The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band will not travel to Husky Stadium for this Sunday’s Apple Cup game against the University of Washington. The decision follows seating changes at the Seattle stadium that move visiting school bands from the field level to the upper deck.
The seating relocation stems from adjustments made when UW joined the Big Ten Conference in 2024, placing visiting team ticket allotments and marching bands in the upper northeast corner of the stadium. The two rivalry teams have not played an Apple Cup matchup at Husky Stadium since the seating change took effect. A UW spokesperson stated that not sending the band was WSU’s choice.
Jon Haarlow, WSU vice president and director of athletics, addressed the decision on the Inside WSU Athletics Podcast, presented by BECU. He explained that conference realignment has altered visiting team ticket distribution.
“I get the logistical changes for tickets. You see that with conferences changing and how those allotments are changed pretty regularly,” Haarlow said. “As we talk through that with others, the challenges that it would be to get down and up onto the field, back up there, I didn’t think it was gonna put them in a place to have the experience that we would want for that group.”
Rick Flores, president of the board for the Cougar Alumni Band and a former band trumpet player, said the logistical hurdle of moving a 260-member ensemble from the upper deck to the field is substantial.
“Trying to maneuver around crowds with big instruments and moving 260 people, they’re going to miss a good chunk of the first quarter, I would imagine,” Flores said. “And then getting everyone down for halftime means leaving during the second quarter. And then performing at halftime means missing a good chunk of the third quarter.”
The absence marks a break in a long-standing tradition between the rival programs.
Flores recalled a moment of sportsmanship in 2018 when a UW charter bus crashed on Thanksgiving ahead of the rivalry game.
The WSU marching band quickly learned and played the Husky fight song during pregame rehearsals to show solidarity.
“We showed up to game day rehearsal, had to learn their fight song in like less than an hour,” Flores said.
Flores noted that conference realignments affect more than just student-athletes, extending to band members and cheerleaders who contribute to game-day atmosphere.
He urged visiting fans to make up for the band’s absence with their own support in the stands.
“I would be devastated,” he said. “I think we’ve just got to focus on putting that energy into just being the best Coug fans we could be at the stadium.”