DHS preparing for gameday traffic

Published 8:48 pm Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Demopolis Tigers kick off their new season Friday in a new stadium and a handful of new rules.

“We are very fortunate to have one of the best football stadiums in the state of Alabama,” DHS principal Leon Clark said. “Everyone should have a great view of the ball game. We ask that no one stand by the fences in front of the concession stands and that no one should be standing by the rails in the bleachers.”

Despite the multi-million dollar stadium construction, ticket prices will remain $6 again this season.

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“Tickets will be on sale at the high school office on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 12:30 for home games only,” Clark said. “Student pre-sale tickets will be sold on Friday for one ticket per student, Demopolis students only. We encourage people to come by and purchase their ticket early so they do not have to stand in line at the gate.

Fans will also have to pay a nominal fee for parking.

“We have approximately 887 parking spaces on hard surface. We also have many other areas that are not on hard surface,” Clark said. “Parking for the football game will be $3 per car unless you have a parking pass. Our minor sports will be handling the collection as you enter the main gate. After paying your parking fee, you will be directed and assisted by the JROTC and the Demopolis City Police.”

Those who have driven by the campus may have noted the entrance and exit may appear to be a little narrow to handle gameday traffic. Clark said the school intends to solve that problem by making the road one-way before and after games.

“All traffic in and out will be one-way. Traffic will flow in behind the school and out the front. We will fill each parking area to its capacity, beginning with the parking lot behind the gym, (then) the back parking lot behind the concession stand, down the street in front of the stadium, the parking lot in front of the gym area and the parking lot by the baseball/softball complex.”

Any overflow traffic will be directed to areas not on pavement.

If you have someone you are dropping off, you will be directed to the driveway area in front of the school to drop off and then leave.

After the ball game, all traffic will be directed around the front of the school, again all one-way.

“The Demopolis police will be directing traffic,” Clark said. “They will control the flow on out to Highway 80.”