The venue:
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seats more than 90,000, and you'd be wise to wear something lightweight: game-day temperatures can hit triple digits. (Better yet, drink some Gatorade, which was developed here to keep players hydrated in the heat.) Tickets for the rest of the season are sold out, so your best bet to find them is online through a ticket broker like Stub Hub. The game in Jacksonville is such a party mecca, it's known as the world's largest cocktail party. You can bet you'll rustle up some trouble on the Jacksonville Landing downtown.
At the Stadium:
While tailgating does happen, it's not the end-all, be-all in Gainesville. You'd be better served by heading to The Swamp Restaurant, getting a table outside and enjoying some drinks with die hard fans. But get to the stadium in time for the marching band's pre-game show. (And no matter what you do, don't resist if heavy-handed security guards ask you to do something. You may end up getting tased, bro.)
Insider's Tip:
The famous "Here come the Gators" called out as the team takes the field is actually a recording. The PA announcer who did it, Jim Finch, died in 2002.
Need a Gainesville hotel before or after the game? HotelChatter has you covered.
Related Stories:
· Florida Football [Official Site]
· The Swamp [Official Site]
· UF Student Tased at Kerry Forum [YouTube]
· College Football Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· College Football Map [Jaunted]
[Photos: ckirkman and jordanfischer]
