Davis Wade Stadium

The stadium is at 90 B.S. Hood Road on Mississippi State’s campus, east of downtown Starkville. US 82 is the primary regional route, with Highway 12, Mississippi 25, Blackjack Road and campus entrances feeding assigned zones. Normal driving directions do not apply once gameday controls begin.

The campus core is pedestrian-friendly after parking, but distances from Research Park or the Vet School make the transit bus worthwhile. Photograph the lot marker, note the return shuttle stop and carry a charged phone; acres of similarly colored vehicles are difficult to distinguish after a night game.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  From Columbus and US 45, approach on US 82 west; from the Delta, use US 82 east. Highway 25 serves the Jackson direction. Follow the current color-coded route to the lot and expect the outbound path to differ.
• Parking
  Advance public parking is sold game by game. Interior campus lots have recently cost $30 by card, including Bully Grass, Barr, Pace Seed, Sorority Grass, University Bridge and Zacharias Village; verify the current map and price.
• Parking
  Remote public parking at Research Park and the Vet School has been listed at $10, with MSU Transit buses providing park-and-ride service. This is often the easiest no-pass plan.
• Parking
  Public accessible lots north and south of campus have also been listed at $10 with transit service. A valid state placard or plate is required.
• Parking
  Campus streets around The Junction close four hours before kickoff. Do not use general GPS directions, park on grass outside a sold lot or block safety lanes.
• Parking
  RVs and trailers use designated areas and may require separate payment. A vehicle-plus-trailer occupies and pays for two spaces in public lots.

Public Transit

• MSU Transit operates gameday buses from remote parking such as Research Park, the Vet School and accessible lots. Service details appear on the current gameday map.
• Old Main/Hwy 12 Express routes have connected peripheral parking and campus, reducing the need to drive into the core.
• Buses return after the game, but heavy pedestrian traffic can delay departure. Note the exact boarding point and route color on arrival.
• Starkville’s ordinary local transportation is limited; the university shuttle is more useful than expecting a citywide bus network.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use the official gameday rideshare or campus-edge location shown on the current map. The Junction road closures prevent gate-level drop-off.
• After the game, walk outside the restricted core before requesting. A named campus building is more reliable than “near the stadium.”
• Supply is limited compared with a major city, so waits and surge prices can be significant. Prearrange a taxi or shuttle for a group when possible.
• Verify the plate and do not wait in roadways, transit lanes or behind buses.

The Junction is the centerpiece. Arrive three to four hours early, explore the tents, then line up for Dawg Walk. Stadium gates open two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, earlier than many SEC venues.

Tailgating

• The Junction
  The lawn immediately south of Davis Wade fills with tents, television screens and generations of Bulldog families. The 2025 layout added official turnkey tents and emphasized a family-friendly central corridor.
• Amphitheater Bowl
  Beginning in 2025, this became a dedicated student-tailgating area, separating the most student-oriented gathering from The Junction.
• Tailgate setup and unloading use designated windows and five-minute curb zones. A person must remain with the vehicle while supplies are unloaded.
• Keep all safety lanes open and do not connect to university electricity or water. Tailgate areas must be vacated by the published postgame or overnight deadline.
• Pets are prohibited in The Junction, Amphitheater, Barnes & Noble lawn and other athletics tailgate zones except trained service animals.
• Grills, propane and generators must follow fire and size rules. Cooking-size propane containers cannot enter the stadium even when permitted outside.
• Southern Tradition Tailgating provides turnkey packages. Confirm whether the purchase includes game parking and food.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Little Dooey
  A Starkville barbecue institution for pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken and catfish. The original Highway 12 location is a classic Friday stop.
• Restaurant Tyler
  Downtown Southern dining with seasonal dishes and a basement bar. Reserve for Friday dinner or Sunday brunch.
• Bin 612
  In the Cotton District, Bin 612 offers sandwiches, drinks and a famous cheese-fries late-night scene. It is student-heavy and walkable from parts of campus.
• Two Brothers Smoked Meats
  A Cotton District restaurant serving smoked meats, tacos and sandwiches with a lively patio.
• Bulldog Burger Company
  Known for large specialty burgers, shakes and a maroon game-weekend atmosphere. Expect waits at peak meal times.
• Stromboli’s
  A compact downtown pizza and calzone favorite. Seating is limited, making takeout a practical choice.
• Oby’s
  A casual Highway 12 restaurant for po’boys, gumbo, salads and baked potatoes, useful for families.
• Harveys
  A longstanding local American restaurant with steaks, seafood and a broad menu. Make a reservation for the weekend dinner window.

• Dawg Walk
  The team proceeds through The Junction toward the stadium before kickoff, surrounded by the Famous Maroon Band, cheerleaders and cowbells. Check the weekly timeline for the exact start.
• Cowbells
  Fans may ring responsibly before the snap, after plays and during approved dead-ball periods. Stop when the center is over the ball and obey videoboard prompts to protect the team from penalties.
• Hail State
  The fight song and “Hail State” greeting define the day. The band’s short musical cues signal coordinated bell ringing and chants.
• Famous Maroon Band
  One of the Southeast’s oldest bands, it performs at Dawg Walk and leads the field pregame with “Hail State” and the alma mater.
• Bully
  Mississippi State uses both a live English bulldog mascot and a costumed Bully. The live mascot appears under handler supervision and is a popular photo subject.
• Maroon and white
  Stripe-outs, white-outs and all-maroon games are scheduled by opponent. Check the promotion calendar before dressing.
• LED fourth quarter
  The 2025 lighting system and refreshed video sequence create color-changing transitions, a new fourth-quarter feature and more dramatic night entrances.

• Scott Field name
  The field honors Donald Scott, a Bulldog athlete and Olympic runner. The older designation remains beneath the Davis Wade stadium name.
• The Junction
  Once a road intersection and rail-oriented campus threshold, the landscaped lawn now physically links tailgating to the south stadium entrance.
• Cowbell history
  The instrument grew from a campus legend involving a wandering cow and became so central that the SEC created controlled exceptions for Mississippi State.
• Brick north end
  The 2014 expansion enclosed the bowl with a tall brick facade, premium seating and the main videoboard.
• The Balconies
  Twenty-two customizable west-upper-deck spaces combine electricity, shade and in-stadium tailgating with a field view.
• Centennial marker
  Displays recognize continuous play on the site since 1914, even though the permanent grandstands arrived later.
• Bully statues and athletics displays
  Bulldog imagery and program-history panels appear around the plazas and concourses.

History & Notable Moments

• Mississippi A&M opened the present field in 1914 with a 54–0 win over Marion Military Institute. Students named it Scott Field in 1920.
• Permanent stands arrived in 1928, and WPA construction added a concrete grandstand in 1936. Matching east-side work brought capacity to 35,000 by 1948.
• Upper-deck construction in 1986 and a major east expansion for 2002 added clubs, suites and modern seating.
• Brian Hazelwood’s late field goal beat Arkansas 22–21 in 1998 and put State on the doorstep of its first SEC West title.
• The stadium gained benefactor Floyd Davis Wade Sr.’s name in 2000 while the playing surface retained Scott Field.
• Cowbells returned under an SEC compromise in 2010 after a 36-year conference prohibition.
• A roughly $75 million project completed in 2014 enclosed the north end and rebuilt the west concourse. That October, a record 62,945 saw No. 3 State beat No. 2 Auburn and rise to No. 1.
• New video boards arrived in 2022 and color-changing LED lights in 2025. The current listed capacity is 60,311.

Davis Wade is compact by SEC standards, and most seats feel connected to the field. West-side seating receives shade sooner; east-side seats can be hot during afternoon games. Upper decks supply strong tactical views but require ramps or elevators.

• Lower sidelines
  Rows above field level balance proximity with a clear view over the benches.
• End zones
  The north end provides modern amenities and a close look at the large board; the south end opens toward The Junction and team entrance.
• Student section
  Sections 8–17 hold Mississippi State students, who enter Gate F with student ID. Expect standing and the stadium’s highest concentration of cowbells.
• Visitor seating
  Visiting fans are commonly placed in upper corners and selected lower areas; verify the specific game map.
• Premium areas
  Scoreboard Club, Gridiron Club, Floyd Wade Jr. Club, suites, loges and Balconies offer different combinations of chairbacks, lounges, food and in-seat hospitality.
• Accessibility
  Platforms, elevators, ramps and companion seats are distributed around the stadium. Arrange ticket exchanges before gameday and use accessible transit lots.

Davis Wade refreshed its food program in 2025 with named concepts and specialty items. Cards, mobile options and Dawg Dollars are accepted at designated stands; check the current map because not every level has the same selection.

• Junction Grille
  Traditional fare anchored by the double-patty Hail State Burger.
• 1878 Smokehouse
  Pulled-pork nachos, smoked-pork sandwiches and Southern barbecue flavors.
• Core fare
  Hot dogs, pizza, nachos, popcorn, candy and bottled drinks are widely available.
• Grab-and-go
  Markets shorten lines for packaged snacks and beverages on busy concourses.
• Alcohol
  Beer and approved beverages follow SEC identification, serving-limit and cutoff rules.
• Water
  One clear, colorless bottle may enter full or empty. Free refill stations are located on west, north, east and upper concourses.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a clear one-gallon freezer bag is allowed.
• A small clutch or purse no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany it. All bags are searched.
• Medical bags are inspected at Gates F and I. Childcare supplies must otherwise follow the clear-bag rule.
• Stadium cushions with backs are permitted only without arms, pockets or mesh pouches. Blankets and strollers are allowed but cannot block aisles.
• Umbrellas, outside food, non-clear bottles, weapons, professional lenses over eight inches and wheeled carriers are prohibited. Walk-through metal detectors operate at all gates.