Athens, GA, is home to the University of Georgia, featuring the Georgia Bulldogs. The University of Georgia participates in many NCAA collegiate sports, as part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). However, like many division 1 schools in the south, there is nothing quite like “game day” during football season.

Game day in Athens is an exciting time for the whole town. The excitement can be felt with the parades and even the restaurants are packed. People drive in from many other towns and other states to watch the Georgia Bulldogs football team play at the University of Georgia stadium. Because of the influx of people, it is common for the hotels to be full, so be sure to plan your trip in advance if possible. 

Since Athens is in the south, the weather is usually ideal for games throughout the season, though you’ll want to bring sunscreen and dress in layers. You may attend games at the beginning of the season in short sleeves and shorts, but you also don’t have to worry about freezing and not being able to enjoy the game, which is one big reason people like to travel to this stadium. If you have a team that you follow in the northern region, you can enjoy watching them in comfort here in Athens.  

Before or after the game, Athens offers a variety of local businesses, restaurants and nightclubs to enjoy time with friends. From live music to brewpubs to pool tables to dancing, you surely will find something to your taste. Here are a few of the places that you may want to incorporate into your game day plans:

• Highwire Lounge
• Allgood Lounge
• Max
• General Beauregard’s
• Bourbon Street
• Buddha-Bar
• Bar South
• Nowhere Bar
• Flanagan’s and the Half Moon Pub
• The Silver Dollar
• Blue Sky Bar

Athens is the birthplace of alternative rock, and you will always find local artists and bands performing in various parts of town. Gameday weekends are no exception. In fact, you will probably see more of these. Some of the musical acts that have come out of Athens are R.E.M, the B-52s, and Drive-By Truckers.  

Still, despite the promise of fun, game day can be overwhelming and even stressful if you’re unprepared. Here are some recommended tips for the best game-day experience:

While in and around the stadium you will most likely experience limited cell service. Because of this, you should plan to be off-grid during the game.  This allows everyone to enjoy the game and not be tied to their phones. However, this can present a problem should you want to use a rideshare company to get to and from the game, so you’ll want to be prepared. If you walk a few blocks away from the stadium after the game is over, you will find that your service will return. This will allow you to schedule your ride and may also make it more efficient for your ride share driver to find you.

When you are going to the game you need to consider how you will get there. While there are ride-share companies that have lots of drivers, there are lots of other options as well. Remember that ride-share drivers are typically very busy on game day, and this demand could potentially cause an increase in pricing. There are also cabs that you can take, should you want to park further away and take a cab in. Driving and navigating around the stadium during the game day can be a bit nerve-racking for some, so it’s good to be aware of your options. If you do decide to drive there is some parking that is free with a shuttle if you are early enough. You could also park in the various paid parking garages, though you will need to plan for some “walking time”, as the distance between the garages and the stadium is significant in some cases. However you plan to get there, be sure that you leave plenty of time, as game day at the University of Georgia means not only excitement but also crowds.