Fresno State Tailgating at Valley Children's: Lots & Rules

Quick answers

What time do the Fresno State lots open?

6 hours before kickoff, and cars can stay up to 2 hours after the game. Grass lots can close in bad weather, so check Fresno State's channels on game day.

Can you grill at Fresno State tailgates?

Yes, with propane. Charcoal and woodchip grills, deep fryers and open-flame barbecues aren't allowed in the general parking areas of the Red, White, Blue, Purple and Green lots.

Can you drink at Fresno State tailgates?

Fans 21 and older can drink in the lots, except the Yellow lots, where alcohol can't be consumed. Glass and kegs of any size, including party balls, are banned, and alcohol can't be sold. No outside alcohol goes into the stadium.

Do you need a ticket to tailgate at Fresno State?

Fresno State's parking map describes the Green lots as parking for single-game and season ticket holders. The pages don't spell out a rule for tailgating without a ticket.

How do you buy parking at Fresno State?

The Red, White, Blue, Yellow and Purple lots are sold by the season to Bulldog Foundation members who meet the pledge requirements. Everyone else parks in the Green lots. Buy in advance if you can: parking is cashless in 2026 and passes are mobile.

The game-day timeline

6 hrs beforeLots open
3 hrs beforeBulldog BLVD and the Block Party open, and the Green lot shuttles start
KickoffTailgating ends in the Purple and Green lots. Red, White and Blue lots can keep going.
2 hrs afterCars must be out of the lots

Where to park

The lots around the stadium are season lots for Bulldog Foundation members. Everyone else parks in the Green lots and can ride the free shuttle.

Season lots: Red, White, Blue, Yellow, Purple and Gray, sold by the season through the Bulldog Foundation.
Green lots: Campus lots P1, P2, P4, P5, P6, P30 and P31, for single-game and season ticket holders. A free shuttle runs to the North gate.
Getting in: No car traffic enters campus from Barstow and Cedar. Purple and Gray pass holders enter from Barstow and Chestnut; everyone else is sent to the Green lots.
Picnic pass: Park inside your picnic area. If the car won't fit, it goes to the Purple Lot.
Limo / bus: Lot P11 only. Limos, trailers and RVs aren't allowed in the general lots.
Accessible: A limited number of stalls in the Red, White and Blue lots, first come, with a placard. Overflow goes to campus Lot P1, off Shaw and Maple.

Valley Children's Stadium game-day parking, simplified

See the official Valley Children's Stadium parking map

Attendants direct every car to its space, and saving stalls isn't allowed.
Green lot shuttles stop along Barstow, Woodrow and the Maple roundabout, from 3 hours before kickoff through the 1st quarter, then back from the end of the 3rd quarter.
There's an extra shuttle at the Maple roundabout equipped for wheelchairs and fans who need mobility help.

The rules

Rules last verified Oct 15, 2026 against gobulldogs.com.

Fresno State's rules turn on fuel, footprint and lot color. These are the ones that matter.

Grills: Propane cooking only. No charcoal or woodchip grills, deep fryers or open-flame barbecues in the general lots.
Glass and kegs: No glass containers. No kegs of any size, party balls included.
Alcohol: 21 and older only, never sold, and not consumed in the Yellow lots.
Your space: Directly behind your car, never inside a parking stall. Keep driveways, fire lanes and aisles clear.
Tents: One 10 x 10 pop-up behind your car, weighted with sandbags or concrete blocks. No stakes, and nothing tied to trees or fences.
When it ends: At kickoff in the Purple and Green lots. Red, White and Blue lots can tailgate during the game. Cars out 2 hours after.
Smoking: Campus is smoke and tobacco free, parking lots included.
Bags at the gate: Clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, plus a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches, and 1 sealed water bottle under 24 oz.
Entry: Metal detectors at every gate and all bags searched. New Northwest and Southwest gates off the White Lot. The stadium is cashless.

Compare the rules in all 173 guides →

Before you go

Valley Children's Stadium gameday information (updated Sept 9, 2026)Fresno State football parking and tailgating guidelines (PDF)Bulldog football parking map

Official pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.

Pack for Fresno

What we'd bring.

Ultralight Tall-Back Camp Chair
$45

Ships free
27 qt Hard Cooler, 24 Cans
$199

Ships free
A hard cooler that fits the trunk and the tight space behind the car.

More for this lot

Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free
Daylodge AirHaven 30 Inflatable Vehicle Awning, 30 sq ft$799 · Ships free

Early-season games in Fresno can be hot. Bring shade, water and sunscreen.

Shipping and returns

Get the Pregame for the Bulldogs. Your lot, your game and what to cook, every week. Free.Get the Pregame for the Bulldogs

Where the party is

Fresno State gives you 6 hours before kickoff, and in the Red, White and Blue lots the tailgate can keep going through the game. Out in the Green and Purple lots, the party ends at kickoff, so plan the day around your lot color.

The fan fest

Bulldog BLVD

The official pregame fan fest, in the plaza between Valley Children's Stadium, the soccer stadium and Bob Bennett Stadium. It opens 3 hours before kickoff with a pregame show, music and food trucks.

The new one

The Block Party

New in 2026 on the east side of the stadium, next to the soccer field. Open to the public 3 hours before kickoff, with a live music stage, a big screen, lawn games and a kids zone.

The general lots

The Green lots

Where single-game fans park, with a free shuttle to the North gate. Tailgating here ends at kickoff.

Know a setup worth showing off? Nominate your tailgate.

What to eat

Propane is the only cooking fuel allowed in the general lots, so plan a menu for a gas grill. Bulldog BLVD has food trucks from 3 hours before kickoff.

Getting out

Every car on campus leaves within 2 hours. Your options, best first:

Use the 2 hours. Cars can stay up to 2 hours after the game. Let the first wave clear.
Ride the shuttle back. Green lot shuttles pick up at the North gate from the end of the 3rd quarter.
Follow the attendants. Fresno State directs traffic on game day, and cars that ignore staff can be towed.
Skip this
Leave at the final whistle. Along with every other car on campus.

First time here?

Lots open 6 hours before kickoff.
Propane only. No charcoal, no fryers, no glass, no kegs.
Tailgate directly behind your car, never inside a stall.
In the Green and Purple lots, tailgating ends at kickoff.
Everything is cashless in 2026, parking included.
Clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, plus a small clutch.

Visiting? How to join a tailgate

Bulldog BLVD and the Block Party are open to everyone 3 hours before kickoff, so start there. Then walk the lots, bring something to share and say hello before you step into a setup.

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