More than 70 Metro police officers will be on the streets immediately surrounding Nissan Stadium on Saturday afternoon to assist the traffic flow of Tennessee State University football fans arriving for this year’s 4:30 p.m. homecoming game against Austin Peay University. The same traffic plan as that used for NFL games will be in effect. The Woodland Street Bridge will close to regular traffic at 1:30 p.m. and will then be available to only pedestrians and authorized shuttle buses.
TSU homecoming traditionally draws the school’s largest football attendance of the year. Fans are urged to arrive at the stadium early. TSU staff will be making an extra effort to ensure that tailgating activities/items do not interfere with open parking spaces or block traffic in the lots. Nissan Stadium parking lots open as early as 7 a.m. for this game. Certain lots have been designated as cash parking ($25 per vehicle).
Rideshare Plan for Nissan Stadium (Uber and Lyft)
Ingress: Drivers will access Davidson Street from either S. 2nd Street or S. 5th Street. They are to proceed west on Davidson to the taxi lane on S. 1st Street between the Korean War Veterans Bridge and the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Drivers are instructed to drop off passengers in the taxi lane and then leave via Victory Lane. There is no waiting.
Egress: Drivers will take S. 5th Street to Davidson Street, turn right and proceed to the taxi lane on S. 1st Street between the Korean War Veterans Bridge and the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. There they can pick up passengers and then proceed to Victory Lane to leave the area.
Homecoming Parade
TSU’s Saturday homecoming festivities begin at 9 a.m. with the annual parade, which will travel west on Jefferson Street from 14th Avenue to the university campus. The parade will feature the TSU Aristocrat of Bands, floats and a number of high school bands.
In preparation for the parade and its staging, Jefferson Street from 10th Avenue North to the TSU campus will begin closing at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The I-40 west exit ramp at Jefferson Street will close at 8:30 a.m. In addition, the following closures will be in effect:
- John A. Merritt Boulevard from 28th to 33rd Avenues
- 12th Avenue from Jefferson Street to Herman Street
- 14th Avenue from Jefferson Street to Herman Street
- 16th Avenue from Jefferson Street to Herman Street
- Meharry Boulevard between 12th and 16th Avenues
- Phillips Street between 12th and 16th Avenues
- Jackson Street between 12th and 16th Avenues
- Ireland Street between 12th and 16th Avenues
- Scovel Street between 23rd and 28th Avenues
- Beasley Street between 23rd and 28th Avenues
- Ed Temple Boulevard between Dr. Walter S. Davis Boulevard and Albion Street.
Arriving early is the key to fully enjoying TSU’s homecoming parade Saturday morning and the football game Saturday afternoon.