Milan Puskar Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Morgantown has one of the most unique transit systems in American college sports: the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), WVU's automated people-mover that connects riders to the Downtown, Evansdale, and Health Sciences campuses. The Health Sciences station is on the Health Sciences campus, close to Mountaineer Station — and that's your stop for the stadium. Non-WVU riders pay just $0.50 per ride. On game days, the PRT runs from 9:30 a.m. until one hour after the game, and there is no charge for PRT service on game days. The catch: the PRT is small and beloved, and it will be absolutely rammed on a big-game Saturday. Get there early or accept the queue. Replacing PRT service on game days would require the equivalent of 40 buses running every 2.5 minutes. That tells you everything about how hard this system works on Saturdays.

If you're driving in, from the south or north, take I-79 to the West Virginia University exit, number 155, cross the Star City bridge, proceed up Monongahela Boulevard toward the Coliseum, then turn left onto Patteson Drive and follow signs to the stadium. From the east, use I-68 to exit 7 (Pierpont Road). The nearest major airport is Pittsburgh International (PIT), about 75 miles north — plan on roughly 90 minutes in normal traffic, longer on game day. Charleston Yeager Airport (CRW) is about 95 miles south. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) works in Morgantown but availability is thin; book well in advance or you'll be watching surge pricing climb in real time. MountainLine buses also run from the Mountaineer Mall, beginning two hours before kickoff and running at least one hour after the game, for $3 round trip.

Parking near Puskar is a tiered system, and as of the 2024 season, all single-game parking lots operated by WVU Athletics are cashless — cards only. Here's the quick breakdown: fans can park in the Green Garage for $25/game (tailgating prohibited) or in the Green Lot for $45/game. The Gold and Purple lots also offer single-game parking at lower price points. Free parking for cars is available at the WVU Coliseum at Monongahela Boulevard and Patteson Drive, with shuttle service to the stadium at $4 per person round trip. RVs are welcome in the WVU Coliseum lot with an $80 permit, and for Saturday games, RV parking starts at 8 a.m. on the Friday before the game.

The Blue Lot is the coveted inner sanctum — those are mostly permit holders. Med Center Drive, directly in front of the stadium, is closed to general vehicular traffic and open only to Blue Lot permit holders. Your best bet as a visitor without a season permit is to park at the Coliseum (free), catch the shuttle, and skip the headache of trying to squeeze into a lot that will take 45 minutes to exit after the game anyway.

Morgantown is not a huge hotel city, and game-day weekends book out fast — sometimes months ahead for marquee matchups. The most practical area is downtown Morgantown, about a mile from the stadium and walkable via PRT. Downtown has the nightlife, the restaurants, and the easiest rideshare access for getting back after the game. Downtown Morgantown parking garages offer all-day parking for $5.00 when you pull a ticket up to six hours before kickoff, and you can leave your car parked until midnight or later depending on game time. That makes downtown hotels doubly convenient — park once and walk or PRT everywhere.

Many hotels are within walking distance of the football stadium, but they fill up fast; others are located in shopping districts, downtown, and near parking lots. The Suncrest area (near the mall) is a solid option if downtown is booked — free parking is available at the Suncrest Towne Centre for all home football games for fans looking to ride the shuttle. Budget chains cluster along I-79 and in the Westover area across the river — farther out, but $40–60 cheaper per night than downtown on a game weekend.

The Varsity Club (910 Don Nehlen Drive) is the one to know. It's across the street from the football stadium , and on game day it is standing-room, shoulder-to-shoulder packed. The WVU memorabilia and college décor is worth a visit even if you don't eat — order a schooner of beer and the homemade potato chips. Get there at least two hours before kickoff or resign yourself to the sidewalk.

Mario's Fishbowl has two locations (704 Richwood Avenue and 3117 University Avenue). They've been serving their frosty goblets for almost 70 years and have the authentic vibe of a true neighborhood bar. The University Ave. location is closest to the stadium. This is where the older alumni crowd goes — less chaotic than the stadium-adjacent options.

Kegler's Sports Bar & Lounge shows up on every local list for a reason — wall-to-wall TVs, solid bar food, and a welcoming crowd that's into the game rather than being into themselves. Kegler's is one of two WVU-themed sports bars close to Milan Puskar Stadium.

Iron Horse Tavern downtown is your best option if you want something beyond wings and beer. Located in the heart of downtown within the "Morgantown Mile," Iron Horse specializes in West Virginia craft beer and local ingredients. Good spot for a pre-game meal that won't leave you hunting for antacids by the third quarter.

Milan Puskar Stadium enforces a clear bag policy for all events. Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and cannot exceed 12" x 6" x 12", or one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags. Small clutch-style bags no larger than 6.5" x 4.5" are also allowed. Patrons are limited to one bag or one bag and one clutch per person.

Gates typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before kickoff. WVU has introduced walk-through metal detectors at the gates — fans don't need to empty their clear bags or pockets, and the system is designed to be completely pass-through for fast entry. An express lane is available at the east, west, and north gates for fans not carrying any items. If you're traveling light, use the express lane — it moves noticeably faster. Prohibited items include selfie sticks, drones, any non-compliant bag, alcoholic beverages, weapons, and laser pointers. Note that no hard containers or umbrellas are permitted inside; only unopened plastic containers of soft drinks and water are allowed in.

General wheelchair seating is located at the top of sections 100 and 131 and on the north end zone concourse. WVU student wheelchair seating is at the top of sections 109 and 110. Guests may exchange tickets for accessible seating at the WVU Coliseum Ticket Office in advance, or at the Milan Puskar Stadium North Gate ticket booth on game day.

Elevators are located at the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Gates. Two elevators are in the press box, and three are in the north end zone suite building. ADA access to the north end zone seating area is provided via elevators at the east and west entrances of the building. Single-game ADA parking is in the Green Lot on Van Voorhis Road, providing close proximity to the stadium, with a complimentary ADA-accessible shuttle running to the Southeast and Southwest gates. The 2016 east-side renovation and 2017 west-side renovation both included accessibility upgrades, so the concourses are wider and more navigable than older photos suggest.

There is no designated away fan section at Milan Puskar Stadium — visiting fans scatter throughout the general seating population, which means you're on your own in terms of your immediate neighbors. With that in mind, buy wisely. The West Virginia Mountaineers' sideline runs in front of sections 124–127, while the opposing team's sideline is in front of sections 104–107. Sitting near the visitor bench (sections 104–107) gives you something to watch when the game is going sideways and you'd rather stare at a sideline than feel 60,000 eyes on you.

For the best overall view, sections 105–106 or 125–126 at the 50-yard line offer proximity to the action without the premium sideline price. If you're going with a group of visiting fans, aim for the upper rows of the end zone sections (131–133 range) — you'll find more mixed crowds up there, better prices, and you can at least cluster together. Avoid sections 115–120, which tend to be deep in student territory. The Family FunZone is an alcohol-free and profanity-free area located in section 133 — worth knowing if you're bringing kids, though the crowd noise still reaches you up there.

All concession stands and portable food carts accept the four major credit cards , and as of the 2024 season, it's fully cashless — leave the cash in your wallet. Beer, wine, and malt beverages are available for purchase along the concourse inside the gates, but alcohol sales conclude with 7:30 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Expect to pay around $10–12 for a stadium beer and $8–12 for a basic meal item. If you're wandering around Morgantown pre-game, grab a pepperoni roll — it's a genuine West Virginia staple and tastier than anything you'll find inside the gates.

Milan Puskar Stadium can be quite hostile to opposing fanbases. This isn't manufactured hostility — it's genuine, loud, and personal in the way only college football crowds can be. The stadium is open-air and built into a hillside, which traps sound in a way that surprises first-timers; the noise during a third-down stop is legitimately disorienting. What away fans often don't anticipate is the pregame: the "Pride of West Virginia" marching band performs a pregame routine that includes the shape of West Virginia being formed by the performers — it's legitimately impressive, and even visiting fans tend to watch it with respect. The moment "Take Me Home, Country Roads" fires up — which it will, win or lose — the entire stadium sings it in full, and the sound is one of the genuinely memorable things in college football. Enjoy it even if the scoreboard is not your friend.

By PRT: The PRT operates for one hour after the conclusion of any home football game that extends past normal operating hours. The catch is capacity — those small railcars fill instantly. Wait at least 25–30 minutes after the final whistle before heading to the Health Sciences station. The queue shrinks fast once the first wave clears.

By car: The lots immediately adjacent to the stadium are a parking-lot traffic jam for 45–60 minutes post-game. If you parked at the Coliseum, you'll reach a moving road faster — heading out via I-79 north or south, take the WVU exit 155, cross the Star City bridge and head to Monongahela Boulevard . I-79 clears up within about 3 miles of the Morgantown exits; your pain window is mostly the surface streets.

By rideshare: Surge pricing is real and dramatic in the 30 minutes after a game. Wait it out at a bar — seriously, the prices can drop by half if you give it 45 minutes. When you do call a ride, walk two or three blocks away from the stadium gates rather than requesting pickup at the obvious drop zone. Drivers waiting on Patteson Drive get gridlocked; one who picks you up near Evansdale Crossing or on a side street will actually reach you.

The one move that beats everything: Shuttle service from remote lots begins two hours before kickoff and return trips start at the beginning of the fourth quarter. If you parked at Suncrest Towne Centre and catch the return shuttle during the fourth quarter, you'll be on the highway before most people have found their car.

How do I get to Milan Puskar Stadium without a car?

On game days, fans take the PRT directly to the stadium — it transports fans right to Mountaineer Field. Board at the Walnut Street station in downtown Morgantown and ride to the Health Sciences stop. PRT service is free on game days.

What is the bag policy at Milan Puskar Stadium?

Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and cannot exceed 12" × 6" × 12", or one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag size. Small clutch-style bags no larger than 6.5" × 4.5" are also permitted. One bag per person.

How much does parking cost at Milan Puskar Stadium?

The Green Garage is $25/game (no tailgating); the Green Lot is $45/game (tailgating allowed). Free parking is available at the WVU Coliseum with a paid shuttle to the stadium. All lots are cashless as of 2024.

When do the gates open?

Gates typically open between 90 minutes and 2 hours before kickoff. Give yourself buffer time if you want to see the pregame band performance, which is genuinely worth it.

Where are the best seats for away fans?

The opposing team's sideline is in front of sections 104–107. Upper rows of sections 131–133 (south end zone) give you mixed crowds, lower prices, and the ability to cluster with fellow visiting fans.

Is Milan Puskar Stadium cashless? Yes. As of the 2024 football home opener, all single-game parking lots went cashless. All concession stands and portable food carts accept the four major credit cards. Bring a card; leave the cash behind.

What's the nearest airport? Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the closest major airport, roughly 75 miles north of Morgantown — about 75–90 minutes in normal driving conditions, longer on game day. Charleston Yeager (CRW) is another option at roughly 95 miles to the south.

Are there ADA accommodations at Milan Puskar Stadium?

General wheelchair seating is at the top of sections 100 and 131 and on the north end zone concourse. Elevators are located at the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Gates. ADA parking is available in the Green Lot, with a complimentary accessible shuttle to the Southeast and Southwest gates.