The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, welcomes fans to campus Saturday, Sept. 14, for the football game against Kent State University.
Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. EDT inside Neyland Stadium. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Fans can listen to Tennessee Athletics’ official radio broadcast on the Vol Network of 70 stations across Tennessee and the Southeast (locally, WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1), SiriusXM (Ch. 158 or 191) and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 961), and the Varsity app.
Vol Radio Network flagship station WNML, The Sports Animal, will offer a Spanish-language broadcast on AM 990 radio in Knoxville and streamed on 991thesportsanimal.com and the Sports Animal app.
A live audio stream of the broadcasts in both English and Spanish will also be available at UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.
Fans are encouraged to visit utsports.com/gameday/football for the latest updates on game information.
Game day activities
The game is part of Fall Family Weekend, when students invite their loved ones to campus to take part in Tennessee traditions including tailgating and football. Additional activities are held throughout the weekend.
Truly’s Tailgate, located outside Gate 9, will open at 3:45 p.m. and offer food and drinks. Truly’s Tailgate will stay open throughout most of the game and close at the end of the third quarter.
The Toyota Volunteer Village located in Humanities Plaza will be open from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. There fans can enjoy live entertainment, food, games and more.
The Vol Walk starts at 5:35 p.m., and the Pride of the Southland Band march starts at 6:05 p.m.
Weather permitting, a pregame flyover will feature a C-17 Globemaster III from the 317th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.
Saturday is High School Band Day, and members of area high school bands will perform with the Pride of the Southland Band at halftime.
A Neyland Stadium light show is planned following the band’s performance.
Gate information
Students will line up along Phillip Fulmer Way and enter the stadium at the southeast corner of Gate 10. Gates 4, 4A, 6 and 8 will not be operational this season due to continued improvements.
There are additional gates for fans to take note of this season:
- Accessible elevators are available at Gates 15, 21 and 26.
- Medical bags can be checked at all gates.
- Gate 21 is the designated ADA support entry point.
Fans can access UT Medical Center resources throughout Neyland Stadium, including onsite clinics and four first-aid stations equipped with innovative technology such as portable diagnostic services and advanced life support equipment. Roaming medical teams will be present on all stadium levels, offering rapid medical care.
Stadium upgrades
Fans are encouraged to use RockyTopWifi, which is available throughout Neyland Stadium. Additional enhancements include upgraded speakers in the lower bowl of the stadium and concession upgrades.
Construction will continue throughout the season on Concourse 1 in sections G-Q on the south side of the stadium, at Concourse 2 on new Founders Suites on the west side of the stadium, and at Gates 16A and 17A around the site of the General Neyland statue (which has temporarily been relocated).
Digital tickets and parking passes
All tickets and parking passes will be digital and can be accessed through a mobile device. Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and download their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay before arriving on campus. Fans can find additional information on the UT Athletics Digital Ticketing Guide.
Fans who need assistance with their digital tickets can visit ticket office locations at Gates 21 and 23.
Game day parking and shuttles
Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. Detailed parking information is available on the UT Football Game Day parking page.
There is limited paid public parking on campus along Volunteer Boulevard West between Todd Helton Drive and Cumberland Avenue. The mobile-pay spots will cost $50. Shuttles for season ticket parking permit holders will begin running three hours before kickoff starting at 4:45 p.m.
Free accessible parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus. An accessible shuttle will drop fans off at the Student Union loading dock.
Public parking is available in downtown Knoxville garages and lots. The Market Square, Langley and State Street garages are free. Other parking areas range in price from $30 to $60 for cars. Metered locations cost $25.
Fans can choose to ride a Knoxville Area Transit bus to campus. A day pass costs $2, and three routes can take fans to Cumberland Avenue. KAT also offers two shuttle routes that begin three hours before kickoff from the following locations:
- Civic Coliseum–$10 round trip per person with additional parking fee
- Market Square/Krutch Park–$10 round trip per person
Shuttles from Farragut High School and the Old City are no longer offered. Shuttle tickets will be available for purchase only through KAT’s official app, Transit. It’s free to download in your app store. Tickets will be available starting the week of the game. After purchasing shuttle tickets, do not activate them until just before you board the shuttle on game day. Day passes can also be purchased through the Transit app.
Game Day Safety Measures
- Fans can bring into the stadium one unopened factory-sealed clear water bottle and one empty clear water bottle per person.
- 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. No other bags will be allowed inside the stadium.
- 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.
- All items are subject to search at gates.
- The clear bag policy has more information.
- Fans can report suspicious activity by texting 865-974-9898 with their seat location (concourse, section, row, seat number) and issue.
- 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.
- The same policies apply to fans sitting in the student section of the stadium.
- Unmanned aircraft systems are prohibited on university property beginning four hours before the scheduled kickoff time of a football game, during the game, and for two hours after the conclusion of the game.
Other prohibited items
- Artificial noisemakers
- Open umbrellas
- Outside food, snacks and beverages (unless medically necessary)
- 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, including snacks, must be carried in a clear bag.)
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Leko (865-974-8698, lleko@utk.edu)
Bill Martin (864-974-4167, billmartin@tennessee.edu)