Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Central Michigan sits on the south side of Mount Pleasant, roughly midway between Lansing and northern Lower Michigan. The football complex is south of Broomfield Street and east of Mission Street, with public game-day parking concentrated beyond the south scoreboard.

Driving & Parking

• From U.S. 127
  Use the Broomfield Street exit and travel west toward campus. Follow police signs and the destination printed on the parking pass rather than turning at the first stadium entrance.
• Public inventory
  Central Michigan's 2025 game-day information identifies Lots 63E, 63W and 73 on the south side as day-of-game locations, subject to availability. Permit and donor lots surround the north and west sides.
• Price and payment
  The 2025 yearbook listed public parking at $15 in advance and $20 on game day. The university subsequently confirmed that parking is cashless, with credit or debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted. Recheck the matchup page because price and inventory can change.
• Digital pass
  Download the parking credential to an Apple or Google wallet before entering the queue. A screenshot may not scan, and cellular service is least dependable when vehicles are arriving together.
• Opening time
  Football lots open four hours before kickoff. Tailgating ends at kickoff, so an early arrival creates the full experience without forcing a hurried cleanup.
• Accessible arrangements
  Accessible parking and seating are available, but Central Michigan urges guests who need assistance to arrange accommodations with Ticket Central in advance. Use the entrance and lot assigned to the credential.

Public Transit

• Local service
  Mount Pleasant is a small city, and no rail or frequent regional transit line delivers spectators directly to Kelly/Shorts. Isabella County Transportation Commission service is better treated as prearranged local transportation than a turn-up-and-go football shuttle.
• Campus movement
  Central Michigan operates campus transportation during the academic year, but ordinary routes and hours should not be assumed to provide game-specific service. Check the current CMU transit page before relying on one.
• Walking
  The stadium is about a mile south of the central-campus academic core and farther from downtown. Sidewalks make the campus portion manageable, but late-season weather and the distance back to restaurants favor parking once and walking locally.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Choose a clear landmark
  Use a building or intersection outside the controlled parking lanes, such as the Student Activity Center area, then walk the final segment. Do not direct a driver into a donor lot without the correct credential.
• Postgame pickup
  Walk north or west away from East Campus Drive before requesting the ride. Confirm the vehicle and exact meeting side by message; several campus drives have similar names.
• Build in a wait
  Driver supply in Mount Pleasant is smaller than in Detroit or Lansing. Schedule when possible, especially after a night game.

Central Michigan's pregame is spread across maroon-and-gold parking rows rather than one mandatory fan plaza. University groups gather north of the stadium, while student tailgating concentrates at the south end beside the video board. That split gives visitors a choice between organized alumni hospitality and the loudest undergraduate scene.

Tailgating

• Four-hour window
  All football parking areas open four hours before kickoff. Arrive near opening for a full setup; tailgating must stop when the game begins.
• One-space rule
  A vehicle and its tables, chairs and coolers must remain within one assigned space. Keep fire lanes, sidewalks and neighboring stalls clear.
• Alcohol restrictions
  Michigan law applies. Kegs, mass quantities of alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, as are open fires and oversized grills towed on their own wheels.
• Animals and sound
  Animals other than service animals are prohibited in tailgate areas. External sound systems are subject to CMU Police control and may require advance approval.
• North versus south
  Group and university-hosted gatherings generally occupy the north side; the student scene is south of the scoreboard.
• Weather preparation
  The flat, open lots amplify wind, rain and early cold. Weight canopies properly, extinguish grills completely and carry permitted rain clothing rather than an umbrella that will obstruct a packed row.
• Cashless campus
  The stadium, ticket windows and parking operation accept electronic payment only. Private tailgates vary, but every visitor should carry a physical card or loaded mobile wallet.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Cabin
  Near campus on West Broomfield Street, this college favorite is known for pizza and Cabin Stix, with a full bar and a lively football-weekend feel. Its proximity makes it convenient but also busy.
• O'Kelly's Sports Bar & Grille
  Just west of campus, O'Kelly's offers televisions, pub food, drinks and a game-oriented atmosphere. It is a practical stop before parking, not a place from which to assume a quick last-minute stadium drive.
• Mountain Town Station
  In a restored railroad depot on West Broadway, the brewpub serves house beer, ribs and American fare. It works particularly well for visitors staying downtown or planning a postgame meal.
• Pleasant City Coffee
  Downtown on North Main Street, this café offers coffee, crepes and lighter fare. It is useful before an early kick when the bar-and-grill choices have not reached full stride.

• “Fire Up Chips!”
  This is the essential Central Michigan greeting and rally cry. Maroon and gold are the colors, and “Fire Up!” will be returned throughout the lots and stands.
• Marching Chips
  The band sits in the east stands beside the student section, performs pregame and drives the in-game soundtrack. Enter early enough to see the field show rather than hearing it from the security line.
• The Fighting Chippewa
  After a home victory, players join the band and help lead the fight song. Remaining in the seating bowl for those extra minutes is both memorable and a sensible way to let traffic begin moving.
• Cymbals and keys
  During the fight song, fans mimic clashing cymbals and turning keys at the appropriate moments. Watch the students and band if the motions are unfamiliar.
• Respectful identity
  CMU maintains a formal relationship with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The university explicitly rejects mimicking, stereotyping or misrepresenting Native people and cultures; visitors should celebrate the team without costumes, chants or gestures that cross that line.

• Kramer/Deromedi Field
  The playing field honors Roy Kramer and Herb Deromedi, two transformational coaches and administrators. Their names were added in 2022.
• Chippewa Champions Center
  The 50,000-square-foot north-end facility opened in 2020 and provides football operations, sports medicine, strength, meeting and recruiting spaces. Its glass and modern frontage changed the stadium's approach.
• Indoor Athletic Complex
  Built as part of the 1998 expansion, the adjacent facility connects the football venue to year-round training and athletics offices.
• South video board
  The 100-by-32-foot display installed in 2019 dominates the open south end and serves as the visual anchor for student tailgating outside.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening day (1972)
  Central Michigan inaugurated the stadium on November 4 against Illinois State, replacing Alumni Field as the program's home.
• Kelly name (1983)
  The venue added football coach Bill Kelly's name to the existing Shorts Stadium identity, honoring two important figures in program history.
• 1998 transformation
  A $28 million project expanded the stadium, added premium and press facilities and delivered the Indoor Athletic Complex, establishing the present-day footprint.
• Western Michigan sellout (2008)
  The rivalry filled Kelly/Shorts and reinforced the venue's reputation as one of the MAC's most intense settings when the Chippewas are contending.
• Attendance record (2012)
  A visit from Michigan State drew 35,127, the largest crowd in stadium history and well above permanent capacity.
• Unbeaten home season (2019)
  CMU won every game in Mount Pleasant during a division-championship campaign, immediately before the north-end Champions Center opened.

• West side
  The traditional home-side experience, press facilities and premium products are concentrated on the west. Afternoon light can be a factor, so bring a hat and permitted sunscreen.
• East side
  Students and the Marching Chips create the most persistent noise here. It is the best choice for immersion but not for a visitor who expects everyone to remain seated.
• Premium seating
  Kelly/Shorts has nine suites plus club chairback seating and an indoor lounge. Access is separate from an ordinary reserved ticket and may include dedicated hospitality.
• Accessible seating
  Elevators and accessible positions are available. Arrange tickets in advance rather than asking to exchange a standard seat at the gate.
• Bench comfort
  Much of the stadium uses bleachers. A permitted cushion without prohibited pockets or storage improves a cold-weather game; verify the latest item rules before bringing a seat back.

Permanent stands operate on the east and west concourses, with additional service in the club area and near the south entrance. Expect stadium staples—hot dogs, pizza, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, candy and soft drinks—plus game-specific kiosks.

• Cashless operation
  Concessions accept credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. There are no ATMs inside, and cash cannot be relied upon.
• Alcohol sales
  Beer and other approved alcoholic drinks are sold at designated kiosks. Outside alcohol is prohibited, identification is required and stadium cutoff rules apply.
• Fan Central
  The guest-services and lost-and-found point is inside the northwest gate. First aid is also in the northwest corner beside Section A.

• Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches and one small handbag or clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, with or without a strap.
• A one-gallon clear plastic storage bag is an approved alternative to the clear tote.
• Every bag is subject to search. Four public gates are positioned at the northwest, southwest, northeast and southeast corners; all open 90 minutes before kickoff.
• Permitted items include seat cushions without seat backs, binoculars, cell phones, small nonprofessional cameras and radios, blankets, rain apparel and signs that comply with stadium rules.
• Outside food and beverages, alcohol, glass, coolers, weapons and other dangerous or disruptive items are prohibited.
• Leave unnecessary belongings in the vehicle. For a current exception involving medical or accessibility equipment, contact Central Michigan before game day rather than relying on a gate-side decision.