Back by popular demand, fans can once again enjoy FREE, public tailgating on the historic North Oval (Parrington Oval). This unique gameday tradition creates an electric atmosphere in one of the university's most iconic spaces. New this season, fans can also reserve a turnkey tailgate experience on nearby Boyd Lawn, offering a convenient, fully furnished option for groups looking for an easy gameday setup. The Boyd Lawn is located at the corner of Boyd St. and Asp Ave. in front of the Jones Family Welcome Center and Carpenter Hall.
Based on fan feedback, evening drop-off hours will begin at 5:30pm this year.
Tailgating Areas | Evening Before | Gameday | Tear Down |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Oval | Drop-off: 5:30 to 7 pm | Drop-off: 7am - 12pm | 45 minutes postgame |
| Boyd Lawn | Drop-off: N/A | Drop-off: 5 to 3 Hours Prior to Kickoff | 45 minutes postgame |
The North Oval is set to become the centerpiece of OU’s game day experience. Fans are encouraged to show their Sooner spirit and best tailgate setups to the Oval each home game. Additional policies & code of conduct can be found in the Tailgating and Major Event Day Policy Guide.
The designated setup time is 5:30 p.m on fridays. Fans are welcome to stand or sit on a blanket to claim their spot before 5:30 p.m., but chairs, tents, tables and other tailgating items should not be brought onto the Oval before the designated setup time. This helps protect the historic Oval and allows staff to safely manage traffic.
Tailgate pick-up: The North Oval will reopen 45 minutes after the game ends. Please follow staff directions and allow fans to safely exit the stadium. Vehicles must enter the North Oval from the right-turn lane on eastbound Boyd Street.
Please do not bring tents, tables, chairs or other equipment to the Oval before the designated setup window. This helps protect the historic Oval and allows staff to safely manage gameday traffic.
Please do not park on the Oval unless you have a designated North Oval Parking Permit. All vehicles must be removed by 5:30 p.m. on Fridays prior to home football games.
Boomer Bash, OU’s official alumni tailgate, is also hosted on the iconic North Oval, establishing the Oval as the premier tailgating destination on campus. More information can be found on the Boomer Bash website.
Videoboards are back to show the OU game & College Football programming throughout the day. For select games, the big screens are rolled onto the Oval for fans to enjoy the game from their tailgates. This season expect the TV trailers at the following games:
Reserved Tailgating on The Boyd Lawn
Looking for a hassle-free gameday experience? Reserve a fully furnished tailgate just steps from the North Oval and Campus Corner!
Reserved tailgate packages include:
September 4 | 7:00 p.m.
Newman's Firehouse BBQ
Yum Yum Bites
Serve Time: 2 p.m.
September 19 | 6:30 p.m.
Tasty Snow
Fattz Food Truck
Serve Time: 1:30 p.m.
October 17 | TBD
R&P Carnival Treats
OK Red Dirt Taco'z & Wing'z
Serve Time: 1:30 p.m.
October 31 | TBD
Cutie Pies
R&P Carnival Treats
Serve Time: TBD
November 14 | TBD
Cutie Pies
Lalo's Taco Shop
Serve Time: TBD
November 21 | TBD
Newman's Firehouse BBQ
Lalo's Taco Shop
Serve Time: TBD
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are areas other than the North Oval available for tailgating? | While we encourage fans to tailgate on the North Oval for the best experience, the following areas remain open: North Asp Avenue area, Brooks Street and Lindsey Street. Fans may claim space in these other areas, with the exception of Lindsey Street, beginning at noon the day preceding the game (typically a Friday) but stakes may not go in the ground until 5:30 p.m. For Lindsey Street, space may not be claimed until 6 p.m. the day preceding game and stakes cannot go in the ground until 7 a.m. the day of the game. |
| Where can I park a tailgate trailer? | Tailgate trailers can be parked in paid cash lots. A parking space must be purchased for the trailer and vehicle. Trailers must fit in a parking space and not obstruct traffic. Trailers must not be pulled onto grassy areas. |
| Can I tailgate on Boyd Lawn? | Yes. The Boyd Lawn now offers reserved turnkey tailgating experiences available for advance purchase. Fans looking for FREE public tailgating should visit the North Oval. |
| What's the difference between North Oval and The Boyd Lawn? | North Oval
The Boyd Lawn
|
| What's the best way to get to campus on game day? | The best and easiest way to get to campus on a game day is following the suggested routes on the game day routes map (pdf). Fans are also highly encouraged to use the new routing maps instead of GPS since normal phone and other mapping software does not account for game day road closures and often leads visitors to closed routes. |
| Where can I park on game day? | Paid cash lots are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $30 per vehicle and all vehicles or trailers must fit in the parking space and not obstruct traffic. Please see the game day parking map (pdf) for more information. |
| When do streets around campus close? | City streets around campus will close approximately five and a half hours before game time. Please see the pregame road closures map (pdf) for more information. |
| How do I occupy a tailgating space before the 5:30 p.m. set up time? | Fans may only claim spaces on the North Oval beginning at 5:30 p.m. the day preceding the game (typically a Friday) by using the scheduled drop off process detailed above. |
| Can I leave my tailgate unattended if I'm going to the game? | The University is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged property. It is at the owner's risk to leave a tailgate and equipment unattended. |
| When do I need to break down my tailgate? | All tailgating equipment and trash must be removed by noon the day following the game, typically a Sunday. |
"The response to opening the North Oval for public tailgating last season exceeded our expectations. Sooner Nation embraced the opportunity to gather on one of the most iconic places on campus, creating an incredible gameday atmosphere. As we continue to enhance the fan experience, we're excited to add a new turnkey tailgating option at Boyd Lawn while preserving the North Oval as a free tradition that every fan can enjoy."
- Joseph Harroz Jr.
President of the University of Oklahoma
To promote efficient traffic flow and pedestrian safety, certain roads near campus are closed or restricted on game days. Public parking on campus is limited on game days but is available in certain parking lots for $30 – cash and cards are accepted. Fans may park at Lloyd Noble Center for free and ride the game day shuttle for $5 roundtrip, per person.
Game day parking information is available at ou.edu/parking and ADA game day shuttle information can be found at ou.edu/cart.
To provide a safe atmosphere for tailgating, the City will close some roads around campus approximately five and a half hours before game time.
On gameday, look for A frames and trailers to grab your free bags for recycling and trash collection – blue bags for recycling and black bags for trash.
