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“Rocky Top”. It is the anthem of the State of Tennesee, the Tennessee Volunteers’
athletic program, and a song which defines one’s day at Neyland Stadium, as it is
played again and again both inside and outside the venue.
Located in beautiful downtown Knoxville on the UT campus, Neyland Stadium is one
massive facility, seating almost 103,000 fans. Located on the banks of the Tennessee
River, patrons can arrive here by boat and perch themselves in one of the marinas
adjacent to the stadium, and tailgating on the boats and the docks is one of the cool
things done here. The flotilla of boats has been dubbed the “Volunteer Navy”.
Incredibly, Neyland Stadium opened back in the 20s as just a 3200 seat building,
which was added onto four times in its first thirteen years to bring capacity to 31,390.
Numerous additions and upgrades took place over the decades, the last major one in
1996, to bring the building to its current capacity.
Despite its size, the stadium seating bowl has a real intimate feel to it. Steep seating
pitches put fans right on top of the action, with the upper seating deck almost on top of
the field itself. Very small sideline areas also means the fans in the front rows are right
on top of the action.
Recent facelifts have added a new pressbox, club level seating and viewing areas,
and renovations to the lower concourses.
Tradition plays a big role for this storied program, and it all starts with the “Vol Walk”.
The players and coaches, dressed in coats and ties, follow a narrow path from the
adjoining sports center all the way to gate 21 of the stadium, with fans manning the
lines and cheering on and high fiving their players. The marching band is on hand
playing spirited songs (did we mention “Rocky Top”? Oh yeah.”
The mascot is named Smokey, an old fashioned coonhound who leads the team out
of the giant “T” onto the field at the beginning of each game. The lineage goes back to
1953, and the current mascot, Smokey IX” has been on the job since 2004.
On a warm and muggy day we set amongst the Volunteer Orange, enjoyed ourselves
a Smokey Dog (great concessions here, by the way), and watched Tennessee
absolutely demolish visiting UAB in a 35-3 laugher.
athletic program, and a song which defines one’s day at Neyland Stadium, as it is
played again and again both inside and outside the venue.
Located in beautiful downtown Knoxville on the UT campus, Neyland Stadium is one
massive facility, seating almost 103,000 fans. Located on the banks of the Tennessee
River, patrons can arrive here by boat and perch themselves in one of the marinas
adjacent to the stadium, and tailgating on the boats and the docks is one of the cool
things done here. The flotilla of boats has been dubbed the “Volunteer Navy”.
Incredibly, Neyland Stadium opened back in the 20s as just a 3200 seat building,
which was added onto four times in its first thirteen years to bring capacity to 31,390.
Numerous additions and upgrades took place over the decades, the last major one in
1996, to bring the building to its current capacity.
Despite its size, the stadium seating bowl has a real intimate feel to it. Steep seating
pitches put fans right on top of the action, with the upper seating deck almost on top of
the field itself. Very small sideline areas also means the fans in the front rows are right
on top of the action.
Recent facelifts have added a new pressbox, club level seating and viewing areas,
and renovations to the lower concourses.
Tradition plays a big role for this storied program, and it all starts with the “Vol Walk”.
The players and coaches, dressed in coats and ties, follow a narrow path from the
adjoining sports center all the way to gate 21 of the stadium, with fans manning the
lines and cheering on and high fiving their players. The marching band is on hand
playing spirited songs (did we mention “Rocky Top”? Oh yeah.”
The mascot is named Smokey, an old fashioned coonhound who leads the team out
of the giant “T” onto the field at the beginning of each game. The lineage goes back to
1953, and the current mascot, Smokey IX” has been on the job since 2004.
On a warm and muggy day we set amongst the Volunteer Orange, enjoyed ourselves
a Smokey Dog (great concessions here, by the way), and watched Tennessee
absolutely demolish visiting UAB in a 35-3 laugher.
NEYLAND
STADIUM
Knoxville,
Tennessee
University of
Alabama/
Birmingham
at
Tennessee
Volunteers
September
13, 2008
STADIUM
Knoxville,
Tennessee
University of
Alabama/
Birmingham
at
Tennessee
Volunteers
September
13, 2008
| Knoxville, Tennessee |
Neyland Stadium
