How-to
What to Do First If You Break Down Near Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn
If your car quits near Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, stay with it, turn on your hazards and pin your exact spot. Don't count on campus help that day. Auburn University's free jump starts and lockout help don't run on football game days. So call a roadside service, give the lot name and nearest street, and plan for postgame traffic. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.
What should I do in the first five minutes?
The game just ended. Your lot is packed. You turn the key and get a click, or nothing at all. Here's the order that works:
- Stay put. Don't leave the car to walk around looking for help. Lots this full are easy to get lost in.
- Hazards on. If the car has any power, flip on the flashers so people steer around you.
- Get out of traffic. If you're on a street, not in a lot, stand away from the road and behind a curb if you can.
- Pin your spot. Drop a pin on your phone map. Write down the lot name, a row marker or the nearest building.
- Save your battery. Your phone battery, that is. Dim the screen. You'll need it for texts.
Then figure out what's wrong. A click with no crank is usually the battery. Keys on the seat is a lockout. A flat you can see is a tire.
Can Auburn University Parking Services help me on game day?
No, and this catches a lot of people. On normal weekdays, Auburn University Parking Services gives free help on campus. Officers will jump a dead battery. They'll also open a car with the keys locked inside, unless it has side air bags. They don't help with flat tires.
That help runs Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The university says it is not offered on football game days, during other special events or when the university is closed. So on a Saturday home game, that free option is off the table.
On a weekday, the numbers are (334) 844-4143 during office hours and (334) 740-2077 after hours. You'll sign a waiver first. The university notes its officers are not mechanics.
How do I tell a driver where I am on campus?
"Near the stadium" isn't enough on a Saturday. Every car around you is near the stadium. Give your driver details they can find:
- The lot or deck name. Say the deck level and the closest stairwell, too.
- The nearest street. Donahue Drive, Samford Avenue, Wire Road, Magnolia Avenue or College Street all help.
- A landmark. Toomer's Corner, at Magnolia Avenue and College Street, is one everyone knows.
- Your car. Make, model, color and plate. Leave the hazards on if you can.
Tiger Transit game day buses load on War Eagle Way. If you're near those stops, say so. It's a clear marker in a sea of tailgates.
Why are the roads around Jordan-Hare different after the game?
Auburn Police switch the streets around the stadium to a postgame pattern. In the pattern the City of Auburn posted for the 2025 season:
- North Donahue Drive runs one-way northbound between Heisman Drive and Bragg Avenue/MLK Drive.
- South Donahue Drive is closed to the public from War Eagle Way to West Samford Avenue.
- Samford Avenue runs one-way eastbound.
- Turns are limited on Magnolia Avenue, Wire Road, Heisman Drive and West Thach Avenue.
This matters for a breakdown. A tow truck can't just drive the wrong way down a one-way street to reach you. Officers direct traffic at key spots, and police barricades close streets right around the stadium. So your driver may have to loop around to get to your side.
Auburn Athletics links a Postgame Traffic Map on its parking page. Check the current one before game day. Patterns can change from year to year.
Should I wait for traffic to clear first?
Often, yes. If you're safe, parked legally and not blocking anyone, waiting can make the job simpler. The streets thin out, and a truck can reach your row.
A couple of official time markers help you plan:
- Tiger Transit game day buses stop running two hours after the game ends.
- The Parking Services Office at 330 Lem Morrison Drive stays open until two hours after the game.
If friends rode with you, they might catch a bus before it stops. You stay with the car. Early in the season, Auburn can be hot. NOAA normals show about 47 days a year at 90°F or more. Wait in shade or in a cool building, not a closed car.
Don't wait if you feel unsafe or the car is in a spot that blocks traffic. Call for help right away.
Which kind of help do I need?
Match the problem to the job. It saves time on the phone.
| What happened | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Radio or TV ran all through the tailgate, now no start | Jump start |
| Keys locked inside with the cooler | Car lockout |
| Flat tire, and you have a good spare | Flat tire change |
| Won't start after a jump, or something broke | Car tow to a shop or home |
A flat tire change means putting on your spare. If you have no spare, you'll need a tow.
What if my car got towed, not broken down?
On game day, the university tows cars parked on roads, bike paths or sidewalks. It also tows cars inside bollards, posts, chains or fences, and cars blocking driveways, hydrants or emergency lanes. All streets must stay open to traffic and emergency vehicles.
A car the university tows goes to its impound lot on campus. Start at the Parking Services Office at 330 Lem Morrison Drive. It's also open the Sunday after a home game, noon to 2 p.m. Weekend releases cost extra, so move quickly.
Sentinel doesn't do impounds, and we can't get a car released. For city tows off downtown streets, see our Auburn impound lot guide, or call Auburn Police non-emergency at (334) 501-3100.
What if I break down on I-85 driving to the game?
Most visitors come in on I-85. Exit 51 is College Street, the straight shot toward campus. Exit 57 is Bent Creek Road, and exit 58 is US 280 toward Opelika. Note the last exit you passed.
Pull as far right as you can. Alabama's move over law covers a wrecker working on the roadside, but it doesn't list a regular broken-down car. Passing drivers don't have to move over for you. So stay buckled in with hazards on, or get well away from the lanes. Check ALGO Traffic for crashes before you set out.
How does Sentinel work in Auburn?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver arrives. You get your driver's name, photo and truck, and you can track your truck on a map. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. Game traffic can slow any truck, so give your exact spot. More on Lee County roads is on our Auburn towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Auburn Game Day Breakdown Questions
Will Auburn campus police jump my car after a football game?
Don't count on it. Auburn University Parking Services offers free jump starts on weekdays only. The service is not offered on football game days. Call a roadside service instead.
Can a tow truck get to me in the middle of postgame traffic?
Yes, but streets near Jordan-Hare go one-way or close after the game. Your driver has to follow the same pattern. Give the lot name, nearest street and a landmark so they can plan a route.
Where do cars towed on campus go on game day?
Cars the university tows go to its impound lot on campus. Start at the Parking Services Office, 330 Lem Morrison Drive. Sentinel doesn't do impounds.
My kid's car died after the game. Can I get updates?
Yes. Give us your number when they call. We text you their location and when the truck should arrive.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Auburn University Motorist Assistance, Auburn University Tow and Wheel Locks, Auburn Athletics Parking and Tailgating, Tiger Transit Game Day, City of Auburn postgame traffic advisory, Auburn Police: Parking and Towing, Code of Alabama 32-5A-58.2, NOAA climate normals.
