8:00 AM | Tailgating Opens
Hinkle Fieldhouse
Tailgate parking packages must be purchased in advance. Packages are $225 and include two tailgate spots (1 vehicle parking + 1 additional spot for tailgating activities) and four general admission football tickets. Only 1 vehicle per tailgate pass is allowed. Parking passes will be sent via FedEx to purchasers in advance of the game. The 4 general admission tickets will be loaded into their Butler Sports App. The tailgate lot will open at 8:00 AM. Upon arrival, tailgaters will be placed in either the West or East Hinkle lot. Limit of two passes per account. Purchase your pass here. No spots will be sold on game day, and packages will likely sell out. Please review the Gameday Parking and Tailgate Policy.
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Cru Alumni Gathering
519 W. Hampton Dr. (right next to BUPD)
Come by for donuts, coffee, and apple cider. No RSVP is necessary, but contact Jeff Daratony with questions at jdaraton@butler.edu.
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Bulldog Boulevard - Butler’s Biggest Tailgate! presented by Elements Financial, Butler’s Credit Union
Hinkle Fieldhouse West Parking Lot
Join the fun at Butler’s Biggest Tailgate! All tailgates are open to the Butler community to join and mingle. Bring food, drinks, chairs, friends, and come and go as you please to this exciting atmosphere. The area also includes easy access to the Food Truck Festival and Family Fun Fest.
Bulldog Boulevard Tailgates from different campus areas and communities, including:
College of Communication (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
College of Education (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
Founder’s College (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
Lacy School of Business and MBA Alumni Community (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
Jordan College of the Arts (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
Athletics (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Family Reunion Tailgate (open to everyone, see below)
Elements Financial (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Alumni Association Tailgate
Bulldog Boulevard, Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot
FREE
Stop by the Alumni Association Tent as you enter Bulldog Boulevard! Get all the details for the weekend and some Butler swag!
9:00 AM | Butler Family Reunion Tailgate
Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot
FREE; Reservation Requested
Butler grads and current students are welcome to stop by to make connections at this annual gathering hosted by Kent ’94 and Brittney ’94 Greer. Enjoy some Butler hospitality at one of the biggest tailgates at Homecoming!
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Compass Center Open House and Tours for Alumni
The Compass Center – 4615 Sunset Avenue
FREE. Reservations are requested but not required.
Explore updates to the Compass Center and meet the new director. Tours will be available. Light refreshments will be served. Please complete the Homecoming registration to indicate your participation.
9:30 AM | Hink’s VIP Huddle
West End, Hinkle Fieldhouse Lot
FREE for Members of Butler Giving Societies at President’s Club level and above
Butler donors of the President’s Club, Fairview Heritage Society, Butler Way Society, and Carillon Society are invited to join us for a VIP Experience at the Bulldog Beauty Contest. We invite you to stop by for complimentary food and refreshments and enjoy the Bulldog Beauty Contest (10:00 AM) from our reserved seating area. Reservations are requested.
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Butler Esports Open House
Esports Park
Stop by to enjoy food, drinks, music, and free-to-play games. Guests can sign up to receive 20% off a month’s membership.
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Food Truck Festival
Bus Turn-Around at 49th and Sunset
Returning to Homecoming, alumni and fans can visit food truck vendors throughout the morning.
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Family Fun Fest
Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot
FREE
Bring the entire family to Family Fun Fest. Activities for all ages will be offered for families to enjoy campus.
10:00 AM | 24th Annual Butler Bulldog Beauty Contest, Presented by Build Ford Tough Trucks
Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot
FREE
A Homecoming favorite, Blue IV hosts the 24th annual contest. This is a must-attend event for all Bulldog fans!
Click here to register a bulldog to participate.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Institute Celebration
Health and Recreation Complex (HRC) Atrium
FREE – Greek Alumni
Join the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, student leaders, and alumni as we celebrate the Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute. After checking in, enjoy free food, reconnect with fellow Greek Bulldogs, and share your favorite campus memories and Homecoming traditions. Whether you’re swapping stories from your chapter or meeting new friends, this is the perfect chance to celebrate Butler’s fraternity and sorority community and learn about our bright future. Let’s connect, eat, laugh, and celebrate life-long connections!
1:00 PM | Butler Bulldogs vs. Marist
Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl
Tickets are $12 for General Admission. Youth tickets are available for $8 at the gate. Visit Butlersports.com/buytickets to purchase tickets in advance. Another option for the game is a Sellick Bowl Cabana, which includes access for up to 12 people to watch the game from a private area overlooking the field. Learn more or purchase here.
We’re honoring the 1975 and 1985 football teams at this year’s Homecoming game. If you were a member of either team and want to be recognized, please register here to let us know you’ll be there.
4:00 PM | Women’s Soccer vs. Providence
Varsity Field
Tickets are FREE for all fans!
Reconnect before kickoff—Women’s Soccer alumni check in at Varsity Field at 3:00 PM for the annual reunion. Please RSVP here in advance.
5:00 PM | Men’s Soccer Alumni Tailgate
Please join us for a special homecoming gathering of Butler Men’s Soccer! This is your weekend to come home, reconnect with teammates, and celebrate a milestone in program history. This season marks the teams 30th anniversary of the Men’s Soccer program at Butler. At halftime, we will ask alumni to join us on the field (alumni only, no guests). We look forward to sharing this weekend with you! Please click here to let us know you’re coming.
7:00 PM | Holcomb Planetarium Show and Telescope Viewing
Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Planetarium shows are at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. There will be telescope viewing after the planetarium show, weather permitting. Admission for the planetarium programming is $5 for children and students under 18 yrs, and $8 for adults (Butler faculty, staff, & students are free with Butler University ID). We accept cash or credit.
7:00 PM | Men’s Soccer vs. Akron
Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl
Tickets are $8 for General Admission Adults. Youth tickets are available for $5 at the gate. Visit Butlersports.com/buytickets to purchase tickets in advance.
7:00 PM & 11:00 PM | Comedy Jam (two performances)
Clowes Memorial Hall
Get ready, Indianapolis! On Friday, September 27, Comedy Jam is taking over Clowes Memorial Hall for one epic night of side-splitting comedy you won’t forget. This is not just a show — it’s a full-on comedy experience featuring a powerhouse lineup of some of the funniest voices in the game.
Headlining the night is the quick-witted and charismatic DeRay Davis, known for his roles in hit films like Barbershop and his stand-up specials that keep crowds roaring. Joining him is social media sensation turned comedy star Jess Hilarious, bringing her bold, unfiltered humor to the stage with a fresh and fearless style that’s made her one of the most exciting acts in comedy today. Also bringing the heat is the legendary Earthquake, whose raw, real-life storytelling and signature delivery have made him a favorite on HBO, Netflix, and across the globe. You’ll also catch the high-octane energy and outrageous punchlines of Tony Roberts, a crowd favorite who never holds back and always leaves audiences in stitches. And don’t miss Ambur James, a rising comedic force bringing sharp observations and fierce personality to round out this dynamic lineup. Tickets are going fast, and this show will sell out!
