Casino Del Sol Stadium

The stadium is at 545 North National Championship Drive on the southeast side of the University of Arizona campus. Cherry Avenue borders the east side, Sixth Street runs just south and Speedway Boulevard is several blocks north. It sits roughly two miles northeast of downtown Tucson and about nine miles from Tucson International Airport. Campus streets and pedestrian closures make the final half-mile slower than the map suggests, so choose a parking area before leaving and approach from the side of campus where that space is located.

Driving & Parking

• From Interstate 10
  Exit toward Speedway Boulevard and travel east to the university district. Speedway is the most direct approach to north-campus garages, but it backs up close to kickoff; Congress/Broadway and Campbell Avenue can be better for south or east approaches.
• Official parking
  Most spaces immediately around the stadium and McKale Center are permit-controlled. Arizona posts a football-specific map each season, and the 2026 map should be the final authority because traffic patterns and lot designations can change.
• Public garages
  Park Avenue, Tyndall Avenue and Highland Avenue garages are useful pay-on-entry choices on the west and north sides of campus. Stadium-area surface lots and garages are credit-card only. Arrive early because public inventory tightens as tailgate traffic builds.
• Park Avenue shuttle
  The university’s complimentary, air-conditioned Cat Tran runs from the east side of Park Avenue Garage near Helen Street to Sixth Street outside Gate 7. Service begins two hours before kickoff, resumes after the third quarter and ends one hour after the game.
• Carpool incentive
  Vehicles with four or more occupants receive complimentary event parking at the Tyndall, Park and Highland garages under the current university program. Confirm that benefit on the game-specific parking page before departure.
• Accessible parking
  Cherry Avenue Garage is the principal public accessible option for vehicles displaying a valid placard or plate. The Cat Tran from Park Avenue Garage is ADA accessible, and accessible drop-off arrangements should be confirmed with Parking and Transportation Services if mobility is limited.

Public Transit

• Sun Link streetcar
  Tucson’s fare-free streetcar connects Mercado San Agustín, downtown, Fourth Avenue and Main Gate Square. Exit near University Boulevard and Warren Avenue, then walk southeast through campus for roughly 12–15 minutes. It is an excellent option if staying downtown.
• Sun Tran buses
  Tucson’s city buses remain fare-free and several routes serve Speedway Boulevard, Sixth Street and the university. Use the current trip planner because game traffic can create detours.
• Walk from Main Gate Square
  The University Boulevard district is about a mile from the stadium. The route through campus is flat, lively and preferable to moving a car after a pregame meal.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Best approach
  Set the destination a few blocks away—Main Gate Square for a longer pregame or the edge of campus near Sixth Street for a shorter walk—rather than asking a driver to reach the stadium gates through closures.
• Postgame pickup
  Walk west toward Euclid Avenue or north beyond Speedway before requesting a car. The immediate Cherry Avenue and Sixth Street area is crowded with pedestrians, shuttles and exiting permit traffic.
• Build in time
  Cellular demand spikes after the final whistle. If the group can wait, stop on University Boulevard or Fourth Avenue and summon the ride after the first traffic wave passes.

Arizona’s pregame is concentrated along the University Mall and Bear Down Field, close enough that a visitor can sample the public festival and still see the team arrival without rushing. A typical schedule opens tailgate areas six hours before kickoff, Bear Down Bash three hours before, stages the Wildcat Walk roughly two and a half hours before and opens stadium gates 90 minutes before. Exact times can move, so check the game-specific timeline.

Tailgating

• University Mall
  The grassy spine through campus is Arizona’s signature tailgate scene. Spaces require a football tailgate pass, and all 2026 season and single-game passes are sold out; visitors should plan to join friends who already hold one rather than expect to purchase at the gate.
• Arrival rules
  Mall spaces are assigned in arrival order, not permanently reserved. Groups that want adjacent positions must meet outside the grounds and enter together. Every vehicle entering the tailgate area must display its pass.
• Opening time
  Tailgate lots generally open six hours before kickoff. The mall grows gradually, so arriving near opening gives time to walk campus before the Wildcat Walk.
• Bear Down Bash
  The public alternative is on Bear Down Field three hours before kickoff. Arizona’s reworked festival includes entertainment, the Coca-Cola Fan Fiesta, bars, food and restrooms; certain games may add a concert or ticketed VIP component.
• Garage limitation
  Tailgating is prohibited in university garages and most ordinary parking lots. Lot 4052 is the stated exception, so do not unpack a grill or canopy at a garage stall.
• Desert preparation
  Bring shade, sunscreen and more water than seems necessary. The stadium permits factory-sealed water, but outside food and other beverages cannot enter; finish the tailgate supply before heading to security.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Gentle Ben’s
  A long-running brewpub at 865 East University Boulevard with a covered patio, local beer and a broad pub menu. It is a natural alumni gathering point and about a 15-minute walk from the stadium.
• Frog & Firkin
  Next door at 874 East University Boulevard, this pub occupies a historic Main Gate building and is known for pizza, craft beer and a large indoor-outdoor deck. It works especially well for groups that want to watch early games.
• No Anchovies
  At 870 East University Boulevard, “Chovies” serves pizza by the slice with two bars, a large patio and dozens of televisions. It gets loud and student-heavy as kickoff approaches.
• Illegal Pete’s
  The University Boulevard location offers fast Mission-style burritos, bowls and tacos plus a bar. It is a good choice when the priority is a substantial meal without a long table-service stop.
• El Charro Café
  The historic downtown restaurant on North Court Avenue is the destination meal for classic Tucson-style Mexican food. Pair it with the Sun Link streetcar and allow much more time than for a Main Gate stop.

• Wildcat Walk
  About two and a half hours before kickoff, the team arrives near University and Cherry avenues and proceeds south along Cherry past Bear Down Field toward Lowell-Stevens. Line the east edge of the field early to high-five players and coaches.
• Button Salmon tribute
  At the end of the walk, players pass and touch the bronze bust of John “Button” Salmon. The former quarterback and student-body president died after a 1926 automobile crash; his final message to coach J.F. McKale—“Tell them ... tell the team to bear down”—became the university’s defining rallying cry.
• “Bear Down, Arizona”
  The Pride of Arizona plays the fight song throughout the day, and the crowd supplies the words. Learn the repeated “Bear Down, Arizona” refrain and join in rather than waiting for the scoreboard prompt.
• The Pride of Arizona
  The marching band helps lead the Wildcat Walk, performs before kickoff and drives the stadium’s traditional sound. Enter at least 30 minutes early if seeing the full pregame show matters.
• ZonaZoo
  Arizona’s student section supplies the most sustained noise and visual energy. Beginning in 2026, the visiting bench moves to the east sideline directly in front of the students, while Arizona shifts to the west.

• John “Button” Salmon bust
  Located near the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility at the north end, the memorial is both a historical marker and an active team ritual. Visit before the Wildcat Walk or after the crowd clears.
• Lowell-Stevens Football Facility
  The five-story north-end structure opened in 2013, closing the bowl and adding premium seating, football operations and the Sands Club. Its glass and steel contrast sharply with the original concrete stands.
• The “Old Gray Lady”
  The west-side structure preserves much of the stadium’s aged concrete character. That patina, rather than architectural polish, is a major part of the venue’s identity.
• Mountain and sunset views
  Upper seats can reveal the Catalina Mountains, campus and Tucson skyline. The view changes rapidly around dusk, making the stadium unusually photogenic before a night game.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening night (1929)
  Arizona defeated Caltech 35–0 in the new stadium, then a modest west-side grandstand with roughly 7,000 seats.
• Arizona–Arizona State record crowd (1996)
  A stadium-record 59,920 packed the rivalry game, a figure larger than today’s listed capacity after later seating changes.
• Lowell-Stevens completion (2013)
  Closing the north end modernized football operations and added premium space while preserving the older west and south structures.
• East-side renovation (2018)
  A $30 million project rebuilt seating, circulation and fan amenities on the east side, the most substantial recent structural renovation.
• Casino Del Sol naming (2025)
  A 20-year partnership valued above $60 million introduced the stadium’s first commercial name while leaving Arizona’s campus location and football history intact.
• 2026 technology reset
  New sound, video and lighting systems and a sideline switch are scheduled to debut against Northern Arizona on September 5, 2026.

The bowl is oriented north–south, with older west-side seating, the rebuilt east side, south-end seating and the premium Lowell-Stevens complex in the north. Sightlines are generally direct, but comfort and sun exposure vary dramatically. For an early kickoff, the west side gains shade first; east-side patrons face the harsher afternoon sun. For a night game, upper east seats can trade heat for excellent sunset views.

• West sideline
  Beginning in 2026, this is Arizona’s home-bench side. It is the better shade strategy and carries much of the stadium’s old-school concrete character.
• East sideline
  The rebuilt side offers improved circulation and proximity to ZonaZoo, but it is the hotter daytime choice. The visiting bench moves here for 2026, directly in front of the student section.
• ZonaZoo
  Student seating on the east side is energetic, standing-heavy and loud. Nearby public sections deliver atmosphere but are not ideal for guests seeking a quiet family experience.
• Sands Club and north premium areas
  Lowell-Stevens houses indoor hospitality and elevated end-zone views. These are appealing for heat relief and amenities, though the end-zone angle is less revealing than midfield.
• Scholarship Suites and west premium seating
  West-side suites and clubs pair better shade with sideline views. Access is controlled, so verify that a resale ticket explicitly includes the associated hospitality area.
• Field-level Cabanas and Cat’s Club
  Arizona is marketing six 16-to-20-person cabanas and a north-end field-level club for the 2026 season. Because these are new products, confirm the food, beverage and access terms attached to the specific ticket.

Casino Del Sol Stadium is cashless, and the best strategy is to eat a Tucson meal before entering, then use concessions for hydration and a snack. Arizona’s “Bear Down Deals” add predictable value at designated locations, while menus elsewhere can vary by game and season.

• Bear Down Deals
  Designated stands offer $3 bottled water and soda plus $4 hot dogs, popcorn and nachos. Arizona advertised 19 value locations, making these the first option for families or repeat purchases.
• Sonoran-style choices
  The stadium has featured Tucson’s signature bacon-wrapped Sonoran dog and other Southwestern flavors. Availability can move, so scan the nearest menu boards before committing to the first generic stand.
• Beer sales
  Beer is available at licensed locations to guests of legal age, with identification required. Product selection and cutoff timing follow the game-day alcohol policy.
• Water planning
  Factory-sealed water may be brought through security. Carry one bottle and use value stands as needed; heat exposure continues even after sunset.
• Cashless payment
  Bring a working card or mobile wallet. Stadium-area parking is also credit-only, so cash alone will create problems before the ticket is scanned.

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags may not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches; a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag is also accepted.
• A small clutch approximately the size of a hand is allowed and will be searched. To avoid discretion at the gate, use the smallest practical clutch.
• Medical and medically necessary items are permitted after inspection. Contact Arizona Athletics before game day if special accommodation or equipment is required.
• Purses, backpacks, fanny packs, diaper bags, cinch bags, luggage, coolers and camera or computer bags are prohibited unless they meet an approved clear-bag exception.
• Seat cushions must be no wider than 18 inches and no deeper than 9 inches, with no armrests, cupholders or reclining feature.
• Outside food and beverages are prohibited except factory-sealed water. Personal collapsible forearm umbrellas are allowed, but golf and beach umbrellas are not.
• Gates normally open 90 minutes before kickoff. Arrive at least 45–60 minutes early, especially for the first 2026 games as screening patterns adjust to new stadium operations.