Everything you need to know before you go to the Badgers game this weekend

The Wisconsin Badgers are preparing to host fans at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time in 651 days on Saturday, when they face Penn State.

A lot has changed since the last time fans have been allowed inside. Here’s a look at everything you need to know before you go so you don’t get caught off guard when you show up to the stadium — or find yourself stuck outside because they won’t let you in.

Mask Policy

You’re going to need a mask with you if you’re going to the game. While mask-wearing is not required in the open-air seating bowl, it is “strongly encouraged,” and masks will be required in any indoor parts of the stadium — meaning you will have to mask up if you want to use the restroom. Masks will also be required if you’re inside the stadium’s elevators, suites and club seats, the Bucky’s Locker Room store, first aid rooms and Guest Services locations.

Masks are not required for the entry gates, concourses, or concession stands, but do fall under that “strongly encouraged” category.

Digital Tickets

Physical tickets are a thing of the past at Camp Randall starting this season. Instead, you’ll have to get digital tickets scanned from your phone or print out tickets from your e-mail at home.

The athletic department says mobile tickets will end up being safer and faster, protecting people from getting scammed for fake tickets and making it easier to transfer tickets to friends and family. Fans can use the official Wisconsin Badgers app to display their tickets or have them delivered directly to their phone’s “Wallet” so they don’t have to use WiFi or cellular data to access the tickets.

More specifics on digital ticketing can be found on the UWBadgers site.

Those choosing to print their tickets at home will have the tickets to print delivered to their e-mail address. Each ticket will have to be printed separately on standard 8.5×11 white paper. E-mailed tickets will not be able to be scanned from a phone at the gates.

Cashless Concessions

As part of its COVID-19 policies, all concession stands in the stadium will not be accepting cash. Only contactless payment methods, such as credit cards or ApplePay or GooglePay will be accepted.

Bag Policy

Only 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear totes, 1 gallon clear plastic storage bags or 6.5″ x 4.5″ small purses or clutches will be allowed inside the stadium. No full-sized purses, backpacks, camera bags, fanny packs or drawstring bags will be allowed.

Arrival Times

Because of the ticketing and policy changes, along with an 11 a.m. kickoff, the Badgers are asking fans to get to the stadium as early as possible to keep things running smoothly. Gates at Camp Randall will open up at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, and the athletic department estimates fans arriving between then and 10:15 a.m. should be able to get through the gates in a minute or less. Wait times are expected to be between 5 and 10 minutes for those arriving between 10:15 a.m. and 10:35 a.m., and 15 to 25 minutes between 10:35 a.m. and kickoff at 11 a.m.

The Badgers will be scheduled to be on the field for warmups starting at 10:05 a.m., and will be there for about a half-hour before the UW marching band takes the field at about 10:35 a.m. From there, the national anthem will be played at 10:50 a.m. and team introductions featuring “Where the Streets Have No Name” is scheduled for 10:55 a.m.

Badger Blueprint

Get ready for Saturday’s game by getting all the info you need about the team and the matchup Penn State by watching the Badger Blueprint, a new Badgers football show co-hosted by News 3 Now sports director Zach Hanley and Wisconsin State Journal columnist Jim Polzin. Every week, they will recap what went right and what went wrong in the previous week’s game, preview the next week’s game, and make their picks. New episodes air every Wednesday night on News 3 Now at Ten.