Centennial Bank Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Jonesboro is a driving town, full stop. There is no light rail, no commuter train, and no Uber Pool with 14 options. Your realistic choices are: drive yourself, rideshare, or take the city bus — and on game days, the city actually makes that last option pretty easy.

The closest airport to Jonesboro is Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), located about 3.3 miles from the city center. JBR is a small regional airport, so most away fans will fly into Memphis International Airport (MEM) — roughly 70 miles west — and drive or shuttle into Jonesboro. That's about a 75-90 minute drive on I-555 South depending on traffic. Rent a car at MEM; there's no practical intercity transit from Memphis to Jonesboro on game day.

For transit within Jonesboro, the city recently rebranded its bus system. The GOJO brand was officially unveiled in March 2026, but continues to provide the same reliable transit services, now enhanced with new technology and expanded routes. More importantly for game day visitors: GOJO operates the Red Wolves Express for every home football game, with pick-up locations downtown at Cate & Church Streets and on campus near The Yard restaurant. Pick-up times begin two hours before game time, return trips begin following halftime and end 15 minutes after the game, and drop-off/pick-up is at Gate W-3. Regular fares are $1.25 each way for adults ($2.50 round trip), or $0.60 for students under 18, seniors, and disabled passengers. For away fans staying downtown, the Red Wolves Express is genuinely useful — cheap, direct, and drops you at the gate.

The stadium address is 2180 Aggie Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) is available in Jonesboro; request from the pickup zone near the east or north gates rather than directly at the main entrance where departing cars clog things up.

By bus/Red Wolves Express: Return trips on the Red Wolves Express begin following halftime and end 15 minutes after the end of the game, going to the downtown stop first. If you're staying downtown, stick around for 10 minutes post-game and grab the shuttle — it's the smartest exit in this town and avoids the parking-lot crawl entirely.

By car: The First National Bank Arena lot (your best parking option) exits directly onto the campus road network and drains faster than the inner stadium lots. Expect 15–25 minutes to reach moving traffic after a full game. The lots closest to the stadium, particularly on the west side, can take 30–40 minutes on a full-crowd night. If you parked in an outer lot off Aggie Road, you have a faster shot at catching Stadium Blvd north to reach US-49 or I-555. The one opinionated tip: do not sit in your car waiting for traffic to clear — walk to JTown's for 20 minutes post-game and come back to a half-empty lot.

By rideshare: Surge pricing in Jonesboro post-game is real but not brutal — expect 1.5x to 2x normal rates in the first 20 minutes after the final whistle. Walk one block away from the stadium entrance toward the east parking lots and request your ride from there rather than the main gate — you'll get a driver faster and pay less. Give it 15–20 minutes after the final whistle if you want to skip the surge entirely.

This is a college campus, which means parking is spread across a collection of surface lots with minimal signage explaining which pass gets you where. Ample parking is available in the lots surrounding Centennial Bank Stadium. Parking passes for designated lots can often be purchased in advance through the A-State Ticket Office or the Red Wolves Foundation. Buying in advance is smart — the closest donor lots do fill up for marquee games, but for a typical Sun Belt home game this isn't the scramble you'd find at an SEC stadium.

Fans without passes can park at the nearby basketball arena (First National Bank Arena) for around $10, and enjoy a very short walk to the football field. That's probably the best general-admission parking tip available — easy in, easy out, and the walk is maybe five minutes. General lot prices around campus typically run $10–$20; premium donor lots closer to the stadium go for more but require advance passes tied to donation levels.

Arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff if you want a good lot. After that, you're hunting for whatever's left on the campus periphery.

If you're planning to be in town overnight, there are plenty of hotels south of campus along I-555. The options in this area range from higher-end accommodations like Holiday Inn to more budget-friendly choices such as FairBridge Inn & Suites. The I-555 corridor is your sweet spot — you're 5-10 minutes from campus by car, rates are reasonable, and you're not stuck in the middle of post-game parking-lot gridlock. Rates for a Saturday night during football season typically run $100–$180 for a decent chain hotel; book weeks in advance for bigger games.

With a population approaching 80,000, Jonesboro is the fifth-largest city in Arkansas and the economic and cultural heart of the region, which means there's actually a real hotel infrastructure here. The Embassy Suites on campus is the most convenient option for fans who want to walk to the game; it's more expensive but you can't beat the location. Downtown Jonesboro, about 3 miles from campus, has a more interesting bar and restaurant scene if you want to spend Saturday night somewhere livelier than a hotel hallway.

JTown's Grill is the obvious pregame anchor. It's located practically across the street from Centennial Bank Stadium; you can even sit on the patio and see the field. JTown's offers traditional bar & grill fare such as pizza, burgers, steak, nachos, and sandwiches, as well as local favorites like spinach and crawfish dip. It's the de facto "5th Quarter" bar after games too — the official recommendation from the university itself is to head to JTown's Grill following the game for the 5th Quarter. Expect a crowd after the final whistle.

Que 49 Smokehouse is worth the short drive — it's about 1.1 miles from the stadium on Red Wolf Boulevard and locals rate it among the best BBQ in town. In northeastern Arkansas, that's not faint praise.

Lost Pizza Co. on Southwest Drive is a Jonesboro staple and the location of the coaches' radio show during the week. Good regional pizza chain with a deep beer selection — solid pregame option.

Downtown Jonesboro has a handful of local spots worth exploring if you're staying the night. One downtown spot is described as a historic spot with a mix of great food, live music, and a New Orleans-style atmosphere — a welcome change from the chain corridor out by the highway.

While the surrounding area offers plenty of options, the stadium itself also delivers a satisfying culinary experience.

The stadium has 21 different concession stands under the seats on the east and west sides, and the prices are very reasonable. Main dishes include multiple hot dog and brat varieties (including mango habanero), smoked sausage, BBQ sandwiches, brisket, turkey legs, burgers, Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches, Godfather's pizza, and nachos with several meat options. Drinks run about $3 for bottles, $5 for large fountain sodas and sweet tea — and there is no alcohol sold at Centennial Bank Stadium. That last fact is worth knowing before you arrive expecting a cold beer; plan accordingly at JTown's pregame.

Centennial Bank Stadium strictly adheres to a clear bag policy to enhance fan safety and expedite entry. Only clear bags meeting specific size requirements are permitted. Small, hand-held clutches (4.5" x 6.5") are also an acceptable option. Standard NCAA-style enforcement: if it's not clear or clutch-sized, leave it in the car.

Gate opening times can vary by event, but for Red Wolves football games, gates typically open 90 minutes to 2 hours prior to kickoff.

There are entrances on three sides — two on the south end and one in the northwest corner. None of them typically get completely overwhelmed given the attendance levels, but arriving within 45 minutes of kickoff on a warm evening can back things up. The north entrance near the archway is the main ceremonial entrance — worth walking through once, but the south gates are usually faster for entry. Away fans don't have a formally designated section, so pick your seats on the visitor-facing east side if you want to cluster with your crew.

Disabled seating is available at the top of the stands on each of the three sides, connected by a sidewalk with a gentle slope. This puts accessible seating at the top of the bowl with wide sightlines — not a bad view, but you're a long way from the field. The main accessible entry points are on the south end of the stadium where grade changes are minimal.

Per stadium connection data, the press box elevator is noted as "No" for general public access, and wheelchair access is rated as "Fair." In practical terms, the concourse is generally navigable but the older sections of the stadium weren't built with modern ADA standards in mind. If you have specific accessibility needs, contact the A-State Athletics office before gameday to confirm current accommodations — the Centennial Expansion did improve the west-side concourse significantly, and that's where you'll find the most modern amenities.

The stadium has grandstands on three sides, with the ASU Football Facility taking up the south end zone. The facility has regular seating on three sides, with only box seats in the south end zone inside the ASU Football Facility.

Away fans don't have a formal dedicated section, so pick strategically. The east side upper deck is the best call — you're looking across the field at the press box and the renovated west-side premium areas, sightlines are clean from the 20s through the 40-yard line, and you'll naturally cluster with other visiting fans who figured out the same thing. Avoid the extreme north end zone corners; the angle gets bad quickly. The west side has the best afternoon shade, which matters enormously for September and early October day games in Arkansas — but those are home crowd premium seats, so east side it is for away fans. Bring sunscreen for afternoon kickoffs.

Sections in the 100s (lower east) give you closer views and a more immersive atmosphere; sections in the 200s (upper east) give you better sightlines and a bit of distance from the home crowd energy.

Away fans traveling to Centennial Bank Stadium should prepare for a lively atmosphere that is firmly against them.

Jonesboro is genuinely welcoming to visiting fans by mid-major college football standards — this isn't a hostile environment, and the average attendance at Centennial Bank Stadium is a little over 20K, or about two-thirds full, so there's plenty of space and the crowd intensity scales with the opponent. What will actually catch you off guard is the mascot entrance: the mascot Howl leads the team onto the field riding a motorcycle, and throughout the game you'll hear wolf howls on the PA celebrating big plays. It's legitimately fun even if it's happening against your team. The concourse is easy to navigate, there are so many concession stands and more than enough bathrooms that lines are essentially non-existent. One honest note of caution: they seem to close some bathrooms early, so make sure you go before the fourth quarter.

What's the best way to get to Centennial Bank Stadium without a car? Take the GOJO Red Wolves Express gameday shuttle. Pick-up locations are downtown at Cate & Church Streets and on campus near The Yard, starting two hours before game time, dropping off and picking up at Gate W-3. It's the easiest and cheapest option for away fans staying downtown.

What airport should I fly into?

The closest airport is Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), about 3.3 miles from the city center, but it has limited commercial service. Most travelers fly into Memphis International Airport (MEM) and drive roughly 75–90 minutes on I-555.

What is the bag policy at Centennial Bank Stadium?

The stadium strictly adheres to a clear bag policy to enhance fan safety and expedite entry. Clear bags meeting size requirements are permitted, as are small clutch purses (4.5" x 6.5"). No oversized opaque bags.

How much does parking cost?

Parking near the basketball arena is around $10 and offers a very short walk to the football field. Campus lots closer to the stadium run $15–$25, with premium donor lots requiring advance passes.

When do the gates open?

For Red Wolves football games, gates typically open 90 minutes to 2 hours prior to kickoff.

Where are the best seats for away fans? There's no formally designated away section. The upper east side (200-level, roughly sections 205–215 between the 20-yard lines) offers clean sightlines and is where visiting fans naturally congregate. Avoid the south end zone corners.

Is alcohol available inside the stadium?

No. There is no alcohol sold at Centennial Bank Stadium. Make your pre-game beverage plans at JTown's Grill or another nearby bar before kickoff.

Is the stadium ADA accessible?

Accessible seating is available at the top of the stands on each of the three sides, connected by a sidewalk with a gentle slope. Contact the A-State Athletics office in advance if you need specific accommodations beyond standard accessible seating.