Alumni Coliseum Parking Lots Rates and Event Day Arrival

Alumni Coliseum Parking Guide

Finding Alumni Coliseum parking is straightforward once you understand how Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) divides its athletic surface lots. Located along the Eastern Bypass (KY-876) in Richmond, Kentucky, the venue-officially Baptist Health Arena at Alumni Coliseum-hosts EKU Colonels basketball, volleyball, university commencements, high school regional tournaments, and concerts. The main challenge on event days is not finding a spot, but knowing which spaces require special donor passes, how weekday permit enforcement works, and how to avoid major traffic bottlenecks on the bypass.

For most basketball games and university commencement ceremonies, the best parking choice is the expansive Alumni Coliseum Surface Lot directly wrapping the arena. Official parking is on-site and consists of surface spaces rather than parking garages. General parking is typically free for regular-season athletic games and weekend graduations, though inner rows nearest the gates are strictly reserved for Colonel Club donors and state-issued ADA placards. Arrive 45 to 60 minutes before tip-off to get a spot close to the arena; if the main lot fills, overflow parking is available directly east at Roy Kidd Stadium. For ticketed concerts or state high school tournaments, event organizers may charge an entry fee, so always check your event ticket details before heading to campus.

How We Check Parking Information

VenueGuideHQ prioritizes verified operating policies from Eastern Kentucky University Athletics and EKU Parking and Transportation Services. College campus parking operates differently from commercial sports venues, so we make clear distinctions between:

• Confirmed facts: Surface lot locations, standard weekday permit hours, donor-reserved areas, and accessible parking rules.
• Variable details: Third-party concert parking fees, KHSAA high school tournament policies, and temporary road closures managed by local police.
• Practical arrival advice: Proven egress routes along the Eastern Bypass (KY-876) and how to navigate campus entry points.

When tournament hosts or outside concert promoters manage parking independently, we advise confirming entry charges and payment policies directly with the event organizer.

Official Parking Overview

Unlike major professional sports venues, Alumni Coliseum does not rely on multi-story parking garages. All official parking consists of wide surface lots directly on the southern edge of the EKU campus. These lots wrap the north, east, and west sides of the building, providing flat, paved access to Paul S. McBrayer Arena.

Best Parking Options for Most Visitors

Your best parking choice at Alumni Coliseum depends on the day of the week, the time of arrival, and your mobility needs.

General Basketball Fans and Weekend Attendees: Outer Coliseum Lot

For weekend games and evening tip-offs, head straight to the outer perimeter bays of the main Alumni Coliseum lot. These spaces are free, step-free to the concourse, and do not require donor credentials. Arriving 45 minutes early ensures a space within a two-minute walk of the turnstiles.

Weekday Daytime Visitors: Register for a Visitor Permit

If you are visiting Alumni Coliseum between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday-such as for morning commencement rehearsals, special campus assemblies, or athletic office visits-regular university parking enforcement is active. You must obtain a digital temporary visitor pass through the EKU Parking Operations online portal or park in a designated paid visitor space to avoid a campus citation.

Families with Seniors or Limited Mobility: Front Concourse Loop

If you do not hold a state disability placard but have passengers who cannot walk long distances, enter via the Kit Carson Drive access road. Pull into the front turnaround loop to drop passengers off at the ground-level arena doors before heading out to park in the general surface spaces.

Major Event Overflow: Model Laboratory and Intramural Lots

During large commencement ceremonies and regional high school tournaments, campus attendants may direct traffic south across Kit Carson Drive toward the Model Laboratory School and intramural perimeter lots. These lots provide a safe 5- to 8-minute walk to the coliseum along marked pedestrian crosswalks.

Parking Prices and Payment

Parking costs at Alumni Coliseum depend strictly on the organization hosting the event. Regular EKU athletic events offer generous complimentary parking, while private promoters and regional athletics may charge a fixed rate.

The official parking page does not clearly state flat parking rates for third-party entertainment, as fees are set by individual tour operators. When paid parking is enforced at the entry gates, attendants generally operate on a cashless basis, accepting major credit cards and mobile payment wallets.

Accessible Parking

Alumni Coliseum provides accessible parking spaces designed for step-free concourse access:

• Location: Designated ADA spaces are located in the front rows of the main Alumni Coliseum surface lot, positioned as close as possible to the primary entrance ramps.
• Requirements: A valid, state-issued disability license plate or hanging placard is strictly enforced. Stalls are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Drop-Off Access: Drivers can drop guests at the Kit Carson Drive front turnaround loop right at the arena entrance before parking.
• Concourse Access: Concourse entryways at Baptist Health Arena are ground-level, featuring wide doors and accessible ramps leading to designated wheelchair and companion seating sections inside McBrayer Arena.
• Shuttle Availability: The university does not operate continuous dedicated wheelchair shuttles from remote overflow lots for standard athletic games, making early arrival critical for accessible spaces.

Rideshare and Drop-Off

Using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft is a convenient way to avoid post-event traffic queues on the Eastern Bypass.

• Primary Drop-Off Location: Direct your driver to set the destination as Alumni Coliseum Main Entrance / Kit Carson Drive. The turnaround loop in front of the venue allows vehicles to pull out of moving traffic safely.
• Post-Event Pickup Tip: After large games and graduation ceremonies, traffic along the Eastern Bypass (KY-876) and Kit Carson Drive backs up quickly. Drivers often struggle to reach the arena loop. For a much faster pickup, walk 3 to 4 minutes north toward the pedestrian plazas near the student center or Lancaster Avenue and request your ride there.
• Charter and Team Buses: School buses, tournament team transports, and commercial charters must not enter the passenger drop-off loop. EKU Police and event staff direct buses to designated staging lanes along the outer perimeter of the Roy Kidd Stadium complex.

Public Transit and Shuttle Options

While Richmond is a car-dependent suburban area, several local transit alternatives serve the campus perimeter:

• EKU Big E Transit: Operating during active fall and spring academic semesters, this free university shuttle network runs regular campus loops. It connects residence halls, outer commuter lots, and campus facilities directly with the athletic district.
• Foothills Express / Richmond Transit: Regional transit routes operated by Kentucky River Foothills provide local public transportation connections within Madison County, stopping along the perimeter of the EKU campus.
• Campus Pedestrian Routes: Visitors staying at local Richmond hotels along Lancaster Avenue or visiting downtown can walk safely to Alumni Coliseum via wide, well-lit sidewalks and signalized crosswalks across the Eastern Bypass.

What to Do if Parking Is Full

On rare occasions-such as rivalry basketball games against Western Kentucky or multi-school commencement sessions-the main coliseum lot can reach full capacity. If attendants close the main entrances, follow these backup steps:

1. Continue East to Roy Kidd Stadium: Drive past the coliseum along the athletic perimeter loop to the football stadium and Begley Building parking areas. These surface lots offer hundreds of spaces within a 4- to 6-minute walk.
2. Turn South to Model Laboratory School: If the athletic loop is congested, cross Kit Carson Drive into the Model Laboratory School and intramural perimeter lots. These lots are generally open to the public for weekend and evening events.
3. Head West to Brockton and Perkins Lots: Located roughly 7 to 10 minutes west on Kit Carson Drive, these campus surface lots provide reliable overflow parking.
4. Never Park on Shoulders or Grass: Street parking along the Eastern Bypass (KY-876) or Lancaster Avenue (KY-52) shoulders is strictly prohibited. Richmond Police and EKU Police strictly enforce tow-away zones on campus medians and highway easements.

Category-Specific Arrival Tips: Arena Parking

Managing arena parking requires a different mindset than dealing with a football stadium. While football crowds disperse slowly through tailgates, basketball and arena events release thousands of spectators into the parking lots all at once.

• The 20-Minute Egress Surge: Plan for a 15- to 25-minute delay when exiting the main lot immediately following a close basketball game or graduation ceremony. The traffic signals along the Eastern Bypass (KY-876) create a bottleneck that takes time to clear.
• Interstate Routing (I-75): Drivers traveling from Lexington or Berea should take I-75 to Exit 87 (Richmond / KY-876 Eastern Bypass) and travel east for approximately 1.5 miles. Alumni Coliseum will appear clearly on your left.
• Campus Renovations: Ongoing updates across EKU athletic facilities can lead to temporary lane closures or lot re-striping. Always obey electronic variable message signs placed at the campus entrances.
• Comparing Arena Footprints: Unlike dense urban venues that rely on expensive parking garages-such as those detailed in our Madison Square Garden parking guide or the Crypto.com Arena parking guide-Alumni Coliseum offers the convenience of spacious suburban surface lots. However, it requires more attention to campus-specific enforcement rules, much like the dynamic surface and campus layouts highlighted in our Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum parking guide.

Before You Go Checklist

• Confirm whether your event is an EKU athletic contest, graduation ceremony, or third-party entertainment show.
• Check your arrival time against EKU's weekday permit hours (7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday).
• Make sure your Colonel Club parking pass is in your vehicle if you hold donor credentials.
• Bring a valid state-issued disability placard or plate if you need accessible parking stalls.
• Have a debit card, credit card, or mobile payment ready in case an event parking fee applies.
• Set your GPS directly to "Alumni Coliseum, Richmond, KY" or Kit Carson Drive rather than general university coordinates.
• Note your route from I-75 Exit 87 along KY-876 to avoid sudden lane changes.
• Familiarize yourself with the Roy Kidd Stadium overflow lot in case the main ring is closed.
• Establish a post-event meeting spot outside the arena gates in case mobile networks become congested.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to park for events at Alumni Coliseum?

The best parking location is the Alumni Coliseum Main Surface Lot surrounding the arena. The outer rows provide free parking for general public attendees during athletic games, while the inner rows closest to the doors are reserved for Colonel Club donors and accessible parking placard holders.

Is parking free at Alumni Coliseum for EKU basketball games?

Yes, general public parking in the outer sections of the coliseum lot is typically free for regular-season EKU Colonels men’s and women’s basketball games. Only reserved donor bays require a paid credential or Colonel Club membership.

Do I need a university parking permit for evening or weekend events?

No. EKU Parking and Transportation Services enforces student and employee permit zones on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For events starting on weekday evenings or anytime on weekends, visitors may park in general open surface spaces without a campus permit.

Where is accessible (ADA) parking located at Alumni Coliseum?

Accessible parking stalls are positioned in the inner rows of the Alumni Coliseum main lot, immediately adjacent to the ground-level concourse doors and entry ramps. A state-issued disability placard or license plate is required to enter these spaces.

How does Colonel Club donor parking work?

Colonel Club members receive dedicated seasonal parking credentials through the EKU Athletics Department. These physical hangtags or digital passes grant access to reserved bays closest to the arena entrances, managed by game-day parking attendants.

Where do Uber and Lyft drivers drop off passengers?

Rideshare drivers should pull into the entrance turnaround loop along Kit Carson Drive directly in front of Alumni Coliseum. This provides safe, direct passenger access to the main doors without blocking traffic on the Eastern Bypass.

What should I do if the main Alumni Coliseum lot is full?

If the main lot reaches capacity, proceed east along the athletic campus ring road to the Roy Kidd Stadium and Begley Building surface lots. These lots are a flat 3- to 6-minute walk from the arena doors.

Can I park on the grass or along the bypass shoulders?

No. Parking on highway shoulders, road easements, or campus grass medians is strictly illegal. The Richmond Police Department and EKU Police will ticket and tow unauthorized vehicles parked along KY-876 or Lancaster Avenue.

How early should I arrive for graduation at Alumni Coliseum?

Arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before the ceremony start time. Commencement crowds generate heavy traffic backups at the Eastern Bypass intersections, and close-in parking spaces fill rapidly.

What is the easiest way to avoid post-game traffic on the bypass?

If you are parked on the western or southern edge of the lot, exit via Kit Carson Drive through campus toward Lancaster Avenue or Crabbe Street. This allows you to avoid the traffic light queue where the main lot empties onto the Eastern Bypass.

Conclusion

Parking for events at Alumni Coliseum is straightforward compared to major city arenas, thanks to thousands of open surface spaces directly on campus. For most EKU basketball games and weekend commencements, parking is free and just steps from the turnstiles. The most important strategies for an easy visit are arriving 45 to 60 minutes early, avoiding reserved Colonel Club bays unless you hold credentials, and using campus side streets like Kit Carson Drive to steer clear of post-game backups on the Eastern Bypass.

Parking information can change by event, date, season, traffic control, construction, and parking operator. Always confirm the latest parking details on the official venue, airport, park, attraction, city, transportation, parking operator, organizer, or event website before you leave. Information is checked for 2026 where available, but official sources should always be treated as the final authority.