Commencement

The ceremony site is an open air venue. Commencement is held outdoors, rain or shine, with no shade — attendees should be prepared both for heat and inclement weather.

Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• General Seating – Seating is first come, first served.
• Saving Seats – Saving seats is discouraged and all saved seats not occupied by 10 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony will need to be released.
• Grandstand Access – General Admission seating is available in the West, North and South Grandstands.
• Arena floor Access – Admission to the Main Arena Floor requires a Distinguished Guest ticket or an ADA ticket. All guests admitted to the Main Arena Floor must be wristbanded. No re-admittance is permitted without a wristband.

ADA parking

ADA parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis adjacent to Rodeo Arena in the Sherwoood Hall Parking Lot. A DMV-issued ADA placard is required for entrance into those parking lots.

ADA seating

ADA seating is available within the stands and floor of the Rodeo Arena. No additional ticket beyond a guest ticket is required. General Admission guest tickets may be exchanged for ADA Tickets on a 1:1 basis. ADA and companion seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

ADA paths of travel

Access to the venues are ADA grade compliant. Distances from entrances to ADA seating and other locations are outlined below. Limited cart service for those with ADA or mobility issues is available on a first come, first serve basis from the ADA parking lots to the entrance gates of both facilities. No cart service is available within the facility beyond the front gate.

Distances:

Service animals

Service animals will be admitted as provided by law. Emotional support animals are not required to be admitted by law and will NOT be admitted.

• All attendees are required to walk through metal detectors or be wanded, if unable to use the walk-through metal detector.
• All bags, jackets and blankets will be reviewed upon entry.
• No outside food and beverages permitted.

• Clear Bags – All bags, urses and backpacks brought into the venue must be clear and be under 12” by 6”x12”.
• Logo Area – The logo’d area of any clear bag cannot exceed 4.5”x3.4”
• Non-Clear Bags – Any non-clear bags are limited and not to exceed 4.5”x8.5”

In support of CSUMB’s commitment to sustainability, three waste sorting bins will be provided for use by attendees.

No animals may be left in any vehicle parked on property for longer than 15 minutes.

For your safety and comfort, as well as those around you, the following items are not allowed in the venue. Any items deemed to be inappropriate, offensive or potentially hazardous by security, staff or facility management may be confiscated.

• Aerosol cans — e.g., sunblock, pepper spray, mace, hairspray, silly string, etc.
• Alcohol, smoking and tobacco products
• Animals — except approved certified service dogs
• Artificial noisemakers
• Balloons, glitter, rice, streamers and confetti
• Banners and signs over 22”x28”
• Cans, glass Bottles and personal coolers
• Confetti, poppers or streamers
• Hard or soft-sided coolers of any kind
• Illegal substances, drugs or chemicals of any kind
• Laser pointers
• Metal, plastic or glass water bottles or containers of any kind
• Noisemakers, plastic horns, air horns, whistles or musical instruments of any kind
• Outside food and drinks
• Poles and sticks/staffs including but not limited to metal, plastic or wood
• Professional camera equipment, including but not limited to tripods, battery packs and large commercial video cameras
• Remote-controlled aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems or drones
• Skates, skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or bicycles
• Strollers or car seats
• Umbrellas, beach balls, frisbees, sports equipment and toys
• Video Cameras, including Gopro type video cameras
• Weapons or incendiary devices of any kind

There is parking available on and off-site.

Please use this link to view on-site parking options.

Please use this link to view off-site parking. 

Except as noted on the maps, no permits are necessary.

Want to be more sustainable? Want to skip the stress of driving in Commencement traffic? No transportation?

Park and ride the shuttle to Commencement. This shuttle service is free and available for graduates, guests, staff, and faculty. View the shuttle schedule here.