The old adage "Nothing in life is free" may ring true for many things, but come Saturday, Sept. 20, University employees can enjoy several free treats: free admission to Yale's first home football game of the season, free parking in a nearby lot, and free food and drink.
Those free offerings are part of "Employee Day at the Bowl," an invitation to all staff and faculty members and their immediate families to enjoy the home opener, when the Bulldogs will take on the Bears of Brown University. Now in its fourth year, the Employee Day program is featuring free food at the event for the first time this year. Hotdogs, soda and cookies will be available under the special Employee Food Tent before the start of the game, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"We wanted to create more of an event and have a more central location where people can go and spend time together before the game," says Tim Ford, assistant director of athletics. The Athletics Department and Human Resource Services are cosponsors of Employee Day at the Bowl. While Dining Services is providing the food, credit for the introduction of the Employee Food Tent goes equally to staff members in Human Resource Services, who shared in the desire to provide employees with an opportunity to socialize at the game, Mr. Ford says.
"It's a great day for friends and families to come out and enjoy a day at the Yale Bowl," he adds. "We're very excited about our upcoming football season, and this is a way for employees to take part in and share some of that excitement." The game also marks the first the Bulldogs play under the direction of new head coach Jack Siedlecki.
The kickoff for the Yale vs. Brown contest will be at 1 p.m., but staff members and their families are encouraged to come early to enjoy food in the Employee Food Tent, which is located in the Hospitality Village, across from Gate E. Free parking is available in Lot D (on Central Avenue).
To receive free general admission to the game, faculty and staff members should go to Gate E at the Yale Bowl between 11 am. and 1 p.m. and present their valid University I.D. There, they will receive a voucher for admission seating. All full-time faculty and staff members and their immediate families will be admitted free.
Throughout the game, there will be raffles and other give-a-ways, with prizes including sets of football or hockey tickets, and a variety of Yale athletic merchandise.
Also sponsoring the event are the following members of the Yale Athletics Corporate Partners Program: Starter, Linx Cellular Service, Yale Travel Services, the Yale Co-op, Fusco Corporation, WTNH-News Channel 8, the New Haven Register, Coca-Cola, IKON Office Solutions, The Yale Bookstore and Holiday Inn at Yale University.
For more information on Employee Day at the Bowl, call the Athletics Department at 432-7413.