CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia football’s game against Norfolk State will be the first of two Friday night home games at Scott Stadium this season, and as such, the University is spreading the word about changes to parking and an expected uptick in traffic.

The game kickoff time is 7 p.m. and a number of parking lots will need to be cleared before then.

The Scott Stadium Health Commuter Lot which must be vacated at 1 a.m. Friday, the Hereford Drive Upper and Lower Lots must be vacated by 2 p.m., and the rest of the academic lots around the stadium must be vacated by 3 p.m., according to an announcement on UVA’s website.

Alternative parking will be at John Paul Jones and the Emmet/Ivy Garage.

UVA Transit’s Green, Gold, Orange, and Silver Lines, as well as UVA FlexRide, will all end service at 4 p.m.

UVA Health Team members arriving 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. are to park in the JPJ garage and ride the modified purple line JPJ Health Commuter. They can also park from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fontaine parking garage and ride that same purple line.

The University also warned in its announcement to expect heavy traffic toward the end of the day at Fontaine as fans arrive for the game.

Fans can park for free at Fontaine and JPJ as well as The Park. Shuttles to Scott Stadium for the pre-game “Wahoo Walk” will begin after UVA Transit concludes. Purple Lot JPJ shuttles start at 4 p.m., and shuttles from the Red Lots at Fontaine and the Blue Lots at The Park and D3 begin at 5 p.m.

Paid parking is in the Central Grounds, South, and Emmett/Ivy garages beginning at 5 p.m.

Free parking in the JPJ/Purple Lots are open all day Friday for parking, and additional free parking in the Fontaine/Red & North Grounds/Blue Lots will be open at 5 p.m. VAF Lots open for permit holders at 4:45 p.m.

As traffic begins to pick up on Fontaine, JPA, Ivy, and Emmet toward the University beginning between 4-5 p.m., UVA advises motorists to either allow extra time or find other routes.

UVA Athletics Marketing and Promotions indicated an expectation from 40- to- 50-thousand people coming to the game. That’s less than the 62,000 Aug. 29 sellout when the free parking at Fontaine and JPJ all filled up. They advise arriving as early as possible to get the best parking.

As the football season begins, AAA offered safety tips for tailgaters to not drink and drive, and be safe with grills.

“Alcohol is often part of football-season celebrations, but drinking and driving can have deadly consequences,” said AAA MidAtlantic spokesman Morgan Dean. “Every day, approximately 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — about one person every 44 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

“In Virginia in 2025, 248 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol impaired driver,” said Dean. “According to Virginia DMV, while alcohol-related crashes represented just over 5% of all collisions in Virginia last year, they accounted for 30% of all traffic fatalities.”

AAA advised those who plan to drink not to drive, and choose a designated driver and give them the keys.

“Remember, only time sobers someone up, and coffee, food, or cold showers do not reduce impairment,” Dean said.

Tailgating brings fans together, but stadium parking lots also place grills, hot coals (even though charcoal grills are not allowed), open flames and flammable materials in close proximity to vehicles and other equipment, according to AAA.

“Keep grills away from vehicles, tents, and other combustible materials and never leave a grill unattended even for a few minutes and keep a fire extinguisher nearby and make sure everyone knows where it is,” Dean advised. “Before leaving to go into the game, allow grills to cool completely.”

Gates open to Scott Stadium at 5:30 p.m.