Sept. 5, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - As Western Carolina grows its facilities this fall with the expansion of the Jordan-Phillips Field House and the construction on the Fine and Performing Arts Center, in addition to a greater number of Catamount Club members and having sold the most tickets to date since 1996, WCU fans and visitors will be asked to follow new parking assignments for each of Western's five home football games.
To ensure Catamount Club members and WCU students continue to enjoy the privilege of parking in the Stadium Lot, the Field House Lot and the Creek Lot, only those with special parking permits will be allowed access to Catamount Road, which runs parallel to Whitmire Stadium/Waters Field. Catamount Drive will be closed to those without passes at the four-way stop next to the HFR Administration Building to the intersection on Forest Hills Road, which runs between the Ramsey Center and baseball field parking lot and long the backside of Whitmire Stadium.
"We made a commitment that Catamount Club members would have preferred parking," said WCU Director of Athletics Jeff Compher. "With all the construction on campus this fall, spaces are very limited for them and students. Therefore, we are enforcing these areas different this year, requiring a pass."
Catamount Club Executive Director Marty Ramsey added, "We want to make sure that those who are Catamount Club members receive premium parking, which is a privilege they pay for, while accommodating and providing adequate parking for all others as well."
As in the past, parking at Western Carolina is free in all other conveniently located football parking lots, including the baseball field lot, the Outreach Center lot and the Administration Building lot.
"I still believe we have the best parking in the Southern Conference," Compher said. "Even those lots not being monitored are within easy walking distance and are accessible for everyone."
Fans will still have easy access to Forest Hills Road, which will allow them to purchase tickets the day of the game at the Ramsey Center handicap entrance across from the Episcopal Church. The ticket office on the Ramsey Center concourse will open at 11:00 am.
Western Carolina will open its home portion of the 2002 schedule on Sept. 14 as West Virginia Tech comes to Cullowhee. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm. During a pregame ceremony, Western will "Honor Our Heroes" by recognizing members of local fire and police departments. After the game, there will be a fireworks show, sponsored by Jackson Paper and 5th Avenue Travel of Hendersonville.
