Rain not stopping Stambaugh Stadium's preps for Zac Brown Band

Youngstown State University will kick off the school year with a Grammy award winning performer, and Tuesday's rain storms won't stop the preparations. 

Crews battled the wet weather that beat down on the ice castle in order to set the stage for country music artist, the Zac Brown Band. 

A performance company based out of Nashville said that crews would continue to work through the rain to get the stage built. 

Thursday night's concert on the field of Stambaugh Stadium  is expected to draw a record crowd. 

There are still tickets available for the concert, which is sponsored by JAC Live, Youngstown State University, The Eastwood Mall, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, the DeBartolo Corporation, and Huntington Bank.

Student's Banner ID number in the "Offer Code" box at the top YSU website, will unlock the $20 per ticket discount for YSU students.

Tickets are required for entrance, and can be purchased through ticketmaster.com. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

To accommodate those attending the concert, the following parking lot restrictions are in place on Thursday.

Lots closed all day:

F-80 north of Stambaugh Stadium (closed Monday thru Thursday)
M-70, M-71, M-72 and M-66 located west of Fifth Avenue
M-63 located on Lincoln Avenue west of Fifth Avenue

Lots closing early:

M-62, closed 2 p.m., vacate immediately
M-61, closed 2 p.m., vacate immediately
M-53, closed 2 p.m., vacate immediately
M-60, Fifth Avenue parking deck, closed 2 p.m., vacate by 5 p.m.
F-55, closed 2 p.m., vacate by 5 p.m.
M-50, closed 2 p.m., vacate by 5 p.m.

The University says it has sent out a notification that most of the parking spaces on the west side of campus will be reserved for concert-goers that day, and everyone else is being asked to park on the east side of campus.

The statement from the University says they are confident that there will be plenty of spaces to accommodate everyone on the east side of campus.

Signs and staff from parking services will be directing motorists to the open lots.

In addition, a shuttle loop is planned from Walnut Street, the back entrance of the Wick Avenue deck, to Lincoln Avenue, for students and others.

Ahead of the concert there are tailgating events scheduled to kick-off the fun. 

Y Live will start at 2:30 p.m. with a tailgate party in the parking lot next to the Stambaugh Stadium. Tailgate pre-sale parking will be available on Ticketmaster.com or at the Covelli Centre Box Office for $35. Day of tailgate parking is $30. A limited amount of advance parking passes will be sold.

Additional information about tailgating can be found on www.ylivemusic.com.