KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, welcomes football fans to campus Saturday.
Kickoff for the Volunteers’ game against classic rival Alabama is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Neyland Stadium gates open at 5:45 p.m.
The traditional Vol Walk from Gibbs Hall to the stadium starts at 5:30 p.m., and the Pride of the Southland Marching Band leaves the music building at 6:05 p.m.
More than 8,500 Alabama fans are expected at the game, and the university reminds all fans to exhibit good sportsmanship.
Members of UT’s 1998 national championship team will be honored before the game. Challenger the eagle will fly into the stadium during the Pride of the Southland Band’s pre-game performance.
Interstate closed near campus
As always, fans driving to the game are encouraged to arrive early. Interstate 40 is closed between Hall of Fame Drive and James White Parkway downtown, but all of the exits that lead to campus remain open.
Eastbound motorists have access to several exits: Alcoa Highway (exit 386B) to Neyland Drive, 17th Street (exit 387) to Cumberland Avenue or Henley Street (exit 388) to downtown. The last eastbound exit is 388A, James White Parkway.
Westbound motorists should use Hall of Fame Drive (exit 389) to Neyland Drive.
After the game, fans traveling westbound on I-40 should stay in the left lanes to avoid traffic delays where I-640 merges with I-40. Local traffic should use alternate routes westbound, including Middlebrook Pike.
For more information about the I-40 closure, visit http://www.utk.edu/maps/closure.shtml or http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/jwp/.
Game day policies remain same
Under state law, no smoking will be allowed anywhere inside the gates of Neyland Stadium. No one inside the gates will be allowed to leave and then be readmitted.
Only fans with permits can park on campus. UT encourages fans to use shuttle buses from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum and the UT Agriculture Campus.
A no-fly zone extends over the stadium from one hour before the game until one hour after it ends, prohibiting flights within a 3-nautical-mile radius and lower than 3,000-feet altitude, except as authorized by air traffic control.
Solicitation near stadium gates and along Phillip Fulmer Way is prohibited.
UT reminds visitors that all items, including purses, are subject to search at the gates. Certain items remain prohibited inside the stadium, and those items cannot be stored at any stadium gate.
Prohibited items include the following:
– alcoholic beverages
– cans, bottles or coolers
– radios without headphones
– open umbrellas
– video cameras
– stadium seats with arms
– large bags or parcels, including backpacks and large purses
– weapons of any kind, including pocketknives
Fans are allowed to bring the following items inside the stadium:
– cushions and seats without arms
– diaper bags that accompany infants
– small cameras, pagers, cell phones and binoculars
For those driving on campus, Peyton Manning Pass, Middle and Lower Drives, Estabrook Drive and Phillip Fulmer Way from Middle Drive to Tee Martin Drive will be closed 30 minutes before kickoff. Directional parking will be used in Area 9 and Lots 4, 5A and 5B.
For more game day information, please visit
http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/gameday.html.
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Contacts:
Elizabeth Davis, UT media relations, (865) 974-5179, elizabeth.davis@tennessee.edu.
Jeff Maples, (865) 974-3061