Neyland Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is located about 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville. Expect roughly 18 minutes by car on a normal day, and 30–45 minutes on game days. Rideshare from the airport to the stadium area runs $20–35 depending on surge, so factor that in.

For public transit, KAT (Knoxville Area Transit) provides shuttle service to all Saturday University of Tennessee home football games during the regular fall football season. Numerous KAT buses transport fans to and from the Civic Coliseum and the Market Square area of downtown at a round-trip cost of $10 per person, starting three hours before kickoff. KAT offers special shuttles for football games that operate solely on specific dates; all lines terminate at Neyland Stadium and are assigned the special "51" designator. If you're using regular routes, KAT bus routes 11, 12, and 15 stop at Cumberland and James Agee, two blocks from the stadium.

Driving in from out of town? Come early. Roads begin closing around the stadium three hours before kickoff; starting at 5 AM, Phillip Fulmer Way is closed from the G-10 Garage to Lake Loudoun Blvd, and four hours before kickoff it closes all the way from G-10 to Cumberland Avenue. For rideshare drop-off, the drop-off point is at the Claxton Education Building on Volunteer Boulevard.

This is a parking situation that rewards early arrivals and punishes the casual. Blackstock Lot is the closest public option at $30 per car ($60 for RVs). The Civic Coliseum park-and-ride is $25 per vehicle with shuttle included, and all lots open at 7:00 AM. The Civic Coliseum option is genuinely smart for first-timers — you park somewhere reasonable, ride over, and avoid the post-game gridlock around the stadium's perimeter.

There is limited paid public parking on campus along Volunteer Boulevard West between Todd Helton Drive and Cumberland Avenue; mobile-pay spots cost $50. Private lots within a 10-15 minute walk can be found on SpotHero or ParkWhiz for $25–50, but book well in advance for marquee games. Season parking requires serious donor-level commitments, so don't plan on showing up and getting premium spots as a visitor without advance reservations.

The Fort Sanders neighborhood, directly north of campus, is the closest hotel zone to the stadium and puts you within walking distance — but "walking distance" in Knoxville on game day means navigating a sea of orange that starts well before noon. Hotels here (chains like Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express on the strip corridor) run $150–300 on game weekends, and you'll want to book months out for big SEC matchups.

Downtown Knoxville — specifically the Gay Street and Market Square corridor — is the better call if you want a neighborhood with actual character. Downtown is a quick and easy walk from Neyland Stadium, making it the perfect place to spend your Saturday before, during, and after Tennessee games. The Hyatt Place, Marriott, and several boutique hotels cluster around Market Square. You're looking at a 20-25 minute walk to the stadium through a genuinely nice riverside area, or a quick KAT shuttle ride. Prices start around $180 on normal weekends; plan for $250–400 on Alabama or rivalry weekends.

Calhoun's on the River — This is the play if you want atmosphere with your pulled pork. Iconic Calhoun's on the River promises BBQ and Rocky Top Potato Skins overlooking panoramic views of Neyland Stadium, the Tennessee River, and the Vol Navy — 200+ boats lined up along the river. The deck is legitimately one of the best pre-game perches in college football. It will be wall-to-wall orange, but it's worth it. Expect a wait.

Downtown Grill & Brewery — Downtown Grill & Brewery is one of Knoxville's favorite gathering places to celebrate wins and mourn losses over beer and hearty pub food. It's on the Gay Street side of downtown and draws a mix of fans and locals. Good tap list, reliable kitchen, and far enough from the stadium crush that you can actually hear yourself order.

Tommy Trent's — Tommy Trent's is a vintage sports bar with the largest patio in downtown Knoxville and Tennessee-themed entrees like Volun-Tenders and The Peyton Smash Burger. It's loose, loud, and unpretentious in the best way. Good for groups who want to watch other games while pregaming.

Kern's Food Hall — Kern's Food Hall at 2201 Kerns Rising Way has several restaurants and bars to choose from, including access to a rooftop patio, intimate craft beer bar and cocktail lounge. It's across the river from the stadium — an underrated spot to avoid the main crush and still be close enough to walk over.

Once inside Neyland Stadium, fans can also enjoy a solid selection of food and drink options.

The concession staples include hot dogs (Hebrew National), hamburgers, pretzels, popcorn, Papa John's pizza, and Coca-Cola brand products throughout the stadium. More recently, new in-stadium options include buffalo chicken mac and cheese, Knoxville flavored chicken tenders, curly fries, rotating chef specials in select areas, and ice cream.

For a local partnership worth seeking out, Petro's Chili & Chips — a Knoxville institution — has a presence in the concessions mix, particularly around the south end and Truly's Tailgate area outside Gate 9. Truly's Tailgate has expanded with Texas Roadhouse and other options including Scoops Ice Cream Shop, Good Ol Chicken Shack, Mac'nMore macaroni and cheese, Petro's Chili & Chips, and Calhoun's.

On beer: Neyland Stadium started alcohol sales in 2019, and the current beer list includes Budweiser and Coors products, Dos Equis, Michelob Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling, and Sweetwater Hazy IPA. A domestic beer will run you $13 — in line with the upper end of SEC stadium pricing. A standard meal (hot dog, drink, snack) will run $20–28. Alcohol sales stop at the end of the third quarter. And critically: Neyland Stadium is now a cashless venue — fans should be prepared as they approach concession stands, Vol Shop, or any retail locations inside the stadium. Cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted; leave the cash in your wallet.

All bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and cannot exceed 12" × 6" × 12". One clear bag is allowed per person, plus a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Leave the backpack in the hotel room — non-clear bags of any size, diaper bags, and backpacks are strictly prohibited, as are outside food, snacks, and beverages (unless medically necessary).

Gates open two hours prior to kickoff , and you'll want to be through security before that wave hits. Accessible elevators are available at Gates 15, 21, and 26. Gate 21 is the designated ADA support entry point. Away fans should head to the upper sections of the east or north endzone — you won't have a dedicated away block in most non-premium games, so arrive with your seat assignment confirmed and keep the trash talk friendly.

One practical note: Gates 4, 4A, 6, and 8 have not been operational during recent construction seasons , so confirm active gates on the UT Athletics website before game day.

Accessible elevators are available at Gates 15, 21, and 26, with Gate 21 serving as the primary designated ADA support entry point. A new elevator was added to the southeast corner of Neyland Stadium for the 2025 season, allowing patrons to access all three levels on the south side. Wheelchair accessible seating is distributed throughout the bowl at multiple levels; contact the UT Athletics Ticket Office in advance to arrange accommodations.

UT Medical Center resources are available throughout Neyland Stadium, including onsite clinics and four first-aid stations equipped with portable diagnostic services and advanced life support equipment. Service animals are permitted inside the stadium, but you should contact the service desk before your visit so they can advise on next steps. Assistive listening devices are available — contact UT Athletics event management ahead of time to confirm availability and pickup location.

There is no dedicated official away section at Neyland for most opponents — visiting fans are scattered throughout the general bowl based on whatever tickets they could source. The upper north endzone (sections in the 100s–120s range) tends to aggregate away fans organically, since those are the sections that land on secondary markets at lower prices. The sightlines from up there are actually solid — you're elevated enough to see the whole field, and the two-deck enclosure keeps the noise in, which you'll feel even when it's working against you.

Avoid the student section (sections D–K on the south end lower bowl) — student seating is located in sections D–K and is reserved seating , and it's genuinely not a place you want to be as a rival fan. The west sideline club seats and Tennessee Terrace are largely season-ticket held and premium, so your secondary market options there will be scarce and expensive. If you can get east sideline upper deck, rows 30–50, you'll have a great view and end up near a mix of casual home fans who are perfectly pleasant to sit with.

Away fans venturing into Neyland Stadium should prepare for a vastly different—and often overwhelming—experience.

Expect a crowd that is passionate, loud, and not particularly interested in your comfort — but also not gratuitously hostile in the way some SEC venues can be. Tennessee fans are proud of their stadium and their tradition, and they tend to show it by being intense toward the football rather than personal toward visiting fans. The thing that catches most first-timers off guard isn't the crowd noise — it's the tunnel run. When the team enters through a T-formation created by the Pride of the Southland Band, 100,000 fans roar in a way that genuinely rattles the upper decks. If you're in the upper bowl, you will feel it in your chest. Come prepared for the fact that "Rocky Top" will be played approximately 47 times; by the fourth quarter, you will know the melody whether you want to or not. The Vol Navy on the river is a visual unlike any other in college football — worth arriving early just to see it.

Post-game egress at Neyland is, frankly, a mess — by design, because 100,000 people all trying to leave a riverbank stadium simultaneously is a physics problem. Here's the honest breakdown:

Transit: The KAT game-day shuttle back to the Civic Coliseum and Market Square is your best bet if you parked there. Post-game routes operate on detour, with exact timing determined by game duration, road closures, and traffic. Expect a 15–30 minute wait to board after the final whistle. If you can wait 20 minutes inside the stadium before heading to the shuttle stop, the line will be noticeably shorter.

Driving: Lots immediately adjacent to the stadium can take 45–75 minutes to clear after a big game. The Civic Coliseum park-and-ride empties faster than the campus lots because it's removed from the main pedestrian crush. If you're in a campus lot, wait at least 30 minutes post-game before attempting to move — sitting in an unmoving lot for an hour is worse than sipping a water and letting the first wave go.

Rideshare: Post-game rideshare pickup is near "The Hill" off Circle Drive near Cumberland Avenue, but wait times can be long as police limit how many cars enter at once. Surge pricing after a big game can push Uber/Lyft fares to 2–3x. The move: walk north to Cumberland Avenue or east toward the downtown corridor before requesting a ride — you'll pick up a car faster and cheaper once you're outside the police-managed zone. Give it 25 minutes after the whistle before pulling out your app.

How do I get to Neyland Stadium without a car?

KAT buses run from the Civic Coliseum and Market Square area for $10 round trip, starting three hours before kickoff. Regular routes 11, 12, and 15 also stop at Cumberland and James Agee, two blocks from the stadium.

What is the bag policy at Neyland Stadium?

All bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and cannot exceed 12" × 6" × 12". One clear bag per person is allowed, plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". No backpacks, no tinted bags.

How much does parking cost near Neyland Stadium?

Blackstock Lot runs $30 per car; the Civic Coliseum park-and-ride is $25 per vehicle with shuttle included. On-campus mobile-pay spots cost $50 when available.

What time do gates open?

Gates open two hours prior to kickoff. Arrive close to that mark to beat the long security lines that build in the final 90 minutes.

Where is the best seating for away fans? There is no formal away section. The upper north endzone tends to aggregate visiting fans organically and offers solid full-field sightlines at lower secondary-market prices.

Is Neyland Stadium cashless?

Yes — Neyland Stadium is a cashless venue, and all Tennessee venues are cashless for the 2025-26 athletic year. Bring a card or set up mobile pay.

What airport should I fly into?

McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is the closest airport to Knoxville, located just 12 miles from downtown. It's a small, easy airport — no confusion about terminals, quick ground transportation.

When did Neyland Stadium open?

The stadium opened on September 24, 1921, with the Volunteers playing their inaugural game against Emory and Henry. It was originally known as Shields-Watkins Field, a name the playing surface still carries today.