New Mississippi State football tailgating safety regulations announced after 7 arrests outside game

Stefan Krajisnik, Mississippi Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State has announced new football gameday safety regulations following an altercation that resulted in seven arrests during and after MSU's 24-3 loss against Kentucky last Saturday.

Per a release, the goal of the new regulations is to make tailgating in the Junction, "safer and more enjoyable for fans and to provide the family-friendly environment that Bulldog fans expect and deserve."

“Conduct of this nature is not in keeping with Mississippi State University’s core values of integrity, kindness and respect for others,” MSU president Mark Keenum said. “I have instructed our leadership team to take immediate necessary steps to make clear that this behavior will not be tolerated on our campus.”

Here are the new rules being implemented for the remainder of the 2023 season. Mississippi State (4-5, 1-5 SEC) has two home games remaining against Southern Miss on Nov. 18 (11 a.m., SEC Network+) and Ole Miss on Nov. 23 (6:30 p.m., ESPN).

  • No non-MSU-provided amplified music will be allowed in the Junction. TVs and radios will be allowed, but large speakers or elevated speakers will not be allowed.

  • The university’s traffic and pedestrian life safety video surveillance system will be used to monitor activities in the Junction.

  • The Junction tent spaces will be reconfigured to provide additional clearance for the sidewalks, and fans will not be allowed to block or impede pedestrians.

  • MSU will supplement its existing MSU Police Department officers with additional sworn officers from state and local agencies to ensure safety.

  • MSU is a smoke-free campus for tobacco, and controlled and illegal substances use violates state law and campus regulations.

  • Violators who refuse to comply with these and other gameday rules are subject to removal without ticket refund and prosecution.

  • MSU will review all game day regulations before the start of the 2024 football season.

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Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State tailgating safety regulations added after 7 arrests

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