HUNTINGTON, WV — Beginning Thursday evening, Marshall University will alter normal parking procedures in and around the Huntington campus because of the Thundering Herd’s home football game with West Virginia University on Friday.

Game time is 7 p.m.

James E. Terry, MU’s director of public safety, said the changes begin at 9 p.m. Thursday when all athletic permit lots will be closed. These include the Joan C. Edwards Stadium west lot, Annex 1, Annex 2, C lot and the Softball lot. Any automobile still on those lots at 10 a.m. Friday will be towed at the owner’s expense, Terry said.

Employees and students who normally park in the athletic permit lots will be asked to park Friday in the garage on 3rd Avenue across from Cam Henderson Center or on surface lots on 6th Avenue. Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, parking officers will staff those lots to control access to Marshall employees and student permit holders only.

Beginning at noon, all lots on campus – excluding the athletic permit lots and the pay-per-space lot east of Corbly Hall – will be open to the public for the game-day parking rate of $5 per space. The lot near Corbly will be closed for a university function.

Terry said that although tailgating may begin at noon, no alcohol is to be consumed on university owned or controlled property until 3 p.m. At that time, alcohol consumption is allowed only in tailgate-designated areas. No alcohol consumption is permitted within the main campus at any time.

“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our students and employees,” Terry said.

“We understand that these changes, even if only for one day, might be inconvenient, but they are necessary to accommodate the thousands of visitors we will have on campus on (Friday). It is vital that everyone follow these directions.”