UC Davis Campus Police, along with members of the Sacramento City Police Department, are working to ensure that the battles occur on the field and not in the stands at the Oct. 28 Causeway Classic.
"We?re not trying to crackdown, necessarily," said UC Davis Assistant Athletic Director Bob Bullis. "I just want to make sure that this game comes off very smoothly."
This year?s game will be hosted by UC Davis but held at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College. This is because Hughes Stadium can accommodate 22,000 people, nearly 10,000 more than Davis? Toomey Field.
Since the event is a home game for Davis, the Aggies will be running the show, from the gate to the concessions, although Sacramento City College will supply extra security.
UC Davis hosted the Causeway Classic at Hughes Stadium in the early nineties and Bullis has not forgotten what happened.
"At that time we didn?t have control over the parking lots and some people got a little out of control. They were mostly alcohol related incidents," Bullis said.
There should be no such incidents this year since there will be no alcohol permitted inside or outside the gates. UC Davis is a dry campus and does not allow alcohol at any of its sporting events and a city ordinance prohibiting open containers of alcohol will be enforced.Tailgating will be allowed at the game, however there are some restrictions. Only one vehicle will be allowed per parking space and no barbecues or coolers will be allowed in the parking lots. In addition, all fans attending the game will be subject to search upon entering the gate.The restrictions may seem harsh, but they come on the heels of last year?s tragedy.
[Twenty-one-year-old] Steven Fowler suffered a severe head injury while trying to break up a fight during halftime of last year?s game at Sac State on Sept. 18. He later died in a hospital in Santa Rosa as a result of the injury.
This year?s Causeway Classic will be held at 2 p.m., but Bullis said the reason for the afternoon start is because of the weather and not security related.
"When we get into October around here, the nights start to get pretty cool and afternoon games are a lot more comfortable," Bullis said. "It should be a beautiful day."
The parking around Hughes Stadium only accommodates about 2,000 cars, so not everyone will be able to find a space in the lots around the stadium. However, alternate parking will be reserved at nearby William Land Park. Parking near the stadium will cost $5.
The cost of admission will be $15 for reserved tickets, and $12 at the gate for general admission. Non-UC Davis students will need $10, and tickets for children under 12 will cost $5. The box office at Hughes Stadium will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and the gates will open at noon.
