CU-Boulder Football Game Day Guide 

Tickets

Get your CU football tickets directly from the CU Buffs website. In addition, the ticket booth, located at the southeast corner of Folsom Field, is open on game days four hours prior to kickoff to handle ticket sales and will call. 

Tailgating 

Starting three hours before each home game, fans can gather on campus for Fan Fest, CU's official tailgating party, on the field next to the Duane Physics building. There are food trucks, games, music, big-screen entertainment and a kids' club, and it continues throughout the game.  

Unofficial Tailgating: This happens at parking lots around campus, which are open to Buff Club donors. So while you likely won't be able to access parking here unless you are a donor, many tailgaters don't mind if visitors and passersby join in the celebrations.

Coach Prime

There's a palpable sense of excitement around Boulder as Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders enters his second season as head coach of the Buffaloes football team. Keep up to date with Prime-related news on the Colorado Buffaloes' website, or follow Coach Prime on Instagram.

And here's a little something extra for the super-fans. As he's been getting to know Boulder, Sanders has been documenting on social media the eateries he's tried along the way. Browse the spots he's been to and see what he thought of each one.

Pre-Game Events

Pearl Street Stampede

The night before each home game, head to the Pearl Street Mall at 7pm for a fun, family-friendly pep rally and parade. The Pearl Street Stampede features a vintage firetruck, the CU marching band, the cheer team and Chip the mascot, all making their way down Pearl whipping up crowds as they go. It starts at the Boulder County Courthouse (at 13th and Pearl) and moves westward.

University of Colorado Boulder Mascots

Ralphie

Ralphie is the University of Colorado Boulder’s mascot, a live buffalo who makes an appearance at every home game. With her team of varsity student-athletes, called Ralphie Handlers, she leads the football team onto the field on game day and laps the gridiron to the wild cheers of fans.

Chip

Chip, also a buffalo but of the more huggable, costumed variety, is another favorite CU Boulder mascot.

CU Fight Song

Sing along, even if you only get the last five words: “fight, fight…fight, fight, fight!”

Game-Day Eats

• The Buff (.8 mile from Folsom Field) A longtime favorite breakfast and brunch spot known for their Saddlebags Pancakes and skillets. 
• Village Coffee Shop (.6 mile from Folsom Field) No-frills diner food done right. Fluffy pancakes, ultra-crispy hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy, and more.
• The Sink (.6 mile from Folsom Field) Killer burgers and pizza, artfully graffitied walls, 15-some beers on tap and a build-your-own mule bar. 
• Rincon Argentino (.6 mile from Folsom Field) Fresh-baked empanadas in a casual spot with a small patio close to Folsom Field.
• Half Fast Subs (.6 mile from Folsom Field) Really tasty, creative subs and a sunny patio on which to devour them. 

Pre- and Post-Game Bars

• The Sink (.6 mile from Folsom Field) A fixture on the Hill for over 100 years, with great beers and cocktails, pizza, burger and more. 
• The Post Chicken and Beer (1.6 miles from Folsom Field) Every week, they host the CU Coaches Show, with hot chicken, cold beer, and CU football play-by-play with Coach Prime.
• The Sundown Saloon (1.1 miles from Folsom Field) Cheap pitchers of beer, a pool table, darts and a dive-y underground vibe.
• License No. 1 (1.3 miles from Folsom Field) Below the Hotel Boulderado, this historic cocktail bar had the first liquor license in Boulder. Great specials make it popular with students and locals.
• Avanti F&B (1.1 miles from Folsom Field) Every night before a home game, Avanti hosts a rooftop party with a performance by The Golden Buffalo Marching Band and views of the downtown parade, in addition to watch parties for both home and away games.
• The Dark Horse (1.1 miles from Folsom Field) Fun, kitschy décor, laid-back vibes and good food. 
• Pearl Street Pub and Cellar (1.2 miles from Folsom Field) Affordable pints, a hearty happy hour, foosball and billiards in this low-key, old-school spot on Pearl. 
• Bohemian Biergarten (1.2 miles from Folsom Field) Long, wooden tables, pretzel, sausages and German beers in huge steins.
• Backcountry Pizza and Tap House (.6 mile from Folsom Field) So many beers, so little time — and it’s very close to Folsom Field, too.
• The Colorado Club (1.5 miles from Folsom Field) This newer spot was made for game time, with eight huge screens, a great sound system, a cool retro vibe and tasty pub fare.
• Boulder Social (1.4 miles from Folsom Field) This locally owned restaurant and brewery has a lineup of fun seasonal events and specials during CU Boulder games, including watch parties and more.
• The Lab Bar & Bites (0.7 miles from Folsom Field) Watch the game from this nearby pub on one of their five TVs while enjoying wings, burgers and beer.

Where to Stay

Boulder is fairly geographically compact, so most hotels are only a few minutes from Folsom Field. The hotels close to CU are listed here.

2025 CU Boulder Football Schedule

Here is the Boulder football schedule for the entire season. Home games are in bold. Ticketing information here. 

Parking

Parking is available on campus but is very limited. You’ll need to get there at least an hour before kickoff. The CU website is the best resource for parking information.

Buses

It’s usually easier to park your car off campus and ride one of these routes to and from the game.

• Free Bus from East Campus: Park off Colorado Avenue & Discovery Drive, for $20 Text to Pay after you park. A free shuttle to/from the stadium begins three hours prior to kick-off and runs for one hour after the game ends. See CU's website for a map.
• The HOP: Take the HOP bus to campus, which is $3 for a 3-hour pass. Park at Twenty Ninth Street shopping center or other spots along the route.
• Flatiron Flyer: If you're coming from Denver, you can take the RTD bus called the Flatiron Flyer (FF1) and disembark at Broadway and Euclid in Boulder. From there, it is a half-mile walk to the stadium.

Clear-Bag Policy

Fans may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches, or a one-gallon resealable clear plastic storage bag, into Folsom Field. Fans also will be allowed one small clutch purse, no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Bags that will not be allowed into Folsom Field include backpacks, large purses, oversized tote bags, camera bags and binocular cases, diaper bags, drawstring bags, fanny packs and printed plastic bags. Seat cushions and chair backs are allowed, but they must be 18 inches or less in width and cannot have pockets, zippers or covers. Full stadium policies here.