Short answer
Anyone can bring a chair to Tailgate Plaza (the former Scales Fieldhouse site), which has live music, a beer garden and a video wall. Students gather at Treasure Island next to the Isley Performance Center. The Pirate Walk passes through Tailgate Plaza 2 hours 15 minutes before kickoff (ECU 2026 game day guide).
Organized pregame areas
- Tailgate Plaza: open to all fans. Live music, a beer garden with beer, wine and Sup Crushes for sale, food, and a video wall with college football all day. A permanent shade sail covers part of it. Reserved group spaces start at $2,000 through the Pirate Club.
- Treasure Island: the student tailgate area by the Isley Performance Center, with live music and DJs. Student groups reserve space through the Pirate Club.
- Carl and Connie Rogers Pirate Club Level: for Pirate Club members and guests with at least one membership card per group; 94.3 The Game broadcasts outside it.
Pirate Walk
The team, the Marching Pirates and the spirit squad walk the Howard and Lyn Swain Pirate Promenade in front of TowneBank Tower, through Tailgate Plaza to the Ward Sports Medicine Building, starting 2 hours 15 minutes before kickoff. PeeDee and the cheerleaders take photos with fans afterward.
Next home game: Temple, Saturday, October 31, kickoff 3:00 PM. Halloween game: season ticket holders and student guests can buy extra tickets for $10.31 through the ECU ticket office. Pirate Walk at 12:45 PM with a costume parade; kids costume contest at 2 PM in Charley's Kids Zone near Gate 4.
Tailgate checklist
- 10 x 10 pop-up canopy September kickoffs are hot; shade matters more than seating.Find on Amazon
- Folding chairs Tailgate Plaza is bring-your-own-chair.Find on Amazon
- Cooler Coolers stay at the car: no outside food or drink inside the stadium.Find on Amazon
- Cornhole setFind on Amazon
- Portable phone charger Your parking pass and tickets live on your phone.Find on Amazon
Questions fans ask
What time is the Pirate Walk?
It starts 2 hours 15 minutes before kickoff. For the 3 PM Temple game on October 31, 2026 that is 12:45 PM.
Where do students tailgate at ECU?
At Treasure Island, next to the Isley Performance Center near Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Sources
Last checked October 29, 2026. Kickoff times, TV and stadium rules can change; ECU Athletics posts the final word each game week.