Jordan-Hare Stadium

Jordan-Hare is at 251 South Donahue Drive on the west side of campus, about three-quarters of a mile from Toomer’s Corner. Interstate 85 is the principal regional route, with exits 51 and 57 serving different approaches. Navigate to the assigned lot or shuttle site rather than the stadium, then follow police directions.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  From Atlanta or Montgomery, I-85 is the main approach; US 280 carries traffic from Birmingham. College Street, South Donahue Drive and Wire Road become congested well before kickoff. Auburn’s postgame plan may force vehicles away from their arrival route, so review the outbound map and begin on the correct side of town.
• Parking
  Reserved season and single-game spaces are sold through Auburn Athletics. Weather permitting, drive-up paid grass parking may be offered in the CDV and Ham Wilson areas. Availability is not guaranteed, so check the interactive map before traveling.
• Parking
  Free or low-friction parking is easiest at a Tiger Transit site. Off-campus shuttle locations include Duck Samford Park, the Auburn Softball Complex at 2560 South College Street, Auburn Mall and TigerTown in Opelika. The softball complex is convenient from I-85 Exit 51; TigerTown works well from Exit 58.
• Parking
  Tiger Transit also serves the Gogue Performing Arts Center, Facilities Management, the hayfield, VCOM lot and other on-campus stops when listed. Every route uses War Eagle Way, immediately north of the Nichols Center, as its stadium-area terminal.
• Parking
  Complimentary accessible parking is at the VCOM lot, 910 South Donahue Drive. Paid accessible spaces may be purchased at the Gogue Performing Arts Center and District Energy lots. A state-issued placard or plate is required, and its registered holder must be in the vehicle.
• Parking
  Do not park on sidewalks, bike paths, roadways or grass outside an authorized lot. Towing is enforced. Grass inventory can close after heavy rain, making an advance parking or shuttle plan especially important.

Public Transit

• Tiger Transit runs special football routes beginning four hours before kickoff, except that service for an 11 a.m. game begins at 8 a.m. Buses operate intermittently during the game and for two hours afterward.
• All routes converge on War Eagle Way north of the Nichols Center, a short walk from the stadium. Save the name of the origin stop and confirm the return line; buses for several remote lots queue in the same general area.
• The ETA Spot system displays buses and routes in real time. Service is free, but traffic still affects travel time. Board the inbound shuttle early enough to walk to Tiger Walk rather than planning to arrive at kickoff.
• Limited-mobility shuttles connect the white medical tent at War Eagle Way and Donahue with Gates 14 and 1. Ask the attendant where return service will stage after the game.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Rideshare vehicles cannot reliably reach the stadium perimeter once road controls begin. Use a pickup or drop-off point beyond the core—downtown, a hotel or an accessible public street—and expect to walk.
• After the game, move away from South Donahue Drive and the bus terminal before requesting a car. Downtown can also be gridlocked after a win because fans converge on Toomer’s Corner.
• Confirm the driver’s plate and choose a landmark both parties can identify. Cellular service is improved inside Jordan-Hare, but thousands of simultaneous requests can still delay matching and raise fares.
• For a group with a car, a free Tiger Transit lot is usually more predictable than two rideshare trips and avoids the highest surge period.

A first visit deserves four or five hours. Walk through downtown, cross Toomer’s Corner, explore the central campus, then move toward Tiger Walk two hours before kickoff. Gates open two hours before the game, and the eagle flight happens shortly before the team entrance.

Tailgating

• Auburn’s open lawns create a classic campus tailgate scene. General tailgating begins at 4 p.m. Friday, while the South Donahue and Samford Avenue hayfields open at 2 p.m. Friday. Special Iron Bowl timing may differ.
• Do not reserve grass with tents, tape, ropes, stakes or furniture before the official opening. Items placed early can be removed. Grass immediately beside a reserved lot is intended for pass holders in that lot.
• Grills and generators must remain at least 50 feet from buildings and out of parking decks and marked no-grill zones. Extinguish charcoal with water and use the designated disposal containers.
• Wheeled trailers and large towable grills are prohibited in grass tailgating areas. Tailgating around residence halls is also prohibited, and university utilities may not be used.
• Turnkey packages are available through Auburn’s official operator, including Tailgate at the Park near Plainsman Park. These are useful for visitors who want a reserved tent without transporting equipment.
• Plainsman Patio, on the first-base concourse of Plainsman Park, is free to all fans and offers shade, concessions, televised games and a view of Tiger Walk. It is a practical gathering point for a group without its own tailgate.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Toomer’s Drugs
  At Toomer’s Corner since 1896, this is the essential stop for fresh-squeezed lemonade, sandwiches and Auburn merchandise. The line moves, but visit early rather than immediately after a win.
• The Hound
  A downtown restaurant known for bacon, burgers, bourbon and Southern comfort food. It is close to Toomer’s Corner and takes reservations where available, making it better planned than improvised.
• Big Blue Bagel & Deli
  A casual downtown breakfast and sandwich shop that is efficient for morning fuel. The Tiger Melt is a popular game-weekend order.
• Hamilton’s on Magnolia
  One block from Toomer’s Corner, Hamilton’s serves seafood, steaks and American fare in a compact room. It is a good Friday dinner or early lunch, but waits grow rapidly.
• Acre
  A few blocks north of the corner, Acre presents locally influenced Southern cooking in a polished setting. Reserve for Friday or Sunday rather than expecting a quick pregame table.
• Moe’s Original BBQ
  The downtown location offers smoked meats, Southern sides and a lively bar atmosphere within walking distance of campus. It suits a casual group but becomes packed on marquee weekends.
• Bow & Arrow
  Chef David Bancroft’s smokehouse blends Alabama barbecue with Tex-Mex influences. It is west of central campus and best reached by car outside the traffic-control window.
• SkyBar Café
  A large downtown nightlife complex for fans prioritizing drinks and crowds over a quiet meal. Expect a student-heavy atmosphere, lines and strict identification checks.

• Tiger Walk
  Two hours before kickoff, the team travels from the athletics complex down Donahue Drive to Jordan-Hare. Fans line the route several people deep; arrive 30–45 minutes early near the stadium or Plainsman Park for a good view.
• Eagle Flight
  Shortly before kickoff, a trained bald or golden eagle from the Auburn University Raptor Center circles the stadium and lands at midfield as the crowd cries “War Eagle.” Enter early—missing it is the most common first-visitor mistake.
• “War Eagle”
  It is Auburn’s battle cry and greeting, not the mascot’s official name. Fans use it throughout the day, and the pregame eagle flight gives the phrase its grandest expression.
• Auburn University Marching Band
  The band’s pregame show builds to the interlocking AU formation and the team entrance. “War Eagle,” “Glory, Glory to Ole Auburn” and “The Horse” are central to the soundtrack.
• Aubie
  Auburn’s costumed tiger is among college sports’ most decorated mascots. Aubie moves through fan events and the sidelines, while the teams remain the Tigers and the “War Eagle” cry retains a separate identity.
• Rolling Toomer’s Corner
  After an Auburn victory, fans walk downtown and throw toilet paper into the live oaks at College Street and Magnolia Avenue. Follow posted instructions designed to protect the trees and keep paper out of the planting beds.
• Bodda Getta
  The rhythmic “Bodda Getta, Bodda Getta, Bodda Getta, Bah” cheer accelerates into Auburn, Tigers and opponent-specific lines. Listen once, then join the repeated cadence.

• Jordan, Hare and Dye statues
  Bronze statues outside the east side honor Ralph “Shug” Jordan, Clifford Leroy Hare and Pat Dye—the stadium, field and modern Auburn gameday namesakes.
• Heisman statues
  Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton are represented near the stadium, recognizing Auburn’s three Heisman Trophy winners. They are popular photo stops, especially before the crowd thickens.
• Toomer’s Corner and the oaks
  The northeast edge of campus is both the gateway to downtown and the victory-celebration site. The current oaks succeed the historic trees poisoned after the 2010 championship season.
• Two enormous videoboards
  The landmark south board is now paired with a 47-by-154-foot north board that debuted in 2025. Ribbon boards, upgraded lighting and lasers make night-game presentations particularly dramatic.
• Steep enclosed bowl
  Upper decks and sharply rising sidelines hold noise close to Pat Dye Field. The structure’s relative intimacy helps make late-game moments feel compressed and chaotic.
• Auburn University Raptor Center
  The center cares for the eagles that fly before games. Its Friday Football, Fans and Feathers program offers an educational look at raptors; advance tickets are recommended.

History & Notable Moments

• Auburn Stadium opened in 1939 with a freshman game, then staged its first varsity contest and dedication on Thanksgiving Day, a 7–7 tie with Florida. The original concrete stadium unit cost about $60,000.
• The venue became Cliff Hare Stadium in 1949 and Jordan-Hare Stadium in 1973. Adding active coach Shug Jordan made it the first major U.S. stadium named for a coach still leading his team.
• Successive expansions created the enclosed bowl. Pat Dye’s program helped bring the Iron Bowl to campus for the first time in 1989, when Auburn beat No. 2 Alabama 30–20 amid an extraordinary Tiger Walk.
• Auburn completed an 11–0 season by beating Alabama 22–14 here in 1993. The playing surface received Dye’s name in 2005.
• In consecutive 2013 home games, Ricardo Louis caught the deflected fourth-and-18 “Prayer at Jordan-Hare” to beat Georgia, then Chris Davis returned Alabama’s missed field goal for the walk-off “Kick Six.”
• A 2018 press-box project created the Broadway Club and updated media and coaching spaces. Capacity reached 88,043 with later premium work, and the north videoboard debuted in 2025.
• The $305 million Jordan-Hare North project began in 2026 and is scheduled through 2029. Its future clubs, food hall, gates and concourse upgrades are not yet current amenities.

Jordan-Hare’s lower bowl puts fans close to the action, while the upper decks are steep and reached by long ramps. The west side typically gains shade first; the east side faces the strongest afternoon sun. Upper rows provide excellent formation views but demand more climbing and expose fans to wind and weather.

• Lower sidelines
  Mid-level rows between the 20s provide the best overall balance. Very low seats feel immersive but can be blocked by players and equipment along the bench areas.
• End zones
  The south end faces the original giant videoboard; the north end now faces its new counterpart. End-zone angles are excellent for goal-line plays and the pregame eagle landing.
• Student section
  Auburn students occupy substantial lower-bowl territory and stand for most of the game. Adjacent seats deliver energy but also heavier concourse traffic and little expectation of sitting.
• Premium areas
  Options include the Broadway Club, Beckwith Club, Tiger Walk Club, Locker Room Club, executive suites and field suites. Benefits differ, from climate-controlled hospitality and inclusive food to field-level access; verify the ticket’s exact package.
• Chairbacks
  Much of the bowl is aluminum bench seating. Stadium chairbacks can be reserved or rented, but personal seats must comply with size and construction rules.
• Accessibility
  Accessible and companion seating is distributed around the stadium. Contact the ticket office in advance for exchanges and use the limited-mobility shuttle rather than attempting the upper ramps without assistance.

Jordan-Hare is cashless for tickets, merchandise and concessions. Traditional stands are supplemented by grab-and-go markets and self-checkout lanes. Selection varies by concourse; buy specialty food before climbing to an upper deck, and avoid the halftime peak.

• Bodda Getta Grab N’ Go
  Auburn-branded markets allow fans to select packaged drinks and snacks and use rapid checkout. They are designed to reduce queue time rather than provide a full cooked menu.
• Local and branded choices
  Recent offerings include Chick-fil-A, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Conecuh sausage, pizza, barbecue and rotating local concepts. Use the current concessions map because vendors and stand numbers can change.
• Core fare
  Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, pretzels and bottled beverages remain the easiest items to find throughout the bowl.
• Alcohol
  Beer and approved alcoholic drinks are available at designated locations under SEC rules. Identification, serving limits and a late-game sales cutoff apply; alcohol cannot leave the stadium.
• Water
  Each fan may bring one empty clear bottle and one unopened factory-sealed water bottle up to one liter. Free refill stations and cooling areas are distributed across the main and upper concourses.

• Each guest may carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a clear one-gallon freezer bag. A small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany it.
• Medical bags are permitted after inspection. The Guest Services Hub outside Gate 1C and Gate 14 handle medical review; nursing, sensory and special-needs assistance are also available.
• Noncompliant bags and strollers may be checked free outside Gate 1C or between Gates 13 and 14. Space is not a reason to bring extra belongings, so leave unnecessary items in the vehicle.
• Walk-through metal detectors operate at every gate. Place phones, keys, cameras and other large metal objects in the provided container or approved clear bag; small jewelry and belts generally remain on.
• Outside food, weapons, umbrellas, large cameras and other listed items are prohibited. Confirm the current football policy—special events at Jordan-Hare can use different water and bag rules.