A final report on our 1st experience, mainly for the next newby who runs a search and finds this thread...
First of all, Vol fans are the best. Wear your orange when you go--it'll feel like a family reunion.
Calhouns restaurant was not a disappointment. (But be prepared to turn right into their parking lot "before you're sure that's it" if you're traveling east on Neyland Dr--we passed it and saw "more of old downtown than we intended" trying to make our way back onto Neyland Dr.)
Good pulled pork plate and the half-slab of ribs was just enough, with sides... and cheesecake... and coffee. Very good cole slaw (can't believe I said that, but it's true)! I wouldn't recommend any of the bread, though.
We were inside Calhouns' doors before they actually opened at 11:00am, but we were quickly seated. Getting there EARLY is worth whatever time it takes... not feeling rushed will allow you to enjoy so much more!
ASK QUESTIONS of any Vol fans you see--that's how we found out the tip-off time had been moved up 30 minutes, which allowed us to be early in line when the doors opened and see everyone in the shootaround (you could see it was going to be a slow day for scoring).
Got into the big parking garage early: 3rd level - West end--ideal, especially on a cold, wet day!
Personally, if I had it all to do over again, I would do whatever it took to get tickets down near the floor (we had front row in section 229), to experience those things TV can't deliver. But I'm no extrovert, so being with 20,000 people in a big room just doesn't, in itself, energize me.
If you want to be in the "audience" for the postgame radio interviews with players and Pat's call-in show, make your way after the game to the section behind the home bench. It's a much nicer experience than you'd expect, and I wouldn't miss it next time.
But if you want an autograph from the player who will be made available at courtside (her picture will likely be on the back of the scorekeeping sheet you get at the gate) you need to head QUICKLY (before the game is over, evidently) to the 119 section, opposite side and diagonal to the home bench (but ask an usher to confirm location). The line was looooonnng for autographs, and it takes a while for the player to get back from the locker room, so be prepared to wait.
Alexis Hornbuckle was so friendly, so patient with all the people we saw getting her autograph & having pictures made with her... I've only seen country music singers show that kind of touch with an adoring public! I'm telling you, if she stayed to sign for everyone who was in that line, we were in Chattanooga before she left TBA!
It was a wonderful experience, even with the LVs playing such lousy basketball--only 16 points scored in the first 10 minutes of the game and more turnovers than a bakery sale! The instant replay screen seemed to show nearly as many "bad" calls were actually right, as they did the other way. I did leave with the impression that home court advantage extends beyond the crowd noise and into the whistle. For the sake of fairness, hopefully it's the same on each team's home court.
So go... get the best tickets you can, and GO!
