Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

The stadium is at 6 All American Drive on the University of Mississippi campus, less than a mile west of the Oxford Square. Highway 6 is the main regional route; Old Taylor Road, Jackson Avenue, University Avenue and West Oxford Loop feed different sides of town. Navigation apps cannot overcome the final road closures, so target parking rather than the stadium.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  From Memphis, most visitors use I-55 and Highway 6; from Tupelo, take Highway 6 west. Traffic stacks up at the Jackson Avenue and Old Taylor Road exits. Follow the current traffic map and expect a different postgame route.
• Parking
  Most campus lots require a digital football permit. Save it in the Ole Miss app or mobile wallet, enter by the assigned route and do not expect attendants to permit cross-campus access.
• Parking
  Free remote parking is commonly available at the Jackson Avenue Center and the South Oxford Campus, with Oxford University Transit shuttles to campus. Confirm the year’s exact lots before traveling.
• Parking
  The downtown parking garage provides a paid or regulated base near the Square and connects to a free gameday shuttle. It also leaves visitors near restaurants after the game.
• Parking
  Accessible parking and golf-cart assistance are provided through designated university zones. A valid state credential is required, and patrons should arrange ticket or mobility needs with Ole Miss before gameday.
• Parking
  Private residences, churches and businesses sell spaces around Oxford. Verify the operator, walking distance and whether the car can remain after the game before paying.
• Parking
  Do not park on neighborhood lawns, medians or campus grass without authorization. Towing and street restrictions are enforced.

Public Transit

• Oxford University Transit runs free football shuttles from the downtown garage and Jackson Avenue Center, with other remote stops announced by season. They are the best option without a campus pass.
• Inbound buses begin well before kickoff and postgame queues form at marked campus stops. Save the route name because multiple lines can load in the same area.
• Shuttles are affected by pedestrian traffic and cannot guarantee a last-minute arrival. Board early enough to see the Walk of Champions two hours before kickoff.
• Ordinary OUT routes may be modified for the event. Use the football map and staff directions rather than a weekday stop list.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Rideshare works best at the edge of campus or on the Square side of the closure. Do not pin Vaught-Hemingway’s gates.
• After the game, walk toward the Square, Jackson Avenue or another designated zone before requesting. Oxford’s limited driver supply creates long waits and high prices.
• Choose a named storefront or hotel as the meeting point and confirm the plate. Crowds on the Square make a dropped pin alone insufficient.
• For a group, the free shuttle and remote parking are generally more predictable than two surge-priced rides.

Plan at least four hours. The Grove is worth seeing even without a private invitation, and the Walk of Champions begins two hours before kickoff. Stadium gates generally open two hours before the game, so the team procession can flow naturally into entry.

Tailgating

• The Grove
  Ten acres of oak, elm and magnolia trees in the campus center hold thousands of tents. It is an elegant social scene but still public university ground; remain on walkways and do not enter a private tent uninvited.
• Friday setup
  The Grove opens for tent placement at the university’s announced Friday-evening time, traditionally 7 p.m. The “running of the tents” is controlled by security, and early placement is removed.
• The Circle
  The lawn around the Lyceum extends the Grove atmosphere into Ole Miss’s historic campus. Setup and fire rules may differ near buildings and monuments.
• Open flames and cooking are tightly restricted in the Grove. Most elaborate groups cook off-site or use catering, which explains the polished tables rather than rows of grills.
• Keep tents within the allowed footprint, avoid stakes or ropes that damage roots and leave broad pedestrian and emergency paths. Chandeliers and decorations must be safely powered.
• Alcohol is governed by university and state law. Glass is a poor choice around lawns and crowds; drink responsibly and never carry open containers into prohibited public zones.
• All equipment and trash must be removed by the published Sunday deadline. Turnkey operators can provide a tent, furnishings and catering for visitors.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• City Grocery
  Chef John Currence’s flagship on the Square serves refined Southern food, with a popular upstairs bar. Reserve dinner far ahead or visit the bar outside peak hours.
• Ajax Diner
  A casual Square institution for chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, casseroles and other Southern comfort food. It is popular with families and alumni and does not turn tables instantly.
• Bouré
  An upstairs Square restaurant with balconies, burgers, seafood and Creole-influenced dishes. The bar is lively and waits grow quickly.
• Big Bad Breakfast
  The Oxford-born breakfast concept serves biscuits, skillets, eggs and cocktails. Early arrival is essential on football mornings.
• Snackbar
  A compact oyster bar and restaurant blending Southern and French influences. Treat it as a Friday reservation rather than a gameday walk-in.
• Proud Larry’s
  A longtime music venue and pizzeria just off the Square. Check the concert schedule; it is useful for pizza before a show or a late weekend stop.
• Handy Andy Grocery
  A no-frills Oxford barbecue and burger counter known for smoked pork and ribs. It is away from the Square and best reached before traffic restrictions.
• Taylor Grocery
  South of Oxford in Taylor, this BYOB catfish restaurant is a regional pilgrimage rather than a pregame stop. Visit Friday and expect a wait.

• Walk of Champions
  Two hours before kickoff, players and coaches pass beneath the brick arch at the Grove’s east edge and follow a fan-lined path to the stadium’s north entrance.
• Hotty Toddy
  The rapid “Are You Ready?” cheer ends with “Hotty Toddy, gosh almighty, who the hell are we?” It appears at tailgates, band performances and major in-game moments.
• Pride of the South
  The Ole Miss marching band performs in and around the Grove before its field show, leading “Forward Rebels” and the school’s familiar cheers.
• Lock the Vaught
  The phrase describes filling and securing the home stadium atmosphere. It appears in official promotions and crowd prompts before major games.
• Tony the Landshark
  The costumed mascot reflects the “Landshark” defensive identity. Ole Miss teams remain the Rebels; the mascot avoids the university’s retired Colonel Reb imagery.
• Powder blue
  Though official colors are Yale blue and cardinal red, powder-blue helmets and clothing have become a modern fan favorite. Check the game’s announced color theme.
• North bell tower sequence
  The Lloyd Bell Tower and Jake Gibbs Letterwinner Walk form the ceremonial north entrance, with lighting and sound drawing fans from the Grove into the bowl.

• The Grove
  More than a tailgate lot, it is a central campus arboretum and Ole Miss’s defining public space. Its proximity lets fans move from tent to seat in minutes.
• Walk of Champions arch
  The 1998 brick arch commemorates the 1962 undefeated team and frames the team’s gameday route.
• Lloyd Bell Tower
  The north-plaza tower anchors the stadium’s modern front door and links the Grove path to the student end zone.
• Jake Gibbs Letterwinner Walk
  Plaques at the north approach honor Ole Miss athletes who lettered in varsity sports.
• Hollingsworth Field
  The playing surface honors donor Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth within the Vaught-Hemingway name.
• John Vaught statue
  The championship coach’s monument recognizes six SEC titles and the program’s claimed national-championship era.
• Three-board video system
  A large north display and two south boards surround the enclosed bowl and support coordinated game presentation.

History & Notable Moments

• Ole Miss students helped build the first wooden grandstand at the present site in 1915. Federally supported construction established a permanent 24,000-seat concrete stadium by 1941.
• The original Hemingway Stadium honored law professor and athletics committee leader Judge William Hemingway. John Vaught’s name was added in 1982.
• Ole Miss upset No. 3 Maryland 21–14 in 1952, one of the program’s first landmark home victories over a national power.
• Arkansas won 58–56 in seven overtimes in 2001, then the longest game in NCAA history and still one of the sport’s strangest marathons.
• The south-end expansion opened in 2002. Coordinated north and south work completed in 2016 enclosed the bowl, rebuilt premium areas and added video boards, restrooms and natural grass.
• No. 11 Ole Miss beat No. 1 Alabama 23–17 in 2014, the program’s first victory over a top-ranked team. Fans poured onto the field and carried away both goalposts.
• The permanent capacity is 64,038, while standing-room admissions have produced larger crowds. A record 68,138 attended the 2025 Florida game.

The Vaught is compact and relatively easy to understand. West-side seats gain shade before the east; the north end is student-dominated and loud. Upper sideline rows offer better formation views but are exposed to sun and weather.

• Lower sidelines
  Mid-height seats between the 20s provide the best overall angle. Low rows behind benches may be obstructed by standing personnel.
• North end zone
  The rebuilt student section creates the most active atmosphere and a direct view toward the south video boards.
• South end zone
  This area contains much of the premium inventory and offers a straight view toward the giant north display.
• Visitor seating
  Visiting allotments commonly occupy upper corners and selected lower sections. Confirm the game’s current map.
• Premium seating
  South Club, Field Club, Rebel Club, suites and club sections vary in chairbacks, climate-controlled rooms, food and field access.
• Accessibility
  ADA seats, elevators, accessible restrooms and companion positions are distributed around the stadium. Arrange exchanges before gameday.

Vaught-Hemingway is cashless and supports mobile ordering, kiosks and express beverage refills. Wi-Fi helps with ordering, but screenshots of the menu and ticket are still useful. Specialty items and locations vary by level.

• Mississippi flavors
  Barbecue, fried catfish, chicken, sausage and rotating Oxford partners provide regional options at selected stands.
• Core fare
  Hot dogs, burgers, pizza, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, candy and bottled drinks are widely available.
• Mobile ordering
  Place orders before halftime and collect at the assigned counter. Not every concession location participates.
• Alcohol
  Beer and approved beverages are sold at designated points under identification, purchase-limit and cutoff rules.
• Water
  Refill or express water stations support hot-weather games. Verify whether a sealed or empty bottle may enter under the current A–Z policy.
• Dietary needs
  Ask a supervisor about ingredients and shared cooking surfaces; contact guest services in advance for medical food requirements.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a clear one-gallon freezer bag is permitted.
• A small non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany the clear bag. Backpacks, coolers, camera bags and oversized purses are prohibited.
• Medically necessary bags are inspected at designated gates. Childcare supplies should otherwise be carried in an approved clear bag.
• Umbrellas, outside food and drinks, weapons, artificial noisemakers and professional camera equipment are prohibited. All guests pass through security screening.
• There is no reliable stadium storage. Leave unnecessary items in the vehicle before riding a remote shuttle.