Red Raider tailgating guide: Here's what you should know before Texas Tech's football season

Alana Edgin, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·6 min read
Texas Tech Red Raider fans during the concert by four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal before the game between the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Texas Tech Red Raider fans during the concert by four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal before the game between the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

As the Red Raider football team prepares to storm the stadium this weekend, even more fans have been eagerly waiting for the pregame tailgates. Filled with food, fun, music and an energy that can't be beat, tailgates are intrinsic to the Texas Tech fan lifestyle.

In order to pregame with the best, we've rounded up the things you should know before the Red Raiders take on the Texas Longhorns at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. From parking to partying, here’s everything you need to know for the best time this season. Of importance to note, construction will continue along 19th Street between the Marsha Sharp Freeway and University Avenue, and drivers should expect delays and consider alternative routes.

Texas Tech tailgates: Where, when, how much, and what will be there

Raider Alley

Food, music, and family friendly fun are some of the necessities of a great tailgate, and Raider Alley hits all those marks. It is even free to attend and open to everyone, regardless if you have a ticket to the game or not.

This tailgate is set in Texas Tech's historical Engineering Key and begins four hours before kickoff. Papa Johns, Howdy Homemade Ice Cream and Now We Taco’n will offer food and drinks throughout the season. An on-site video game truck, an inflatable obstacle course and face painters will be the events as well.

The Goin' Band from Raiderland and the Texas Tech spirit squads will also make appearances. It is the stage for the Raider Alley Concert Series, which had Shaquille O'Neal perform in 2021. Combined with the renewed RaiderWalk, this will likely the biggest party in town before Tech home games.

The famous RaiderWalk, where fans can greet the team, will return this season. Generally, this will begin about two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, starting from south of the Sports Performance Center and walk north down Drive of Champions Avenue to the home tunnel. Fans will be asked to line the streets prior to the team's arrival.

People looking to nab a tailgate spot in Raider Alley should reach out to Tailgate Express, which is Tech's official tailgate provider. The service offers several tailgating packages and can be per game or reserved for the season.

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RaiderGate

This is the tailgate for students only, which will be at the R-3 parking lot, south of the library. A tradition among students, this is free for students and student organizations. Each student can reserve two passes, and organizations can get up to six. The party begins four hours before kickoff, and the area closes one hour before kickoff.

Students can get in free to any Tech Athletics event this season with their ID. They can also begin entering the Jones AT&T stadium two hours before kickoff through Gate 6.

There are two pass options: per game and season. Season passes ensure tailgaters will get the same spot for the rest of the season, but they must attend every RaiderGate, or they will lose the pass. The season pass holders also have to pick up physical passes from the Union Activities Office between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Passes that haven't been claimed will go to students on the wait list.

For more information visit depts.ttu.edu/sub/raidergate or dailytoreador.com.

Other rules for the tailgates include:

  • No glass containers.

  • No kegs.

  • No keg, funnel, shot, or other container-based drinking games.

  • No drop-off vehicles are allowed to bring tailgating supplies or tailgaters.

  • Only street-legal vehicles are allowed.

  • No oversized cookers.

  • No oversized vehicles.

  • Don’t harm the property or landscaping.

  • No hammocks.

  • Anchor your tents.

  • Put trash in trash cans and recycling in recycling bins.

  • Put hot coals in coal disposal bins.

  • No pets. Service animals are allowed.

  • Secure your tailgating stuff before going to the stadium.

Where to park for Texas Tech games

There are several types of parking: Red Raider Club Members, S-1, USA Auto, Raider Park, and Free Fan parking. There are also private pay parking options around campus, including several church parking lot fundraisers at St. John's United Methodist Church at 1501 University Ave. and First Christian Church at 2323 Broadway, among others.

The club parking is for RRC members. There are various spots to park in, which are determined by what level the member is. These memberships start at $225 and includes a $125 permit fee. The higher the member level, the closer they can park to the stadium.

S-1 parking off of Texas Tech Parkway, between 8th and 10th Streets, offers reserved RV parking and season parking for vehicles. The vehicle pass is $60, and RV reservations begin at $400. Hook-ups are available.

USA Auto Parking, near United Supermarkets Arena, has $60 season parking passes for automobiles only. Raider Park has RV reservations for $2,500, and season auto spots for $295.

Free parking is rare, but available if you are lucky. One lot off of 4th Street offers free ADA parking. There are three general free parking lots off of 4th Street and Texas Tech Parkway. View the map at redraiderclub.com.

As a bonus for people who don't want to deal with the hassle of fighting to park, Citibus will drive fans roundtrip for $5 per person, and children younger than 5 years old can travel for free. People can download GoPass and purchase a Park n' Ride Game Day bus pass.

Shuttle service will begin three hours prior to kickoff and end one hour after the game. Pickup locations will be is north of the John Walker Soccer Complex at Texas Tech Parkway and 10th Street, and northwest of Health Sciences Center for ADA Only on Texas Tech Parkway and 5th Street. Riders can be dropped off at Raider Alley.

What you can and cannot bring to Jones AT&T Stadium

All Texas Tech events institute a Clear Bag policy. People can bring bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12." One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags and hand-sized clutch bags are allowed. Exceptions are made for medically necessary items after inspection.

Not allowed bags include: purses larger than a clutch bag, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, non-approved seat cushions or seatbacks, computer bags, diaper bags, binocular cases, and camera bags.

Guests can bring up to 20-ounce unopened water bottles to any outdoor athletics venue this season. The stadium will have water refill stations near gates 1, 3, 6 and 6. Frozen water bottles, empty drink containers, and bottles larger than 20 oz will not be allowed.

Other things that won't be allowed include:

  • Smoking and vaping.

  • Outside food and drinks.

  • Alcohol.

  • Coolers or ice chests.

  • Re-entry.

Tech is introducing a new self-checkout marketplace near Gate 1, which will offer a variety of beer, seltzers, canned cocktails, soft drinks, snacks and fresh sandwiches.

Jones AT&T Stadium will be completely cashless this season, only accepting credit and debit purchases, along with other contactless payment methods. This includes the ticket office, concessions and The Matador.

Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Business News in Lubbock and the surrounding area. Send her a news tip at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Your guide to Texas Tech football tailgating, parking in 2022