Georgia-Florida Fun: City, public safety officials stress arriving early and common sense
It’s tried and true advice from Jacksonville officials and law enforcement about the annual Georgia-Florida game.
Park early. Get to the gates early. Leave safely.
Don’t forget to have fun at the 100th playing of the SEC rivalry, the 90th in Jacksonville, and the 87th since the game came to the city on a continuous basis in 1933 -- a streak broken only by World War II and two years in the 1990s when it was played in Gainesville and Athens because of the renovation of TIAA Bank Field.
More Georgia-Florida coverage
Are options open? Florida, Georgia officials release statement on future of rivalry football game
Georgia-Florida is here: Opening of RV City on Tuesday will kick off Jacksonville's Rivalry Week
Mayor Lenny Curry and representatives of JSO, JFRD, JTA and ASM Global (which manages TIAA Bank Field, Daily’s Place, 121 Financial Ballpark and the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, held a news conference on Tuesday at City Hall to go over the logistics of welcoming around 100,000 fans to the city for Saturday’s game between the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) and the Florida Gators (4-3, 1-3), at 3:30 p.m.
The usual crowd of around 80,000 is expected in the stadium but the city has estimated in the past that around 20,000 more are in the stadium area. It’s the largest one-day event on the First Coast and its party atmosphere is legendary.
No one wants to put a damper on the festivities. But city officials want everyone to enjoy a long day that stretches into the night.
► Georgia-Florida: Frequently asked questions
“For 90 years we’ve been welcoming ‘Dogs and Gators from across the country to Jacksonville for what I believe is the greatest rivalry in college football,” Curry said. “Over the years, this event has grown into much more than just a football game. We are proud to host this game and share this annual tradition with our citizens and with football fans. This weekend not only highlights two teams but keeps Jacksonville at the forefront with a significant boost to our economy.”
Past estimates of the game's economic impact on the First Coast have been north of $33 million, with another $6 million in impact on South Georgia's Golden Isles.
With Curry was Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office director of special events Chief Ellis Burns, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Powers, JTA director of communications David Cawton and ASM Global director of stadium and event services Mike Kenny.
All stressed the logistical challenges in having more than 100,000 people in the stadium area on one day, and how those challenges could be lessened with some planning and common sense.
Friday: Baseball, country music, fireworks
The weekend begins on Friday with the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame luncheon at the TIAA Bank Field East Club at noon, the Georgia-Florida baseball exhibition at 6:30 p.m. at 121 Financial Ballpark and a Luke Bryan concert at the Memorial Arena at 7 p.m.
Parking lots for those events will open at 4:30 p.m. and the gates at both venues open at 5:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Luncheon tickets are available at event.brite.com. Baseball and concert tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
A fireworks display will begin after the baseball game is over.
Gameday: Early birds have less stress
Stadium parking lots will open on Saturday at 8 a.m. and officials stress to fans that they should not try to arrive before that.
Stadium parking is sold out and fans should have their hang tags visible as they drive into the area. The city doesn’t monitor private lots. Anyone having the bright idea to leave their cars in the stadium lots Friday night will have them towed.
The JTA’s Gameday Xpress will begin operating at 12:30 p.m. until one hour after the game. The satellite lots are at the Beaches (Wingate Park), Southside (at the intersection of J. Turner Butler Boulevard and U.S. 1), Armsdale Park-n-Ride (I-295 and Lem Turner Road) and the Kings Avenue Parking Garage. The round-trip fare is $10 from Kings Avenue and $15 at the other lots.
The Skyway also is available, with extended hours of operation.
The Duuuval Fan Fare and Welcome Center will open at the Flex Field at 9 a.m., SEC Nation will begin its broadcast at 10 a.m. in Lot P (former Gator star Tim Tebow of Jacksonville will be part of the crew) and the stadium box office opens for Will Call at noon.
The team walks will be between 1:30 and 1:40 p.m. The Gators will walk into the stadium at Gate 1 and the Bulldogs between Gates 2 and 3. Stadium gates also open at 1:30 and city officials are stressing to fans to begin lining up at that time to make sure they clear the mobile ticketing, bag search and wanding to be in their seats for the kickoffs.
Burns said fans should get through the gates by 2:30 at the latest if they want to see the opening kickoff.
The TIAA Bank’s clear bag policy is in effect. All stadium gates will have magnetometers so fans can walk through with phones, keys and change in their pockets. All ticketing is mobile and fans will check in at self-scan kiosks.
A. Philip Randolph Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic between Gator Bowl Boulevard and Duval Street when the game begins and Burns said “we expect road closures in the sports complex footprint.”
He also recommended that fans be in their stadium parking space by 10:30 a.m., “if you’d like to see kickoff.”
When the stadium gates open at 1:30 p.m., Burns said JSO will prioritize foot traffic.
“At that time, our focus will shift to pedestrian traffic,” he said.
Burns said there will be six variable message boards around the stadium with road information.
“Do not rely on your GPS,” he said. “It may not take you the right way.”
The events on Friday and the football game will conclude after dark and it might be difficult for fans to find their cars. Burns suggested taking a photo of cars in the parking space, with a landmark in the background.
Undercover detectives will supplement a large presence of uniformed police officers to enforce laws regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving. Burns said violators “will be held accountable for their actions.”
First aid
There will be six first aid stations around the stadium complex: in Lots E (RV City), P (near the Veterans Memorial Wall) and X (at the service road entrance); near the arena at the corner of Randolph and Duval, near the main gate of Met Park and at the Babe Ruth statue (at the corner of Duval and Georgia).
Powers said the stations not only will be staffed by JFRD personnel for first aid, but will have city employees to give directions, hand out maps and offer cell phone charging.
There will be around 40 mobile JFRD personnel around the stadium and 50 inside to supplement the stadium first aid stations.
“We want everybody to have a great time with the festivities but have a plan on how you’re going to get home,” Powers said. “Do not drink and drive. We want everybody to have a safe and fun weekend.”
Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Parking, how to get to Florida-Georgia game: Arrive early, stress less
