Princeton High School kicks off its 2026 football season Aug. 20, against Archbishop Moeller at Paycor Stadium, and families heading downtown need to plan for an NFL-venue experience, not a typical Friday night under the lights.
Here's what corridor families should know before making the trip.
Tickets
General admission costs $12, purchased electronically at vikenation.org/tickets. There are no cash sales at the gate, though fans can buy digital tickets on their phones upon arrival.
Student tickets are $5 each. Each school has an allotment of 1,000 at that price, and the presale window closes at 3 p.m. Aug. 20.
WCPO high school sports reporter Mike Dyer posted that figure Aug. 18.
Parking and gates
Parking around the stadium is $10, a fee set by the City of Cincinnati. The West Gate and East Gate open to general admission at 5:30 p.m., with warm-ups starting at 6 p.m. and kickoff set for 7:07 p.m.
Paycor Stadium is entirely cashless. Concessions accept credit cards, debit cards and mobile payment only.
Bag policy and prohibited items
The stadium's clear bag policy is strictly enforced. Fans may bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" (or a one-gallon freezer bag) plus one small non-clear clutch no bigger than 4.5" x 6.5". Umbrellas are prohibited.
The game
As we reported Aug. 8, the game was moved to Paycor Stadium while Pat Mancuso Field at Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium undergoes renovations, including a new three-story fieldhouse. Athletic Director Joe Roberts has said the Vikings expect to return home for Week 3 against Colerain.
The matchup is the third consecutive season opener between the two programs. The winner takes home the "King of the Block" trophy. Moeller leads the all-time series 41-7 and has won 19 straight against Princeton, dating to 1991.
But Princeton enters ranked No. 3 in the state after a 9-3 campaign and Division I regional semifinal appearance in 2025. The Vikings have won three consecutive Greater Miami Conference titles and are led by senior quarterback Monsanna Torbert, a four-star recruit committed to Michigan, according to WCPO.
"If you are a kid growing up in Cincinnati you're playing your rival, you're playing at the Bengals stadium, you're opening up the season — it's on a Thursday night. It doesn't get much better than that," head coach Andre Parker told WCPO in an Aug. 16 interview.
Broadcast and honorary captains
Fans who can't make it downtown can watch on Spectrum Sports Live as the OHSAA Game of the Week. Honorary team captains for the game are Arnold Franklin, Dewby Berkhalter, Thad Jemison and Spencer Ware.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Kickoff is 7:07.
