Parking changes for WVU football

By Krista Baker, WBOY-TV Monongalia and Preston County Reporter/Weekend Anchor

The WVU students are officially settled in at the university. That means one thing, Football season is upon us. If you're planning on heading out to Milan Puskar Stadium to watch the Mountaineers, there are a few things you need to know about parking.

"Especially in the Blue Lot," said Matt Wells, from WVU Athletics. "Fans know the Blue Lot as the lot directly in between the WVU hospital and the stadium. There are some changes there."

Ruby Memorial is currently going through a multimillion dollar construction plan. The ongoing upgrades did force WVU Athletics to reconfigure game day parking.

Some changes include access to the blue lot. Med Center Drive, the road that was in front of the hospital, no longer exists.

"The roads actually been rerouted and will run much closer to the stadium, which will change the entrance and exit points for fans who are attending the game with Blue Lot passes," said Wells. "If you don't have a Blue Lot pass you can no longer cut through. You have to have a Blue Lot pass to access the front of the hospital."

Newer, and clearer, signs have been added to the parking lot.

"I think our facilities crew does an excellent job of signage," Albert Wright, the President and CEO of WVU Hospitals, said. "I will just ask people to be patient with us through this time of growth. I promise when all is said and done we will have a facility and physical plant and clinical capabilities that is something they'll be very proud of."

People that arrive closer to game time will also no longer be able to pick their parking spot.

"The first game is a perfect example," Well said. "The lots open at 7 a.m.. Between 7 a.m. and noon, fans can come into the stadium lot and pick the best available parking spot. Starting at 12:01 p.m., fans will be directed or flagged into the next open spot."

The WVU Game Day App, available on iPhone and Android, has everything you need to know about parking, and the game day experience.

The first home game is Saturday, September 6, against Towson.