Tough to find fans of new nickname in RV City

Georgia, Florida fans have soft spot for historical rivalry nickname

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fans are beginning to fill downtown as the annual Georgia-Florida game gets closer.

RV City opened Tuesday, and according to the game website, all spots in the lot are already sold.

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Shirts that say “River City Showdown,” a new nickname organizers are pushing for the game, are also on sale.

Organizers are trying to distance the game from its historical nickname of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

“River City Showdown, I hadn’t really thought about it. But I don't have a problem with that,” Georgia fan Randy Stone said.

But most fans in RV City on both sides of the rivalry agreed that they don't want the nickname changed.

“I think it's no good. That's my on-camera view of it,” said Chris Hollis, who's been coming to the game since 1981. “It's the cocktail party, for sure. You can throw the world’s largest if you want.”

Doug Morgan said the new nickname has a “too politically correct” sound to it, and it likely won't catch on with fans.

“I didn't even know they were trying to change it,” Morgan said. “We’ll call it that forever. That's what it is.”
“It is the largest cocktail party in the world,” Gators fan Rich Dean said. “We get together. we start cooking and drinking and having a good time with the Georgia fans. They bring some good barbecue. We bring some good seafood, and then we just have a good time.”

The nickname dates back more than 50 years, but in recent years, both schools and the network broadcast of the game have tried to downplay the nickname after multiple incidents surrounding the game.

But for most fans in RV City, regardless of what the game is called, they won’t change their plans for game week every year.

“If they want to change it, they can call it anything they want,” Dean said. “We will be down here Sunday in line with our coach, and we will stay here all week and have a good time.”