Do: arrive plenty early 5 maybe 6 hours early, you’ll want to have plenty of times to look around and take it all in
Do: Park at Calhoun’s. Sure it’s a bit of a walk, but you can take a gander down at all the boats there for the vol navy and maybe even get invited on one for a bit. Not many will mention this as there are closer or cheaper parking areas, but for the full game day experience. It’s hard to beat this parking
Do: Head over to volunteer village in Humanities Plaza, there will be games and maybe even photos with Smokey
Do: show up for the vol walk, it’s 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kick off. Anywhere along Peyton Manning pass will get you some great views. Show up early if you want to get a front row seat (especially if you have small kids)
Do: Sample some of the food that vendors are cooking on Volunteer Blvd (at the top of Peyton Manning Pass on your right) it’s delicious and cheaper than feeding a hungry family in the stadium or if you’re following this lists order, it’ll be on your left coming from Humanities Plaza
Do: Have a hell of a time and sing Rocky Top
Seating: Assuming this game is either at noon or 3:00 then...
Avoid the south end zones upper deck like the plague (GH - QQ) it’s in the sun all day, and there’s no Jumbotron view.
If you want the best view in the house and don’t mind the sun, check out sections CC or DD. They’re upper deck but around the 50 yard line. It makes for an excellent view of the game and halftime show, but will be in the sun almost all game.
If shade and Jumbotron view are priority then the north end zone is your friend, especially the northwestern corner area (sections Y or X)
If you don’t care for being right on the field and want shade, Jumbotron views, and chair backs, look at sections XX or YY. The chairbacks are only in the top 20 or so rows, so you’ll be pretty high, but there truly isn’t a base viewing seat in the house and these chairs are well worth it