2025 UNI football: Know before you go
8/21/2025 4:46:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI football's 2025 season opens on August 30 with week one action against the Butler Bulldogs coming at 1 p.m. CT inside the newly renovated UNI-Dome! Here are some things fans should know before making the trip to Cedar Falls for Panther football action!
PSC UPDATES
Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) parking and hospitality passes will be shifted to a mobile format for the first time. Both parking passes (JustPark) and hospitality passes will be accessible and transferrable through your Paciolan account, just like your tickets. Those needing special accommodations may reach out to the PSC Office for assistance.
The primary tailgate location for the 2025 season will once again be the NW corner of the West Dome Lot. The PSC pre-game hospitality (Purple level members and higher) and Hy-Vee Fan Zone will also take place at this location for the first 3 home games. PSC members will scan their digital passes to receive their complimentary food and drink tokens. As always, the pre-game hospitality is subject to change due to weather.
In-game hospitality for the Panther Scholarship Club (UNI Pride level and higher) has been moved out of the Connector to the North concourse, just East of the elevator. This new location will be open from the time doors open until the end of the 3rd quarter and feature a bar with drinks available for purchase. Free food and drinks will be available exclusively during halftime. PSC members will be required to have their digital pass scanned upon initial entry and will receive a stamp to allow for reentry.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Starting on Monday, August 11, the City's contractor, Wicks Construction, will close the western half of the Hudson Road bridge located just south of University Avenue for repair work.
For the contractor to start, traffic on Hudson Road will be head-to-head on the easterly half of the bridge. Traffic will be fully maintained and open in all directions on Hudson Road and University Avenue. Brookside Drive traffic will be accessible by means of right-in and right-out onto Hudson Road during this construction. Full access for Brookside Drive will be available at the Four Winds Drive intersection, directly south on Hudson Road. The sidewalk will remain open on the same half of the bridge as vehicular traffic during construction. In approximately six (6) weeks, crews will flip the traffic control to work on the easterly side of the bridge. All work is anticipated to be complete by the end of October.
ON-GOING UNI-DOME RENOVATION WORK
On the interior of the UNI-Dome, the elevator on the west concourse added in Phase 2.1 of the ongoing UNI-Dome renovations WILL NOT be operational for UNI football's opening matchup against the Butler Bulldogs. We anticipate that it will be online for the September 13 game against Eastern Washington. Work on graphics, wayfinding signage, donor recognitions and more will also continue throughout the season.
HY-VEE FAN ZONE
The first of three Hy-Vee Fan Zone tailgate events this season will take place prior to kickoff of the UNI-Butler game in the northwest corner of the west UNI-Dome parking lot. The hassle-free tailgate experience features a live DJ and free food samples, drinks and beer for sale. Fans can arrive at the Fan Zone at 11 a.m. and stay until 1 p.m. CT.
PANTHER WALK
A new tradition has arrived in Panther Nation! Two and a half hours before kickoff, the Panther football team and marching band will walk from the dining center to the Panther statue between the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center where fans and family are welcome to meet the team. Be part of this new pregame celebration and welcome them at the finish to help set the tone for victory!
PANTHER PROMOTIONS
Introducing "Panther Promotions" the number one spot to find out what promotions, themes and give-a-ways are happening at UNI Athletics events! Click HERE for all UNI promotions all season long!
CASHLESS GAME DAY
The UNI Athletic Department has announced that it will begin implementing a cashless game day policy for all home athletics contests, as well as other sporting and non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center beginning Aug. 1, 2025.
All purchases at UNI-Dome and McLeod Center food and beverage locations will be cashless, as will retail vendors in the venues, including the UNI Bookstore. Events that require paid parking will also be cashless. Fans must still carry either photo or mobile identification for in-venue alcohol sales.
The UNI Ticket Office will also be switching to cashless payment for purchases, while the Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) parking and hospitality passes will be shifted to a mobile format as well. Those needing special accommodations can reach out to the PSC Office.
Fans can learn more about UNI's existing game day policies HERE.
CLEAR BAGS
UNI Athletics began implementing a clear bag policy for spectators for ticketed home events, as well as non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center during the previous year.
Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC that do not exceed a 12 x 6 x 12 inch size will be permitted, as well as one-gallon, resealable, clear plastic storage bags. Small bags that are not clear but do not exceed a size 4.5 x 6.5 inches will also be allowed. UNI branded clear bags can be purchased at the UNI Bookstore.
Prohibited bags include purses, backpacks, printed pattern plastic bags, tinted plastic bags, duffle bags, fanny packs, reusable grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, large totes and cases (for camera, binoculars, etc.). An exception may be made for some prohibited items for medical necessity after proper inspection at the gate.
Additional information for fans about game day policies and procedures can be found online HERE.
PARKING
All regular parking for Panther home football games will be available for UNI's matchup against Butler. Public parking will be available for fans in the lots North and South of the UNI-Dome, with Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) lots located just to the West of the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center. Click HERE for additional parking information and a parking map.
UPDATED UNI-DOME CONCOURSE MAP
STUDENT TICKET CLAIMS
UNI students will once again be able to attend all Panther home games for free during the 2025 season. Students will be asked to secure their free ticket through UNITIX prior to arriving at the UNI-Dome by following these steps:
- Visit the UNITIX website at unitix.evenue.net
- Click "Student Login With CatID" on the top bar of options
- Select the "Student Login With CatID" and enter your CatID
- Click on "Athletics"
- Select the sport and game(s) you would like to attend
- Click "Add To Card," then "Checkout"
- Scroll down and click "Place My Order)
- All student tickets will be emailed out and will be available on mobile devices.
For any questions regarding student tickets, please contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-48949 or at tickets@uni.edu.
UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.