1) Parking and traffic. Is it bad? What is the best route in? Staying in park city.

Not bad by most standards. From Park City, you'll want to come down Provo canyon (a beautiful drive), so you'll avoid the interstate traffic and on University Parkway (the main thoroughfare). The canyon empties out onto University Avenue (not to be confused with Parkway), which you can follow south to campus. If there is any traffic, split off onto Canyon Rd, which will take you right down to the stadium.

Without a Cougar Club pass, I think the best place to park is the parking garage at the Tanner Builder (TNRB on the maps). That's the business school, so the building is also open if you need a restroom, and it's built into the side of the hill so you can walk up the staircases inside to get up the hill onto campus drive, which has a sidewalk you can walk up past the Marriott center to the stadium.

Alternatively, you can cut through the dorms and through the track fields for a direct-line to the stadium.

I believe you can also park in the main tailgating lot (#18) and leave your vehicle there for the duration of the game if you like.




2) Lines bad to get in the stadium usually?
Nope, pretty easy. Be advised they've jumped on the "only one small clear plastic bag" train like most stadiums these days. But, compared to most places the security is super light an uneventful.



#) Is a cougar tail legit good?

It's just an excessively large maple bar, really. But, I'd say it is an above average maple bar... about what you'd get from a good donut shop. That said, it's kind of a tradition and novelty, so it's worth it for the $7. Be advised, they only do 10,000 per game, which usually sell out midway through the 3rd quarter, so don't expect to wait until the end if you want one.


3) Is the stadium on campus? If so, what else do we need to see while there?

Yes, it is. BYU is a nice, walkable campus. The museum of art is worth a visit, and — if interested — I've had visitors really enjoy the paleontology museum and the bean museum, both of which are right next to the stadium. If you're up for a hike, Y-Mountain is pretty unique and a major landmark. It will be homecoming week as well, so the Y will be lit up in the evening. The student-athlete building is fun for a college football fan, as it has a lot of memorabilia (as other's have mentioned). I've also been able to get a BYU broadcast building tour, which was really cool. It's right next to the Marriott Center.




4) What happens after the game? Anything cool?

If BYU wins, the main tradition is at the the victory bell on the SW corner of the Marriott Center (basketball arena you likely walked past if you took my parking suggestion). Players, Cosmo (mascot), show up, sing the fight song, play some music, let fans ring the big bell (a kid favorite, if you're bringing any), etc. I wouldn't hesitate to go as a visiting fan. You'd be readily welcomed.

There may be some homecoming activities, but I think those will have been earlier in the week.

You could do a walking tour of campus, feed the ducks at the campus pond, or head over to the creamery for some ice cream (you probably already got some for free if you sat in the visitors section). I like to do that sometimes just to let the traffic die down a bit.

Checking the calendar there is a women's soccer game that evening as well as a Ballroom dance concert if you want to get a bit more cultured (BYU is pretty proud of its Ballroom team, which has several world championships, and their shows are quite a bit more entertaining than you'd expect).

Not knowing anything about you, it's tough to suggest other activities (i.e. if you're an outdoorsy person there is LOT of things to do to spend the rest of the evening). That said, I would recommend driving up Squaw Peak for a low-key activity that you can't do in Arkansas. For someone who isn't used to mountains, it's a pretty cool sight.... to be up at around 8000' the view of the valley and campus is incredible. Also, if you catch a sunset dropping below the West Mountains it is more than memorable. There may be some co-eds steaming up the windows, but you're there for the view. It's only 3 miles up Provo canyon, on your way back to Park City, so it's a very easy and worthwhile detour IMO.

Otherwise, there is shopping, indoor surfing, Bridal Veil falls and other waterfalls to check out, and Sundance resort (great place for dinner), all on the way back up the Canyon. Of course, the rest of Utah Valley and the SL area has a ton of things to see as well (Timpanogos Cave, Thanksgiving point for the ladies, lots of hikes and ATV riding, fly fishing), so if you want please feel free to BM me with more of what you're looking to do and I can steer you towards a good itinerary.




5) Does any form of tailgating happen anywhere?

Contrary to popular belief... yes! The "official" tailgating lot is lot #18. Gates there open at 8:00 AM if you want to part there. Otherwise, it's a short walk from the TNRB parking, so you can jump over there and probably get a hooked up with a some food from one of the Ted Lassos running around — I think you'll find people to be pretty welcoming and happy to share. Otherwise, if you want BBQ on the way in besides tailgating, I'd say Bam-Bam's is the best in Provo/Orem... only a few minutes away. As others have mentioned, this tailgating experience will be underwhelming to you coming from the SEC. Also be advised there is no alcohol consumption or smoking on campus, so do that beforehand or wait until afterwards. Provo has two bars on Center street if you're interested, which are the main watering holes for visiting fans post game.

Gates there open at 8:00 am. There is also tailgating in the other lots, too, especially immediately south of the stadium and the big Cougar Club lot directly west of it, near Cougar Canyon... which is probably the bigger/main. pregame activity (moreso than tailgating).

They have have a live band, booths with giveaways for the kids, marching band, food, etc as well as the Cougar Walk where the fans line up as the team comes in off the bus. It's also homecoming so I suspect they'll have player photo ops and some appearances of notable NFL alumni, etc. Very likely the AR players will come in that way too and you'll be able to see them as well. This all takes place in the main stadium parking lot directly west of the stadium. They also close off the road in that section to make it one big plaza, so be aware of this if you're coming down Canyon Rd after about 10:00 AM.



6) What time is sunset and how quickly does the temp drop?

Sunset will be around 6:45 or so, well after the game is finished. It does cool off a bit in the evening, but Mid October probably won't be very cold yet most likely. Probably high +/- 60 degrees, into the mid 50s at night, so bring a jacket.

Also keep in mind that the temperature drops a few degrees for each 1,000' of elevation gain. So, it can easily by 10 degrees cooler up on top of Squaw Peak or Park City than it is in Provo down on the valley floor.