---
title: "Going to a UNCW basketball game: tickets, parking, and bringing kids"
description: "Plan a UNCW basketball outing in Wilmington with official team schedules, ticket-buying tips, seating choices, family planning and game-day arrival advice."
url: "https://www.wilmingtonbeachrentals.com/things-to-do/uncw-basketball-game/"
published: "2026-11-01"
updated: "2026-11-01"
---

# Going to a UNCW basketball game: tickets, parking, and bringing kids

A UNCW basketball game can give a winter Wilmington trip an afternoon or evening indoors, especially when you've already had your beach walk and want something different. Start with both teams' home schedules, then choose the tipoff that fits your day. Men's and women's basketball play at Trask Coliseum on the UNCW campus, and each has its own calendar and ticket options.

For a first visit, choose a game that leaves enough time for the journey to campus and a meal. Then use the event's own ticket and arrival instructions to prepare for the day. If you're bringing children, deciding where everyone will sit is a useful place to start.

## At a glance

- **Where:** Trask Coliseum on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus, separate from downtown and the beach.
- **Schedules:** Check the men's and women's 2026-27 calendars independently; choose an entry showing Trask Coliseum as the venue.
- **Tickets:** Follow the Tickets link for your game on the official team schedule and review the full order before paying.
- **Family questions:** The UNCW Athletic Ticket Office handles child-ticket and seating questions at 910-962-3233.

## Pick a home game that fits your visit

Look at the [men's basketball schedule](https://uncwsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2026-27) and the [women's basketball schedule](https://uncwsports.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2026-27) before deciding which part of the day to set aside. Both calendars include travel games, so the opponent's name alone isn't enough. Open the entry and check the venue, date and listed tipoff, along with any exhibition label.

The women's calendar includes daytime and evening home games. If an early bedtime matters, start by looking for a daytime option on your travel dates. An evening game may work better for a couple who want to spend the afternoon outside and have dinner before heading to campus. The useful comparison is the actual game time and available seats; neither program needs to be treated as the automatic family choice.

Keep the journey to campus separate from your downtown or beach plans. Walking along the Riverwalk doesn't put you at the arena, and a beach rental still needs a campus arrival plan. If you're choosing accommodations around several outings, the [Wilmington and beaches lodging guide](https://www.wilmingtonbeachrentals.com/where-to-stay/where-to-stay-wilmington-beaches/) can help you decide which base suits the rest of your visit.

## Men's and women's tickets are separate

You can compare the two calendars without deciding which team to see first. Once you've found a workable home game, use that event's official Tickets link and check the program and opponent again at checkout. Check exactly which game or games the ticket product covers, even when the events use the same arena.

| Planning question | Men's basketball | Women's basketball |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Which calendar should you use? | Official men's 2026-27 schedule | Official women's 2026-27 schedule |
| Which home venue should be listed? | Trask Coliseum | Trask Coliseum |
| Where do you start buying? | Tickets link beside your selected men's game | Tickets link beside your selected women's game |
| What may fit your day? | Compare the listed home tipoffs with your other plans | Check daytime as well as evening home options |
| Which arrival instructions apply? | Instructions for that men's event | Instructions for that women's event |

*Comparison based on the official team schedules checked Nov. 1, 2026. Use the linked calendars above for changes and game-specific ticket links.*

Compare the total for your whole group before paying, including fees shown at checkout. A headline price doesn't tell you whether the seats you want are available together, and a season-ticket offer may be a poor fit for a one-game visit. Check what the selected product includes and whether you're purchasing a single event or a package.

Leave room in the outing budget for food and any event parking charge. There's no reason to assume one program is always cheaper, or that a ticket includes parking. If your preferred date has no usable ticket link or no suitable seats, ask the ticket office about that event before rearranging the rest of the trip.

## Choose seats and settle child tickets before arrival

Decide how many seats your group wants before comparing ticket options. If you'd like your child to have a seat beside you, include that seat in the search from the beginning so you can look for places together. For an infant or toddler you hope to hold, ask the ticket office whether lap admission is available for your chosen game and what ages or conditions apply.

It also helps to agree in advance whether an early departure is fine, so staying until the final whistle doesn't become the measure of a successful family afternoon. Choose a tipoff that gives your child a reasonable chance of enjoying the outing, and leave the rest of the day flexible.

The [official Trask Coliseum description](https://uncwsports.com/facilities/trask-coliseum/1) identifies chairback seating on the lower and upper levels, with bleachers in the lower-level student section. Use the seating chart offered with your ticket purchase to understand the actual section you're selecting. The published layout doesn't establish which seats will suit your view, mobility or comfort needs.

For accessible and companion seating, contact the office before buying. Ask about the route from parking to the appropriate entrance as part of the same conversation. The [UNCW Athletic Ticket Office contact page](https://uncwsports.com/sports/2014/7/9/GEN_0709140705) lists 910-962-3233 and sportstix@uncw.edu; have the program, opponent and date ready so staff can answer for the right event.

## Get parking and entry instructions for your game

Build your arrival plan backward from tipoff, allowing time to park, walk to the arena and find your seats. When you're bringing children, that also means having time for a bathroom stop without missing the start because everyone needed to rush from the car.

Use the selected game's athletics information and ticket email to plan where to park and enter. Save the directions before leaving, and allow extra time if you're unfamiliar with campus. Follow the event's parking signs and staff directions when you arrive.

If those instructions don't cover something your group needs, contact the ticket office with your game date. Ask about public parking, any payment or pass requirement, and when you can enter. For an accessible visit, arrange the parking-to-seat route alongside your seating request. A navigation app can help with the drive to campus, while the event instructions tell you which arrival arrangements to follow.

## Pack for the arena and open your tickets beforehand

Pack after reading the [UNCW bag guidance](https://uncwsports.com/sports/2019/10/25/clear-bag-policy.aspx) and the instructions for your selected event. If you need a diaper bag, medical supplies or a stroller, ask about those items before leaving your accommodations. Take only what your group needs for the outing so there's less to carry from the car and keep track of at your seats.

Open your ticket email while you still have time to solve a login problem. Follow the delivery instructions included with your order to access the admission tickets; UNCW also provides [mobile-ticket help](https://uncwsports.com/sports/2024/10/29/mobile-ticket-instructions.aspx). Keep your phone charged and make sure the person carrying the tickets will arrive with the group.

If different members of your party are arriving separately, sort out ticket access beforehand. Follow the account's transfer instructions or ask the office for help; don't assume forwarding an order confirmation gives someone an admission ticket. The same preparation helps if one parent is parking while another is walking toward the entrance with the children.

## Food and drinks at Trask, plus dinner plans

You can include arena food in your plans. UNCW's [2025-26 concessions announcement](https://uncwsports.com/news/2025/10/15/mens-basketball-fan-experience-enchanced-at-trask-coliseum.aspx) listed hot dogs, popcorn and a crispy chicken bacon ranch sandwich, along with soda and beer. For both men's and women's games, it also listed kids' meals with a choice of chicken tenders or pizza, plus popcorn, a bottled beverage and a toy.

Those options give you an idea of the food offered at Trask last season; check the current game's menu and prices before relying on a particular meal. The announcement's pregame discounts and refillable-cup offer were season-specific, so leave those savings out of your budget unless they're advertised for your visit. If someone needs a particular food because of an allergy or dietary requirement, ask about ingredients and permitted outside food before deciding to eat at the arena.

For an evening game, eating beforehand avoids trying to predict an exact finish time for a dinner reservation. With children, an earlier meal also means the outing starts without everyone waiting for food. If you'd prefer dinner afterward, choose a flexible plan and check the restaurant's kitchen hours against the evening you have in mind.

Keep the rest of the day modest if basketball is the main event. A beach walk and a meal can be enough before heading to campus, especially when you need time to return to your accommodations and prepare tickets. For another part of the visit, [Wilmington museums with kids](https://www.wilmingtonbeachrentals.com/things-to-do/wilmington-museums-with-kids/) offers a different kind of indoor outing, and the [Wilmington winter guide](https://www.wilmingtonbeachrentals.com/things-to-do/wilmington-in-winter/) gives you more ways to spend a cool-weather day.

Choose the home game that leaves your group enough time to enjoy getting there. Once you've settled seats, parking and bags, you can arrive together, find your section and let the basketball be the focus of the afternoon or evening.