JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fans started to arrive in the River City ahead of the Florida Georgia game on Saturday.
Due to the pandemic, game day will be very different this year. There will be no RV City, no Bold City Bash and no tailgating at city-owned or managed parking lots. Only 19,000 fans will be allowed inside the stadium and are required to wear masks.
Several fans who usually camp in RV City parked in a nearby private lot this year. Richard Dean has been coming to the game for ten years straight. He said his group will be smaller this year.
“We have most of our stuff set up but there’s only going to be 6 of us compared to last year, there were 60 to 100 of us,” explained Richard Dean, Gator fan. “Last year, we cooked 200 hot dogs and they were gone by 1 p.m. This year, we might cook hot dogs just for us because there is no one.”
Bobby McNeilly, a lifelong Georgia fan, has been coming to the rivalry game for 25 years.
“It’s very low key,” said McNeilly of the changes. “I have an RV in Bulldog Park in Athens and usually we have 15 to 16 RVs come down, we have six this year.”
The city is encouraging people who do not have a ticket to avoid coming to the Downtown Sports Complex.
Some people are trying to work around the closure of RV City and ban on tailgating in city spaces, the festivities will still go on near TIAA Bank Field They will be tailgaters parking on East Adams Street near Talleyrand Avenue.
“We want our customers to be able to come down and get out and have some fun, some safe fun,” Rachel Bratcher said.
Bratcher is the business manager and says Saturday, fans can enjoy a private tailgate while spreading out. The company says tailgaters are urged to follow CDC guidelines by social distancing, limiting their party to 10 people or less, wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, utilizing hand washing stations, and being cognizant of others at all times.
“There’s plenty of space for customers to come down and have their own private tailgate in a safe environment,” Bratcher said.
Leteshia Bell, the company’s chief administrative officer, also released a statement to News4Jax.
“We normally have upwards of 3,500 to 4,000 individual cars, buses, RVs, and/or limos that we park on an annual basis for a normal FL/GA Game Event. However, this year, we are sitting around 1/8 of the total number of customers that have pre-purchased a spot in one of our lots,” Bell said. “In comparison, we usually have approximately 250 RVs (for all lots), but this year, we have 50 RVs in total.”
If tailgating fans do head to the TIAA Bank Field, they’ll notice rules in effect. Only 19,000 people are allowed inside, and all tickets will be on mobile phones due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash isn’t allowed, all payments will be contactless, and concession stands and restrooms will all be open. Fans will also be asked to follow signs encouraging social distancing. They’ll also need to wear a mask at all times unless actively eating or drinking.
Bell says fans who reserve tailgating spots are welcome to enjoy the day in a healthy, safe environment.
"While we respect and understand that there will be “NO TAILGATING” allowed on City-owned property or City managed property, we are going to offer what we are designed to offer to customers," Bell said. “We are going to do so with an even greater adherence to all recommended guidelines as set forth by all governing agencies.”
The election was the last thing on anyone’s mind during Friday night’s tailgate before the game.
“We’re trying not to talk about it or anything," said Georgia fan Sheila Ristow. "It’s all about Florida-Georgia. We’re not even trying to watch anything about the election, just trying to relax and have a great time.”
RV City was empty Friday night, a place where Ristow has tailgated the past 20 years with the women in her family.
“It’s very different this year,” she said. "Usually we’re in RV City even though we have a great spot this year. There’s a lot less people, a lot less action but we’re going to have a great time no matter what.”
The staff at the stadium will be busy because after the Georgia-Florida game Saturday, the Jags are taking on the Houston Texans at home Sunday.
To learn more about Tailgaters Parking, click here. Read about Georgia-Florida stadium rules, click here.