Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium

The stadium address is 3200 George Busbee Parkway NW, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144. Interstate 75 Exit 271/Chastain Road is the principal approach; George Busbee Parkway and Big Shanty Road surround the sports park. The Town Center commercial district adds ordinary weekend traffic, so prepay for a lot and approach the address printed with that product.

Driving & Parking

• Black Lot
  At 634 Big Shanty Road NW, Black is the primary prepaid game-day and reserved-tailgate area. Recent online parking has cost $25, with purchases closing on game morning.
• Grey Lot
  The KSU Center lot at 3333 Busbee Drive has recently cost $20 online or $25 on game day when space remains. It also handles prepaid RV and bus parking.
• Purple Lot
  Town Point at 3391 Town Point Drive has offered $25 credit-card-only sales in person. Use the event shuttle rather than walking along busy roads if directed.
• Season lots
  Gold, Tan, Black and Grey include season-pass inventory, while Green is student overflow and White requires a pass. Do not enter a color lot based on an old map.
• Accessible parking
  Public ADA spaces are in the Student Center Visitor Lot on the main campus, with the Big Owl Bus boarding near the Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center. Gold also offers limited accessible inventory with the proper paid pass.
• Buy before game day
  KSU strongly encourages advance purchase, and some inventory is removed from sale on game morning. The closer lots can fill before casual arrivals reach Busbee Drive.

Public Transit

• Big Owl Bus
  Football routes begin about three and a half hours before kickoff and continue for two hours after the game. Campus Loop, Marietta campus, Town Point and selected apartment routes add a stadium stop.
• Stadium stop
  Game-day shuttles use the CCT stop on George Busbee Drive outside the venue. Save the route name because several buses share the curb.
• CobbLinc connection
  Rapid 10 and Routes 40 and 45 serve Busbee Park-and-Ride at 3221 Busbee Drive, close to the sports park. Check the Saturday or weekday timetable and last trip before relying on it.
• MARTA transfer
  There is no rail station in Kennesaw. Regional riders can connect through CobbLinc, but the multi-leg trip is slower and more schedule-sensitive than driving.
• Student benefit
  KSU students with valid ID ride CobbLinc free on participating routes, but visiting fans should be prepared to pay the normal fare.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use the stadium's George Busbee Drive side and obey the current police-controlled drop point rather than directing the driver into Gold or Black lot traffic.
• The CCT/Big Owl Bus stop is a recognizable landmark, but event staff may preserve it for buses. Accept a nearby legal handoff when directed.
• After the game, walk toward Town Point or another open commercial-area curb before requesting if George Busbee Parkway is congested.
• Confirm the license plate carefully. Multiple venues, parking lots and apartment routes cluster along Busbee, and the stadium's long official name may place the app pin inconsistently.

Owl Town begins about two and a half hours before kickoff as a free, family-friendly tailgate along the stadium district, with sponsor activities, music, games and occasional food. About two hours before kickoff, the football buses reach Busbee Drive at the Green Lot entrance for Owl Walk. The Marching Owls and spirit squads lead the team through fans toward the stadium. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.

Tailgating

• Black reserved area
  Single-game tailgate packages include a parking space plus room for a personal 10-by-10-foot canopy. They must be purchased online at least 48 hours before the event.
• Owl Town
  This free public fan zone is the simplest solution for visitors without equipment. Its precise footprint and food offerings can change by game.
• Student tailgate
  Student activities near the practice fields often add free food, games and giveaways before the Owl Walk and runout.
• Alumni events
  Colleges and alumni groups use the Owl's Nest practice fields for registered pregame gatherings. Admission or food may require an RSVP even when the surrounding fan zone is free.
• RV and buses
  Oversized vehicles use a prepaid Grey Lot product rather than an ordinary automobile space.
• Protect the park
  Keep tents and games within the purchased footprint, preserve emergency lanes and follow the current rules for grills, alcohol and cleanup.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Big Pie in the Sky
  This Kennesaw favorite on Baker Road is known for oversized New York-style pies and the enormous Carnivore Challenge. A slice works better than the challenge before kickoff.
• Taco Mac
  The Chastain Road-area sports bar offers wings, burgers, a deep beer list and abundant screens, making it a practical meeting point near I-75.
• Pisano's Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
  A neighborhood choice for pizza, pasta and beer northwest of the stadium, useful for groups seeking table service.
• Marlow's Tavern
  The Kennesaw location provides polished pub food and cocktails for visitors who prefer a quieter pregame meal than the fan zone.
• Town Center district
  The mall and Barrett Parkway corridor contain numerous chain restaurants. They are convenient but can produce significant Saturday traffic, so leave ample time to reach the assigned lot.

• Owl Walk
  Two hours before kickoff, supporters line Busbee Drive near the Green Lot entrance as the Marching Owls and spirit squads escort the team from its buses.
• “Hooty Hoo”
  The program's signature call echoes between students, band and crowd and appears throughout KSU football branding.
• Scrappy the Owl
  Kennesaw State's mascot moves between Owl Town, the student tailgate and the field, leading chants and photo stops.
• Flight runout
  At selected openers, thousands of first-year students in class-year jerseys run onto the field before the team, creating a young tradition tied to each incoming “Flight.”
• Marching Owls
  The band powers Owl Walk, pregame and halftime and leads the KSU fight song after scores.
• Black and gold themes
  Whiteouts, gold-outs and other opponent-specific promotions shape the visual atmosphere; check the current schedule before choosing colors.

• Soccer-style sightlines
  Rossetti designed the original bowl without a distant football track, leaving the low stands remarkably close to each sideline.
• North stage deck
  The permanent platform supports concerts, ceremonies and special presentations while forming an unconventional end-zone backdrop.
• Walens Family Field
  A $4 million gift from Dave and Donna Walens named the surface in 2025, adding a philanthropic identity within the Fifth Third sponsorship.
• Kennesaw Mountain view
  The mountain and northwest Georgia ridgeline give upper rows a scenic horizon beyond the suburban sports park.
• Sports and Entertainment Park
  A nine-acre lake, walking trail, practice fields and recreation space surround the stadium, reinforcing its community-event role.

History & Notable Moments

• Grand opening (2010)
  The $16.5 million soccer-specific stadium opened to the public on May 2; the Atlanta Beat hosted Sky Blue FC one week later.
• Women's College Cup (2011)
  The stadium hosted the NCAA Division I soccer championship weekend.
• Football debut (2015)
  Kennesaw State routed Edward Waters 58–7 before 9,506 in the first Owl football home game.
• FBS home opener (2024)
  A sellout 11,040 watched Louisiana spoil KSU's first FBS home date.
• First FBS victory (2024)
  The Owls stunned unbeaten Liberty 27–24 on a Wednesday night, producing the stadium's defining football celebration.
• Field naming (2025)
  KSU formally introduced Walens Family Field during the home opener against Merrimack.

The venue's modest scale makes every section viable, but west-side expansion, premium products and the student areas create different experiences. Review the current seating map because older diagrams may predate the 2024 FBS work. Metal detectors operate at entry, and gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.

• West sections 101–111
  The expanded west side provides traditional sideline views and the stadium's principal public concourse. Central rows balance field perspective with a short climb.
• East sideline
  The opposite stand remains close to the bench area and Eat Street, where local food trucks and first aid have operated.
• Student section
  Free claimed tickets place students in the most animated area, with frequent standing and direct access to student-tailgate energy.
• Suites and loges
  Premium credentials use the Georgia Natural Gas Gate and may include indoor or patio hospitality. Confirm food, parking and access inclusions.
• Accessible seating
  Arrange a location through the KSU Ticket Office in advance. All public restrooms are accessible, and the main-campus ADA shuttle connects to the stadium.
• Weather exposure
  Most seats are uncovered. Umbrellas cannot enter, so use sunscreen or rain gear and follow video-board instructions during lightning.

Fifth Third Stadium is cashless. Premier Events operates permanent stands with familiar stadium food while local trucks and temporary vendors expand the choices. The compact concourse can tighten near halftime, making the 90-minute gate window useful for an early meal.

• Stadium standards
  Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, soft drinks and water provide quick, dependable choices.
• Eat Street
  The east-concourse area hosts rotating local vendors and food trucks, giving the building more variety than its size suggests.
• Premium service
  Suites and loges may offer catered or private purchasing options; inclusions depend on the ticket package.
• Cashless payment
  Carry a card or compatible mobile wallet. An ATM has historically stood just inside the southwest Gate A, but cash withdrawn there does not guarantee acceptance at a stand.
• Outside food and water
  Neither outside food nor bottled water may enter. Purchase inside and plan around the no-reentry rule.

• Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or one clear one-gallon freezer bag.
• One small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches is allowed with or without a strap. Childcare items, including diapers, must be carried in an approved clear bag.
• Medically necessary bags are permitted after specialized inspection at the Georgia Natural Gas Gate. Contact KSU in advance for unusual equipment.
• Backpacks, ordinary purses, coolers, opaque totes and noncompliant bags are prohibited. Seat cushions with backs, umbrellas, bottles, cans, outside food and drink, weapons and artificial noisemakers are also barred.
• Personal cameras are allowed, but large detachable lenses, tripods and video equipment require promoter approval. Leave cases outside unless they fit the clear-bag rule.
• There is no reentry. Download the digital ticket, travel lightly and return rejected property to the vehicle rather than abandoning it at a gate.