Tennessee vs Florida

#1
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UTVolax24

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#1
Hey guys,

Looking for some help / advice.

My father’s birthday is the weekend of the Tennessee vs Florida game. As a surprise, I will be flying my pops, his friends, and our family into Knoxville for the game and the weekend. We usually go to the away games, our rationale being we have seen over 50 homes games at Neyland and love experiencing other cities / colleges / fan bases / etc. Needless to say, he’s always been the guy to put these trips together. As I stated above, this is a surprise for him, but looking for some advice and all.

This is the first time I’ve done the organizing. He attended UT and has a huge footprint and relationship base in Knoxville and at UT. I could start asking his friends, but they have BIG mouths. As I’ve mentioned, I did not attend UT so any advice would be welcome. Just a few questions for you all

1) We typically would stay at the Marriot, Sheraton, or Crown Plaze. I’m thinking a Air BnB might be a better option for the weekend. Any thoughts? I know... such a millennial move.
2) Any cool traditions and of events on game day that I wouldn’t know of? We’ve done mostly everything over my years of attending games, but always love additional tidbits.
3) Where would be the best place to make a LARGE reservation (15+) for pregame lunch / brunch?
4) Any thing else anyone would recommend (for good or for bad)?

Just fishing for some help/advice. As I’ve mentioned, I’m typically at 3-5 games a year, largely 100% organized by my father. Will obviously be at the WV, Florida, and Bama games, but not sure what others (think Auburn and UGA). Always up to grab a beer.

Thanks in advance everyone!
 
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#5
#5
If you do Airbnb there are apartments on Market Square you can rent for around $900/night. Can be cost-effective if you have a group. Some friends rented one and had a great time - very convenient.
 
#7
#7
If you go to that many games together, then what is your deception plan? I always have those for this kind of thing, like my wife's 50th birthday party last year. A deception like "Mom has said everyone is coming over to the house to eat and watch the UF game". Something to make certain he's booked and not going on his own etc.
 
#8
#8
livefaith said:
If you go to that many games together, then what is your deception plan? I always have those for this kind of thing, like my wife's 50th birthday party last year. A deception like "Mom has said everyone is coming over to the house to eat and watch the UF game". Something to make certain he's booked and not going on his own etc.
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Send a fake wedding invitation from a fake distant relative that he can't miss.

People get married during the football season. Go figure.
 
#9
#9
Well its not a real Tennessee tradition but my family enjoyed watching the drunken jousts take place outside the frat houses. It was entertaining to say the least.
 
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#10
#10
I stay at the crown plaza when I go to games. Great location.

And if you can swing it... rent a boat and do the vol navy. Only thing I haven't done...and still want to.

No idea on reservations. Calhoun's?
 
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#12
#12
JohnWardForever said:
This smacks of something; I just don't know what.
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Putting this together makes me want to smack myself. Huge headache already.

jakez4ut said:
I stay at the crown plaza when I go to games. Great location.

And if you can swing it... rent a boat and do the vol navy. Only thing I haven't done...and still want to.

No idea on reservations. Calhoun's?
Click to expand...

One of my dad’s good friends is a part of the Vol Navy. We’ve always just gone with him. Always a blast.

Iam4utalways said:
Send a fake wedding invitation from a fake distant relative that he can't miss.

People get married during the football season. Go figure.
Click to expand...

That’s actually not a bad idea. The biggest question mark is how I can get him packed and to the airport. I left that up to my sisters.
 
#13
#13
UTVolax24 said:
Putting this together makes me want to smack myself. Huge headache already.



One of my dad’s good friends is a part of the Vol Navy. We’ve always just gone with him. Always a blast.



That’s actually not a bad idea. The biggest question mark is how I can get him packed and to the airport. I left that up to my sisters.
Click to expand...

If you use the fake wedding thing, set the time of the wedding late so he can at least think he will be able to watch the game before rushing to the wedding. You don't want to ruin the months leading up to the big weekend because he thinks he will be missing the game all together.

The logistics of going to and from a game is the most challenging part. Showing up in Orange or White(If we checker) is the easy part. Trying to pull it off as a surprise, well, you better get it right or he should roast you for a long time. Or worse leave you behind for some games.

It will be interesting to hear the trash he talks while he's thinking he will miss being at the game. None of the Big Boy Jabs(Still not sure exactly what that is.) I hope.

Have fun with it. Then leave the complicated stuff to your pops from now on. Sounds like he's got it all figured out.
 
#14
#14
Dang, ya’ll can stay with me and my wife for $900 a nite! We live in Oak Ridge, but for an additional $900 we’ll take you to the stadium on game day! We have a Krystal in town too, so food won’t be a problem! We also have a pool, and a pond....the pond would be good for you!
 
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#15
#15
Go, because it is going to be a wonderful day, when Pruitt and staff beats Chumps at home. Mullen can’t beat Pruitt.:):clapping::hi::peace2::bow2::wink2::neener2::neener2::neener2::tease2:
 
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#17
#17
There are a couple websites where you can rent a boat in the vol navy. You can stay overnight as well. They arr pricey and hard to get though. If you check soon you may be able to reserve one. Dont remember the site pff hand, but google remembers.
 
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#18
#18
Magnificent 4500 sq ft Home in Country Setting. - Houses for Rent in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

This is the link to a fantastic house my group and I have used before. The place is huge. Airbnb is definitely a good call if you want everyone together!

Also, if you have time Friday night/ afternoon you can often arrange to tour the stadium/ locker room through the athletic department. I forget the contact info, but my understanding is that they do them regularly so it shouldn't be hard to track down. If he hasn't done it yet it would be a great surprise! GBO!
 
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#19
#19
Volmart said:
Dang, ya’ll can stay with me and my wife for $900 a nite! We live in Oak Ridge, but for an additional $900 we’ll take you to the stadium on game day! We have a Krystal in town too, so food won’t be a problem! We also have a pool, and a pond....the pond would be good for you!
Click to expand...

Ha! Chevy Chase.
 
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#20
#20
Stay at the Oliver and enjoy Market Square. Maybe eat one evening at JC Holdway, the same people who own Blackberry Farms. The food is amazing. The Oliver is an amazing little boutique hotel with an old speakeasy. The only drawback is you would need to uber to the stadium, too far to walk.
 
#21
#21
My first trip to Knoxville, and what sold me on being a vol forever was my first trip.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express in a room with the Worlds Fair Park.
That morning we walked to Calhoun's before the crowd, had a good lunch watched the early kickoffs and such, and then walked down the river towards the VOL Navy. After that We walked up to the Athletic Center where they practiced, and touched the granite wall that all former vols are etched in for good luck. By this point it was about 45 min before the VOL Walk, so we found a nice spot by the tourch bearer to watch. After the Vol Walk we found another spot to watch the band march in and subsequently went inside to find our seats.

If your seats are not on the pressbox side and its a 2:30 kick I would suggest staying in the shade as long as possible if your dad is older. 2 years ago temps reached over 100* inside the stadium(Hopefully this time they wont run out of water at alot of the consession stands).
 
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#24
#24
Have you contacted the VASF or other UT hospitality types? Even the ticket office might set you up with the office/hostess that is experienced at setting these things up. Trust me, this is an area of big business in East Tennessee...tourism. I've heard of groups staying at a lodge/ condo in The Smokies and shuttled to and from the game. Private BBQ at Calhoun's on the river is a possibility. Been there and done that..lot of fun and good good.
 
#25
#25
I expect the Vols defense to shine quicker than the offense under Pruitt, that and the Vols play the Gators early so my thinking is a win over the Gators is likely next season before Mullen can fully develop a QB and an offense fully. Point being, 18 is probably the better year to see the Vols/Gator game rather than later on.
 
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