UB Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

The primary airport serving the area is Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), located about 5 miles from UB's North Campus. By car, the drive from BUF to campus takes around 15–25 minutes depending on game-day traffic. From the airport, take Route 33 West to I-90 East, then I-290 West to Exit 5B (Millersport Highway, Route 263). Follow signs onto campus from there — the stadium is on the east side of North Campus.

If you'd rather skip driving, there are two NFTA bus stops on UB's North Campus, at Flint Circle and Coventry Loop. The 35 and 44 buses stop at Flint Circle, while only the 35 stops at Coventry Loop. Route 44 operates between University Metro Rail Station and Lockport via UB North Campus, Millersport and Transit. That means you can take the NFTA Metro Rail to University Station on UB's South Campus, then connect to the 44 bus out to North Campus — though this is a slow trip, roughly 45–60 minutes from downtown. For a game, rideshare is honestly the smarter call if you're coming from downtown Buffalo or the airport.

Here's the rare good-news section of the away fan guide: general public parking is free on game days — just follow all parking instructions while on campus. Reserved parking is available based on your participation in the Game Day Benefits Fund, and parking hangtags are required for lots directly adjacent to UB Stadium. In practical terms, that means donors get the primo spots near the south end, and everyone else fills in the broader campus lots. The Stadium Lot is adjacent to the south end of the stadium with access to Gates 1, 2, and 3. Arrive 90 minutes early and you'll find a spot without stress; show up 30 minutes before kickoff and you'll be hiking from the outer lots. The campus is large — budget a 10–15 minute walk from the far lots. There are no garages to worry about, and since most MAC games don't sell out, traffic in is rarely brutal.

The most convenient hotel cluster is right off I-290 along the Millersport Highway/Niagara Falls Boulevard corridor, which puts you a short drive — or even a walkable distance — from the stadium entrance. The Hampton Inn Buffalo-Amherst NY is one of the closest options (around 0.29 miles from nearby facilities), with the Comfort Inn University and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Buffalo-Amherst also within a mile. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Buffalo Amherst–University is on a quiet dead-end street just 0.5 miles from UB's North Campus and walkable to University Plaza. Budget travelers should note the Red Roof PLUS+ University at Buffalo on I-290 runs cheaper than the chains but gets the job done for a one-night game trip. Downtown Buffalo hotels are 20–25 minutes away by car and put you closer to the actual restaurant and bar scene — worth considering if you want to make a weekend of it.

Blue Bull Tavern (1300 Sweet Home Rd.) — Whether it's a Bulls football game or basketball game, everyone heads to Blue Bull Tavern, located five minutes from North Campus. It's everyone's favorite place to grab a beer and watch the game, and the tavern always offers food and drink specials during games. This is your pre-game headquarters as an away fan; it's a classic neighborhood bar without a lot of pretension.

Elmo's Bar and Restaurant (2349 Millersport Highway) — Elmo's is another popular spot for UB students to cheer on the Bulls, and was made famous by UB's own NFL star Khalil Mack, who was known to frequent this stop. It's low-key, the wings are legit, and being right on Millersport puts it on the natural path between the highway and campus.

Burrito Bay (2431 Millersport Highway) — Located near North Campus, Burrito Bay is the go-to spot for Mexican food around UB North, and they're open late with online ordering available. A sensible stop for a post-tailgate meal if you need something cheap and fast.

District 37 Kitchen & Taphouse — Yelp's top result for restaurants near UB, District 37 offers a sports-bar atmosphere with a taphouse setup and is a notch above the usual college-bar fare. Good call if you're traveling with people who'd rather have a real meal than wings.

No bags or backpacks can be brought into the venue. Small purses and diaper bags, accompanied by an infant, will be allowed. This is stricter than many MAC venues — there is no clear-bag exception here. Leave the drawstring bag in the car. Every guest with a bag that meets the requirements is subject to a baggage check, and all guests are also subject to a possible body pat-down. Students are encouraged not to bring large bags to games, though bags can be stored in lockers at Alumni Arena — lockers are on the first floor in the racquetball court area.

The UB Stadium ticket booths at the North and South ends open 2 hours prior to kickoff, and gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Away fans should head toward the south end gates (Gates 1, 2, 3) for the most direct route from Stadium Lot parking. There is a no re-entry policy at UB Stadium , so don't step out expecting to come back. Mobile-only tickets are now standard , so have your phone charged and your ticket pulled up in the UB Horns Up app before you join the gate line.

UB Stadium is an ADA-compliant venue, providing accessible entrances, walkways, ramps, elevators, and space for fans that require assistance. The handicapped accessible areas at UB Stadium are on the walkway separating the 100 level and the 200 level on either grandstand. For accessible seating, see an usher upon arrival — you do not need a specific ticket for the accessible area, and if you need a companion seat, ushers can set up a folding chair next to your space.

Accessible parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Stadium Lot, Alumni A Lot, and Arena Lot on game day, with additional spaces available in the Lower Slee parking area along with a shuttle that continuously loops to the stadium. The university provides a passenger shuttle that loops from the Alumni A and Slee parking lots to UB Stadium, dropping off fans in the Stadium Lot pre-game and picking up in the same location after the game.

The sideline seating areas consist of two main grandstands which hold 15,000 (7,500 each). A large bleacher grandstand in the southern end of the stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 10,000. As an away fan, the east grandstand (visitor side) is where you want to be — sideline seats in the upper rows give you the best sightlines and distance from the most vocal home sections. Avoid the south endzone bleachers if you're there to watch football; the track that circles the field adds significant distance between those seats and the action, and the angle is steep and cramped. The midfield sections in the east grandstand are your best bet: clean views, not overly hostile, and you can see the full field. If you're in a group, the outer north endzone bleachers are sparse enough that you'll often have room to spread out.

Concession stands and carts are located throughout UB Stadium and on both grandstand concourses. Expect standard college football fare — hot dogs, burgers, nachos — with beer running roughly $8–$10 and a basic meal around $10–$14. No alcohol of any kind can be brought into UB Stadium. The 50/50 raffle, concessions, and merchandise stands are all cashless , so leave the cash in your pocket and have a card or mobile wallet ready.

MAC football road trips are genuinely underrated, and UB is a fair example of why. The Bulls crowd can generate noise in a big home game — the Thunder of the East marching band is a consistent presence, energizing the crowd during pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows — but you're not walking into a hostile environment. The track surrounding the field is the thing that sneaks up on you: it makes the stadium feel less intimate than the seating capacity suggests, and it means even the lower rows have a bit of remove from the action. Away fans generally sit without incident, and UB students tend to be more interested in their own team's success than in making your day miserable. The one thing to prepare for is Western New York in October and November — this is an open-air bowl with no shelter, sitting in Amherst with lake-effect wind coming through. Layers are not optional.

By car: The Stadium Lot empties reasonably quickly because campus parking spreads the crowd across multiple lots. Head for the Millersport Highway (I-290 Exit 5B) exits — taking I-290 West from Exit 5B at Millersport Highway is the fastest route south toward the airport or downtown. Expect 15–25 minutes to reach a moving highway on a normal game day; worst case 35–40 minutes after a big sellout. Hang right out of the south end lots to avoid the main pedestrian flow.

By transit: The NFTA can be inconsistent; trips that take a few minutes by car can drag out considerably if buses aren't running smoothly. Post-game bus service on Routes 35 and 44 from Flint Circle is your only realistic transit option, but frequency drops after evening games. Wait 15–20 minutes after the final whistle to let the crowd thin before walking to the Flint Circle stop — trying to catch the first wave means standing in a crush.

By rideshare: Surge pricing will hit immediately after the final whistle. The smart move: wait 20–25 minutes inside or near the stadium, then request your ride. Walk toward the Alumni Arena side of campus — rideshare pickups are faster and cheaper a short distance from the main stadium exits. Expect $15–$25 to reach downtown or the I-290 corridor hotels on a normal night; $30–$40 if you try to leave with the first wave.

Opinionated tip: If you drove, stay for 10–15 minutes after the game ends, use the restroom, grab a water — the outer lots clear faster than you'd expect once the main crowd clears the main exits, and you'll merge onto Millersport in half the time.

What airport do I fly into?

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is located about 5 miles from UB's North Campus. It's the only practical option — Rochester (ROC) is nearly 60 miles away.

How do I get to UB Stadium without a car?

NFTA Bus Route 44 runs between University Metro Rail Station and Lockport via UB North Campus. Take the Metro Rail to University Station, then transfer to the 44 at Flint Circle. Budget at least 45–60 minutes from downtown. Rideshare is faster and more reliable on game day.

What is the bag policy?

No bags or backpacks are permitted. Small purses and diaper bags accompanied by an infant are allowed. There is no clear-bag allowance here — just leave it in the car entirely.

How much does parking cost?

General public parking is free on game days. Reserved lots close to the stadium require a donor hangtag.

What time do gates open?

UB Stadium gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Ticket booths open 2 hours before kickoff.

Do they accept cash?

Credit and debit cards are the preferred payment method; American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted. Concessions and the 50/50 raffle are cashless.

Where should away fans sit? The east grandstand sideline offers the best sightlines and is the traditional visiting fan side. Midfield upper rows are your best bet. Avoid the south endzone bleachers — the track creates too much distance from the field.

Can I re-enter if I leave?

There is a no re-entry policy at UB Stadium. Once you're out, you're out — plan accordingly before leaving your seat.