Get Ready for 2023 East Carolina Football Kickoff

ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club are looking forward to welcoming fans to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the 2023 football season. The home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 9 against Marshall at 4 p.m. (ET) and is sponsored by Optimum.

All parking lots will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, and gates to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium open at 2 p.m., two (2) hours before kickoff. The ECU Athletics Ticket Office will open at 1 p.m. (ET).

Several new fan enhancements were added for the 2023 season:

Major Investment By Aramark To Improve Concessions; Dowdy-Ficklen To Be Cashless
Aramark committed to a capital investment into the overall concessions' infrastructure at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in 2023 with Aramark Sports + Entertainment taking over operations. Pirate fans will see a variety of new service innovations and food and beverage offerings for the upcoming Pirates football season.

In a move to improve the gameday experience, concessions at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will be cashless. Aramark Sports + Entertainment will only accept credit cards, debit cards or Apple Pay/Google Pay to enhance efficiency. This is a national trend at collegiate and professional sporting events.

Cashless transactions reduce touch points and increase speed of service, improving the overall fan experience and getting fans back to their seats faster so they can enjoy the game.

Aramark has added 130 new checkout registers throughout the concourse which increases the registers within the stadium to 300. Among the new checkout locations will be two self-service offerings – one AI powered Mashgin touchless checkout system, and one GRUBBRR self-service kiosk.

Fans will also be able to place mobile orders for beer and water and pick up from four designated areas within the stadium in Sections 2, 6, 14, and 18. More details will be announced on the mobile ordering process.

New Food Offerings
Aramark Sports + Entertainment will expand the food and beverage offerings for fan favorite items. With the addition of more than a dozen new food and beverage locations – including new concession stands, portables, and food trailers – fans will have more options than ever to choose from.

Some highlights include:
- "Fire in the Hole BBQ" - An all-new, in-house smoked BBQ concept will be introduced in time for the home opener with six locations throughout the stadium (Carl and Connie Rogers Pirate Club Level, Williams Clark Club Level, and Section 4, 20, 25, and 126).
- New food and beverage offerings and branded souvenir cups will be available within the Williams Clark Club Level.
- Three new food trailers offering Big Dippers Chicken Tenders, Fire in the Hole BBQ, and the Black Sail Grill.
- 14 new portable food service stations – eight for beer and water; six with both food and beverage.

Alcohol
Beer and wine will be sold at select locations inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Fans will be able to purchase alcohol at 24 stand-alone locations around the stadium, including five new Walk Through Bru locations.

Individuals consuming alcohol must always be able to produce a valid photo ID as stadium personnel may ask to see an ID at locations away from the original point of sale.

Two alcoholic beverages may be purchased per person per transaction. Sales will begin two hours prior to kickoff with all alcohol sales scheduled to end at the end of the third quarter.

In partnership with Aramark Sports + Entertainment, a variety of domestic, imported and craft beers will be available for purchase.

Carl And Connie Rogers Pirate Club Level With New Fan Enhancements
If you are a Pirate Club member, make sure you stop by the Carl and Connie Rogers Pirate Club Level each game. This is a great area for Pirate fans to gather and socialize before entering the game or to discuss the game at halftime. Pirate Club members and their guests will be admitted with at least one Pirate Club membership card.

The ECU Pirates Flagship Station, 94.3 The Game, will broadcast live from right outside the area each home game day. Special guests will make appearances on the pregame show throughout the season.

Stadium DJ
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will have a new DJ for the 2023 with the addition of DJ Mista Illz. A native of North Carolina, he has an extensive background in working UFC fights, collegiate sporting events, and most recently as the in-stadium DJ for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. He is committed to finding the right mix of music to cater to all the different musical tastes of Pirate Nation.

Charley's Kids Zone
The 2023 season will be the debut of Charley's Kid Zone, the grass area located behind Sections 10-11 near Gate 4. Thanks to a generous gift from the Carl Rogers Family, the area is named in honor of Charley Swing.

Several new items have been added to the area for the 2023 season. Featuring interactive games, an inflatable mini-golf course, pop-a-shot, and a football toss among other games, Charley's Kids Zone will be open two hours prior to kickoff. In addition to games, the area will have a device charging station, coloring station, and a photo zone where young Pirates can try on uniforms and dress like their favorite Pirate. Charley's Kids Zone will operate until the end of the third quarter.

Pirate Walk Returns
The Pirate Walk will begin two hours and 30 minutes prior to kickoff on the Howard & Lyn Swain Pirate Promenade in front of TowneBank Tower. The Pirate Walk for the home opener against Marshall will begin at 1:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the Pirates during the walk.

The ECU Marching Band and members of the Spirit Squad will lead head coach Mike Houston and student-athletes down the walkway leading to TowneBank Tower. The group will walk in front of historic Scales Field House toward the Ward Sports Medicine Building and the team's lockerroom.

Clear Bag Policy
To enhance safety and expedite fan entry at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, East Carolina University has implemented safety policies for fans bringing bags into the stadium.

Only one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person will be permitted. Fans are allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

Diaper bags and non-medically necessary items are allowed if accompanied by an infant or young children. Each member of a family, including children, can carry an approved clear bag and clutch purse into the stadium.

Fans interested in purchasing an approved clear bag may visit the Dowdy Student Store in the ECU Main Student Center as well as other area retailers.

"We The EAST" on ESPN+
The behind-the-scenes video series "We The EAST" will be featured on ESPN+ this season. The following is the schedule for the episodes.

AUGUST:
We The East; Episode 1 – Thursday, August 31st, 11 a.m.

SEPTEMBER:
We The East; Episode 2 – Thursday, September 7th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 3 – Thursday, September 14th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 4 – Thursday, September 21st, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 5 – Thursday, September 28th, 11 a.m.

OCTOBER:
We The East; Episode 6 – Thursday, October 5th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 7 – Tuesday, October 10th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 8 – Thursday, October 19th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 9 – Thursday, October 26th, 11 a.m.

NOVEMBER
We The East; Episode 10 – Thursday, November 2nd, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 11 – Thursday, November 9th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 12 – Thursday, November 16th, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 13 – Wednesday, November 22nd, 11 a.m.
We The East; Episode 14 – Thursday, November 30th, 11 a.m.

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