Sko Buffs! A Fan’s Guide to Colorado Buffaloes Football Game Day

Become one with the herd at a Colorado Buffaloes football game at Folsom Field. Located at the foot of the Flatirons on the University of Colorado-Boulder campus, Folsom Field hosts one of the most scenic game day settings in college football, along with an electrifying atmosphere from fans. After securing your Colorado Buffaloes football tickets and Folsom Field tickets, get ready for a CU football game day with helpful tailgating tips, traditions and more below.

Pre-Game Traditions

Boulder’s best is on display during Colorado game days. Before settling into football festivities, explore some of the city’s natural offerings at Chautauqua Park and Boulder Creek, go shopping at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall or take in the view after a short drive up Flagstaff Mountain. On campus, check out highlights like the CU Museum of Natural History, Fiske Planetarium or Sommers-Bausch Observatory.

Whatever your choice of activity, be back in town by 7:00 p.m. for the Pearl Street Stampede. On Fridays before game day, CU football players and coaches, the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, Colorado Spirit Squad and Chip the Buffalo mascot parade down the Pearl Street Mall surrounded by fans. Moving west from the Boulder County Courthouse, the procession is led by longtime Buffs supporter Stephen Tebo, who drives a vintage gold-and-black fire truck.

On CU football game day, the pregame ritual no fan can miss is the Buff Walk. Starting about two and a half hours before kickoff, the Buff Walk features the team and coaches arriving at Franklin Field and greeting fans while making their way to the east side of Folsom Field.

Tailgating Tips

CU football tailgates can be found on and off campus in Boulder, with fans having the option to choose between public events, reserved spaces and premium VIP packages. Colorado sponsors official on-campus tailgates like Ralphie’s Corral, a free, all-ages area on the south end of Folsom Field featuring the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, Chip the Buffalo mascot and Ralphie the live buffalo. Meanwhile, Buffs Fan Fest on Duane Field stands as the free, official tailgate of Colorado Athletics with food vendors, entertainment and interactive activities. Duane Field also hosts Chip’s Kids Club Area. All three CU tailgates open three hours before kickoff.

Other popular spots on campus for a CU Buffs tailgate include Franklin Field, Buffalo Plaza and Boulder Creek. Typically, the C-Club tailgate for alumni is held on Franklin Field. Public parking lots at Folsom Field open six hours before kickoff or no earlier than 6:00 a.m. for early games, with single-game spaces offered for $30 on a first-come, first-served basis. Off campus, Colorado Buffs pregame events are nearly guaranteed in areas like University Hill, the Pearl Street Mall and Millennium Harvest House Hotel.

For a premium Colorado tailgate, the Franklin Field Tailgate Zone offers a VIP package to members of the CU Athletics Buff Club with additional perks like a reserved parking permit, a tent, tables, chairs and cooler rental.

Ahead of game day, pack all of your essential supplies like your tickets, photo ID and credit or debit card (Folsom Field is cashless). Colorado Buffaloes tailgating also requires some local flavor, so expect dishes like bison burgers or chorizo burritos, as well as Boulder-based beers from Upslope Brewing Company, VisionQuest Brewing or Wild Provisions by 4 Noses Brewing Company. When it comes to what to wear, anything with Colorado’s black, gold, white or silver team colors will do, but check the schedule for theme dates; each year, the team designates select games for fans to follow a color theme.

Inside Folsom Field

Before taking part in the Folsom Field game day experience, be sure to brush up on the biggest in-game traditions along with the entry rules and bag policies for the Colorado Buffaloes football stadium.

Sko Buffs

Perhaps gibberish to outsiders, Colorado fans have a shorthand for showing their school spirit: “Sko Buffs!” Instead of the conventional “Let’s go” cheer, Buffaloes fans, or “Buffs,” keep it simple by combining the words.

Ralphie’s Run

Before the Buffaloes take the field, the team is led out by a live American bison named Ralphie. Dubbed “Ralphie’s Run,” the tradition began in 1966 and features a group of student-athletes called Ralphie’s Handlers corralling the bison for a lap across Folsom Field. With the massive animal mascot and entire football squad behind him, the pregame arrival creates one powerful CU football stampede.

“The Hey Song”

“The Hey Song,” a classic marching band twist on the 1972 song “Rock and Roll Part 2,” is often performed by the Golden Buffalo Marching Band during games. Putting their own spin on the stadium staple, the band closes with “Buffaloes, Buffaloes, Go CU!”

Stadium Noise 

Ahead of big plays, it’s a Colorado Buffs tradition to create a distracting amount of noise by ringing keys, cheering loudly and stomping on Folsom Field’s aluminum bleachers.

Colorado Fight Songs

The Golden Buffalo Marching Band cycles through two major fight songs during games: “Glory, Glory, Colorado” and “Fight CU.” Traditionally, the former plays after a Buffaloes touchdown, followed by the latter after an extra point attempt.

Post-Game Alma Mater

After the game, fans usually join in singing the University of Colorado-Boulder alma mater together.

Keep the Party Going After the Game

As you’re planning your next move after the CU game ends, consider nearby hotspots on the Pearl Street Mall like Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, Bohemian Biergarten, West End Tavern, License No. 1, SALT, The Post Chicken & Beer or the rooftop terrace at Avanti Food & Beverage. Deeper into Boulder, football fans should venture to classic CU hangouts like The Sink, Dark Horse, Boulder Social and Roadhouse Boulder Depot.

Colorado Buffaloes Game Day Schedule

Catch every moment of a Buffaloes game day by checking out Colorado’s regular season football schedule.