Malone Stadium

Malone Stadium occupies the east side of the ULM campus athletics district. Warhawk Way runs along the west side of the building, Bon Aire Drive serves the east and north approaches, and Bayou DeSiard separates the stadium from most academic buildings.

Driving & Parking

• From I-20
  Use US 165 north toward ULM and DeSiard Street, then follow the current football map toward Warhawk Way or Bon Aire Drive. Expect controlled turns near the stadium as kickoff approaches.
• Reserved lots
  The close Warhawk, Ace, Bayou and donor areas require the matching football parking credential. Do not rely on an apparently open space; attendants scan or inspect passes.
• Warhawk Lot
  This inventory uses the Brown Stadium area north of Malone Stadium on Warhawk Way and also accommodates purchased tailgating and RV spaces.
• Ace and Bayou lots
  The Ace Lot sits east of the visitor/student side off Bon Aire Drive near Pecan Grove. The Bayou Lot is farther south near Bon Aire and Warhawk Way.
• Free main-campus parking
  ULM directs guests without a pass to legal spaces across Bayou DeSiard. Allow time to walk through Pecan Grove.
• Accessible parking
  Lot A is on Warhawk Way south of the stadium near the Gate 2 elevator. The vehicle needs both a valid state-issued accessible placard or plate and the required ULM parking credential.
• Opening times
  Published lot openings vary with kickoff—recent schedules have opened at 8 a.m. for 2 p.m. games, 9 a.m. for 4 p.m. games and 10 a.m. for 6 p.m. games. Use the individual game's timeline.
• No reentry
  Current parking terms do not permit exit and reentry. Bring everything needed before the pass is scanned and keep fire lanes and campus roads clear.

Public Transit

• Monroe Transit
  City service operates Monday through Saturday, generally from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Route 1–DeSiard and Route 5–University serve ULM, but neither should be treated as a dedicated football shuttle.
• Schedule limitation
  Evening kickoffs and long games can outlast the final city bus. Check the live tracker and arrange a return ride before relying on transit.
• Campus walk
  From the academic side, use the pedestrian crossing over Bayou DeSiard and continue through Pecan Grove toward the west stadium gates. The walk is part of the pregame experience.
• Accessibility
  Monroe Transit fixed-route vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Stadium access still requires crossing the athletics district, so guests with mobility needs should coordinate Lot A parking when possible.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use a campus-side landmark
  ULM does not publish one permanent football rideshare zone. A legal main-campus curb or staffed outer lot usually avoids the closures closest to Warhawk Way.
• Avoid Warhawk Walk
  The team procession occupies Warhawk Way between the VIP and P-40 lots two and a half hours before kickoff. Do not schedule a drop at that time or along the route.
• Postgame pickup
  Walk across the bayou or beyond Bon Aire Drive before requesting a car. Drivers can have difficulty reaching a stadium-side pin while reserved lots empty.
• Confirm the meeting point
  Share a building or lot name, not simply “Malone Stadium,” and check the current parking map for any game-specific restriction.

ULM's game day is centered on Pecan Grove and Warhawk Walk rather than a dense bar district. The grove offers the classic wooded, on-campus tailgate atmosphere, while the team arrival supplies the day's fixed pregame appointment.

Tailgating

• Pecan Grove
  The grove across Bayou DeSiard is the signature gathering place, with shade, pecan trees and direct walking access to the stadium. Reserved tailgate and RV spaces are sold through the ULM Ticket Office.
• Warhawk Lot
  Paid spaces near Brown Stadium provide another organized tailgate base north of Malone. Confirm whether the purchase covers only a vehicle or also a designated setup area.
• Warhawk Walk
  Two hours and 30 minutes before kickoff, fans line Warhawk Way between the VIP and P-40 lots as the team arrives with the Sound of Today and spirit groups.
• Grill rules
  Fires and hot coals must remain in purpose-built grills or containers. Open fire pits are prohibited, charcoal must be extinguished thoroughly with water and weather-related burn restrictions control.
• Private-space etiquette
  Most substantial setups are purchased or hosted. Visitors are often welcomed, but ask before entering a tent, sampling food or moving through a reserved footprint.
• Heat and weather
  Early-season Monroe afternoons are humid. Pack water and sunscreen for the tailgate, then leave outside drinks, coolers and umbrellas behind before stadium entry.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Waterfront Grill
  At 5201 DeSiard Street, close to campus on Bayou DeSiard, this local institution is known for Catfish DeSiard, Shrimp Rahkee, steaks and a deck overlooking the water. Reserve ahead for a busy Friday or Saturday.
• Catahoula's
  This casual bayou-side option pairs Louisiana cooking with indoor and outdoor seating. Fried catfish makes it a natural game-weekend choice.
• Warehouse No. 1 Restaurant
  In a century-old cotton warehouse on the Ouachita River, Warehouse No. 1 serves seafood, hushpuppies, corn-and-crab bisque and steaks. It is better suited to Friday dinner or a patient postgame meal than a last-hour stop.
• Trapp's
  Across the river in West Monroe, Trapp's offers Cajun favorites and seafood nachos with a waterfront view. Plan a drive or rideshare to the stadium afterward.
• Pecan Grove food
  For the fullest Warhawk atmosphere, eat with a hosted tailgate or any announced game-day vendor in the grove. Availability varies by opponent, so do not count on one permanent public stand before entry.

• Warhawk Walk
  Join the team arrival two and a half hours before kickoff. The Sound of Today, cheerleaders and spirit groups create the best concentrated burst of pregame energy.
• Pecan Grove
  More than overflow space, the grove is the social front porch of ULM football. The walk through its tents and trees connects the academic campus to the stadium.
• Ace the Warhawk
  ULM's costumed mascot appears with the cheer and spirit teams. The bird identity replaced the program's former nickname in 2006 and is now central to the visual brand.
• Sound of Today
  ULM's marching band accompanies the team welcome and performs inside the stadium. Arrive early enough to hear the pregame sequence rather than entering at kickoff.
• Burgundy and gold
  Wear the official colors and check the weekly promotion for any whiteout or specialty theme. Student giveaways and color calls can change from game to game.

• Bayou DeSiard
  Few FBS venues place a bayou so directly into the arrival experience. The water and pedestrian crossing separate the stadium from campus while framing Pecan Grove.
• Asymmetrical bowl
  Tall east and west sidelines dominate the view, while lower end-zone seating keeps the building visually open. The result feels different from a fully enclosed modern bowl.
• Football Fieldhouse
  The 11,750-square-foot building at the northwest corner opened in 2016 with premium patios and football operations space, giving that end of the stadium a contemporary anchor.
• Pecan Grove
  The mature grove is both landscape and football feature, providing a shaded approach that generic parking lots cannot reproduce.
• North-end video board
  The 23-by-48-foot display installed in 2011 remains the stadium's principal replay and presentation board.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening night (1978)
  Then-Northeast Louisiana beat Arkansas State 21–13 on September 16 in the first game at the new stadium.
• James L. Malone namesake
  The venue honors the coach who led the program for 20 seasons and helped establish its early football identity.
• National-championship season (1987)
  Malone Stadium hosted the program during its run to the NCAA Division I-AA title, still the central achievement in ULM football history.
• Grambling crowd (2007)
  A crowd of 30,101 watched the first meeting between the nearby programs, demonstrating the building's ability to exceed its current listed capacity.
• Attendance record (2012)
  ULM drew 31,175 against Baylor after the Warhawks' nationally noticed upset of Arkansas, the largest announced crowd in stadium history.
• Appalachian State thriller (2017)
  ULM's 52–45 win delivered one of the venue's most entertaining modern Sun Belt games.

The two large sidelines contain most reserved seating and general-admission inventory. Premium areas sit at the end zones and in the press-box/skybox structure, while students occupy the east side.

• West sideline
  The home side offers the traditional Malone view and proximity to the main campus approach. Lower seats provide the closest midfield experience; the upper deck is part of general-admission inventory.
• East sideline
  This side includes the student section and visitor-oriented seating. Afternoon games bring direct sun, so prepare for heat even late in the season.
• General admission
  ULM places GA seating in the west and east upper decks only. Arrive early for a preferred midfield angle because the ticket does not guarantee one specific seat.
• Student section
  Students enter Gate 8 with current Wingspan verification and use first-come seating in the east stands.
• Premium areas
  Tailgate Terrace, the North End Zone, Talons Club, skybox and suites require the proper ticket and wristband. Do not assume an end-zone ticket includes hospitality access.
• Accessible access
  The elevator near Gate 2 supports the accessible route from Lot A. Arrange companion seating and parking credentials with the ticket office before game day.

ULM began a new concessions partnership with CorrCom for the 2025–26 year, with an emphasis on more accessible points of sale. Exact specialties can change, so treat the weekly menu as controlling.

• Main concourses
  Food and beverage counters serve both east and west sides. Buy before halftime if the crowd is large because crossing the stadium is less convenient than using the nearest stand.
• Core stadium fare
  Expect hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy and soft drinks as the dependable base menu, with specialty items announced by season or game.
• Alcohol sales
  Approved alcoholic beverages are sold inside Malone Stadium with identification checks. Outside alcohol and all outside food or drink containers are prohibited.
• Cashless preparation
  Bring a card or mobile wallet even when a particular stand may accept another method; ULM does not promise one universal payment format on its central policy page.
• Eat before entry
  Monroe's strongest local food experience is outside the gates—at Pecan Grove or a bayou restaurant—so use concessions for the game rather than as the entire meal plan.

• ULM does not publish the standard 12-by-6-by-12-inch clear-bag rule on its current Malone Stadium policy page. Do not assume another Sun Belt venue's dimensions apply here.
• Purses, backpacks and other bags must fit within the guest's assigned seating space, are subject to inspection and may be rejected if stadium management considers them oversized.
• The safest approach is a small, simple bag containing only essentials. Guests who can go without a bag will usually enter more quickly.
• Food, drink containers, bottles, cans, thermoses, ice bags, coolers, umbrellas, strollers, artificial noisemakers and athletic balls are prohibited.
• Cameras with detachable lenses six inches or longer, video cameras, banners, signs, large flags, laser pointers, non-service animals and weapons are prohibited.
• Malone Stadium is tobacco-free, including vaping. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and all guests should leave time for inspection.