Dear friends,
There is nothing more exciting than gameday in Knoxville when a key rival pays a visit. Saturday's game versus Georgia has significant implications in the SEC Eastern Division and League Championship race. In addition, a number of our sports teams have a significant number of key recruits on campus this weekend. I hope you will wear orange, arrive early, have a significant presence at Vol Walk and cheer loudly as we give our student-athletes the best home field advantage in the SEC. In the spirit of sportsmanship, please welcome fans from Georgia and treat them and their team with the same respect we would want in Athens.
A limited number of individual game tickets for three University of Tennessee home football games -Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 3), Arkansas (Nov. 10) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 17) - and two away games - Mississippi State (Oct. 13) and Kentucky (Nov. 24) - are available for purchase online at UTsports.com, via phone at (800) 332-VOLS and at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tickets are $40 each for Louisiana-Lafayette and Vanderbilt and $50 for Arkansas plus shipping and handling. Tickets for Mississippi State are $40 and Kentucky are $30. If you are looking for tickets for any other home games, please check with the ticket office the Thursday before each home game to see if any tickets were returned from the student allotment. If tickets are returned, they will be available at utsports.com or by phone at 1-800-332-VOLS (8657) beginning Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m.
Last year both of our basketball teams had great years with great enthusiasm from the fans, and that is very evident in the growth we are experiencing in season ticket sales this year. For the first time since the arena opened, the men's basketball team will surpass the 16,000 season ticket holder mark, but it's not too late to get into the action! We still have a limited number of season tickets available for this season for both teams. For more information, log onto utsports.com or call the ticket office at (800) 332-VOLS. We hope you will come out and support our teams.
We have several facility projects going on around campus right now. Construction on Pratt Pavilion and renovations to Thompson-Boling Arena are on schedule and will open next week. At the center of this renovation for all Tennessee fans are new seats for everyone, renovated concourses, strengthening the roof for concerts, a center hung scoreboard, improving concession options and the addition of ticket kiosks. Funding for the project will come from donors of the Campaign for Tennessee Basketball and revenue from premium seating areas such as Thompson-Boling Arena luxury suites and loge seats. We will have a public open house from 1 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 for fans on campus for the homecoming game versus Louisiana-Lafayette with official ceremonies planned during the men's and women's basketball games on Nov. 9 and 11. We are also close to completion on the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center , which should be complete in December 2007, and we plan to start Phase 2 of Neyland Stadium renovations at the conclusion of this season. Stay tuned for more information on these exciting renovations!
The University of Tennessee has received a number of inquiries regarding both the Big Orange Army and "Fort Neyland." The University certainly is appreciative of the fervent support of Tennessee athletics. However, in this instance it is important that the constituents of the University understand the University is not involved in, or supportive of the "Fort Neyland" initiative. Neyland Stadium is a treasured landmark of the University of Tennessee - one that is recognized nationally as one of the iconic sports facilities in the country. Its name honors General Neyland, who launched the great Tennessee football tradition. The University also feels that it is important to state that the Big Orange Army is not sanctioned or endorsed as an official fan organization by the University of Tennessee.
Thank you for your continued support of Tennessee Athletics.
Expect to win!
Mike Hamilton
BBOC Membership
