2026 UNI football: Know Before You Go

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI football's 2026 season opens on September 12 with week two action against the Drake Bulldogs coming at 1 p.m. CT inside the UNI-Dome! Here are some things fans should know before making the trip to Cedar Falls for Panther football action!

EVER LOYAL CLUB

Digital Ever Loyal Club hospitality and parking passes are now available through your Paciolan account accessible through the UNI Panther Athletics app or your internet browser. Those that requested printed tickets and hospitality passes will be receiving those by next week. Please note that hospitality passes have been printed on gold Ever Loyal Club ticket stock this year to clearly differentiate them from your game tickets. Fall benefit packages will also arrive by next week and include printed parking passes for those that made a special request.

Ever Loyal Club members (Purple-level and above) can once again utilize their tailgate party passes for access to pregame hospitality in the West Dome parking lot where complimentary food, a drink token, and a cash bar await. The tailgate party will be combined with the Hy-Vee Fan Zone for the first 3 games of the season. The annual Thanksgiving meal will take place before the November 7 game against South Dakota State.

Halftime hospitality is available for Ever Loyal Club members (UNI Pride-level and above) all season long. Come enjoy complimentary food and a beverage with us at the North Dome concourse, just east of the new NÜTRL Zone. The space will be open all game long with a cash bar available from the time doors open until the end of the 3rd quarter.

PARKING

Ever Loyal Club parking lots are located North of the UNI-Dome near the WRC (Loyalty-level and above), West of the UNI-Dome (Purple-level and above) and McLeod Center (Champion-level and above) with appropriate parking pass. Spots in the North Dome lot are also available for purchase for $10 per car or $25 per RV/trailer. Free parking remains available for all fans South of the McLeod Center across 27th Street and East of the UNI-Dome across Hudson Road at 23rd Street. Click HERE for additional parking information and a parking map.

TAILGATING GUIDELINES & GAME DAY POLICIES

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with UNI's updated TAILGATING GUIDELINES and GAME DAY POLICIES. The safety and enjoyment of all fans in attendance remains our top priority.

GOING DIGITAL

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, UNI will be going digital with game day programs! Fans will be able to scan QR codes located around the concourse to access programs for football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and wrestling.

The UNI Athletic Department performed a key update to its official mobile app ("UNI Panther Athletics") ahead of the 2026-27 athletic seasons, allowing fans to purchase tickets and manage their ticket accounts directly through the app.

This new capability will allow fans to seamlessly access their digital tickets, parking passes, Ever Loyal Club passes, and more creating a one-stop shop for all gameday needs.

Tickets will continue to be sold through the UNI Ticket Office online, as well as by phone at 319-273-4849. For any questions regarding the new ticketing integration with the mobile app, please contact the UNI Ticket Office.

The UNI Panther Athletics mobile app is available for download through the Apple App Store for iOS (iPhone/iPad) devices, as well as the Google Play store for Android devices. If you have already downloaded the UNI Panther Athletics mobile app, please visit the app store today to update the app.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Heading to a UNI football game? Here's what to know about construction:

Highway 20/Hudson Road interchange

The Iowa DOT is continuing its reconstruction of Highway 20 in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. View this area on Google Maps.
Drivers coming from the east, including Dubuque and Cedar Rapids: Beginning Saturday, August 15, use Exit 225 to access Cedar Falls and the UNI campus area via Highway 58. Exit 224 at Hudson Road is currently closed to westbound traffic.
Drivers coming from the west, including Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Omaha and Sioux City: Exit 224 at Hudson Road remains open and can be used to approach campus.

All impacted locations are subject to change based on anticipated completion dates and other factors.

SPLIT POT RAFFLES

Looking for a little extra excitement on game day? UNI Athletics is introducing split pot raffles at all Panther home football games this season through our partnership with BUMP Raffle.

Fans can purchase raffle entries in person at the UNI-Dome or online while in the state of Iowa, with a portion of each raffle benefiting the Ever Loyal Club and supporting UNI student-athletes. Look for sellers out at the tailgates, walking through the stands, and at our kiosk in the SW concourse of the UNI-Dome.

Raffle details, including entry pricing and how to participate, will be available at each home football game.

Learn more about UNI Athletics' partnership with BUMP Raffle HERE.

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-Drake game in the northwest corner of the west UNI-Dome parking lot. The hassle-free tailgate experience features a live DJ, opportunity to purchase merchandise from the UNI Bookstore, free food samples,and drinks/beer for sale. Fans can arrive at the Fan Zone at 10 a.m. and stay until 12 p.m. CT.

PANTHER WALK

A new tradition arrived in Panther Nation last season! 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!

Loonie Ballonies face painting and balloon twisting will be located on the North concourse of the UNI-Dome offering free face painting and balloon twisting during the first half of each home game.

The matchup with Drake on September 12 is the first of 3 TC's Kids Club games this football season. Those still looking to join can do so HERE for just $25! This game also features a Kurt Warner replica jersey giveaway for the first 1,000 fans in attendance as the Kurt Warner jersey retirement ceremony takes place pregame. The 2026 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame class will be recognized at halftime.

CASHLESS GAME DAY

The UNI Athletic Department began implementing a cashless game day policy last season for all home athletics contests, as well as other sporting and non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.

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 Ever Loyal Club parking and hospitality passes will be shifted to a mobile format as well. Those needing special accommodations can reach out to the Ever Loyal Club Office.

Fans can learn more about UNI's existing game day policies HERE.

CLEAR BAGS

UNI Athletics implemented a clear bag policy for spectators for ticketed home events, as well as non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.

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.

UPDATED UNI-DOME CONCOURSE MAP

TICKET OFFICE

The UNI Ticket Office will call and ticket sales windows at Panther Plaza, located in the lower Hall of Fame Connector, will open 4 hours prior to kickoff on game day, with stadium doors opening 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Beat the line and purchase your tickets online in advance HERE! Please contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-4849 or tickets@uni.edu with any questions.

STUDENT TICKET CLAIMS

UNI students will once again be able to attend all Panther home games for free during the 2026 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 UNI Panthers App or 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 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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