So give a cheer for the orange and blue...
Written: Jun 12 '06
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Pros: Some of the best games, fans, players and coaches
Cons: parking, finding a ticket
The Bottom Line: The stadium, the field, the fans and the Orange and Blue Makes Florida Field one of the nation's truly great spectator stadiums.
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| satijp's Full Review: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium |
Ben Hill Griffin stadium at Florida Field is one of the premier stadiums in the country.
In Gainesville, football game days begin EARLY (sometimes as "early" as Tuesday or Wednesday). Plan on arriving no later than three hours before kick-off to find a parking spot on campus. They block of the main campus road (Gale Lemerand Drive, formerly North-South Drive) up to four hours before the game, so it's easier to enter campus from the south unless you're parking in a yard. Free on campus parking is available at lots located at the South End of Lemerand Drive in Garage 5 (near the physics building). The surface commuter lot is reserved for motorhomes. Another garage within easy walking distance is at Shand's.
Once parked, the gates don't open until 1.5 hours before the game. If you don't want to get food inside the stadium, this is a good time to navigate the campus. The Hub near the Tower or the Reitz Student Union both have decent fast food courts. Across University Ave from the stadium are some great casual restaurants. You must try the SWAMP at least once. Great sandwiches.
GAME TIME: The stadium holds about 90,000 screaming fans. If it is a day game, especially early in the season, bring your sunscreen. Sometimes they will give out free fans or sunscreen at the gate, but don't plan on it.
Most of the time if you do get a ticket, you probably won't have a choice where to sit, but...
The North End Zone has three levels. First has bench seats and backed chairs on the upper rows, along with screens under the overhang in case you can't see the Daktronics board. The second level houses the original suits and the Touchdown Terrace (all backed chairs in orange and blue, along with an indoor area with its own snack-bars and restrooms). The Sunshine Seats are WAY up in the atmosphere, but not all that bad. If you have a problem with heights, this is not the place for you, as it is way up and very steep. Also, you may deal with opposing fans. The away team allotment of tickets includes the upper 4-5 rows.
South End Zone pretty much like the North only without the Terrace. The second level also isn't quite as high or as steep. If you are on the lower few rows, you may be forced to stand some. There are temporary stands on the field with people who often stand during good parts of the game to get any angle at all on the field.
East stands are mainly reserved for students. YOu will stand the majority of the game. They stack up 90 rows high, so if you love climbing stairs, be aware of that. There is opponent seating directly behind the opponent bench and in the SE corner. If they bring a band, they'll usually sit them low in that corner and they can be annoying.
West Side boasts the new $50million addition. New suites, new President's Box and new press box. These, along with the Champions deck (similar to Touchdown Terrace) bumped attendance up to about 90,000 in 2004, making it the largest stadium in the state of Florida, college or pro. PLUS, unlike other college stadiums in the state, no tax money was spent to build it. It is completely funded by the University Athletic Association.
The stadium also houses the UAA offices, football offices, locker and training room facilities, weight room and what used to be Yon Hall (athletic dorms) which houses Living Well programs and class and meeting rooms.
Food inside the stadium is pretty much expected. Hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos and large drinks are typical. Better choices may be found in the North End Zone with local BBQ and a pizza chain (sponsorship has yielded this to Papa John's for the past few years). The SEC and NCAA say no alcohol in college stadiums located on college campuses. You may smell it in the stands, but how it gets in...
Even Lee Corso (from ESPN GameDay which frequents the campus during football season, and not really a UF fan) says there's no better place than the SWAMP. It's been ranked by the Sporting New to have the Best Game Day Crowd, and be the Nation's Loudest Stadium (it is after all built into a natural sink hole). They said, "Take any heavy metal album, crank it, then place your speakers in a tin basement. That sounds like a library compared to 'The Swamp.'"
And those are just a few reasons why it is the best stadium, with the best game day crowd of anywhere in the nation. NOT that I'm biased (UF class of '01 & '03)
Recommended:
Yes
Parking Availability: Better Get There Early
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satijp
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