Can you take your purse in the stadium? How late can you tailgate? When’s that fireworks show again?
There’s lots to know before the first pitch. Whether it’s your first time attending, or you’re a College World Series veteran, here’s a run-down guide and everything you need to know to prepare for the CWS.
What’s the schedule?
» The daylong Opening Celebration kicks everything off Friday, and games are every day, from Saturday through June 23. The three-game championship series starts June 25 .
Saturday: Game 1, Oregon State vs. North Carolina, 2 p.m.; Game 2, Mississippi State vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Game 3, Arkansas vs. Texas, 1 p.m.; Game 4, Florida vs. Texas Tech, 6 p.m.
Monday: Game 5, 1 p.m.; Game 6, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Game 7, 1 p.m.; Game 8, 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Game 9, 6 p.m.
Thursday: Game 10, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 22: Game 11, 2 p.m.; Game 12, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 23: Game 13, 2 p.m.; Game 14, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 24: 8 a.m., Road to Omaha Run benefiting the Omaha Parks Foundation; to register, go to ncaa.com/cws
Monday, June 25: CWS Finals Game 1, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 26: Finals Game 2, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 27: Finals Game 3 (if necessary), 6 p.m.
» Fan Fest presented by Capital One will be open every day of the CWS. It features food trucks, vendors, a Ferris wheel and more. It opens two hours before each day’s first game in Lot C at 10th and Mike Fahey Streets and runs until the day’s second game of the day starts.
» The annual College Home Run Derby is June 30 at 7 p.m.
What’s planned for the Opening Celebration?
» Open team practices are 9:10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. New teams will take the field every hour. Players will be available for autographs for 45 minutes, starting 30 minutes after team practice. For a list of team practices, go here.
» Parade of Teams starts at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium. All eight teams will march east from Mike Fahey Street to TD Ameritrade Park.
» Opening ceremonies start about 8:45 p.m. Friday at TD Ameritrade Park. The free event will feature team introductions, U.S. Golden Knights parachute team, LOCASH concert and fireworks.
Where can you park?
» Parking is available near TD Ameritrade Park in Lot A, for $10, or the CenturyLink Center garage for $12. Don’t try parking in Lots B or D unless you have premium seats or are a season ticket holder. Accessible parking is available free-of-charge in Lots A and B on a first-come, first-served basis.
» All stadium lots will open at 8 a.m. on CWS game days and will close 90 minutes after the event. There’s no overnight parking allowed at any TD Ameritrade Park or CenturyLink Center lot.
» No motor homes (or other RVs) will be admitted at the TD Ameritrade Park/CenturyLink Center lots either.
» City surface lots, garages, metered spaces and Creighton University are available for parking. If you leave your quarters at home, you can use the ParkOmaha app to pay the meters. Sunday is free at meters.
» There is a bicycle valet on Mike Fahey Street between 13th and 14th. For motorcycles, park on Mike Fahey Street along 14th.
Where can I tailgate?
» Tailgating is allowed at all TD Ameritrade Park, CenturyLink Center and Creighton University parking lots
» Tailgaters must stay within parking stalls and can’t stake any tents into the ground. For safety purposes, all tents and equipment must be put away before entering the stadium. For more information, go here.(tncms-asset)53f4559a-6f37-11e8-87c8-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)
what about shuttle buses?
Want to get to the game but not worry about parking? The City of Omaha offers a few options every day of the tournament, including a Stadium Circulator shuttle bus, regular Metro bus routes and a rent-a-bike program with drop-off and pick-up stations throughout Omaha.
Stadium Circulator
For 25 cents a ride, the Stadium Circulator bus might be the best option, looping through downtown.
» Runs every 10 minutes
» For the Opening Celebration, it will run from 9:30 a.m. to 30 minutes after the festivities end; on game days, it will run two hours before the first game and two hours after the last out of the last game of the day.
» Pick-up and drop-off locations include downtown hotels, the Old Market, CWS Fan Fest and the ballpark. For more, go here.(tncms-asset)5f7706b6-6f27-11e8-9c5b-00163ec2aa77[1](/tncms-asset)
Grab A Buick
On opening weekend, check in at any Grab A Buick tent for a free ride.
» Grab A Buick vehicles are available 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
» Locations are 322 S. 10th St. and outside of CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St.
» Rides must be within a 7-mile radius of hubs, and can’t take fans to private homes. Drivers won’t wait for fans to run inside an establishment. No eating or open containers in the vehicles.
How do you get tickets?
» Only single reserved seats are still available to purchase directly from the NCAA in advance. More seating options can be found on secondary ticket sites, such as the NCAA Ticket Exchange or StubHub.
» General admission ticket books are also on sale online, by phone and in person at the CenturyLink Center box office. A $90 ticket book includes 10 tickets, which can be used all at one game or at separate games.
» General admission seating is in the outfield bleachers in sections 125 to 136. The first 5,500 people will get seats. Additional ticket holders may be allowed in as standing room only. Accessible seating is first-come, first-served.
» Trying to find last-minute tickets? Every day during the CWS, a limited number of reserved seats can be bought at 10 a.m. at the TD Ameritrade Park box office. Tickets are limited to four tickets per person, per game, and are sold through a random drawing.
