"We will strive to provide our fans one of the best driveway-to-driveway experiences in the nation," FAU Athletics Director Josh McCowan said in September when he announced this season's gameday changes at Flagler Credit Union Stadium. For most fans, "driveway" means the start of a long drive. From Windwood, it's a short trip. The main gate is at 2900 NW 5th Ave, and the FAU campus is at 777 Glades Road.
Most of the best nights between now and December already have dates. FAU's athletics, theatre and music programs posted their fall schedules weeks ago, and The Shops at Boca Center announced its seasonal events in July. Those dates bunch into three weekends. The Town Center restaurants getting the most attention are the one part of the season with no date yet.
The Free Part Starts Two and a Half Hours Early
The biggest change at FAU this year happens outside the stadium. Publix Paradise Plaza opens two and a half hours before every home kickoff. It has food trucks, a Kids Zone and a free 90-minute concert on the Owls Pregame Live stage by local artists or tribute bands. The concert ends 30 minutes before kickoff.
Inside, the Paradise Meal Combo costs $10 if you buy it ahead and $12 on game day. Bought separately, the same items cost $19. You get a BBQ sandwich, walking taco or hot dog, plus a snack and a non-alcoholic drink. You pick it up behind Section 215 on the north concourse or Section 229 on the west concourse.
The Owls have won all three home games so far: 38-30 over Navy, 16-10 over FIU and 66-10 over Texas Southern. Three home dates remain in the regular season.
The Season on One Page
| Date | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 5 | FAU Breezeway Food Court | Buffalo Wild Wings opens |
| Fri–Sun, Oct 23–25 | FAU Theatre | Almost, Maine |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Flagler Credit Union Stadium | FAU vs. Rice, "Odyssey Road" concert two hours before kickoff, time TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | The Shops at Boca Center | Pumpkin Palooza |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Baldwin Arena | Men's basketball opener vs. LIU, 7 p.m. |
| Thu, Nov 5 | Flagler Credit Union Stadium | FAU vs. UTSA, "Icons of Pop" at 6 p.m., kickoff 8 p.m. |
| Nov 6–15 | FAU Theatre | A Certain Raquel |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Baldwin Arena | Women's basketball home opener vs. Kennesaw State |
| Fri, Nov 20 | The Shops at Boca Center | Holiday kickoff and tree lighting |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Flagler Credit Union Stadium | FAU vs. South Florida, Surfer Blood concert two hours before kickoff, time TBA |
| Tue, Dec 8 | Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium | Holiday Spectacular with the Palm Beach Pops |
| Dec 11–13 | FAU Theatre | Dance Showcase |
Only the first item happens this week. Buffalo Wild Wings opens Monday, October 5, in the Breezeway Food Court on the Boca campus. After that, the table bunches into three weekends.
October 24 Is the Busiest Day on the Corridor
On Saturday, October 24, three things overlap within a few miles of Windwood. At The Shops at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, Pumpkin Palooza has a pumpkin patch, crafts, cookie decorating and a sunflower truck. Across Glades Road on campus, FAU hosts Rice. "Odyssey Road," a Journey tribute band, plays the Pregame Live stage two hours before a kickoff that FAU still lists as TBD. FAU Theatre is also in the middle of a three-night run of Almost, Maine, October 23 through 25.
Because the kickoff time isn't set, the day's schedule isn't set either. Recent home games have started anywhere from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the plaza concert starting about two hours earlier. If kickoff lands in that range, you could do Pumpkin Palooza in the morning and the plaza in the late afternoon without either one cutting into the other. Check fausports.com for the time the week before.
The campus music calendar is busy around that weekend too. The FAU ticketing site lists a Flute, Bassoon & Piano Trio on Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. and FAU Opera on Friday, October 30, at 7 p.m.
The First Week of November Packs Five Nights
The second cluster starts with basketball, so it lasts longer than a weekend. The men's team opens its season against LIU on Monday, November 2, at 7 p.m. on Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. On Thursday, November 5, the football team hosts UTSA at 8 p.m. It's the only weeknight home game on the schedule. "Icons of Pop," a Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tribute, starts at 6 p.m.
On Friday, November 6, A Certain Raquel begins its run, which goes through November 15. The ticketing site also lists the 14th Annual Honors High School Orchestra Side-by-Side String Festival that night at 7 p.m. On Saturday, November 7, the women's team plays its home opener against Kennesaw State. FAU's schedule shows a 2 p.m. tipoff, but the team's announcement says game times haven't been finalized.
The galleries have earlier deadlines. Something Wonderful: The Inherited Dreams of Raphael Bouganim & Friends of Florida Atlantic closes at Ritter Art Gallery on November 3. Continuum: Angela DiCosola, Artistic Lineage & Transformation stays at the Schmidt Center Gallery through November 14. The What Did Women Do? 1933-1945 Poster Exhibit opens in the Schmidt Center Public Space with a reception on Thursday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m., and runs through November 27.
November 20 and 21 Close the Football Season
The third cluster starts at Boca Center. Its holiday kickoff on Friday, November 20, has a tree lighting, a DJ, Santa activities and seasonal treats. That same night on campus, the FAU Chamber Singers and Symphony Orchestra perform Many Scores, One Humanity at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, November 21, the Owls play their last scheduled regular-season home game, against South Florida. Kickoff is still TBA. Surfer Blood, a band from West Palm Beach, plays the Pregame Live stage two hours before. They're the only act in this year's lineup that isn't a tribute band. Candela Presents: Siembra is on the music calendar at 7 p.m. the same night.
FAU also lists a home American Conference Championship Game on December 5 at 8 p.m. The opponent and venue aren't set, so it isn't on the table above.
Town Center's Restaurants Are the Undated Part
The Town Center restaurants are the opposite case. Limani Grille, a Greek seafood restaurant that grills over charcoal and has a large patio, was first announced for Town Center at Boca Raton nearly three years ago. It was supposed to open in spring 2024. After construction delays, Boca Magazine reported in August that it will open this fall. Felice, an Italian Tuscan restaurant and wine bar with handmade pastas, is also headed to 6000 Glades Road and is expected this fall or winter.
On September 10, the Palm Beach Post reported that both restaurants show Town Center as "coming soon," with opening dates still to be announced. Simon's mall directory also lists Lumi Tea, a boba tea and dessert shop, as coming soon, with no date.
Since Limani has already slipped once, it makes sense to plan around the dated events and add the restaurants when they actually open. Limani posts updates on Instagram at @limaniboca.
December Belongs to the Auditorium
After football ends, the campus calendar moves indoors. Echoes and Metamorphoses is at University Theatre on Wednesday, December 2, at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, December 8, the Palm Beach Pops bring their Holiday Spectacular with Tony DeSare and Katharine McPhee to the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium at 7 p.m. FAU Theatre ends its fall season with Dance Showcase, December 11 through 13. Tickets for the theatre and music events are sold through FAU's ticketing site, and you only need a student NetID for student pricing.
If the Windwood calendar is part of a decision you're weighing, such as a seasonal lease, a second home or a sale timed around the busy months, Maximo Cortese can walk you through the dates, costs and trade-offs before you commit. Schedule a free consultation.
