SDBOR Policy 4:29 and South Dakota State University Policy 6:6.
- All persons tailgating are required to sign an assumption of risk form indicating they have read and understand South Dakota law and University policies. South Dakota State Athletics reserves the right to remove and refuse access for future games to fans that violate any of these tailgating polices or for inappropriate actions or language. South Dakota State University reserves the right to revise the policy.
- The State of South Dakota has set the minimum drinking age at 21 years old. Anyone found consuming alcohol younger than this minimum age are subject to arrest and charged with underage consumption. (SDCL §35-9-2)
- The State of South Dakota has made it unlawful to provide alcohol to minors or to host a social gathering knowingly condoning illegal consumption of alcohol by underage persons on property within their control. Anyone furnishing alcohol to minors may be arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Licensees who social host may be subject to arrest and charge with a Class 2 misdemeanor. (SDCL §§35-9-1, 35-9-1.1, 35-9-2; 35-9-9 et seq.)
- South Dakota law makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Anyone operating a motor vehicle with blood alcohol content greater than .08 or under influence of intoxicant is subject to arrest and charge with driving while intoxicated. (SDCL §32-23-1)
- South Dakota law does not permit unsealed alcohol containers in motor vehicles. Anyone who has an unsealed container in vehicle is subject to arrest and charge with an open container violation. (SDCL §35-1-9.1)
- South Dakota law makes it illegal for any person to intentionally cause serious public inconvenience, annoyance, to alarm to any other person, or creates a risk thereof by fighting, making unreasonable noise, disturbing any lawful assembly or obstructing any vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Anyone found in violation is subject to arrest for Class 2 misdemeanor of Disorderly Conduct. (SDCL §22-18-35)
- Brookings City Ordinance makes it unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in public, other than when using a toilet, urinal, or commode located in a restroom, bathroom, or other structure enclosed from public view. Anyone found in violation will be arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct. (BCO 58-161)