• UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

PERKS OF STAYING NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Stroll down Knoxville’s central Cumberland Avenue, also known by students and locals as “The Strip,” on a Volunteer’s game day, and you’ll likely hear the twangy tunes of “Rocky Top,” the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UT) unofficial fight song. Among the smoky notes proclaiming Tennessee as the home sweet home of all who sing, you’ll also see that bright Vols orange splashed across storefronts and the many spirited, UT-clad fans.

THE PREGAME SHOWCASE

Beginning two hours before kickoff, the Pregame Showcase event is free of charge and open to the public. A pregame staple since 1989, the Pregame Showcase now includes complimentary refreshments and door prizes. Not to mention this event will bring you straight to the heart of campus, and likewise UT’s spirited student life. Though the program took a hiatus following the 2016 season, it’s slated to return upon the completion of the new Student Union building ahead of the 2018 season. 

THE VOL WALK

Witness this pre-game parade of Vols players, and maybe even shake a player’s hand as Rocky Top echoes across campus. The entire football team has participated in the Vol Walk since 1990, in which they walk from the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex, past the Tennessee Volunteers Wall of Fame, then continue down Peyton Manning Pass and onto Phillip Fulmer Way. 

VOL NAVY

Former Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney first docked his boat along the Tennessee River outside Neyland Stadium in 1962 with the goal of avoiding gameday traffic. Today, 200 or more boats tie up outside the stadium to socialize before the game. The university even built a walkway connecting the shoreline to the stadium so game-goers can safely access the field.