By: Ben Strickland, Fall Marketing Intern
It’s time once again for college football’s deepest rivalries to take center stage! The Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs will be meeting on November 1st at Everbank Stadium for one of the most exciting editions yet. By the time the calendar turns the page, Downtown Jacksonville will be filled to the brim with college pride and football festivities you don’t want to miss.
History & Fun Facts
Florida and Georgia have played in Jacksonville since 1933, with both teams rotating as the home team every year. There have been two exceptions to the game’s location: in 1994, the game was played in Gainesville, and in 1995 in Athens. This year will be the last time the game will be played in Jacksonville until 2028 due to the construction of the Stadium of the Future. In 2026, the game will be held in Atlanta, then in Tampa for 2027.
College football sows a deep pride in its fans, and in return reaps debates on every related topic. One such subject might be the name of the game itself! The “Florida-Georgia” moniker could be changed to “Georgia-Florida” depending on which team you align with. But did you know the name does change every year? According to the game’s website, the name changes to reflect the home team for each year. On odd years, Florida is the home team, and the game is named “Florida-Georgia”. On even years, Georgia is considered the home team and changes the name to “Georgia-Florida”.
Events
The Florida-Georgia game is treated like a holiday, with many events, watch parties and afterparties happening all weekend. Starting the weekend, Hyatt Regency will be hosting the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame Luncheon on Friday, October 31st at 12:30 p.m.. This is a great opportunity to honor some remarkable individuals who helped elevate the history of the rivalry with amazing accomplishments. Watch as two players from each team get inducted into the Hall of Fame, cementing their impact on this game and its history.
Later that afternoon, VyStar Ballpark will host the Gators and Jacksonville University’s Dolphins for a fall baseball exhibition. Both teams are looking for early positive momentum to carry over into the spring, as the Dolphins finished last season with a record of 30-26 and the Gators finishing 39-22.
On gameday Saturday, it’s vital to get to the game early to beat the traffic (more on that later). Once at the stadium, there will be plenty of festivities to enjoy leading up to kickoff. Tailgates will flood the parking lots, filling the air with the smell of barbecue and the sounds of cheering fans. The Daily’s Place Flex Field will also hold plenty of activations to enjoy with the whole family, including cornhole areas, a Florida-Georgia Hall-of-Fame exhibit, and vast spaces to throw the football around.
Post Game Entertainment
Once the final second ticks off the clock for the football game and you are looking to celebrate your team even further, Downtown and The Elbow will have several events for you to choose from:
- Decca Live and Sip On The Roof will host watch shows in the lot and in their venue throughout the day. Stay after to keep the party going!
- Myth Nightclub will also have its afterparty experience, similar to last year
- Friendship Fountain will provide a family-friendly post-game celebration option with music and food trucks
Transportation
Construction at Everbank Stadium will make traveling and parking more difficult than in years past. Jacksonville has plenty of options for transportation into Downtown and close to the game, but it is very important to use these options early in order to make your arrival as stress-free as possible.
Geico is sponsoring a complimentary shuttle service for fans going to and from Lot S, Lot X, Lot Z, and Met Park. The shuttles will run for 3 hours before kickoff and 1 hour after the end of the game.
There will be a designated rideshare drop-off and pick-up location on Beaver Street, near Lot Z. If you plan to use Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service, you’ll have a short walk to the West side of the stadium with no worry about parking personal vehicles.
If you are looking to add experience to your travel to the game, a river taxi is the perfect option to consider. The Jax River Taxi provides round trips across the St. Johns river before and after the game, looping every 30-40 minutes.
More information on all events can be found on the Florida-Georgia website. Whether you are wearing blue and orange or red and black, DTJax wishes a safe and fun experience to all fans!