Norfolk, Va. - Heavy traffic is expected in Norfolk tonight as Old Dominion University hosts Middle Tennessee State in a nationally televised football game starting at 8:00 p.m.
Thousands of people will be trying to get to Foreman Field while others try to get home from work.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the game and combined with rush hour traffic, that could create quite the mess.
ODU has been planning with the city for months. Their biggest piece of advice is to avoid Hampton Boulevard.
To help ease the traffic on Hampton Boulevard, Naval Station Norfolk personnel are asked to use I-64 or I-264 as alternative routes.
Other suggestions include taking streets like Tidewater Drive, Granby Street and Colley Avenue.
So what do you do if those routes are too busy?
“Just be patient with us. We have officers who are trying to get you home as quickly and safely as possible. Just be patient,” says Daniel Hudson with Norfolk Police.
This is the first weeknight nationally televised game for the Monarchs and the school’s athletic director, Dr. Camden Wood Selig, admits that it’s going to be a learning experience.
"I think we have a very thorough plan for this initial weeknight game and I'm sure there'll be some modifications and tweaks we make for the future,” he says.
ODU asked for an 8:00 p.m. start even though Fox Sports originally wanted a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The hope is the extra hour will help clear things out.
