MADISON- The diamond has been flipped to a gridiron at Toyota Field in preparation for Saturday’s Jacksonville State versus North Alabama collegiate football game. The home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball team will host the first football game held at the new complex located at Madison Towne Center.

he game is set for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff and gates will open at 3:00 p.m.

A new venture for the area, the highly anticipated matchup of two intrastate and longtime rivals presents new accommodations to host the collegiate contest. As a Fans Guide for the game, the information located here can certainly make for a more enjoyable experience. Presented by MartinFed, one of the nation’s leading federal contractors headquartered in Huntsville, the game will present fans with a new look to the usual contest’s format. Due to limited space outside the east end zone, all offensive plays will be played in one direction towards the first base side (west) of Toyota Field. Defensive plays can still be made towards the east end zone.

Limited game tickets, starting at $20, are available on-line at trashpandasbaseball.com or in-person at the box office. A digital ticketing system is used for entry. A capacity crowd of 10,000 is expected for the 50th meeting between the long-standing schools.

Fans are welcome to tailgate in the Toyota Field parking lots as parking will be available on a first come, first served basis for the 3,000 spots beginning at 11:00 a.m. for $15 per vehicle. Cash is not accepted in the lots as only credit, debit or mobile tap-to-pay will be available. RV parking will be located in the grass lot to the east of Toyota Field off Stadium Way for $20 per vehicle. North Alabama is the home team for the battle, which means the Lion’s usual pregame “Lion Walk” ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. starting near the Trustmark VIP entrance and finishing at the main Pepsi Gate. Toyota Field has a “Clear Bag Policy” in place.

Additional parking will be available at a satellite lot at Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure located next to Duluth Trading Company with shuttle bus service available to Toyota Field. Spectators are urged to begin parking early as each available lot will be blocked off as soon as each is filled to capacity.

Once inside Toyota Field, a full line of concessions will be available including the debut of Golden Mane Beer, the official beer of UNA Athletics. Numerous locales of concessions will be available throughout the 360-degree concourse of Toyota Field. All-you-can-eat food options are also available as part of premium hospitality seating areas. More details on those options available on the Trash Pandas’ website. Toyota Field is a cashless venue, thus only credit, debit or mobile tap-to-pay will be accepted.

For those not able to attend the game the action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ streaming platform.

“Kudos to the ground crew at Toyota Field for their hard work in transforming the playing surface from baseball to football,” said Joel Lamp, Convention Sales Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s taken enormous work on behalf of the crew to have the field playable and have the facility ready in time for the pageantry of college football.”

Lamp added, “MartinFed’s support of this event continues their commitment to the community as each year the grants program donates three to six grants to help organizations in the focus areas around veterans, wellness, STEM, women and children, and homelessness.”

The City of Madison is proud to be a part of the area’s first college football game held at the new confines of Toyota Field.