Five Things to Know: Western Oregon
9/13/2024 2:02:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly football is back on the Central Coast as the Mustangs host Western Oregon on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN+ and on ESPN Radio 1280AM/101.7FM and GoPoly.com.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with tailgating starting at 11 a.m. followed by the Stampede BBQ opening at 2:30 and the traditional Stampede March where the team walks down to the stadium happening at 3 p.m.
Get ready for gameday with five things you need to know for the home opener:
New Concessions Area
Saturday’s game will mark the grand opening of the Cal Poly Partners Plaza. This newly renovated side of the north end zone is a 14,200 square foot, tiered pavilion that offers fans a great atmosphere to watch the game from.
There are multiple food and beverage kiosks, a new entrance gate, and a lawn area that is a great place for kids to play with games provided.
Mobile Ticketing
This year, Cal Poly ticketing is going mobile. Be sure to download your mobile ticket to your wallet before you arrive at the stadium. This eliminates the variable of not having strong Wi-Fi around the stadium and not being able to download it. Mobile tickets were sent to your email at the time of purchase. Click here for more information on downloading mobile tickets.
Pregame Festivities
There are plenty of things to do before the game starts. You can purchase a permit to tailgate at the stadium, which starts at 11 a.m. or you can buy tickets to the Stampede BBQ which opens at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for those can be bought at GoPoly.com/tickets.
The Rock
A memorial plaque honoring members of the 1960 Cal Poly football team who lost their lives in a plane crash at Toledo Airport was dedicated in June 1967 at what was then called Mustang Stadium. Landscaping of the area in the northeast corner of the facility was done by about 40 students from the landscape and design class of the Ornamental Horticulture Department at Cal Poly under the direction of instructors Anthony Amato and Wes Conner.
The 10-by-20-inch bronze plaque includes the names of the 16 Cal Poly football players and the team manager with the inscription, "In memory of the Cal Poly football players who lost their lives in the plane crash, Toledo, Ohio, October 29, 1960."
About 20 minutes prior to each home game, Cal Poly football players pay tribute to the 1960 football team at the memorial rock with a speech and prayer. This year, the rock is located on the lawn by the northeast entrance to the stadium.
30 Year Anniversary of Being Division I
This season marks 30 years since Cal Poly went from Division II to Division I in 1994. It is also the 993rd game in Cal Poly history and 333rd since moving to Division I. The Mustang football program won a Division II national championship in 1980, the first team to do so.
