Heading to the game? Have your vaccination proof ready

Fans heading out to UB Stadium on Saturday for the homecoming football game against Western Michigan will need to bring proof of vaccination to get in.

The new policy takes effect tomorrow and requires spectators to show proof they have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Checkpoints will be set up outside the stadium along Augspurger Road — one at the south end near the stadium parking lot, another at the north end near the lot for Alumni Arena. Staff will be positioned there to verify vaccination status before fans are allowed to proceed to the gates.

A vaccination card, a photo of a vaccination card, an Excelsior Pass or a digital vaccine card are all acceptable. Attendees should be prepared to show photo ID, as well. Those without proof will be turned away; those with an exemption also will not be allowed into the stadium.

Fans may want to arrive a little early.

“We hope that this will be a fairly quick process and we don’t get too much congestion coming in,” says Eric Gross, deputy athletics director for external operations. “But we always encourage fans to come early and enjoy the pre-game pageantry.”

Tailgating starts at 9 a.m., with the Walk to Victory set for 9:30. The free Tailgate Concert featuring Nerds Gone Wild begins at 10:15. Kickoff is at noon.

Children under 12 who are not vaccinated will still be admitted to the game but must wear a mask at all times.

For the rest of the fans in attendance, they will no longer be required to wear masks while outdoors in the stadium. They still, however, will be required to wear masks while indoors, including in the concourse and club-level suites.

The indoor policy will be posted on signage throughout the stadium and made known during public address announcements throughout the game.

By Oct. 30, when the Bulls are home against Bowling Green, fans will be required to show they have completed their vaccination series.