Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is once again the proud host of the TSSAA Division I High School Basketball Tournaments, scheduled between March 13-16 for the boys’ championships. This exciting event, held at the historic Murphy Center, is bringing significant changes to the campus’s parking and traffic patterns, especially as the MTSU community returns from spring break.
With the influx of athletes, families, alumni, and supporters anticipated for the tournaments, MTSU’s Parking and Transportation Services has issued a set of guidelines to ensure a smooth experience for both visitors and the university community. Motorists are advised to expect increased traffic and to plan for additional travel time to navigate the campus effectively.
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Key changes include recommendations to use the East Main Street and Rutherford Boulevard entrances for easier campus access. The Cope building’s east end arm gate will be lifted, granting access to Midgett Lot and Old Main Circle specifically for the duration of the tournament. Notably, the Greenland Drive parking lot will be dedicated to TSSAA ticket holders, with a daily parking fee of $5, prompting students and faculty to seek alternative parking.
Additionally, the Middle Tennessee/Woodfin Lot will also cater exclusively to TSSAA attendees, with parking fees applicable during certain tournament days. To facilitate team bus parking, Faulkinberry Drive from Middle Tennessee Boulevard to Normal Way, along with Normal Way itself, will be closed to campus traffic, affecting regular parking and road access in these areas.
The Raider Xpress Shuttle Service will operate on its usual schedule, albeit with a modification to the Green Route, which will not service the Greenland Drive Lot during the tournaments. An extra bus will be added to the Red Route on March 13-14 to accommodate the expected rise in ridership from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ron Malone, MTSU’s vice president of Events and Transportation, emphasized the importance of the TSSAA Tournaments in attracting prospective students, their families, alumni, and other university supporters. He appealed for cooperation and assistance from the MTSU community to ensure a welcoming atmosphere for all visitors.
For those attending other events on campus during the tournament dates, first-come, first-served parking will be available in any of MTSU’s free lots, subject to availability. Visitors will need parking passes on class days.
For further details on MTSU traffic, parking, and road closures, individuals are encouraged to contact the MTSU Parking and Transportation Services Office or visit the MTSU parking website for a searchable campus map. Information on the TSSAA state tournaments can be found on the TSSAA website.
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