Can you take your purse into the stadium? How late can you tailgate? Are tickets available?
There’s lots to know before the first pitch. Whether it’s your first time attending or you’re a College World Series veteran, here’s a rundown of everything you need to know.
What’s the schedule?
» The daylong Opening Celebration kicks everything off Friday, and games are every day, from Saturday through June 22. The three-game championship series starts June 24.
Saturday: Game 1, Texas Tech vs. Michigan, 1 p.m.; Game 2, Arkansas vs. Florida State, 6 p.m.
Sunday: Game 3, Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 1 p.m.; Game 4, Mississippi State vs. Auburn, 6:30 p.m.
Monday: Game 5, 1 p.m.; Game 6, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Game 7, 1 p.m.; Game 8, 6 p.m.
June 19: Game 9, 6 p.m.
June 20: Game 10, 7 p.m.
June 21: Game 11, 1 p.m.; Game 12, 6 p.m.
June 22: Game 13, 1 p.m.; Game 14, 6 p.m.
June 23: 8 a.m., Road to Omaha Run benefiting the Omaha Parks Foundation; to register, go to ncaa.com/cws
June 24: CWS Finals Game 1, 6 p.m.
June 25: Finals Game 2, 6 p.m.
June 26: Finals Game 3 (if necessary), 6 p.m.
» Fan Fest presented by Capital One will be open every day of the CWS. It features food trucks, vendors and more. It opens two hours before each day’s first game in Lot C at 10th and Mike Fahey Streets and runs until the day’s second game of the day starts.
» The annual College Home Run Derby is June 29 at 7 p.m.
Where can you park?
» Parking is available near TD Ameritrade Park in Lot A, for $10, or the CenturyLink Center garage for $12. Don’t try parking in Lots B or D unless you have premium seats or are a season ticket holder. Accessible parking is available free-of-charge in Lots A and B on a first-come, first-served basis.
» All stadium lots will open at 8 a.m. on CWS game days and will close 90 minutes after the event. There’s no overnight parking allowed at any TD Ameritrade Park or CenturyLink Center lot.
» No motor homes (or other RVs) will be admitted at the TD Ameritrade Park/CenturyLink Center lots either.
» City surface lots, garages, metered spaces and Creighton University are available for parking. If you leave your quarters at home, you can use the ParkOmaha app to pay the meters. Sunday is free at meters.
» There is a bicycle valet on Mike Fahey Street between 13th and 14th. For motorcycles, park on Mike Fahey Street along 14th.
What about shuttle buses?
Want to get to the game but not worry about parking? The City of Omaha offers a few options every day of the tournament, including a Stadium Circulator shuttle bus, regular Metro bus routes and a rent-a-bike program with drop-off and pick-up stations throughout Omaha.
Stadium Circulator
For 25 cents a ride, the Stadium Circulator bus might be the best option, looping through downtown.
» Runs every 10 minutes
» For the Opening Celebration, it will run from 9:30 a.m. to 30 minutes after the festivities end; on game days, it will run 90 minutes before the first game and 90 minutes after the last out of the last game of the day.
» Pick-up and drop-off locations include downtown hotels, the Old Market, CWS Fan Fest and the ballpark. For more information, visit ncaa.com/cws.
Where can I tailgate?
» Tailgating is allowed at all TD Ameritrade Park, CenturyLink Center and Creighton University parking lots
» Tailgaters must stay within parking stalls and can’t stake any tents into the ground. For safety purposes, all tents and equipment must be put away before entering the stadium.
How do you get tickets?
» Only single reserved seats are still available to purchase directly from the NCAA in advance. More seating options can be found on secondary ticket sites, such as the NCAA Ticket Exchange or StubHub.
» General admission ticket books are also on sale online, by phone and in person at the CenturyLink Center box office and at many area supermarkets. A $90 ticket book includes 10 tickets, which can be used all at one game or at separate games.
» General admission seating is in the outfield bleachers in sections 125 to 136. The first 5,500 people will get seats. Additional ticket holders may be allowed in as standing room only. Accessible seating is first-come, first-served.
» Trying to find last-minute tickets? Every day during the CWS, a limited number of reserved seats can be bought at 10 a.m. at the TD Ameritrade Park box office. Tickets are limited to four tickets per person, per game, and are sold through a random drawing.
Will there be beer?
Yes. Beer, wine and alcohol will be sold inside the stadium. You’ll need your ID and will be able to order up to two drinks at once for $6 to $9. Alcohol won’t be served after the seventh inning, and customers who seem overserved will be cut off.
Can you tour the stadium?
Yes. Fans can tour the park, including the clubhouse, batting cage, dugout and radio booths, at 9:30 a.m. daily, Monday through Friday (June 17-21) and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday (June 19 and 20). Tickets are $8 and may be purchased at the box office. Tours will meet at the Road to Omaha Statue on the corner of 13th and Cuming Streets and will last about 45 minutes.
What security is in place?
Fans entering the stadium can expect bag checks and metal detector wands. Local law enforcement will be at all entrances of the stadium and inside the stadium, along with event security staff. Concrete barriers have also been installed along the sidewalks by TD Ameritrade Park to protect pedestrians.
Additionally, the Omaha Police Department asks the public to immediately report any suspicious behavior or unattended items to nearby officers, or by calling 911.
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What CAN you bring into the stadium?
» Clear bags or small clutch bags not exceeding 4.5-by-6.5-inches. For more on the clear bag policy, go here.
» Cameras are allowed in the stadium for personal use, but must have a lens shorter than 1 inch. No extra detachable lenses are allowed.
» One empty clear plastic bottle per person, 20 ounces or smaller.
What CAN’T you bring into the stadium?
» Other bottles or cans, outside food or drink or coolers.
» Purses, backpacks, camera bags, binocular cases, fanny packs and opaque bags of any kind (with the exception of medically necessary bags).
» Frisbees, beach balls, large umbrellas or noise-making devices (i.e. bells, whistles, horns, etc.)
» Illegal drugs or alcohol, weapons of any kind, including lawfully concealed firearms, or any item deemed to challenge public safety.
» Commercial signs or banners (without the prior approval of MECA).
» Drones, fireworks, laser pointers, selfie sticks, hoverboards.
Anything else?
» Gates open two hours before game time; parking lots open at 8 a.m. all game days.
» Don’t have a bag? Jump in the express line at Gate 4.
» People can leave and re-enter the stadium during a game, but they must be screened again for re-entry.
» Fans must leave between games. Gates will reopen either two hours before the next game or, if less than two hours, once the stadium had been cleared.
» TD Ameritrade Park is a smoke-free facility. Smokers must stay 20 feet away from the gate entrance. Electronic or vapor cigarettes are also prohibited.
» Per Nebraska law, open containers of alcohol are not allowed on public streets. Officers will be enforcing “open container” and “minor in possession” violations.
» Cox Communications is offering free WiFi throughout the metro area at 550 hotspots named CoxWiFiFree through July 1. For more info, visit cox.com/wifi.
» Temporary radio station, AM channel 1670, can be heard within 3 miles of the stadium and will broadcast CWS info.
The 10 most successful teams in College World Series history
Which teams have the most wins in College World Series history? Find out here and check out The World-Herald's CWS database.
10. South Carolina may not be the most successful team in College World Series history, but it very well could be the timeliest. The Gamecocks, who are 32-20 in 11 CWS appearances, have two national championships — one in the final series at Rosenblatt and the other in the first CWS at TD Ameritrade. You can see the full CWS team page here.
9. Cal State Fullerton is 34-31 in 18 CWS appearances and has won four national championships, including most recently in 2004. In that title run, Jason Windsor threw 322 pitches in eight days, notching two complete games and a save, while allowing two runs in 21 innings. You can see the full CWS team page here.
7 (tie). LSU was a little behind in making its first trip to Omaha, but since then, it is among the most common programs to reach the CWS. The Tigers have made 18 trips to Omaha — all since 1986 — and hold a 40-27 record with six titles, including a walk-off home run by Warren Morris in the 1996 championship. You can see the full CWS team page here.
7 (tie). Oklahoma State has been a familiar name in the CWS, but hasn't had much luck as of late in the hunt to end a championship drought. The Cowboys are 40-38 in 20 CWS appearances, but the program's lone championship came in 1959 — 18 June trips to Omaha ago. You can see the full CWS team page here.
6. Stanford is 40-29 in 16 CWS appearances with two titles — back-to-back in 1987 and 1988. In the first championship run, freshman Paul Carey hit .381 with two doubles, seven RBIs, nine runs scored and a game-winning grand slam in the semifinals for the Cardinal. You can see the CWS team page here.
5. It took awhile for Arizona to get a title, but once it did, it couldn't ever be counted out again. The program's first championship came in its 10th CWS appearance, but the Wildcats have won four titles in their last eight trips to Omaha. Overall, Arizona is 43-30 in 17 appearances. You can see the CWS team page here.
4. From 1978-2008, Miami made the CWS 22 times under the leadership of Ron Fraser and Jim Morris. In their 25 total appearances, the Hurricanes are 48-42 with championships in 1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001. You can see the CWS team page here.
3. Arizona State won all five of its CWS titles in a 16-year span, from 1965-1981. The Sun Devils hold an overall record of 61-38 in 22 appearances, and their last title came with a benched All-American and a starting pitcher on one day's rest. You can see the CWS team page here.
2. No team can claim as many CWS titles as USC. In this photo, team captains Tim Tolman and Doug Stokke, along with coach Rod Dedeaux, are celebrating the Trojans' 11th title in 1978. USC would add its 12th title 20 years later and has an overall record of 74-26 in 21 appearances. You can see the CWS team page here.
1. Texas has the most wins and appearances of any team. The Longhorns are 86-60 with six titles — in 1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002 and 2005. Texas' 36 CWS appearances are split among four coaches: Bibb Falk (10), Cliff Gustafson (17), Augie Garrido (8) and David Pierce (1). You can see the CWS team page here.
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