Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field has been the home of Mississippi State Bulldogs football since 1914, when it opened as New Athletic Field. Only Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium has hosted FBS football longer, making this Starkville landmark the oldest stadium in the SEC and giving it more than a century of gridiron history.
Beyond the history, this guide covers everything a fan actually needs to plan a trip: where the best seats are, how parking and the shuttle system work, what the bag policy allows, and how the cowbell tradition that defines the place actually came to be.
Quick Answer
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field is Mississippi State University’s football stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, seating 60,311 fans for the 2026 season and home to the Bulldogs since 1914. Clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and small clutches up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed. Gates open approximately two hours before kickoff, there is no re-entry once you leave, and public parking is cashless and sold in advance through PMC.
Davis Wade Stadium Gameday Guide (2026 Season)
- Bag policy: Clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or small clutches and purses up to 4.5″ x 6.5″
- Gates open: Approximately two hours before kickoff, per the official A-Z guide
- Parking: Prepaid public lots run about $25 to $55 by lot type (2026 prices); ADA lots and RV parking are listed by the university
- Tailgating: Picnic areas open at 4 p.m. the day before a game and close at midnight daily; no wheeled vehicles or trailers in tailgating areas
- Payments: All public pay parking lots are cashless (debit, credit and tap)
- Re-entry: Guests are not permitted to re-enter once they leave, per the official A-Z guide
Policies checked against the official team and stadium pages in September 2026. Rules can change game to game, so confirm on the official gameday page and the official gameday A-Z guide before you go.
Davis Wade Stadium Bag Policy (2026)
Mississippi State allows clear bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Small clutch bags or purses are also allowed if they are no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″, roughly the size of a hand. Anything bigger that is not clear will not get through the gate.
Medical bags are permitted at all security entrances, and the bag and its contents are inspected thoroughly before entry. Plan a few extra minutes at the gate if you are carrying one.
Carts, wagons and wheeled supply carriers are prohibited at the stadium. Water bottle rules are covered under Food and Drink below. For the full prohibited items list, see the official gameday page linked below.
Gates and Entry
The official A-Z guide says gates open approximately two hours before kickoff. Kickoff times change from week to week, so confirm the time for your game on the official page.
Every person, including infants, needs a ticketed seat. The official A-Z guide says guests are not permitted to re-enter once they leave the stadium. Plan to have everything you need with you when you go in, and leave any oversized bags at your car or hotel.
Parking at Davis Wade Stadium
Public parking is sold in advance through PMC at parkwithpmc.com for select lots on all games. Grass lots go on sale the Friday before the game at 8:30 a.m., and they depend on the weather that week. All transactions carry a processing fee.
The university lists these public prices for 2026, which vary by non-conference or conference opponent. Premium grass lots (Bully, Sorority) run $45 to $55. Standard lots (Zacharias, Sponsored, North Garage, Barr Paved) run $35 to $45. Remote lots (Research Park, Vet School, RecPlex, ADA) run $25 to $35.
Public ADA parking is in two lots: North Campus at Research Park and South Campus at the Animal and Dairy Science Building. Both are priced like the remote public lots. Public RV parking is at the Mississippi Horse Park and requires a reservation at 662-325-9350. Reserved hook-up lots 34 and 38 open at 10 a.m. on Friday of football weekends.
Lots open at 8:00 a.m. for kickoffs between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. They open at 7:00 a.m. for kickoffs between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. All public pay lots are cashless.
Tailgating Rules
Per the official A-Z guide, picnic areas open at 4 p.m. the day before a game and close at midnight daily. Tent stakes can be no larger than 1/4 inch in diameter and no longer than 6 inches, and ropes are not allowed. Wheeled vehicles and trailers are not permitted in tailgating areas.
The university transportation office adds that tailgating is permitted only where traffic or parking is not obstructed. It also says no tents, tables or chairs are permitted in parking spaces or on sidewalks.
MSU Dining runs Gameday Central at the corner of Creelman St. and Stone Blvd. It is a central pickup spot for tailgating orders and supplies, including ice.
Getting to Davis Wade Stadium
MSU Transit begins 4 hours before kickoff and continues until 2 hours after the game. Disability carts and ADA transit follow the same hours. SMART provides routes from central, south and north Starkville to campus terminals at Old Main Academic and Newell Grissom. No coolers are allowed on any MSU Transit buses.
The official pages reviewed do not list rideshare zones or walking routes. Check the official gameday page for the latest maps.
Best Seats and Seat Views
The Bulldogs’ home sideline is on the west side and visitors sit on the east side. The student section anchors the north end zone. Because the west stands face east, they get afternoon shade first, which makes the west side the better choice for day games in early season heat. East sideline seats face the afternoon sun.
Lower rows near midfield on the west side give the best mix of sightlines and shade. The upper deck follows the same pattern: west upper seats stay shaded longer, while east upper seats take more sun. Fans who want a lively atmosphere can look toward the north end zone near the students. The official ticket office has the current seating chart and pricing.
Food and Drink
For 2026, Mississippi State allows one factory-sealed water bottle up to 1 L/32 oz, or an empty reusable container. Older versions of the A-Z guide describe a different rule (one clear, colorless bottle, full or empty), so rely on the current policy and confirm the details on the official gameday page before you go. Outside food and other beverages are not listed as permitted, and alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.
Davis Wade Stadium Gameday FAQ
What is the bag policy at Davis Wade Stadium? Clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are allowed, along with small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. Medical bags are permitted at all security entrances and are thoroughly inspected. Carts, wagons and wheeled supply carriers are prohibited. See the official gameday page for the full list.
When do gates open at Davis Wade Stadium? The official A-Z guide says gates open approximately two hours before kickoff. Kickoff times vary, so confirm your game’s time on the official page.
Where can I park for a game at Davis Wade Stadium? Public lots are sold in advance through PMC at parkwithpmc.com. Options include premium grass lots, standard lots, and remote lots at Research Park, the Vet School and the RecPlex. ADA lots are at Research Park and the Animal and Dairy Science Building. MSU Transit runs from 4 hours before kickoff until 2 hours after the game.
Can you tailgate at Davis Wade Stadium? Yes. Picnic areas open at 4 p.m. the day before a game and close at midnight daily. Wheeled vehicles and trailers are not allowed in tailgating areas. Tent stakes are limited to 1/4 inch in diameter and 6 inches long. Tents, tables and chairs are not permitted in parking spaces or on sidewalks.
Can I bring a water bottle into Davis Wade Stadium? For 2026, Mississippi State allows one factory-sealed water bottle up to 1 L/32 oz, or an empty reusable container. Older guide text describing a clear, colorless bottle is out of date, so confirm on the official gameday page.
Can I leave and re-enter Davis Wade Stadium? No. The official A-Z guide says guests are not permitted to re-enter once they leave the stadium.
A Century of Growth
The playing surface was named Scott Field in 1920, honoring Don Magruder Scott, an Olympic sprinter and MSU football standout from 1915-16. The stadium itself was renamed Davis Wade Stadium in 2001 to honor major donor Floyd Davis Wade Sr., which is why both names are used together. What began as a modest college field has grown through renovations in 1928, 1936, 1948, 1982, 1986, and 2002 (a $21 million project that added 50 skyboxes), followed by a $75 million expansion in 2014 that added premium seating and a climate-controlled concourse beneath the East Upper Deck.
Mississippi State continued investing in the stadium ahead of the 2026 season, adding a distributed antenna system for better cellular reception, a modernized LED lighting rig with programmed songs and laser effects for conference games, an expanded pregame light show with more fireworks and pyrotechnics, a redesigned team entrance, a new interlocking MSU logo at midfield, refreshed concourse branding, and additional retail and water stations throughout the concourses.
The Cowbell Tradition
No feature defines Davis Wade Stadium more than its cowbells. Legend traces the custom to a stray cow that wandered onto the field during a 1930s game against Ole Miss, though the documented record shows cowbells becoming a fixture of MSU games more gradually, in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1974 the SEC banned all ‘artificial noisemakers,’ including cowbells, and Mississippi State fans spent 36 years ringing them anyway despite the rule. The SEC formally reinstated cowbells in 2010 under specific restrictions that still apply: fans may ring them before the game, during timeouts, at halftime, and after Mississippi State scores, but not during live play.
The tradition set a Guinness World Record in 2015, when 5,748 fans rang cowbells simultaneously for 30 seconds during the Cowbell Yell pep rally, shattering the previous record of 640 set in Switzerland. Mississippi State has announced plans to attempt to reclaim the record when Missouri visits Starkville on September 26, 2026, cementing the cowbell’s place as one of the loudest, most disruptive traditions in the SEC.
Seating Chart: Finding the Best View
Davis Wade Stadium is laid out in a horseshoe running north-south, with the Bulldogs’ home sideline on the west side (sections 01-07), visiting teams on the east side (18-25), and the student section anchoring the north end zone; the south end zone has no seating, just the M-Club Center and videoboard. For the best combination of sightlines and midfield positioning, sections 03-05 on the west side, especially rows 25 and higher, are widely considered the top seats in the house and get afternoon shade first.
Fans looking for value tend to sit in east sideline sections 19 and 22, which cost less than comparable west-side seats but sit in the sun and farther from the Mississippi State bench. In the upper deck, west-side sections generally stay shaded longer in the afternoon, while the east upper deck sections take the brunt of the sun during day games.
For upper-deck seats. Watch line play at the stadium, or the far side of the park from the top of a lift hill.
Sherpa-lined and windproof, with a waterproof back for wet bleachers. Folds into its own pouch.
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
Davis Wade Stadium fan guide FAQs
How old is Davis Wade Stadium?
It opened in 1914 as New Athletic Field, making it the second-oldest stadium currently used in the Football Bowl Subdivision, behind only Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the oldest stadium in the SEC.
Why is it called Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field?
The playing surface was named Scott Field in 1920 to honor Don Magruder Scott, an Olympic sprinter and MSU football player, and the stadium itself was renamed Davis Wade Stadium in 2001 to honor donor Floyd Davis Wade Sr., so both names are used together.
What is Davis Wade Stadium’s capacity?
As of the 2026 season, Davis Wade Stadium seats 60,311 fans, following the seating adjustments made after the 2014 expansion.
Are cowbells actually allowed inside the stadium?
Yes. Mississippi State is the only Division I program where fans can bring artificial noisemakers like cowbells. The SEC banned them from 1974 to 2010, and today they’re permitted before the game, during timeouts, at halftime, and after MSU scores, but not during live play.
What’s the attendance record at Davis Wade Stadium?
The record is 62,945 fans, set on October 11, 2014, when No. 3 Mississippi State beat No. 2 Auburn 38-23.
Where should I park near Davis Wade Stadium?
Premium grass lots closest to the stadium cost more, while outer lots near Research Park, the Vet School, and the Rec Plex cost less and are served by a free shuttle running for several hours around kickoff. Parking is generally card-only, so bring a card rather than cash.
What bags can I bring into the stadium?
Davis Wade Stadium follows an SEC-style clear-bag policy: clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags up to about 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or a one-gallon clear bag) are allowed, along with a small non-clear clutch. Backpacks and regular purses are not permitted.
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