Expanded Heat Plan in Place for 2018 Football Season
8/24/2018 1:13:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State Athletics unveiled an expanded heat plan for the safety and comfort of fans attending football home games at Carter-Finley Stadium. The 2018 football schedule features five home games over the first six weeks of the season, when daytime temperatures in Raleigh are typically warm.
NC STATE ATHLETICS HEAT PLAN
The primary elements of the heat plan for the 2018 football season are:
Rex Healthcare: Two Rex Healthcare stations are always available to fans on gamedays, one on the East Concourse (near Gate 8) and one on the West Concourse (behind Sections 4 & 5). Heat plan activation adds a third station on the North Concourse (behind Sections 220-23) and also upgrades the East Concourse station to an air conditioned tent (West Concourse station is a permanent air conditioned space). Â
Water Stations: Complimentary water will be available at the Rex Healthcare station on the East Concourse (near Gate 8), the Southwest Concourse (behind Section 215) and the North Concourse. Water fountains are always available on the West Concourse beneath Vaughn Towers.
Bottled Water: Fans are always permitted to bring into Carter-Finley Stadium one sealed water bottle per person. Additional bottled water is available for sale at concession stands throughout the stadium.
Misting Stations: Four misting stations will be installed, two on the South Concourse (behind Sections 212-214) and two on the North Concourse (behind Sections 220-223), with tents for shade and fans that deliver cooling mist.Â
Towel Stations: Coolers filled with iced towels will be available for distribution on the South Concourse (behind Sections 220-223) and at the Rex Healthcare stations on both the North and East Concourses. Fans may bring and dunk their own hand towels, t-shirts or other suitable materials, as well. (Note: fans should never drink from dunking stations due to risk of illness.)
Air Conditioned Buses: Three air conditioned buses will be parked outside of the East, West and North gates of the stadium. Medical personnel will direct fans to these buses based on medical need.Â
Sunscreen Stations: Complimentary sunscreen will be available from dispensers located throughout the stadium concourse.
FAN GUIDELINES FOR WARM DAYS
• Wear a hat and light-fitting, light-colored clothing.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during and after the game.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
• Use sunscreen and reapply periodically.
• Immediately seek assistance of game day staff and on-site medical personnel if you need help.Â
HOW NC STATE INITIATES HEAT PLANÂ
NC State will utilize Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) as an objective measure of when to enact our heat plan. Carter-Finley Stadium has a WBGT meter installed in-venue.Â
WBGT is utilized by the National Weather Service, military agencies, OSHA and other entities as a guide to manage heat stress in direct sunlight, based on temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. WBGT differs from the heat index, which is based only on temperature and humidity and is calculated for shady areas.
Click on image to enlarge
NC State will activate our heat plan when conditions reach a WGBT of 82 degrees (see above graphic). NC State reserves the right to implement all or parts of our heat plan when conditions are cooler than described above, in the interest of patron comfort and safety.
HOW FOOTBALL KICKOFF TIMES ARE DETERMINED
Kickoff times for football games selected by television are determined by the ACC's television partners, not by NC State. Each of the Wolfpack's first three home games of the 2018 season have been selected for broadcast and kickoff times were set by the ACC's television partners.
On those few instances when a home game is not selected for broadcast by ACC TV partners, NC State's practice is to schedule early season games for evening kickoffs (such as 6pm or 7pm) to avoid the heat of day, and late season games for afternoon kickoffs (such as 3:30pm) to enjoy fall seasonal temperatures. Â
During each Football season, television will generally notify the ACC of its selections and kickoff times no later than 12 days prior to game day (i.e. Monday the week prior to a Saturday game). However, on limited occasions each season, television may notify the ACC of its selections and kickoff times as late six days prior to game day (i.e. Sunday the week of a Saturday game).
Once television selections are made, NC State Athletics immediately communicates information regarding kickoff times through our website, www.gopack.com, on social media channels such as Twitter (@PackFootball and @PackAthletics), and through local media outlets. Anyone who has purchased tickets to the games will also be notified via email.
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