First game

#1
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WashVol65

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#1
Hey All…my son and I will be attending our first Vols game on Sept 6th vs ETSU (would have preferred Georgia lol) but a friend of mine who has season tickets offered me these two which I accepted with no problem. As a Vols fan in Washington St, this will be an amazing trip. Also will be scouting out the area for retirement. My two main questions are…will will be sitting in section S, do we need to wear orange or white for this game, or are those just designated for certain games (checker seating)?? Also best things to do for pregame experience? My son is 22 and we will be staying downtown. Roughly 7 blocks from Neyland. Thanks everybody
 
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#2
#2
The checker is for certain games. Usually a bigger SEC match up. So you should be good to wear whatever Vols gear you desire.

If this is your first game you should check out the Vol walk before the game and go by the Vol Navy. Make sure you are in the stadium early enough to see all the pre game stuff... like running through the T

Enjoy the trip... its gonna be a blast
 
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#4
#4
Welcome to Knoxville! The Georgia game is the designated Checker Neyland game this season, so just come as you are! The Maple Hall bowling alley on Gay Street is good since it's a later kickoff and you can watch games as you bowl and the food there is better than most actual restaurants. They serve wine, beer and cocktails too.
 
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#7
#7
37620VOL said:
Wear orange
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I’ve got an Orange hoodie, everything else is white. Problem is that I’m sure it will be in the 80’s, thus to warm to wear the hoodie lol.. I’m pretty sure I’ll be buying a bunch of new gear anyway. Would you buy the gear at the game or is there somewhere close by that might sell it at a better deal? A lot of the things I have now are actually from on campus.
 
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#8
#8
SquirrelOrange3 said:
Welcome to Knoxville! The Georgia game is the designated Checker Neyland game this season, so just come as you are! The Maple Hall bowling alley on Gay Street is good since it's a later kickoff and you can watch games as you bowl and the food there is better than most actual restaurants. They serve wine, beer and cocktails too.
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That’s awesome. Thank you for the heads up. This will be an amazing experience. To actually see a SEC game in person . UW has a pretty amazing stadium and set up here, but def not Knoxville
 
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#9
#9
WashVol65 said:
I’ve got an Orange hoodie, everything else is white. Problem is that I’m sure it will be in the 80’s, thus to warm to wear the hoodie lol.. I’m pretty sure I’ll be buying a bunch of new gear anyway. Would you buy the gear at the game or is there somewhere close by that might sell it at a better deal? A lot of the things I have now are actually from on campus.
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The on Campus Store isn't bad place to buy and close to stadium. Walmart if you're looking at cost. Sport Academy semi reasonable prices.

VolShop - Official Campus Store of the University of Tennessee

VolShop - Official Campus Store of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Shop Tennessee Volunteers apparel, books, technology, and gifts for Vols. Where all proceeds benefit the University of Tennessee through student scholarships, campus building projects, and community outreach. Find UT Gear...
www.utvolshop.com www.utvolshop.com
 
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#11
#11
This page will have info for all on campus events.

Football Gameday - University of Tennessee Athletics

Things of note are Vol Walk two hours and 45 minutes befor kickof, the band marching to the stadium about an hour and a half before kickoff, the Volunteer Village near the Humanities plaza (pregame event with a band, video board showing other games, food vendors, etc), a walk along the river to see the Vol Navy, and the bookstore in the ground floor of the Student Union if looking to load up all things orange.

About the last place left with any local character near campus is Gus' Good Times Deli serving steamed sandwiches (unique to East Tennessee) in a small space with the walls covered in old newspapers and photos of Tennessee players. Will get very crowded gameday with a long wait so if you're in town Friday night, could hit it then.

In downtown, Gay St and Market Square both have numerous bars and restaurants. Market Square will have farmer's market Saturday morning.
 
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#12
#12
WashVol65 said:
Hey All…my son and I will be attending our first Vols game on Sept 6th vs ETSU (would have preferred Georgia lol) but a friend of mine who has season tickets offered me these two which I accepted with no problem. As a Vols fan in Washington St, this will be an amazing trip. Also will be scouting out the area for retirement. My two main questions are…will will be sitting in section S, do we need to wear orange or white for this game, or are those just designated for certain games (checker seating)?? Also best things to do for pregame experience? My son is 22 and we will be staying downtown. Roughly 7 blocks from Neyland. Thanks everybody
Click to expand...
Since you're staying downtown, there's a bunch of sports bars/restaurants/brewery on and all around Gay Street and Market Square (a farmers' market on Saturdays). An early breakfast at Pete's is neat. You must see the Vol Walk and The Pride play to The Hill (I understand that the band is not marching across the pedestrian bridge this season). As already mentioned, the Vol Navy is great, but hard to get to. For sure, get into the stadium early enough to see our band pay tribute to the visiting team by playing their Fight Song (IMO, one of the greatest unsung, unique traditions in all of college football), and later open up the T for the team to run thru. If y'all decide to stroll around campus and the surrounding area, I'm sure you'll be invited to join multiple tailgates. Travel safe and Go Big Orange!
 
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#13
#13
#1fulmerite said:
Be prepared even though Knoxville is in a higher elevation, that game is going to be hotter than a firecracker tied to a cat’s tail!
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Dirty secret- even though you can see mountains from the stadium, Knoxville is lower elevation than Atlanta.

…but you’re right. Early September kickoffs are blazing hot.
 
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#14
#14
WashVol65 said:
I’ve got an Orange hoodie, everything else is white. Problem is that I’m sure it will be in the 80’s, thus to warm to wear the hoodie lol.. I’m pretty sure I’ll be buying a bunch of new gear anyway. Would you buy the gear at the game or is there somewhere close by that might sell it at a better deal? A lot of the things I have now are actually from on campus.
Click to expand...

Amazon
Screenshot 2025-08-19 145554.jpg
 
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#16
#16
WashVol65 said:
Hey All…my son and I will be attending our first Vols game on Sept 6th vs ETSU (would have preferred Georgia lol) but a friend of mine who has season tickets offered me these two which I accepted with no problem. As a Vols fan in Washington St, this will be an amazing trip. Also will be scouting out the area for retirement. My two main questions are…will will be sitting in section S, do we need to wear orange or white for this game, or are those just designated for certain games (checker seating)?? Also best things to do for pregame experience? My son is 22 and we will be staying downtown. Roughly 7 blocks from Neyland. Thanks everybody
Click to expand...
I am still amazed by how many people show up by the outside of the stadium to watch the band march in. At the end, the tsunami of orange.
 
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#17
#17
McDad said:
I find this to be incredible. I never knew. Wouldn't even have thought it was possible.

mind blown.
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It really is wild. Knoxville is around 900’ and ATL a little over 1,000. Just opposite foothills of the same mountain chain. Georgia doesn’t start dropping off toward sea level until about 80 miles south of Atlanta.
 
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#18
#18
GAVol said:
Dirty secret- even though you can see mountains from the stadium, Knoxville is lower elevation than Atlanta.

…but you’re right. Early September kickoffs are blazing hot.
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I would have never guessed that lol

Especially considering it feels like I'm driving uphill the entire time towards Knoxville and downhill back lol
 
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#19
#19
WashVol65 said:
Hey All…my son and I will be attending our first Vols game on Sept 6th vs ETSU (would have preferred Georgia lol) but a friend of mine who has season tickets offered me these two which I accepted with no problem. As a Vols fan in Washington St, this will be an amazing trip. Also will be scouting out the area for retirement. My two main questions are…will will be sitting in section S, do we need to wear orange or white for this game, or are those just designated for certain games (checker seating)?? Also best things to do for pregame experience? My son is 22 and we will be staying downtown. Roughly 7 blocks from Neyland. Thanks everybody
Click to expand...
Ignore anyone who tells you to eat at Calhouns
 
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#23
#23
GAVol said:
Dirty secret- even though you can see mountains from the stadium, Knoxville is lower elevation than Atlanta.

…but you’re right. Early September kickoffs are blazing hot.
Click to expand...
GA, when I was in school I worked across the river at the dairy farm and I swear to these two things; the summers were just as hot as middle Tennessee and the winters were twice as cold! I always assumed the moisture coming off the river impacted the cold(ness)!
 
#24
#24
WillisWG said:
The on Campus Store isn't bad place to buy and close to stadium. Walmart if you're looking at cost. Sport Academy semi reasonable prices.

VolShop - Official Campus Store of the University of Tennessee

VolShop - Official Campus Store of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Shop Tennessee Volunteers apparel, books, technology, and gifts for Vols. Where all proceeds benefit the University of Tennessee through student scholarships, campus building projects, and community outreach. Find UT Gear...
www.utvolshop.com www.utvolshop.com
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Believe it or not some of my favorite long lasting UT gear has come from the local Walmarts.

Also if you have sam’s membership the local Sams will have lots of stuff for the first game

While you are deciding what to do, I would try to get a morning reservation to eat at one of the downtown places. Two of my favorite that already have reservations open are cafe4 and Balterbeerworks. You can always cancel but good to have one.

You can get in trouble with an afternoon game with the punch bowls at Cafe4 or the mimosa carafes at Balterbeer works.

It is an easy walk from downtown to the stadium as I do it for each game.

As others have said you must do the vol walk and band march and then head in for all the festivities.

Gonna be a long day and weekend so pace yourself!
 
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#25
#25
P.O.T.S. VOL said:
Just find a $7 close to UT orange Hanes t- shirt.....get a sharpie....get drunk and draw something on it..... everyone will love you.


I kid...I really kid.
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I don't really expect an answer but I have thought about the Florida kid with the homemade Vols shirt and wonder if anyone has heard anything about him after the news died down?
 
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