Tennessee Offers Half-Price Concessions Before Texas Game

Tennessee opened Neyland Stadium early and offered half-price concessions, including alcohol, for an hour Saturday as the university prepared for enhanced security and an expected crowd for President Donald Trump’s attendance at the game against top-ranked Texas. The promotion was intended to encourage fans to enter before the noon matchup, but reports available on game day do not establish whether it reduced queues or congestion. The university announced that concessions would be discounted from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, September 26. Stadium gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than the usual opening for noon kickoffs, while parking lots were scheduled to open at 6 a.m. The schedule gave fans an opportunity to enter the stadium well before kickoff and the expected security delays. Tennessee and local authorities urged ticket holders to arrive significantly earlier than usual. The guidance cited enhanced screening associated with Trump’s anticipated attendance, along with longer entry times and traffic delays.