From Dayton To The Gator Walk: Meadows' Guide To GameDay. Get It Right After Years In The Making.
Flying in on Frontier to Orlando, flying out on Allegiant from Clearwater. Do you stay in Ocala? Or take it in to Gainesville? Tailgating? Where, when, and with who? In the last six years with the help of some really good people we have answered all of these questions and gained lifelong friends and priceless relationships while mastering gameday at The Swamp.
Beginning in 2016, my wife and I became Gator Football season ticket holders. What began as a potential business investment has morphed into a lifestyle that ultimately saw us uproot our lives and ultimately relocate to Gainesville.
In the last six years there has also been an education in what to do what not to do. Flying in on Frontier to Orlando, flying out on Allegiant from Clearwater. Do you stay in Ocala? Or take it in to Gainesville? Tailgating? Where, when, and with who? In the last six years with the help of some really good people we have answered all of these questions and gained lifelong friends and priceless relationships while mastering gameday at The Swamp.
Here are some tips from two well-traveled OrangeAndBlueBlood Gators who devised this system strictly from trial and error
Parking--What most are not aware of is there are many no-cost public parking spaces in close proximity to the stadium. On campus, any unmarked spaces are open to the public on a “first come, first serve” basis. For fans requiring assistance, Lot 109 at the intersection of Gale Lemerand and Archer Road offer non-reserved ADA parking with restroom facilities. This location also offers a free shuttle that runs three hours before gametime and until 1 hour after. ADA Parking is also available on campus in non-reserved spaces with valid ADA pass. Off campus the best options for parking are west of the stadium between West University Avenue and SW 2nd Avenue where many residents offer parking for a reasonable fee.
Connecting with other fans, don’t be a stranger: In the beginning we were tailgate orphans, simply walking the area around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and making the occasional visit to the UF Bookstore. What we found was if you simply walk up to fans and make simple conversation you can make lasting relationships. Florida alumni Joann Purdie and Fran Root were the first to invite us to tailgate as we walked near the Bull Gator lot on gameday. Their hospitality was priceless and helped make our gameday experience even better. Social media can be another valuable tool to connect with other fans. Facebook has been an extremely helpful tool to allow us to connect with fellow Gator fans on a daily basis. Through our connections made with the GatorBait Kingdom and GatorBaitMedia.com we have made great friends and even gained a godson. The key is to be genuine, outgoing, participate -- and know that the love of the Gators is what unites us all.
How do you score tickets to Gator Games?--Outside of buying season tickets which can be purchased in February, the easiest way to obtain tickets for a Florida game is to simply call the Gator Ticket Office or visit the Ticket Office site on floridagators.com. There you will find single ticket options as well as the opportunity to purchase “mini game” plans where fans can choose to attend three of the six to seven home games that the Gators play. When buying home tickets try these options prior to going to outside ticket brokers as many charge fees that will increase your overall cost.
Where to sit?--When purchasing tickets where you sit is all about the sun and the view. Only about 15 percent of the seats at Ben Hill Griffin provide some sort of cover. We have sat in sections 4, 1, and 2 during our visits to The Swamp with our current seats residing in Section 2. All three of these sections offer shade for most of a game anytime of the day. For the true football fan who wants to see it all develop, the upper levels of Sections 21-25 (north end) and Sections C-F (south end) are the best bet. Avoid sections 29-45 unless you fancy a tan that you may pay for later and a face full of rain. Section 2 allows a good view of the Gator bench, gator greats visiting campus and the nest view of “here comes the Gators”.
Gameday Attire--In most cases one of the best things about attending games in The Swamp is that you are in shorts and t-shirt 90 per cent of the year. We always try to communicate with the UAA as to what color they would like fans to wear to the game and act accordingly. Whatever we wear, it is as breathable as possible. We also try to wear comfortable shoes (Nike/Jordan for me, sandals for Marsha) as there is always walking involved. The plastic poncho is always a good accessory due to the unpredictability of Florida weather during hurricane season. A hat to protect oneself from the Florida sun is a good idea as well. Not until week 11 or 12 should there be any need for a sweatshirt or jacket. Comfort is the key, it’s a long day.
Tailgating--Our tailgating experience has involved a process of trial and error over the past few years. Even landing our group on the SEC Network’ s Saturday’s In the South. From the Gator Walk Village, Campusview Church and the Bull Gator Parking Lot we have experienced many options for our tailgating experience. What seems to fit our group the best is a little section that we have carved out on Center Drive near the Psychology Building. This location as of 2021 offered “first come, first serve” parking and easy access to Reitz Union. A short 10-minute walk to The Swamp makes this a great place for our group to meet and be merry. Our tailgate fare usually consists of donuts, coffee, and juice in the morning, followed by barbecue brisket, pork, and/or chicken, accompanied by cornbread, greens and green beans.
Other Gameday Favorites--For any fan a trip to the UF Bookstore has become a pilgrimage. We also enjoy the Fan Fest in front of the O’Connell Center where fans can participate in interactive activities and giveaways. 2 hours before the game the Gator Walk takes place in front of the stadium on University Avenue, which we attend three to four times per year. In any case we are in the stadium no later than 90 minutes prior to the game to watch warm-ups and properly prepare ourselves for the game. While many people visit the concession stand during the games for their favorite entrée, our nerves usually prohibit us from eating food instead deferring to the refillable Pepsi, Gatorade or bottled water. If we must eat, the occasional “baseball steak” (hot dog) or Domino’s Pizza is the simple choice.
Gameday Changes--We have been very fortunate to have some of the best days of our lives spent on the UF campus. Tailgating, socializing with friends, and the overall gameday experience has been unparalleled. We would not change much at all. However, what used to be our favorite experience was the “What Makes Us Rise” montage that is played in the stadium prior to the Gators taking the field. In 2021 the traditional video (narrator unknown) was replaced by the voice of former Gator Thaddeus Bullard who now narrates the video. With all due respect to Thaddeus Bullard the nostalgia of the original is what we enjoy the most and what made our first visit to The Swamp so special. I encourage the UAA to please return to the original narration. For us this part of the pre-game festivities is as important as “I Won’t Back Down”
Great job! We tailgated for 40 years, but gave it up after Tebow graduated. The logistics then made it tough on aging senior citizens. Seeing a game on TV versus the Swamp is a no=brainer. The Swamp's atmosphere wins hands down. Go Gators! Send the Utes packing.