LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tailgating is getting an upgrade a Cardinal Stadium. The University of Louisville announced the creation of The Alley by Buffalo Construction Tuesday.

The Alley will open this football season and will sit on South Floyd Street directly across from the entrance to the stadium.

UofL says The Alley is a way to bring fans together on game day to have fun and congregate before kickoff. 

In a statement to Spectrum News 1, Director of Athletics Vince Tyra said, “We are fans too. We know that the game-day experience goes far beyond the actual game. We want to help create destinations and foster more traditions for our fans. The Alley is just one more example. I’m so thankful to our friends at Buffalo Construction, Inc. are as committed to our success as we are.”

The new fan venue is slated to open Sept. 11 for the Cardinals home opener against Eastern Kentucky. The Alley will sit on approximately one acre on the corner of Boxley and South Floyd. It will feature a courtyard capable of hosting 2,000 fans, turf greens for games, live entertainment, food and drink options. 

UofL says The Alley will be open and free to all fans, but premium memberships will also be available. Those buying memberships will have access to climate-controlled areas, a catered meal and premium bar options. The Alley will open four hours before kickoff and will close 30 minutes before the start of the game.

“We’re honored to partner with the Cardinal Athletic Fund to offer a unique tailgate and sports viewing experience for our Cardinal Fans and community,” Brett Norton, Vice President, Operations for Buffalo Construction, Inc. said.

The spot where The Alley is being built is also the site of the former tailgating club, Cardinal Alley. Former Cardinal Alley Club members will be the first to buy VIP membership passes, but other fans can be added to the waiting list by contacting Sam Robey with the Cardinal Athletic Fund. 

The construction of The Alley was first mentioned in 2020 when UofL announced the creation of a new fan experience and changes to parking lots in and around the stadium. 

Tyra announced a couple of other changes coming to the stadium. First, the athletics department will begin a phased approach to improve Wi-Fi capacity on game day. The school is also adding a 400-foot LED screen to the east end of the stadium to highlight UofL's 23 players whose jerseys are honored. The screen will highlight each of the honorees and the school's bowl game appearances. The screen is anticipated to be installed by Oct. 9 when the Cardinals face Virginia.