Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium

The stadium is at 499 Deacon Boulevard in the Winston-Salem sports district, beside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and David F. Couch Ballpark. It is about two miles southeast of Wake Forest's Reynolda Campus. Construction for The Grounds mixed-use development has altered Deacon Boulevard, parking inventory and normal approaches, so use the current football map rather than an older saved route.

Driving & Parking

• US 52
  From north or south, use the University Parkway or Akron Drive area exits designated on the current traffic map. Backups form where several lots share University Parkway.
• Interstate 40/Business 40
  Visitors from Greensboro, Charlotte and points west connect toward US 52 before approaching the stadium district.
• Day-of-game lots
  Cash parking is generally sold first-come at designated LJVM Coliseum areas such as the Allegacy and Pepsi lots; opponent pricing is posted each week.
• Advance parking
  Limited Allegacy Lot inventory can be purchased online. Buying before a sellout removes uncertainty but does not eliminate construction delays.
• Free Reynolda option
  Wake Forest offers parking at 2400 Reynolda Road with complimentary shuttle transportation to the LJVM Coliseum entrance area.
• Credential lots
  McCreary Tower, Gold, Red, Couch Ballpark, Starry, Diet Pepsi and other nearby lots require the proper season or donor pass and assigned entrance.
• Construction changes
  Former Orange C and Blue D inventory was removed, The Grounds Lot added replacement capacity and some approaches include temporary gravel or road plates.
• Accessible assistance
  Designated accessible spaces and Flow Courtesy Shuttle golf carts assist disabled, elderly and injured guests. Ask a lot attendant for pickup.

Public Transit

• Reynolda shuttle
  Buses from 2400 Reynolda Road generally begin three hours before kickoff and continue for approximately 90 minutes after the game.
• Drop-off point
  The remote shuttle uses the main LJVM Coliseum entrance area, leaving a short, mostly level walk through the sports complex.
• Flow Courtesy Shuttle
  Golf carts circulate among specified stadium lots and gates for patrons with mobility needs; they are not a general parking shuttle.
• Winston-Salem Transit Authority
  Local buses serve University Parkway and surrounding districts, but weekend frequency and event detours make the dedicated football shuttle more reliable.
• PART regional service
  Piedmont Authority routes connect Winston-Salem with parts of the Triad on limited schedules and are better suited to reaching downtown than the stadium gate.
• Downtown distance
  Hotels and restaurants downtown are three to four miles away. Walking is impractical, so plan a car, rideshare or hotel transportation.
• Postgame timing
  Join the Reynolda queue promptly if using the shuttle; later service is limited, and ordinary city routes may finish before a night game ends.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Official area
  Wake Forest publishes a designated rideshare location in its parking-and-traffic guide. Follow temporary signs because The Grounds construction can shift access.
• Avoid Deacon Boulevard
  Passholder lanes, pedestrians and police controls make an improvised curb request beside the stadium slow or impossible.
• LJVM landmark
  Use the coliseum-side authorized zone and communicate a visible sign or lot name to the driver rather than relying only on a moving GPS pin.
• After the game
  Wait for the first traffic release or walk to the edge of the sports complex before requesting. Downtown supply can be thin after late kickoffs.

Wake Forest game day is concentrated within a walkable sports district. Donor tailgates fill the lots, students gather behind the east stands and the public DEACTOWN Fan Zone provides food and family activities. Because the bowl is small, the team walk, premium clubs and gates all sit within a few minutes of one another.

Tailgating

• Lowe's Foods DEACTOWN Fan Zone
  The public fan zone opens about three hours before kickoff with games, sponsor activations, entertainment and family programming.
• Deacon Walk
  Roughly two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, supporters line the team-arrival route as players and coaches enter the stadium.
• DEACTOWN Student Tailgate
  Behind the east stands, the student space features live music, food trucks, a large screen and game-specific activities.
• LJVM lots
  The coliseum's broad parking areas create the easiest traditional vehicle-side tailgate for visitors with day-of-game parking.
• Deacon Hill
  The south-end lawn functions as a gathering and viewing area, with food trucks and premium cabanas adding a festival atmosphere inside the gates.
• Wake Forest Tailgate packages
  Official catering packages can be collected near Gate 3, useful for visitors who want wings, sliders and Southern sides without hauling equipment.
• Lot opening
  Times vary with kickoff—often five hours before a noon game and about five hours before a Thursday night game. Check the weekly “Know Before You Go” timeline.
• Cleanup and tents
  Keep equipment within the assigned footprint, leave drive aisles open and pack everything before the lot's closing deadline.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Putter's Patio & Grill
  Directly across University Parkway from the sports complex, this longtime game-day stop serves burgers, sandwiches and drinks within walking distance.
• Fratellis Italian Steakhouse
  On Reynolda Road near the university, Fratellis pairs steaks and Italian dishes with a polished supper-club setting for Friday dinner.
• Campus Gas
  The restored service station by Reynolda Campus serves Carolina dogs, BLTs, milkshakes and local beer in a casual patio environment.
• Village Tavern
  The original Reynolda Village location offers American comfort food, a broad bar and a leafy setting convenient to a campus visit.
• Foothills Brewpub
  The downtown Fourth Street flagship combines Winston-Salem beer with burgers, sandwiches and a lively pre- or postgame crowd.
• Fiddlin' Fish Brewing Company
  The Trade Street brewery pours traditional and seasonal beer in the Industry Hill district, a short rideshare from the stadium.
• Sweet Potatoes
  This downtown restaurant highlights Southern and soul-food flavors, including fried chicken, catfish and its signature sweet-potato dishes.
• The Porch Kitchen and Cantina
  In the West End/West Salem area, The Porch serves Tex-Mex plates and margaritas in a colorful group-friendly space.

• Deacon Walk
  Fans welcome the team a little more than two hours before kickoff, close enough to the gates that visitors can participate without abandoning their entry plan.
• Demon Deacon motorcycle entrance
  The top-hatted mascot rides a custom motorcycle onto the field, leading the team and giving Wake Forest one of college football's most distinctive runouts.
• “Open the Gate”
  The final pre-kickoff sequence uses the university seal and gate imagery to release the Demon Deacons onto the field.
• Spirit of the Old Gold & Black
  Wake Forest's marching band supplies the fight songs, halftime formations and brass soundtrack in the compact bowl.
• “O Here's to Wake Forest”
  The school fight song follows scores and invites the crowd into its “Rah! Rah! Wake Forest” finish.
• Demon Deacon
  The mascot's top hat, tails and goatee date to the program's unusual 1920s nickname and appear throughout the fan zone and stadium.
• Deacon Dash
  Selected home games invite first-year students to sprint across the field before kickoff, welcoming a new class into Deacon Nation.
• Fireworks and LED celebration
  Pregame pyrotechnics and flashing LED sequences follow scoring moments; guests with sensory sensitivity can obtain earplugs at information booths.

• Deacon Hill
  The grassy south-end lawn is equal parts seating area, social zone and visual signature, now reached by permanent stairs on both sides.
• McCreary Tower
  The seven-story west-side structure curves with the sideline and contains suites, clubs, university hospitality and media facilities.
• Brick exterior
  Approximately 89,000 custom bricks installed in 2005 match the Georgian character of Wake Forest's Reynolda Campus.
• Bridger Field House
  The north-end football building contains locker rooms, sports medicine, equipment services, offices and a Deacon Shop.
• Bob McCreary Video Board
  Expanded by 1,300 square feet for 2026 with improved resolution, the south-end display anchors a new sound package.
• Sports-district setting
  LJVM Coliseum and Couch Ballpark sit immediately beside the stadium, creating a concentrated Wake Forest athletics campus separate from Reynolda.
• Heat-reducing FieldTurf
  The 2023 synthetic surface uses specialized infill intended to lower field temperatures during hot North Carolina games.
• LED light show
  Programmable fixtures installed in 2023 support team introductions, scoring celebrations and night-game effects.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening game (1968)
  NC State defeated Wake Forest 10–6 when the new Groves Stadium was dedicated.
• First television game (1968)
  Wake Forest tied Clemson 20–20 one week later in the first televised football game in program history.
• First home win (1968)
  The Demon Deacons defeated North Carolina 48–31 on October 26.
• Ranked Auburn comeback (1979)
  No. 18 Wake Forest erased an 18-point halftime deficit to beat No. 13 Auburn 42–38.
• Attendance record (2004)
  Temporary seating helped 37,623 fans attend the North Carolina rivalry game.
• McCreary era (2008–09)
  The tower, premium seating and rebuilt east concourse completed the stadium's most comprehensive transformation.
• Perfect home season (2021)
  Wake Forest beat No. 16 NC State 45–42 before a capacity crowd to finish 6–0 at home.
• Paul McCartney concert (2022)
  More than 34,000 attended the stadium's first major concert.
• Allegacy debut (2023)
  A sellout watched Wake Forest defeat Elon 37–17 in the first game under the current name.

The stadium has a continuous, low-profile bowl with west-side McCreary Tower and open social space on Deacon Hill to the south. Its modest capacity means few seats feel remote. Sideline upper rows give the best complete view, while the hill and end-zone products trade tactical perspective for a relaxed group atmosphere.

The west side receives shade from McCreary Tower before the east stands. Afternoon heat is significant on the exposed east side and hill, even with cooler turf technology. Night games bring a more intense atmosphere and make the LED presentation particularly effective.

• West sideline
  Home-side seats beneath McCreary Tower offer the earliest shade and the most traditional premium-adjacent view.
• East sideline
  These sections face the tower and Wake Forest bench but remain exposed to direct afternoon sun.
• North end zone
  Seats near Bridger Field House are close to the team entrance and provide a straight view toward Deacon Hill and the main board.
• Deacon Hill
  Grass and group seating encourage movement and socializing. Bring only an approved soft item and expect an end-zone view.
• Deacon Hill cabanas and suites
  Premium group spaces beneath or near the video board add shade, furnishings and hospitality to the lawn setting.
• Flow Lexus Club
  West-side club seating pairs strong sightlines with climate-controlled hospitality in McCreary Tower.
• Touchdown and Pollard clubs
  These ticketed spaces offer indoor gathering, upgraded food and convenient access before kickoff.
• Luxury suites and club tables
  McCreary Tower holds 22 suites plus table-style and university hospitality products with panoramic views.

Wake Forest mixes permanent stands with an unusually broad food-truck lineup behind Deacon Hill. The stadium is cashless, and beer and wine are widely available to guests of legal age. Walking the south end before choosing is worthwhile because rotating trucks may offer the day's most distinctive meal.

• Bojangles
  Chicken, biscuits and Southern sides provide a recognizable North Carolina option.
• Mad Dog's
  Premium hot dogs, smoked sausages, footlongs and mini dogs expand the basic stadium-grill selection.
• Walking Taco
  Portable bags of chips topped with taco ingredients suit fans returning quickly to the seats.
• Deacon Hill food trucks
  Rotating vendors have included barbecue, wings, Latin street food, Moroccan dishes, burgers, gourmet popcorn and lemonade.
• Frios Pops and Kona Ice
  Frozen treats are especially useful during hot early-season games on the exposed hill.
• Travelin' Tom's Coffee
  Coffee and specialty drinks help with cool night games and early noon kickoffs.
• Beverage Express
  Beer, wine, Pepsi products and light snacks are available at quick-service beverage points.
• Cashless service
  Bring a card or mobile wallet. Permanent stands and portable vendors may have different lines, so use the shorter perimeter locations.

• Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or one one-gallon clear resealable freezer bag.
• A small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany the approved clear bag, with or without a handle or strap.
• Medically necessary items and diaper bags receive exceptions after proper inspection at the gate.
• Backpacks are prohibited even when clear. Fanny packs, binocular cases, coolers, tinted bags, oversize totes and purses larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches are also barred.
• Outside food and drink, alcohol, metal, glass and hard-sided containers, umbrellas, large cameras, tripods, signs and hard-sided chairbacks are prohibited.
• Strollers are prohibited except for umbrella strollers. Car seats, drones, balls, Frisbees, fireworks, artificial noisemakers and weapons are not allowed.
• Every bag is searched, and any item deemed hazardous or unsafe may be refused. Leave unnecessary belongings in the vehicle because no general bag check is advertised.
• Mobile tickets should be downloaded before arrival. Gates commonly open 90 minutes before kickoff, but weekly timelines control exact entry and club-opening times.