MEDIA ADVISORY: Stadium event to take place tonight; welcome home to be Tuesday

LAWRENCE -- Students and fans are invited to cheer on the University of Kansas Jayhawks in their NCAA national championship game Monday night at Memorial Stadium. The team will be welcomed home from New Orleans on Tuesday.

Tonight, KU fans are invited to join the Pep Band, Baby Jay and the dance team to watch the game together on the videoboard at the stadium. Admission and parking are free. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:18 p.m. The stadium's south gates will open at 7 p.m. Pre-game festivities will include a Family Funzone, Mardi Gras beads and music by Lawrence's KLZR 105.9 The Lazer. Concession stands and restrooms will be open on the stadium's west side only.

No alcohol is allowed on campus. There will be no vehicle access to central campus during and after the game. There will be enhanced law enforcement on campus. The stadium event is sponsored by the university.

On Tuesday, the Jayhawks and Coach Roy Williams will be welcomed home with a community celebration at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The event is free and open to the public.

If the team wins the national championship tonight, the welcome-home event is slated to take place at Memorial Stadium. Otherwise, the event will take place in Allen Fieldhouse. Gates/doors will open at 4:30 p.m. All parking is free. Concession stands, however, will NOT be open for this event.

At the stadium, seating will be on the east side. North and east side gates will be open; south gates will NOT be open. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Allen Fieldhouse. A decision will be made by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The program will incude the KU Pep Band, mascots, cheerleaders and the dance team and a presentation on the videoboard (stadium only). The KU student group T-12 will sing the alma mater to conclude the program.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For a stadium event, media may park in a reserved lot just southwest of the stadium (access by road on stadium's west side).

If the welcome-home reception is at the stadium, there will NOT be a media room available until after the event. If you need access before the event or other special considerations, please call Todd Cohen at (785) 864-8858 or Frank Barthell at (785) 864-8869.