Scheumann Stadium

The stadium sits where Bethel Avenue meets Tillotson Avenue, just south of McGalliard Road/State Road 332. The baseball and softball complex lies east of the football lots; the Alumni Center and CharlieTown sit south of the stadium.

Driving & Parking

• From I-69
  Take State Road 332/McGalliard Road east toward Muncie. As the route reaches campus, follow temporary football signs rather than turning automatically onto Tillotson.
• From central Muncie
  Approach on McGalliard, Bethel or Riverside, but expect queues at the campus edge. Bethel and McGalliard are the two roads Ball State specifically warns will become heavy.
• Tillotson closure
  Tillotson closes to through traffic between McGalliard and Bethel about four hours before kickoff. It reopens after the game begins and closes again during fourth-quarter egress. Do not make it the final segment of an inflexible navigation route.
• Green Lot
  General single-game parking is published at $20, cash only at the lot or available as a mobile pass in advance. The current game page controls the final price and sales method.
• Free parking
  Ball State identifies free inventory near Worthen Arena and the Foster Adams Family Complex/Bill Richards Tennis Courts. These spaces create a longer campus walk; confirm that the current football map has not reassigned them.
• Premium lots
  Gold, White, Cardinal and Purple areas are tied to season credentials and Cardinal Varsity Club support levels. Use only the color shown on the pass.
• Drop-off
  Enter Bahlmann Way from Bethel and use the Alumni Center circle. This is the best official option for a guest who cannot manage the full parking-lot walk.

Public Transit

• MITS
  Muncie Indiana Transit System routes serve central Ball State Monday through Saturday, including stops around University and McKinley and a Saturday Riverside service. They do not deliver directly to the football gate; expect a campus walk and verify the last return bus.
• Ball State shuttles
  The university's no-cost Green Loop serves the stadium and baseball-overflow area during its published weekday and Sunday semester schedule. Regular Saturday service is not listed, so do not assume it will operate for a Saturday football game unless Athletics announces a special shuttle.
• The Village
  The University Avenue restaurant district is walkable through campus, but it is not adjacent to the stadium. Treat it as a planned pregame stop, not a five-minute detour.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Official drop-off area
  Use the Alumni Center circle via Bahlmann Way when traffic control permits. It gives the driver a defined turnaround south of the stadium.
• Avoid closed Tillotson
  A rideshare pin at the stadium's west edge can route the car toward the closure. Message the driver with the Bethel Avenue approach.
• Postgame pickup
  Walk south toward the Alumni Center or farther into central campus before requesting a car. Outbound queues at Bethel and McGalliard can delay a curbside match.
• Village strategy
  For a postgame meal, walk to The Village first and request a ride later. The time spent eating often outlasts the most intense traffic release.

Ball State opens every football lot four hours before kickoff. The public atmosphere divides between CharlieTown around the Alumni Center, Tailgate Town beside Shebek Stadium and conventional setups in the colored parking lots.

Tailgating

• CharlieTown
  The Alumni Center area hosts games, prizes, music, pageantry, special guests and radio programming on selected home dates. It is the most welcoming starting point for alumni, families and first-time visitors.
• Tailgate Town
  The area beside Shebek Stadium features local food trucks, sponsor activations and a Pride of Mid-America pep rally about one hour before kickoff.
• Parking-lot tailgates
  Setups must remain within one parking space. Tents larger than 10 by 10 feet, couches, stages, amplified sound and glass containers are prohibited.
• Alcohol rules
  Adults may consume responsibly in designated areas, but kegs, hard liquor, drinking games and drinking apparatuses are banned. Use cans, plastic bottles or disposable cups.
• Four-hour clock
  Lots open exactly four hours before the published kick. Tailgating stops at kickoff and must cease two hours after the game.
• Band in the lots
  The Pride of Mid-America “frolics” through tailgate areas before moving toward its pep rally. Listen for the band rather than staying anchored to one canopy.
• Cardinal Walk positioning
  Move toward the team route before the arrival at two hours and 15 minutes. The 2025 schedule shifted the walk 15 minutes earlier than prior seasons.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Roots Burger Bar
  At 1700 West University Avenue in The Village, Roots serves burgers, sandwiches, salads and a full bar. It is a campus walk or short ride from the stadium, not a gate-side restaurant.
• Greek's Pizzeria
  The Village location is a long-running choice for pizza, breadsticks and wings. It works best before parking at the football complex because the restaurant district fills on major campus weekends.
• Brothers Bar & Grill
  Also in The Village, Brothers offers burgers, wings, sandwiches and a college-bar atmosphere; the venue admits all ages until its published evening cutoff.
• The Cup
  This University Avenue coffee shop is a useful breakfast or caffeine stop before a noon game and gives visitors a look at the student-centered Village scene.
• CharlieTown and food trucks
  When active, the official pregame areas eliminate the need to move the car again. Ball State also brings at least eight rotating trucks inside the stadium after gates open.

• Cardinal Walk
  Players and coaches arrive two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. Fans line the approach near the Alumni Center and stadium, with the band and spirit squads building the welcome.
• Pride of Mid-America
  The marching band visits the tailgate lots, performs a pep rally around one hour before kickoff and leads the fight song inside. Follow the band from Tailgate Town to the gates.
• “Chirp Chirp”
  Ball State's concise greeting and sign-off is the easiest tradition for a visitor to join. Reply with another “Chirp Chirp” and use the cardinal-and-white color scheme.
• Fight song
  “Fight team fight for Ball State” begins the university fight song. The crowd spells out no elaborate response; clap with the band and join the repeated “fight” finish.
• Charlie Cardinal
  The official mascot dates to 1969 and now appears in a leaner, reconditioned costume. He circulates through CharlieTown, the student section and in-game promotions.

• Dancing Charlie graphics
  Ball State revived the full-body 1960s cardinal logo at midfield in 2023. The 2025 field refresh coordinates it with black end-zone borders and red-and-black stadium accents.
• North family hill
  The grassy end-zone slope is framed by a pillar-style wall and offers a casual viewing option for families. Bring only items allowed by the clear-bag policy.
• Kozel Communications Center
  The four-level west-side building contains media operations, club seating and 11 entertainment suites overlooking Gainbridge Field.
• Gainbridge Field
  The field name recognizes support connected to Ball State alumnus Dan Towriss and his wife, Heather; the stadium itself remains named for John and June Scheumann.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening game (1967)
  Ball State inaugurated the stadium by overwhelming Butler 65-7 on October 21.
• Scheumann modernization (2007)
  A $13.7 million rebuilding project added permanent lights, premium spaces, improved access and the Kozel Communications Center.
• Navy win (2008)
  Ball State defeated Navy 35-23 before 22,517 during its unbeaten regular season.
• Record crowd (2008)
  The Cardinals beat Western Michigan 45-22 before 23,861, clinching the MAC West and completing a 12-0 regular season.
• MAC West clincher (2020)
  Ball State scored 17 fourth-quarter points to rally past Western Michigan 30-27 on the way to a conference championship.
• Field refresh (2025)
  New Sprinturf, graphics, mobile payments, a spirit store and expanded food-truck service debuted.

The west stand contains home-side premium and press facilities; the east side holds students and visitors; the grassy hill closes the north; and a video board anchors the south end. Gates 1–4 serve the west side, while Gate 5 serves the east.

• West reserved seats
  Midfield rows beneath the Kozel Center provide the strongest conventional sightlines and convenient access to the main concourse.
• Club seating
  The west-side club combines an elevated outdoor view with indoor hospitality. Benefits differ by ticket, so verify food, beverages and parking before purchase.
• Entertainment suites
  Eleven suites occupy the Kozel Center's upper level, with additional hospitality inventory integrated into the stadium. Elevator access is between Gates 2 and 3.
• East student section
  Ball State students sit in the east bleachers and enter through Gates 4 and 5. Expect standing, chants and direct afternoon sun.
• North hill
  The grass offers more freedom for families than a bleacher row, but sightlines flatten when the near end-zone action reaches the sideline.
• Accessible circulation
  The 2007 renovation added ramps, wheelchair locations and improved restrooms. Contact the ticket office before game day for the most suitable section.

Ball State expanded food and retail service in 2025. Stadium gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, leaving enough time to browse before the first rush.

• Rotating food trucks
  At least eight trucks operate around the inside perimeter at each game, with announced categories ranging from barbecue and chicken to doughnuts, ice cream and frozen treats.
• Digital payments
  Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are available at concessions, the spirit store and most food trucks. Carry a card as a backup for a vendor that lacks the same terminal.
• Barnes & Noble Spirit Store
  The shop sits just inside Gate 1 at the northwest corner and sells current Cardinals apparel and souvenirs.
• Line strategy
  Buy from a truck on the opposite side of the busiest student entry or during the first quarter. Halftime compresses a 22,500-seat crowd into a small number of service points.

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags may not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag is permitted.
• One non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may have a handle or strap.
• Medical items and diaper bags receive exceptions after inspection.
• Binoculars, smartphones and nonprofessional cameras may be carried without their cases.
• Large purses, coolers, backpacks, briefcases, fanny packs, mesh bags, tinted or patterned plastic bags and all oversized bags are prohibited.
• A noncompliant bag cannot be folded, rolled or placed inside an approved clear bag to pass inspection.
• Outside food and drink, alcohol, cans, coolers, umbrellas, artificial noisemakers, animals other than service animals and professional camera equipment are prohibited.
• Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, the campus is tobacco-free and tailgating ends when the game begins.