ECU Police prepare for busy weekend

East Carolina University will host the University of Texas for an NCAA Baseball Super Regional this weekend at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Games are scheduled for noon on Friday and Saturday, with an additional game on Sunday if needed.

ECU defeated Coastal Carolina to advance and host a super regional. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)

Graduation ceremonies for Pitt County high schools are also scheduled on Friday and Saturday at Minges Coliseum. This combination of events presents unique challenges related to traffic, parking and safety near ECU’s Grady-White Boats Athletic Campus.

ECU Police Capt. Chris Sutton said the department is well prepared for the weekend and advised those attending the events or driving in the area near the athletic campus to allow extra time and be mindful of traffic conditions and pedestrians. Parking and traffic into and out of the area for baseball and graduation activities will be routed in different directions, he said, especially when multiple events are ending near the same time.

Traffic leaving graduation will flow north toward 14th and 10th streets, while traffic leaving the baseball stadium will flow south toward Greenville Boulevard and Red Banks Road, Sutton said. Parking for Pitt County Schools graduation will be on the north side of the football stadium near Minges, with overflow parking at Elmhurst Elementary School. Parking for baseball will be on the south side of the complex — around Clark-LeClair Stadium, the Carol Belk Building and Stratford Arms.

“Be patient and defensive in your driving, and reduce your distractions,” Sutton said, advising that drivers who aren’t headed for the athletics complex may want to give the surrounding streets an extra berth.

The baseball stadium’s capacity is about 5,600, and an attendance record was set during last week’s regional competition. The largest of the high school graduation ceremonies at Minges is expected to include about 4,500 attendees.

“We’re used to having large events. We’re used to having multiple events run at the same time,” Sutton said. “If you’ve got large crowds, you know you’re doing something right. What we have to do is manage that and be able to get people in as quickly as possible and out as quickly as possible.”

With noon starts on Friday and Saturday for baseball and forecasted temperatures in the upper 80s, a cooling tent has been set up outside the stadium, managed by Greenville Fire and Rescue.

“For our graduates and their families, celebrate responsibly, and for those coming to the baseball games, be responsible in how you prepare, how you tailgate and how you enjoy the game,” Sutton said.