(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The University of Central Missouri will adhere to the same football tailgating procedures for the upcoming 2012 football season that were installed prior to the 2011 football season.

All designated tailgate lots will open three hours prior to kickoff and will stay open through the end of halftime. The pre-game tailgate tent for Mule Train donors will still open two hours prior to game time and will be open to all levels of Mule Train donors.

The tailgate tent for all Mule Train donors will once again be held in the grass area above lot S42, which is located directly west of Walton Stadium on the west side of Washington Street. Mule Train donors at the “Wagon Master” level ($6,000 donation and up) will be sent a red parking pass, which will allow them to park in lot S42 or any other designated Mule Train lot.

Mule Train members at the “Swing Team” level and above ($750 donation to $6,000 donation) will be sent a white parking pass which will allow them to park in Mule Train lots S41, which is located on the north side of King Street just north of the Multipurpose Building, or lot FS13 on the corner of Washington Street and McGoodwin Street, just west of the UCM Physical Plant. This will allow Mule Train donors closer parking to Walton Stadium. Responsible tailgating will be allowed in these lots designated for Mule Train donors as well beginning three hours prior to kickoff.

The old Mule Train lots, S67, which is located north of the UCM Physical Plant at the corner of South and Washington Streets, and S52 south of the Police Institute at the corner of South and Washington Street, will be general tailgate lots again in 2012. Persons wishing to park in those lots will be granted a blue parking pass upon entrance to the lot. This area will be known as the Mule Stable and is open for all UCM fans wishing to tailgate responsibly beginning three hours prior to kickoff.

Visiting fans will continue to be allowed to park in lots S26 and FS1, which are located at the corner of Holden and South Streets near the W.C Morris Science Building and Ward Edwards Building. Visiting fans will be issued a yellow parking pass on entrance to those lots.

UCM fans wishing to park their RV’s in a tailgate lot are asked to continue parking those vehicles in lot S67 north of the UCM Physical Plant in order to avoid congestion in the smaller Mule Train lots.

“These changes worked very well last year in response to continued increase in the number of fans and donors wishing to tailgate prior to Mules football games” said UCM Athletic Director Jerry Hughes. “Once again in 2012, our Mule Train donors at the Swing Team level and above will have access to our most premium parking locations near Walton Stadium and the Mule Train tent. This will open up more room in lots S67 and S52 for parking and responsible tailgating for our growing fan base.”

The first home action for the 2012 Mules football team will be Saturday, Sept. 8, as UCM hosts Northwest Missouri State at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. Red and white parking passes will be mailed to those who qualify through current Mule Train donations in the near future. Those with questions may contact Michelle Schubert at 660-543-8396 or schubert@ucmo.edu.