UT/UF game could be in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

#1
jos3ywales

jos3ywales

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Messages
1,184
Likes
715
#1
If the Hurricane keeps it from the Swamp

http://tennessee.247sports.com/Arti...5-5A-3F-F8-BD170910_090353TennesseeVolunteers

If Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff between Tennessee and Florida can't take place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., one possible alternate location could be Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, sources told GoVols247.

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the Florida panhandle, scheduled to make landfall early Sunday morning and move up the panhandle into Monday, officials have discussed the new stadium in Atlanta as a likely alternative should the game need a new location.

Officials want to make a decision on the game by Tuesday. After last season's Florida-LSU postponement, a new rule allows SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to make the final call on weather-related schedule changes.

Atlanta United, Atlanta's MLS franchise, is currently scheduled to play at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

(Want the latest scoop on Tennessee football and basketball? Make sure you're in the loop — take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Vols newsletter now!)

Tennessee opened its season with a 42-41 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday.

The Falcons host the Green Bay Packers for an 8:30 p.m. Sunday Night Football kickoff on Sept. 17, giving stadium officials added turnaround time should the Vols and Gators end up in Atlanta.

Florida lost to Michigan 33-17 in its season-opener at AT&T Stadium last week and had Saturday's home-opener against Norther Colorado cancelled due to the impending super storm.

According to sources, it would be Tennessee's preference to not host the Gators at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, which would in turn mean playing at Florida two seasons in a row to get the home-and-home rivalry back on schedule.

It would also leave Tennessee with back-to-back road SEC games at Florida and Georgia next season and only six home games on schedule.

Last season Florida's October home game with LSU was postponed as a precaution with Hurricane Matthew looming. The game was eventually played at LSU on Nov. 19 after being rescheduled by the SEC.

Remaining schedules for the two teams wouldn't allow a postponement of the game without the SEC Championship being moved back a week.

Tennessee's bye week is Oct. 7, the same day Florida hosts LSU. The Gators have a bye week on Oct. 21, when the Vols play at Alabama.

Non-conference schedules don't line up either, with Tennessee playing Southern Miss on Nov. 4, when Florida plays at Missouri, and the Gators playing UAB on Nov. 18, when the Vols host LSU at Neyland Stadium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#6
#6
allvol123 said:
Because it is soccer and this is not a third world country, yet.
Click to expand...

Soccer is growing, much faster than football is. But you have to look at larger implications. Atlanta is trying to lure in the world cup, which is good for everyone in this region.
Cancelling a soccer match of a team in their home stadium a few days before their match, for two out of state college teams is not a good look.
Especially when there are other places it can be played, Neyland, Legion field.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#7
#7
volfannbama said:
Soccer is growing, much faster than football is. But you have to look at larger implications. Atlanta is trying to lure in the world cup, which is good for everyone in this region.
Cancelling a soccer match of a team in their home stadium a few days before their match, for two out of state college teams is not a good look.
Especially when there are other places it can be played, Neyland, Legion field.
Click to expand...

F*** pro soccer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 41 people
#18
#18
volfannbama said:
Soccer is growing, much faster than football is. But you have to look at larger implications. Atlanta is trying to lure in the world cup, which is good for everyone in this region.
Cancelling a soccer match of a team in their home stadium a few days before their match, for two out of state college teams is not a good look.
Especially when there are other places it can be played, Neyland, Legion field.
Click to expand...

I would think both could play in Atlanta. Game time for soccer game (don't know game time, may be early enough already) could be moved up. Football moved back (maybe as late as 8 or 8:30) (many years ago two games on same Saturday opened the Bama - Auburn season at Legion field in afternoon and night)
Not to mentioned the MONEY hot town would realize from this football game.
Still think it will be in Fla. though.
 
#21
#21
jos3ywales said:
If the Hurricane keeps it from the Swamp

http://tennessee.247sports.com/Arti...5-5A-3F-F8-BD170910_090353TennesseeVolunteers

If Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff between Tennessee and Florida can't take place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., one possible alternate location could be Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, sources told GoVols247.

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the Florida panhandle, scheduled to make landfall early Sunday morning and move up the panhandle into Monday, officials have discussed the new stadium in Atlanta as a likely alternative should the game need a new location.

Officials want to make a decision on the game by Tuesday. After last season's Florida-LSU postponement, a new rule allows SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to make the final call on weather-related schedule changes.

Atlanta United, Atlanta's MLS franchise, is currently scheduled to play at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

(Want the latest scoop on Tennessee football and basketball? Make sure you're in the loop — take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Vols newsletter now!)

Tennessee opened its season with a 42-41 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday.

The Falcons host the Green Bay Packers for an 8:30 p.m. Sunday Night Football kickoff on Sept. 17, giving stadium officials added turnaround time should the Vols and Gators end up in Atlanta.

Florida lost to Michigan 33-17 in its season-opener at AT&T Stadium last week and had Saturday's home-opener against Norther Colorado cancelled due to the impending super storm.

According to sources, it would be Tennessee's preference to not host the Gators at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, which would in turn mean playing at Florida two seasons in a row to get the home-and-home rivalry back on schedule.

It would also leave Tennessee with back-to-back road SEC games at Florida and Georgia next season and only six home games on schedule.

Last season Florida's October home game with LSU was postponed as a precaution with Hurricane Matthew looming. The game was eventually played at LSU on Nov. 19 after being rescheduled by the SEC.

Remaining schedules for the two teams wouldn't allow a postponement of the game without the SEC Championship being moved back a week.

Tennessee's bye week is Oct. 7, the same day Florida hosts LSU. The Gators have a bye week on Oct. 21, when the Vols play at Alabama.

Non-conference schedules don't line up either, with Tennessee playing Southern Miss on Nov. 4, when Florida plays at Missouri, and the Gators playing UAB on Nov. 18, when the Vols host LSU at Neyland Stadium.
Click to expand...

According to Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun, this report has been debunked.

"Florida has not been a part of this conversation" per Dooley. Dooley is plugged-in pretty well with the Atheltic Department, so if he says this isn't true, I would tend to believe him.

I've also heard that Mercedes is NOT available, but Turner Field (now Ga State football complex) is.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#22
#22
They aren't moving it, they just said that it's been talked about as a possible alternate. The headline is for clicks, the idea is for S&G's. Came here for Florida v Tennessee, got soccer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#24
#24
savannahfan said:
I would think both could play in Atlanta. Game time for soccer game (don't know game time, may be early enough already) could be moved up. Football moved back (maybe as late as 8 or 8:30) (many years ago two games on same Saturday opened the Bama - Auburn season at Legion field in afternoon and night)
Not to mentioned the MONEY hot town would realize from this football game.
Still think it will be in Fla. though.
Click to expand...

The issue wont be the games, but the logistic. Hotels are sold out everywhere and will likely remain so. Tying up first responder assests for the in and out movements of two big sporting events etc. Will be tough. Im sure there is another stadium somewhere that could do it much easier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#25
#25
Soccer would be more fun to watch with a couple of random land mines. OK.. Just to be clear.. the non injury inducing type (for soccer snowflakes that can't spot a joke).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top