The toilets are coming. The extra bleachers and concessions are coming. There will be more ticket takers and more security.

The one thing McMaster organizers couldn't increase was the amount of daylight, so they've opted for the best alternative.

The football team's historic quest for the Churchill Bowl will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday on Les Prince Field, an hour earlier than requested, so they don't run out of light in their bid to beat the University of Ottawa Gee Gees.

If they win this semi-final game, they will vie for the Vanier Cup national championship at the SkyDome in Toronto on Dec. 2.

“We had to go to a one o'clock start because we don't have the lights,” said Therese Quigley, director of athletics and recreation. “The facility isn't built to handle this type of game. We had to start early because we don't have playing conditions after 4:30 p.m. We wouldn't want the game to be called because of that.”

TSN will broadcast the game at 2 p.m., using a one-hour tape delay. CFMU 93.3 will broadcast the game at 1 p.m.

About 6,000 spectators were on hand last week to watch the team win the Yates Cup. Quigley expects another sold-out, standing-room only crowd this Saturday.

“We're looking at doubling the concessions, the staffing for event management from security to ticket takers,” she said. “We're bringing in portable washrooms and two more portable bleachers to address the crowd we're anticipating.”

Quigley said while there should be ample parking, there will be congestion.

“If people want to get on campus near game time, they should leave themselves lots of time.”

Weather conditions remain a wild card.

“We would appreciate anyone with connections in the weather department to pull some strings,” she added.

Tickets are available at a number of outlets: the MSU information centre in Hamilton Hall, the front service counter in the Ivor Wynne Centre, Copps Coliseum and Hamilton Place box office. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets or at Ticketmaster Online at www.ticketmaster.ca.

There will be a media room set up in the field house to accommodate at least 25 media representatives expected to attend the game. Quigley said there will be a post-game press conference as well, to allow media to interview the coaches and players.