Hornet Stadium

The stadium stands at the south end of Sacramento State's campus, immediately north of U.S. 50 and east of the American River. College Town Drive and State University Drive feed the event lots.

Driving & Parking

• Eastbound U.S. 50
  Exit at Howe Avenue/Power Inn Road, stay right toward Sacramento State and Hornet Drive, then turn left on College Town Drive. The stadium appears on the right.
• Westbound U.S. 50
  Use the Howe/Power Inn exit and continue toward College Town Drive. From Business 80, J Street reaches the main campus entrance and State University Drive.
• Event lots
  The latest complete guide assigns Lots 7 and 8 plus Parking Structure III. Lot 8 serves home fans and students; visiting fans use the south portion of Lot 7.
• Published baseline price
  The guide lists $10 per car and $20 per RV, collected in cash. Because Sacramento State gains direct parking revenue in its 2026 FBS model, confirm the current rate and payment method before departure.
• Two entrances
  The south entrance is College Town Drive at Callery Pear Way; the east entrance is State University Drive at White Poplar Way. Cottonwood Way is exit-only.
• Opening time
  Lots 7, 8 and Structure III open four hours before kickoff under the latest published plan. Tailgating is prohibited inside the parking structure.
• Accessible parking
  Structure III contains accessible inventory. Wheelchair entry is through Gate 3, with game-day assistance staged south of Gate 4.
• Campus permits
  Certain semester, annual and emeritus permits have been honored instead of event payment for cars, but daily permits and RVs were excluded. Verify the 2026 rule.

Public Transit

• SacRT buses
  Routes 30, 82, 87 and 134 serve the Sacramento State Transit Center; Route 26 serves Napa Hall. Use SacRT's trip planner for Saturday and evening times.
• Light-rail connection
  University/65th Street station is the nearest rail hub, but it is not beside the stadium. Routes 26, 82 and 87 connect the station area with campus.
• Hornet Shuttle limitation
  Sacramento State's campus shuttle requires a valid OneCard and ordinarily runs Monday through Friday during instructional weeks. Visitors should not treat it as a public football shuttle.
• Walking and cycling
  The campus is connected to the American River Parkway, but secure bicycles outside the stadium perimeter and carry lights for a night-game return.
• Postgame service
  Check the last departure before kickoff. A concert and fireworks can extend the visit beyond ordinary transit assumptions.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Campus drop
  Choose the Sacramento State Transit Center or another open campus landmark rather than a Lot 8 tailgate lane.
• Avoid Hornet Walk
  The team travels through the middle of Lot 8 two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, making that corridor a poor pickup point.
• Postgame meeting
  Walk north into campus or toward an open College Town Drive location before requesting. Fireworks and concerts delay the normal departure surge but also create a second one later.
• Confirm the route
  U.S. 50 ramps and campus loops can place a driver on the opposite side of the stadium. Send the exact road and landmark, not simply “Hornet Stadium.”

Hornet game day is concentrated in Lot 8. Home fans, parents and students tailgate around the route used for Hornet Walk, while visiting groups stage in Lot 7. The four-hour window is generous by MAC standards and Sacramento's fall weather often favors an outdoor setup.

Tailgating

• Lot 8 home base
  Home and student areas surround Hornet Walk. Arrive near opening to choose a practical space without blocking the team route.
• Lot 7 visitors
  Road-team fans are directed to the south section, which simplifies meeting other visitors and reaching the southeast pass gate.
• Four-hour window
  Tailgating must end at kickoff. Keep equipment inside the designated footprint and preserve emergency and vehicle lanes.
• Alcohol rules
  California law and university policy apply. Kegs are prohibited, visible intoxication can lead to removal and alcohol cannot be consumed while waiting in the entry line.
• No structure tailgating
  Parking Structure III is parking only. Guests needing shade there should move to an authorized outdoor gathering rather than setting up beside the vehicle.
• Heat planning
  Early-season Sacramento temperatures can remain high through an evening kickoff. Bring water, shade and sunscreen, then collapse the setup before entering.
• One sealed water bottle
  Each ticketed fan may carry one sealed, clear, nonflavored plastic bottle up to 20 ounces into the stadium, useful after a warm tailgate.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Campus dining
  Sacramento State's University Union, River Front Center and other campus locations offer national brands and quick meals. Weekend hours vary, so check before relying on them.
• Engrained Restaurant
  The campus restaurant emphasizes seasonal food and university hospitality. Its academic schedule may not align with a Saturday night game.
• Nopalitos Southwestern Café
  At 5530 H Street in East Sacramento, this neighborhood breakfast-and-lunch favorite serves Southwestern plates a short drive from campus.
• OBO' Italian Table & Bar
  On Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento, OBO' offers pizza, pasta, sandwiches and drinks in a casual setting convenient from U.S. 50.
• Selland's Market-Café
  The East Sacramento location pairs salads, sandwiches, pizza, dinner plates and a family-friendly patio. Eat before joining the campus parking queue.
• Stadium concessions
  The new south-end stand is the reliable option after parking; outside food generally cannot be carried through the gates.

• Hornet Walk
  Players and coaches move east-to-west through Lot 8 toward Broad Fieldhouse two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. Fans line the route in green and gold.
• “Stingers Up”
  The hand sign and rally phrase are Sacramento State's clearest visual identity. Visitors will see it on digital boards, apparel and social posts.
• Herky the Hornet
  The mascot circulates through lots and the stadium, especially near students and family promotions.
• Marching band and spirit groups
  The band, cheer and dance teams shape the entrance and in-game response. Arrive before the one-hour gate window compresses.
• Causeway Classic
  The UC Davis rivalry is the defining home date. The Sacramento State record crowd of 23,073 came in the 2022 edition, and gates have opened 90 minutes early for this game rather than the ordinary hour.
• Postgame fireworks and concert
  In 2025, every home game ended with fireworks followed by an on-field music performance in front of the student sections. Confirm whether this continues on the 2026 schedule.

• Championship track
  A MONDO Super X720 track encircles the field, preserving the venue's identity as an elite athletics facility rather than a football-only bowl.
• Buzz Zone
  Individual chairbacks behind the south end zone place premium guests at field level with nearby food and drink service.
• North field suites
  Three field-level suites sit just beyond the north end zone, creating an intimate group experience inside the track oval.
• Digital field boards
  Displays at all four corners add messaging and game presentation at eye level, complementing the multi-sport video board.
• Broad Fieldhouse
  The adjacent operations building supports football and track and forms the endpoint of Hornet Walk.
• Temporary-grandstand heritage
  Much of the current scale came from a rapid 10-week 1992 expansion. The university now describes those stands as near the end of practical use.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening game (1969)
  Cal State Northridge defeated Sacramento State 28-24 in the first contest at the original 6,000-seat venue.
• Professional expansion (1992)
  A 10-week build created a roughly 26,000-seat home for the World League's Sacramento Surge. A playoff against Barcelona drew a venue-record 26,445.
• Division I arrival (1992)
  Sacramento State hosted Montana State in the first Hornets game after expansion and the first Division I football visit to campus.
• Olympic Trials (2000 and 2004)
  America's leading track athletes competed here for Olympic berths, establishing Hornet Stadium on a national stage.
• NCAA championships (2003-07)
  Four Division I outdoor track and field championships reinforced the stadium's multi-sport significance.
• Perfect regular season (2022)
  A school-record 23,073 watched the Hornets beat UC Davis, finish 11-0 and claim a third straight Big Sky title.
• Fan refresh (2025)
  Premium seats, suites, concessions, restrooms, LED lights, digital boards and renovated press spaces debuted before the MAC transition.

• West grandstand
  The principal home side includes press and suite facilities. Higher rows improve the football angle over the track but require a longer exposed climb.
• East grandstand
  Students and visiting allocations occupy portions of this side. It is closest to Lot 7 and receives a different pattern of afternoon sun.
• Preferred GA (Sections 212 and 214)
  Cushioned rows surrounding the chairback section provide extra legroom without a suite credential.
• Buzz Zone
  South-end field-level chairbacks trade an elevated tactical view for proximity to scoring plays and dedicated concessions.
• Field suites
  The three north-end products are group hospitality spaces and must be reserved separately.
• Accessible seating
  Wheelchair positions are at field level in the north end, with up to two companion places per accessible seat. Arrange through the ticket office in advance.
• Track effect
  Sideline seats are farther from play than in a football-only stadium. Choose higher central rows for formations and field-level products for atmosphere.

Hornet Stadium's 2025 upgrade added a south-end field-level concession area and expanded restroom inventory. Permanent and portable locations offer football staples, soft drinks and approved alcoholic beverages.

• South-end service
  Fans in the Buzz Zone can buy food and drinks directly behind their seats without climbing a grandstand.
• General stands
  Expect hot dogs, nachos, snacks and beverages; exact vendors may change as Sacramento State assumes new food-and-beverage revenue rights in 2026.
• Alcohol rules
  Buyers must be 21 and age-verified, with a maximum of two drinks per transaction. Sales end at the start of the third quarter under the published policy.
• No carry-out
  Alcohol cannot enter or leave the stadium, and outside alcohol is prohibited.
• Merchandise
  The Hornet Bookstore operates a game-day location inside the gates. Buy early because postgame access follows the stadium's no-re-entry rule.

• Hornet Stadium enforces a clear-bag policy. Clear bags may not exceed 12 inches long by 12 inches high by 6 inches wide.
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag is permitted. One small clutch, with or without a strap, may not exceed 4.5 by 6.5 inches.
• Medically necessary bags are exceptions after inspection at any entrance. Prohibited belongings are not stored and must return to the vehicle.
• Backpacks, large purses, fanny packs, coolers, briefcases, luggage, computer bags, camera bags and binocular cases are prohibited. Binoculars, a camera and a phone may be carried loose.
• Seat cushions without pockets are allowed; cushions and blankets cannot exceed 16 by 16 by 9 inches. Umbrellas and amplified artificial noisemakers are prohibited.
• Gates 2, 3 and 4 ordinarily open one hour before kickoff, with a 90-minute window published for the Causeway Classic. The stadium has no re-entry.