Football game days in Athens are always intense, but the Georgia-Alabama game this weekend has the potential to be pure pandemonium. Hide the women and children, board up your windows and hunker down.
“The high-profile 3:30 p.m. game in Sanford Stadium is expected to draw one of the largest crowds of the past couple years,” according to a UGA news release.
Making matters worse, the intramural fields are so water-logged from recent rains—with more rain forecast for later this week—that they’ll be closed off to vehicles this weekend, meaning the loss of 2,000 parking spaces. Some tailgating areas may be closed as well. Updates are available here.
UGA is urging people to use lots on the periphery of campus that aren’t always full, as well as parking provided by local schools, churches and businesses (including Flagpole). Carpool if you can and get there early, too.
Other than shuttles between East Campus and Sanford, UGA buses don’t run on game days, but the university has arranged for ticket-holders to ride Athens Transit at no charge on Saturday.
Tens of thousands of people without tickets generally descend on Athens for big games to soak up the atmosphere, but considering the parking and traffic situation, UGA is urging them to “consider alternatives for game day activities and avoid the campus area.”
For those who are not interested in risking life and limb, the SEC Network will broadcast its “College GameDay” ripoff “SEC Nation” from Myers Quad from 10 a.m.–noon. CBS is airing the game itself.
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