UT Vols football fan guide: What to know about tickets, parking, Vol Walk, tailgating

Maggie Jones | Knoxville

Show Caption Hide Caption From the archives: Checker Neyland timelapse From the archives: University of Tennessee football fans "checker" Neyland Stadium for the home game against rival Florida on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in Knoxville. (Video by Adam Lau/News Sentinel)

Tennessee's football season is almost upon us, and with that comes the almost weekly craziness where fans clad in orange and white take over Knoxville.

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Games are an all-day event for most fans, and to have a solid experience during game days in Knoxville, you have to plan ahead.

Here's our Tennessee football fan guide with information on tickets, parking, tailgating etc., to help maximize your experience during Knoxville game days.

How to get tickets to a UT football game UT Associate Athletic Director Jimmy Delaney offers some tips on getting tickets to a UT game and having an enjoyable game day experience.

How to get tickets

Tennessee single-game football tickets went on sale in July, but if you haven't purchased your tickets yet, here's what to do.

Fans can visit https://allvols.com or call 1-800-332-VOLS to purchase tickets for home and away games. On the website, those interested can click on an interactive map of Neyland Stadium to see what seats are available and what tickets cost in certain areas.

Giveaway: Win UT football tickets

Ticket packages are also available, including the Orange and White Package, which includes tickets to the Florida or Alabama game and two other home games for $205, and the Rocky Top Package, which includes tickets to three home games excluding Florida and Alabama for $135.

If any game sells out or fans are unable to purchase seats next to each other, they can go to Vivid Seats to buy resold tickets. Prices are determined by the sellers, according to the website.

As of Monday, Aug. 27, no games have sold out yet, according to AllVols.com.

Some season tickets are still available. They can be purchased at https://seatselection.seats3d.com/ncaa. For more information, call 865-974-1218.

Tennessee football schedule

Here's the 2018 Tennessee football schedule. Neyland Stadium gates open two hours before kickoff.

Tennessee vs. West Virginia: 3:30 p.m. Sept. 1 in Charlotte, N.C. TV: CBS

Tennessee vs. ETSU: 4 p.m. Sept. 8 in Knoxville. TV: SEC Network

Tennessee vs. UTEP: Noon Sept. 15 in Knoxville. TV: SEC Network

Tennessee vs. Florida: Time is TBA Sept. 22 in Knoxville. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Georgia: Time is TBA Sept. 29 in Athens, Ga. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Auburn: Time is TBA Oct. 13 in Auburn, Ala. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Alabama: Time is TBA Oct. 20 in Knoxville. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. South Carolina: Time is TBA Oct. 27 in Columbia, S.C. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Charlotte: Time is TBA Nov. 3 in Knoxville. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Kentucky: Time is TBA Nov. 10 in Knoxville. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Missouri: Time is TBA Nov. 17 in Knoxville. TV: TBA

Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt: Time is TBA Nov. 24 in Nashville. TV: TBA

More: Heading to Charlotte for WVU game? Here's how to get the most out of your weekend

Parking info

Parking isn't the most exciting part of game day, but it's helpful to know these facts.

First, UT's campus doesn't have any general public parking on game days. Campus parking areas "are reserved for athletic and alumni donors and donor permits," according to UT's parking website. For more information on shuttles for those with permits, visit https://parking.utk.edu.

Fans can find parking at a number of downtown garages. Here's a list of them and what they will cost you on game day, according to UT's parking website.

Poplar Street parking lot, 906 Poplar St., $40

Main Street garage, 550 W. Main St., $20

Dwight Kessel garage, 900 State St., $20

City County Building garage, 400 Main St., $20

Locust Street garage, 540 Locust St., $20

Market Square garage, 406 Walnut St., free

State Street garage, 520 State St., free

Civic Coliseum garage, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Drive, $10

In addition to these downtown lots and garages, areas on and between Cumberland and Western Avenues will also have parking spots available for purchase on game days.

For more downtown Knoxville parking options, visit www.downtownknoxville.org.

Workers repaint checkered Vol crosswalk The orange-and-white crosswalks on Peyton Manning Pass near Neyland Stadium got a fresh coat of paint in preparation for football season.

The Vol Walk and road closures

Part parade and part pep rally, the Vol Walk has been a Tennessee football tradition since 1990.

Fans pile up on the sides of Peyton Manning Pass and Philip Fulmer Way to get pumped up and to see head coach Jeremy Pruitt and the team travel to the stadium.

More: Casey Pruitt might be coach Jeremy Pruitt's stealth recruiting asset

The Vol Walk will begin two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff at home games, according to UTSports.com. It will start at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park, go down Peyton Manning Pass, turn left on Phillip Fulmer Way and then enter the stadium at Gate 21A.

Vol Boys visit Tennessee Fan Day Ryan Wilusz and Kane Harris, better known as the Vol Boys, visit Tennessee Fan Day to play some shenanigans on their fellow Vols football fans.

Because of the Vol Walk and other game day activities, certain campus roads will close. Here's a list of them and when they close, according to UTSports.com.

Volunteer Boulevard from Andy Holt Avenue to Lake Loudoun Boulevard will close for 30 minutes beginning five minutes before the Vol Walk begins.

Phillip Fulmer Way will close from Middle Way Drive to Tee Martin Drive three hours before kickoff.

Peyton Manning Pass will close three hours before kickoff.

Clear bag policy

Fans must abide by UT's bag policy to enter Neyland Stadium on game days, and it allows three bag options, according to UTSports.com.

Clear plastic bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches

A one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag

Small clutch purses or wallets no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches

More:Metal detectors in place at Thompson-Boling, will be at Neyland Stadium by 2020

A list of permitted and prohibited items can be found at https://utsports.com.

Tailgating info

Tailgating options abound on and off UT's campus on game day.

If you want less hassle, Tailgate Tennessee, operated by All Occasions Party Rentals, will do the work for you. They offer tailgating space in Circle Park and provide packages that include chairs, tables, TVs, tents and catering.

If you want to seek out your own tailgating space, you'll have to get to campus early to find a spot. Some are located throughout the Fort Sanders neighborhood, aka "The Fort," which is the area in between Cumberland and Grand Avenues.

Here are some general tailgating tips.

Arrive six to seven hours before kickoff to get a spot to tailgate.

Tailgating and drinking often go hand in hand, so be responsible, stay hydrated and have a designated driver.

Wear appropriate footwear. It sounds simple, but comfy and sturdy shoes can make the difference when you have to walk around the UT campus and set up everything you need for a tailgate.

Stock up on food early. People pack stores on Saturdays when there is a football game. If possible, go to the store earlier in the week.

Be prepared for inclement weather. East Tennessee weather can be unpredictable. Bring rain gear, umbrellas, hats, sunscreen, jackets and other items.

What is the Vol Navy?

Not all Vol fans spend their game days on land.

In 2002, the Vol Navy Boaters' Association formed the Vol Navy, a community of boaters who dock on the Tennessee River near Neyland Stadium during home football games.

Vol Navy membership is free, and you don't have to have a boat to join, according to the Vol Navy's website.

During game day, space at the Vol Navy docks is on a first come, first served basis. The group does ask that those with larger boats tie at the docks first, so that smaller boats can tie to them in rows up to 13 boats.

For more information, visit http://volnavyboaters.com.

Where to buy Vol swag in Knoxville

Knoxville won't disappoint if you're looking to buy Vol apparel. Here are a few options that feature different styles of clothing from jerseys to those eye-catching checkerboard overalls.

Alumni Hall: (7600 Kingston Pike, 6714 Papermill Drive and 11309 Parkside Drive) With three Knoxville locations, Alumni Hall is convenient and has a wide array of Vol gear including apparel, accessories, bags, shoes, jackets, watches and other items.

Tailgate: (23 Market Square) Downtown dwellers and explorers can easily find Tailgate, which is owned by American Eagle, in Market Square. The store markets its merchandise as vintage Vol apparel and sells apparel, accessories, memorabilia and other items.

Josie's Boutique: (7508 Clinton Highway) Female Tennessee fans, this one's for you. Josie's Boutique offers a Gameday clothing collection both in its store and online. It includes shirts, dresses, rompers, accessories and more.

VolShop: (1015 Phillip Fulmer Way, 1655 Cumberland Ave., 2509 University Commons Way, 1235 Phillip Fulmer Way) VolShop has four locations on UT"s campus that sell Tennessee swag and offers extended hours on game days and during special events. Some items include apparel, home goods, jewelry, pet accessories and others.

HoundDogs: (9250 Kingston Pike) HoundDogs has offered Tennessee merchandise for more than 20 years in Knoxville and has an array of items. Some include apparel, electronics, flags, artwork and collectibles.

Where to watch the game in Knoxville

If there's an away game or you weren't able to snag tickets, here are some places to enjoy the Tennessee football games in Knoxville besides Neyland Stadium.

More: Nightlife columnist recommends 6 more spots to watch UT Vols on TV

Fieldhouse Social: (2525 University Commons Way) With a 21-foot TV screen, watching the Vols is pretty easy at Fieldhouse Social. It also has beer, cocktails and a menu filled with appetizer, sandwich, burger and salad options.

Soccer Taco: (9 Market Square, 6701 Kingston Pike, 2031 Thunderhead Road) Soccer Taco has three locations in Knoxville that each have more than 10 flat-screen televisions. Plus there's Mexican food.

Double Dogs: (10639 Hardin Valley Road, 8910 Kingston Pike) Now with two locations, Double Dogs is easier to get to in Knoxville. The restaurants offer HD televisions and menu items beyond typical sports bar favorites.

Skybox Sports Bar and Grill: (415 S. Gay St.) With two projection screens and 18 flat screens, Skybox has TVs in sight all over its location. It also serves wings, nachos and other food and drink selections.

Xtreme Sports Bar & Grill: (3017 E. Magnolia Ave.) With fried pickles, wings and nachos, Xtreme Sports Bar & Grill serves up sports bar staples along with healthier options including turkey burgers and black bean burgers.