MADISON, Ala. — For the first time ever, Toyota Field, the home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, will host a football game. It will also be the first college football game ever played in Madison, Ala.
"It was one of the things that we did envision when when Toyota Field was being talked about," said Madison Mayor Paul Finley. "It was not only to house a minor league baseball team, the Trash Pandas, but also to have multiple events that families and the community could enjoy."
North Alabama Football will host Jacksonville State in an ASUN conference game. This was a moment months in the making. The initial game announcement came back on April 25, and the football field was physically created over the last few weeks.
"[We] took the mound out since the playoffs were over and we started scraping the infield back and got the sod here and got it, got it laid," said Trash Pandas General Manager Garrett Fahrmann. "It took a little longer than we thought, but we're doing this all for the first time. We put these goalposts in and once you start digging, then you find drainage pipes, you find different things. So that's kind of how this all came into place and just kind of mixed and match a little bit and made it all work together."
In terms of the game action, it will just be like any football game. The only difference is that the offenses will all drive toward the fans in the first base side grandstand.
"It will look like a normal football game to those on television, but for those coming out it will truly be a once in a lifetime modern day Division I college football experience," said UNA Athletic Director Dr. Josh Looney.
The parking lots open at 11 a.m. and tailgating is allowed. Then the gates to the stadium open at 3 p.m., with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
"This is a first step in probably multiple events like this," said Mayor Finley. "You first have to have the gumption to say, 'yes, we'll do it'. Then you have to work together with your team to make it happen."
Fans are urged to arrive at the stadium as early as possible on Saturday, and tickets are still available at the Trash Pandas box office and on milb.com.