Game day guide: What you need to know about Virginia Tech at Old Dominion for today’s season opener

Virginia Tech visits Old Dominion at 7 p.m. Friday at S.B. Ballard Stadium in the season opener for both teams. Here’s what you need to know:

Tickets

Tickets are sold out on ODU’s web site, although some are available on resale sites. StubHub had single tickets starting at $216 on Thursday night. A pair of two tickets started at $225 each.

On the air

TV: ESPNU. Radio: 94.1FM (ODU broadcast), 790AM (Virginia Tech broadcast)

Free parking

Garages on both sides of Chartway Arena open at 3 p.m., and parking also is available at the Health Sciences building off 43rd Street. Tailgate lots also open at 3 p.m.

Pregame

ODU this season will continue to host a pregame party on Kaufman Mall near the Webb University Center, with a beer garden, food vendors and big-screen TVs showing college football games. The Finns, a North Carolina rock band, will perform Friday, and there will be bounce houses for kids.

ODU’s traditional Monarch March — the team walks from Webb University Center to the stadium’s South gate ― begins at 4:45 p.m.

In S.B. Ballard Stadium

ODU will sell beer and wine this season for the first time after test runs at Chartway Arena during basketball season.

ODU has a clear-bag policy: anything that won’t fit in a bag that’s 4½ inches by 6½ inches must be kept in a clear bag.

This week’s coverage

Old Dominion preview

Virginia Tech preview

ODU’s Ricky Rahne and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry are longtime friends after working on Penn State’s staff.

Old Dominion starting QB Hayden Wolff is bigger, more durable after an offseason of grilled steaks, weight-room work

Virginia Tech starting QB Grant Wells has been a lifelong Hokies fan.

Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com. Twitter @JamiVP