Everyone’s invited to participate! Students, alumni, faculty and staff, friends and family, and the community are all welcome to join the festivities and cheer on the Big Red!

Alumni, staff, faculty, and community: Yes! Although there is no admission cost, registration is required to attend the Friday night drone and laser light show. Pre-registration allows for quick check-in at the gates, event announcements, and a chance to win a $25 concessions gift certificate for the Saturday Football game vs. Colgate. Those who do not register in advance will need to do so upon arrival at the stadium via a QR code.

Current students (undergraduate and graduate): No! But in order to enter the gates to the stadium, students must bring their Cornell student IDs for scanning.

All guests must follow the clear bag policy at this event; guests checking in without a bag can enter the express line. Please note that there is no secure storage available for bags that do not meet the permitted guidelines. Cornell University and AAD are not responsible for any items left behind.

Yes! The drone and laser light show is free to attend, and Cornell friends and community members are welcome. Registration is required, and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Yes, all football game attendees must have a ticket to enter Schoellkopf Stadium.

Alumni and friends: purchase tickets in advance.

Current students: Admission to the Homecoming football game is included with your Big Red Sports Pass. Cornell students can secure one (1) general admission ticket. Learn more here.

Whether it’s live performances, athletics, family-friendly activities, or informal gatherings, there’s something for everyone during Homecoming weekend. View the Homecoming schedule, and check back often as new events continue to be added.

Ithaca is a great place to be in the fall! Check out additional things to do in Ithaca and build in time to explore community events, outdoor recreation, and other family fun activities.

Tailgating permits will be available for purchase first-come, first-served starting at 11:00 a.m. on game day. Tailgating is available in Kite Hill, Wing Drive & Alumni Lot. Tailgating permits cost $30; cash is accepted at all entrances. Credit cards are also accepted at the intersection of Wing Drive and Campus Road when entering westbound from Judd Falls.

Many alumni classes and affinity groups will host their own tailgates before the football game. Check the Homecoming schedule for more details. Alumni groups with an established Alumni Affairs staff contact can reach out for more information about pre-purchasing tailgate spots. View a parking map and access a full list of tailgating policies.

Come hungry! Stadium concessions will be serving up your game-day favorites on Friday and Saturday, featuring our new and improved menu.

Friday: Concessions will open at 7:30 p.m. when gates open for the drone and laser light show, offering a variety of snacks to enjoy during the event. Friday concessions will close at 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: Concessions will open at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. They’ll take a quick break from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. so the Athletics crew can prep the space, then reopen at 1:00 p.m. when the gates open.

Concession Menu* 

Hot Food (served with chips)
Hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, vegan sausage

Snacks
Popcorn, pretzel bites, nachos

Drinks
Pepsi products, coffee, hot chocolate

*Additional game day offerings onsite. Please note that concession stands at all ticketed events will be cashless. Payment options include: credit card, Apple Pay, BRBs, Cornell Card, and Meal Choice.

Cornell has many dining options on North and Central campus, including grab-and-go meals and snacks as well as sit-down dining experiences. Check the website for up-to-date hours at our cafes and eateries, as well as dining at the Statler Hotel.

We do not reserve hotel blocks for Homecoming. Book your accommodations early through one of the many local hotels, and check with your hotel for shuttle service to and from campus.

Dorms are not available to guests during Homecoming weekend.

Parking on campus is free after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, but some areas around Schoellkopf Stadium will be limited due to road closures. Suggested parking lots include B-Lot, TRB Lot, and Alumni Field Lot. Review the short-term parking options for more information. See below for accessible parking accommodations.

Consult the Cornell Athletics parking page. Parking for Saturday’s Homecoming events will be $25 in Hoy Garage (tailgating prohibited) and $30 for Kite Hill Lot, Wing Drive & Alumni Lot (tailgating permitted). Free parking is also available in the TRB Lot, B Lot, and Oxley Lot (Note: Oxley Lot has a lot of stairs). Tailgating activity is not permitted in unmonitored lots. See below for accessible parking accommodations.

Cornell is committed to inclusion and ensuring that our guests with disabilities have full access to our programs, activities, and facilities. If you or your guests have accessibility needs, please indicate that as part of your registration and review the information listed below to learn about the parking plans and infrastructure of Schoellkopf Stadium.

For your safety, please be aware that laser effects will be used during the Friday show in Schoellkopf. While all lasers are operated in compliance with federal safety regulations, individuals with light sensitivity or related conditions should take precautions.

If you have additional questions or want to confirm your specific needs, please email homecoming@cornell.edu with details so that we may determine arrangements with you.

For Friday night’s drone and laser light show, guests requiring mobility assistance who have accessible plates, permits, or placards may park in the Bartels metered lot. Guests will need to show their identification to Cornell Police, who are limiting access to this parking lot. Guests without accessibility credentials but requiring mobility assistance may be dropped off at the Bartels metered lot while their drivers park their car in the B Lot (free after 5:00 p.m.). Golf carts will then transport all guests in the party from the Bartels lot to the closest ADA entrance to the drone and laser light show in Schoellkopf Stadium.

The Bartels metered lot is the recommended accessibility parking location. A special permit is required and will be issued on the day of the game (cash only, $25). An accessible parking placard must be presented for entry. Cornell Athletics staff will be stationed at Bartels metered lot as well as Hoy Garage ($20), Kite Hill, Alumni Lot, and Wing Drive ($30) to assist guests with accessibility needs and provide golf cart transportation to the closest stadium entrance.

If you have additional questions or needs, please contact the Cornell Athletic Ticketing Office at 607-255-4247 or bigredtix@cornell.edu.

For the drone and laser light show and football game, use entrances EE/EF or EK/EJ to access ADA seating platforms inside the stadium.

Restrooms are located inside the gates on the Crescent Concourse, to the left and right of Concessions.

No, this event will not be available via livestream.

Yes! A link to the ESPN+ page can be found here.
(When you click “Watch Live”, you’ll be redirected to this page.)

In the event of severe weather, the Friday night show will be canceled. All guests will be notified via the email address and mobile number provided during registration, as well as on the Homecoming website. The Saturday football game will continue rain or shine.

During Homecoming, your picture may be taken by a hired photographer and possibly used for future Cornell-related media purposes. If you do not want your image used, you are responsible for notifying the photographer at the time the photo is taken. The photographer will delete the image on the spot.

The use of personal drones during the Friday Night Stadium Show is strictly prohibited in accordance with safety regulations set forth by the FAA, Tompkins County, and Cornell University. Cameras are allowed, however, flash photography and drone photography are not permitted. Camcorders and other video devices, as well as tripods, are also not permitted.

To uphold health and safety protocols, minimize contact, and ensure a swift entry process, all Cornell Athletics ticketed events will follow a clear bag policy.

Cornell Athletics strongly discourages guests from bringing bags, but if a bag is necessary, all bags are subject to inspection. Permissible bags include clear totes (not exceeding 12”x6”x12”), 1-gallon clear storage bags, strapless/handheld clutches (not exceeding 6.5" x 4.5"), and diaper bags (must be accompanied by a child). One bag per guest is permitted.

Fans who bring unauthorized bags to the game will be asked to return the bags to their vehicle. No secure storage options will be available for personal belongings that do not meet the permitted guidelines. Cornell University and AAD are not responsible for any items left behind.

Guests who arrive at Schoellkopf Stadium for the drone and laser light show without any bags will enter the stadium through an express line.

Cornell is committed to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all event attendees. Please review Cornell’s Expectations for our Alumni Community for more details. We're looking forward to welcoming you back to campus.