As the Tennessee Volunteers gear up for another exciting football season, fans planning to attend games at Neyland Stadium should prepare for the potential traffic and parking challenges that accompany game days. Fortunately, there are several public transportation options available to help alleviate these issues, including shuttles from downtown Knoxville.
Starting with the season opener against Furman on September 5, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) will offer bus rides and shuttles directly to Neyland Stadium. Fans can conveniently park at the Market Square Garage or other nearby downtown lots and catch a shuttle from Krutch Park to the Walters Life Sciences Building, which is just a short walk from the stadium entrance. A round-trip shuttle pass is available for $10, and fans can purchase it through the Transit app.
For those opting to drive, parking in downtown Knoxville will cost $40 on game days at several garages, including the City County Building, Dwight Kessel, Langley, Locust Street, and Main Street garages. The Blackstock Avenue parking lot charges $40 for cars and $70 for RVs. Interestingly, the Market Square Garage, which typically has a flat rate of $3 on Saturdays, is not included in the list of city-owned garages that increase their rates on game days.
Additionally, fans can park at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum garages for $30 per vehicle, which also includes shuttle service to and from the Walters Life Sciences Building. KAT’s LIFT paratransit service offers round-trip transportation from the coliseum, ensuring accessibility for all fans.
For Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchups, beginning with the game against Texas on September 26, a KAT shuttle will pick up fans on Willow Avenue near Covenant Health Park, located just east of the Old City. This shuttle will also drop off fans at the Walters Life Sciences Building, further easing access to the stadium.
Shuttle services will begin three hours before kickoff and will continue throughout the game, with return trips starting during the fourth quarter and running until approximately one hour after the game concludes. A $2 day pass on the Transit app allows for unlimited rides on KAT's fixed routes, with fans encouraged to connect to Route 11, which stops near the stadium.
Ride-sharing services like Uber also have designated drop-off and pick-up areas on the Hill near Ayres Hall, providing additional convenience for fans. Those with campus parking passes for the new lot on Stephenson Drive, the Kingston Pike Building, or the agriculture campus will have access to shuttles heading to Neyland Stadium. An accessible shuttle will operate from the Business Incubator Building at 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive, ensuring that all fans can enjoy the game day experience.
In preparation for the season, Tennessee Athletics has introduced new traffic patterns aimed at improving the flow of vehicles on game days. Fans should be aware that they may be directed to travel in the opposite direction of traditional traffic patterns, as roads are being rerouted for efficiency. Notably, Neyland Drive will feature three westbound lanes directing traffic toward Alcoa Highway, Interstate 40, and Kingston Pike, with the far-left lane designated as a "Kingston Pike Express Lane" to further streamline post-game departures.
Leave a Comment