The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, welcomes fans to campus Saturday, November 13, for the football game against the University of Georgia. This is UT’s sixth home football game of the 2021 season and the Homecoming game for UT alumni. The 2021 Homecoming theme is Charge the Checkerboard, in honor of Neyland Stadium’s 100th anniversary.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST in Neyland Stadium and gates will open at 1:30 p.m. CBS will televise the game. Fans are encouraged to visit UTSports.com/gameday/football or follow @UTGameday on Twitter for the latest updates on game information.
Fans with digital tickets are strongly encouraged to download them to their mobile devices before arriving on campus. Those with parking permits, either printed or mobile, are asked to have their permit ready to display upon entry into the parking lot.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s national anthem, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 74th Fighter Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, near Valdosta, Georgia, will conduct a flyover of the stadium.
Pregame activities will include a Tennessee walking horse exhibition.
The Pride of the Southland Alumni Band will join with the Pride of the Southland Band to march to the stadium and play during the game. Homecoming winners will be announced at halftime in a prerecorded video.
Homecoming Events
The student calendar of homecoming events includes more than 30 scheduled activities. The UT Alumni office also lists many events, including the Little Vol Walk, the 21st Annual Southeastern Stomp Fest, and the Homecoming Parade, which will begin in Circle Park on Friday, November 12, at 4 p.m., and feature Lady Vol for Life Candace Parker, a 2021 WNBA champion, as grand marshal.
This year’s route will remain on campus, proceeding down Peyton Manning Pass, turning right onto Phillip Fulmer Way, and ending at the corner of Chamique Holdsclaw Drive and Pat Head Summitt Street.
Friday Evening Eric Church Performance
At 4 p.m. Friday, the parking areas around Thompson-Boling Arena will open for the Eric Church concert. UT Parking asks concert attendees to wait until 5:30 p.m. to start arriving, to allow time for parade guests to leave campus. Church is expected to start promptly at 8 p.m. UT Parking strongly recommends that those attending review the concert parking map for alternative entry points to campus.
Timeline of Game Day Events
Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. For more information, visit the Parking and Transit Services game day web page. Fans who do not have a football parking permit are encouraged to review public parking options, including those downtown and in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.
- On Friday and Saturday, three SEC Network shows will be broadcast live from the Ayres Hall lawn:
- On Friday, The Paul Finebaum Show will be broadcast from 3 to 7 p.m.
- On Saturday, Marty and McGee presented by Old Trapper, featuring Marty Smith and Ryan McGee, will be broadcast from 9 to 10 a.m.
- SEC Nation will follow from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Fans can stop by the new Truly’s Tailgate, located outside Gate 9, for food and drinks beginning at 12:30 p.m. Truly’s will stay open through the end of the third quarter, giving fans in the south concourse a variety of food and drink options as well as additional restrooms.
- For personal tailgates, fans will be allowed to bring a tent as large as 10 feet by 10 feet for their group. Tents must not block parking spaces or vehicle traffic within a parking area.
- From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Alumni Tailgate in the Student Union Plaza will feature Lady Vol for Life Candace Parker.
- Starting at noon, the Toyota Volunteer Village, located in the Humanities Plaza, will offer live music from the band Fairview Union and activities including face painting, a photo booth, and games.
- The fan favorite Vol Walk will begin at 1:15 p.m., with the Pride of the Southland Band march scheduled for 1:50 p.m. In the interest of health and safety, fans are asked to remain on the sidewalks along Peyton Manning Pass and Phillip Fulmer Way and refrain from hugs, high-fives, and handshakes during the Vol Walk.
- The Big Orange Countdown (formerly The Kickoff) will broadcast from the stage near the Gate 21 Plaza and be available for listeners on the Vol Radio Network starting at 2 p.m.
Game Day Safety Measures
- A limited number of boat mooring spaces will be available at the Volunteer Landing and Vol Navy docks. Shuttles will not be available.
- Though not required for entry to Neyland Stadium or movement throughout the seating bowl, facial coverings are encouraged for stadium patrons on game day. Masks are required on the shuttle buses.
- Fans can bring into the stadium one unopened factory-sealed clear water bottle and one empty clear water bottle per person.
- Stadium staff will perform a self-screening for COVID-19 before entering the stadium.
- Fans are asked to perform a health self-screening and stay home if they feel sick or may have been exposed to COVID-19.
- Medical bag checkpoints will be at Gates 14 and 21.
- As required by the SEC, fans are allowed to bring to the stadium one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bag. They also will be allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.
- Fans interested in purchasing an approved clear bag can visit the Official Team Store at Neyland Stadium; VolShop locations in the Student Union, at the corner of Cumberland Avenue and 17th Street, and in University Commons; and other area retailers.
- No other bags will be allowed inside the stadium. All items are subject to search at the gates.
- For more information, see the clear bag policy.
- Smoking is prohibited at UT, including within private vehicles parked or operated on university property. The prohibition extends to any lighted tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and other vape devices.
- Anyone attempting to enter the stadium with alcohol will be denied entry.
- Unmanned aircraft systems (drones) are prohibited on university property beginning four hours before kickoff, during the game, and for two hours after the conclusion of the game.
- The same policies apply to fans sitting in the student section of the stadium.
- Suspicious activity can be reported to the UT Police Department at 865-974-3114.
Other prohibited items:
- Artificial noisemakers
- Open umbrellas
- Outside food, snacks, and beverages
- Radios without headphones
- Video cameras, professional cameras, and cameras with detachable lenses
- Stadium seats with arms or side pockets
- Selfie sticks
- Weapons of any kind, including pocket knives
No items can be stored or left at the gates. Fans can bring the following items inside the stadium, subject to search at the gates:
- Cushions or seats without arms or side pockets
- Small cameras, binoculars, and mobile phones
- Small bags with medically necessary items (Note: Diapers and non-medically necessary items for babies and young children must be carried in a clear bag.)
CONTACT:
Brooks Clark (865-974-5471, nclark5@utk.edu)
Tom Satkowiak (865-974-7501, tomsid@tennessee.edu)