KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Kickoff for the 2022 Tennessee football season is one week away, and fans can enjoy several enhancements to the gameday experience at Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field this fall. For complete gameday information, visit UTsports.com/gameday.
Fireworks, Neyland Night Lights
The spectacular fireworks show that debuted last season during pregame and following UT touchdowns and victories returns in 2022. The dramatic LED light show is also back to accentuate in-game festivities. With a late sunset in September, there will be a halftime light show for the season-opener against Ball State and the Sept. 17 contest versus Akron.
New Videoboards, North End Zone Social Deck
New state-of-the-art videoboards are prominently displayed in the north and south end zones this season. For the first time in Neyland Stadium history, a videoboard will reside in the north end zone as part of the new North End Zone Social Deck.
The North End Zone Social Deck is a premium area that offers fans a unique view with a sports bar feel and upgraded amenities with the new north videoboard as a backdrop. The deck will offer an all-local craft beer assortment on tap that will rotate throughout the season. Additionally, a new walk-through market with innovative technology that allows fans to self-checkout is available. A separate ticket is required to access the new North End Zone Social Deck.
Toyota Volunteer Village
Toyota Volunteer Village will highlight a new artist or band each home game with a pregame concert series, providing Vol fans with the ultimate pregame atmosphere. New this season will be a video wall for fans to check out other games around college football. Admission is free to all fans with or without a game ticket. A new food court debuts, along with appearances by Smokey and the Spirit Squad. Vol Village, located across from Circle Park, serves as the ideal spot to view the Vol Walk and the Pride of Southland Band march. Vol Village opens 3 ½ hours prior to kickoff and will open at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 1.
Truly’s Tailgate
Located outside Gate 9, fans can stop by for food and drinks at Truly’s Tailgate. Fans may enter Truly’s prior to gates opening without having a ticket scanned. When gates open, fans will need to scan their ticket to enter Truly’s. New food options this season include Texas Roadhouse and Big Orange Bites. For any game starting later than noon ET, Truly’s will open four hours prior to kickoff. For a noon kickoff, the tailgate will open at 9 a.m. Truly’s will stay open throughout the game, giving fans in the south concourse a variety of food, drinks, television entertainment and additional restroom options. Truly’s will close at the end of the third quarter.
VolShop NIL Gear
Looking for custom game jerseys or t-shirts of your favorite player? VolShop, located near Section A on Concourse 1 of Neyland Stadium, will be selling exclusive NIL merchandise all season. Custom jersey options are available at utvolshop.com as well and at the VolShop Student Union location throughout the week.
The Return of V-O-L-S Letters
For the first time in over a decade, the iconic V-O-L-S letters will rise gloriously on the south end of Neyland Stadium. Two sets with an orange background and white lettering have been installed as part of stadium upgrades this offseason under the leadership of Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White. The original V-O-L-S letters featured a white background and orange lettering that debuted in the summer of 1966. As part of renovations prior to the 1976 season, the design of the letters shifted to white lettering with an orange background. Due to Neyland Stadium’s videoboard being replaced, the letters were removed entirely from the stadium in the summer of 2009. The photo-friendly, timeless tradition has been restored.
New Beer Kiosk
Following kickoff, fans will find a new beer kiosk located outside of Gate 21. Similar to Truly’s Tailgate, fans with a game ticket will be able to grab a beverage and return to their seats.
Additional Campus Restroom Options
Additional restroom options for fans will be located throughout campus on gameday, including Toyota Volunteer Village and Lot 9. Restrooms in Thompson-Boling Arena will also be available beginning four hours prior to kickoff.
New Digital Ticketing and Parking Reminders
Fans are reminded that tickets and parking passes to the 2022 Tennessee football season are digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud.
Fans will gain admission into all venues via a unique bar code via SafeTix, which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. At various Neyland Stadium gates, fans will enter via pedestal scanners that feature two scanning methods:
- Fans with tickets added to their Apple/Google Wallet (recommended) will tap near the top portion of the pedestal and enter.
- Fans with tickets loaded in their Tennessee Athletics app can scan their own bar code on the middle portion of the pedestal and enter.
PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY.
Fans entering Neyland Stadium via Gate 21, Gate 10 and Truly’s Tailgate will take part in a new walkthrough weapons detection systems prior to scanning their ticket. Fans should have their mobile devices out and ready to scan, but they will not have to remove keys or wallets from their pockets.
A complete step-by-step guide on how to best access and use your digital tickets and parking passes, including diagrams and FAQ is available here.
-UT Athletics
