Tailgating

[QVOL81]

Where's the best spots to tailgate? I heard Fiji, is that place still the best?

 

[SECVolFan]

I think so. There is always room to move around and throw the football if ya want. The only time it's been almost too crowded was the Florida game last year. I've tailgated in front of Gate21, g10, and a lot of places on the other side of Cumberland, and I still think Fiji is the best. Parking and leaving can be troublesome though, but it's like that everywhere.

 

[QVOL81]

I think so. There is always room to move around and throw the football if ya want. The only time it's been almost too crowded was the Florida game last year. I've tailgated in front of Gate21, g10, and a lot of places on the other side of Cumberland, and I still think Fiji is the best. Parking and leaving can be troublesome though, but it's like that everywhere.

Thanks for the info, just wanted to make sure it was a good time still. Can you leave your tailgating stuff (grill,tent etc) while you're at the game? Or is that a bad idea?

 

[SECVolFan]

I have before, but bad people are everywhere. So far I've been lucky. IIRC, most people pack up. Has anyone on here had stuff taken at Fiji?

 

[QVOL81]

I have before, but bad people are everywhere. So far I've been lucky. IIRC, most people pack up. Has anyone on here had stuff taken at Fiji?

Is it better to park on the street or the F lot?

 

[CoachClick]

g10

imo

taken at 10am on opening day needless to say by 4 it was packed. People were coming in from the street just to par-tay.

 

[hmanvolfan]

Fiji seems like a long way away to tailgate for a football game. Are there televisions on the island?

 

[SECVolFan]

I get there really early so I park on the street. Fiji Island is only 3 blocks from Circle Park (the start of the Vol Walk). I don't think that's too far to walk. Plus the ΑΓΡ boys bring Smokey through there before every game and are really nice about stopping and getting pictures taken. It's all personal preference really. If you know someone in g10 who has a spot, and you don't mind the size of your tailgate to be confined to a parking space, then g10 is great because it is so close to the stadium. Plus, the view is unbeatable; Neyland on one side, and the beautiful TN river on the other! But I like to have 1 or 2 tents, grill, tables, 2-4 cornhole boards, room to throw the football, and plenty of space to enjoy tailgating with a big group of my tailgating buddies. I've seen people have TVs there, but I haven't taken that master tailgating step yet; I'm still a novice.

 

[BlackhorseVol]

how early is "really" early? Bringing a couple other family members and my 12 year old (13 tomorrow) to his first game tomorrow. Wants the "full" experience so our tentative plan was to roll into town around 10a.m. and go find a place to "tailgate" (our definition is literally "off the tailgate" but want to be able to throw the ball around and hang out too), then hit the Vol Walk, then head up to our nose bleeders. Fiji the best place for us? 10 a.m. show time OK? any other suggestions? Thanks. OBTW-life long UT fan but due to growing up a military brat and spending 21 yrs in myself, this will be my first Neyland experience too! Stoked!:rock:

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

Maybe someone can explain, I've never tailgated, as a student I've always went to someone's apartment to pregame and then went to the game. So what do you just leave stuff out and go to the game, do you have random people come up and grab food and stuff...never really understood it.

 

[SECVolFan]

I am getting there between 9 and 10 and hopefully that will get me a decent spot. Fiji is not really the tailgate off your tailgate kinda place though. As long as you bring a few chairs you should be fine. A lot of people don't even go the game, but the ones who do usually pack up first. I've never randomly went up to anyone's tailgate nor has anyone to mine to grab food. We're all Vol family, but that's disrespectful. Now I have been allowed to help myself to other ppl's tailgate items and the same for mine, but only with permission. I once had an old guy, who forgot he told me to help myself to his sandwiches, almost fight me when I grabbed one! He was a little intoxicated too, I might add. Luckily, his wife was there to remind him and it was all good.

 

[VolsRule]

there is an art to going around campus to different tailgate parties, eating free food, drinking tons of cold beer and jack and admiring the hot women at the tailgate--it makes for a good day.