Drivers and pedestrians on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tenn., will see closures on the Hill starting Thursday as crews prepare for SEC Nation, which will broadcast live from Ayres Hall Lawn on Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to noon ahead of the Alabama game.
The SEC Network announced Monday that its weekly pregame show is headed to Knoxville for the Third Saturday in October. No. 6 Alabama, at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league, will travel to Neyland Stadium to face No. 14 Tennessee, also 5-1 and 3-1, in a game that could carry major implications for the SEC Championship picture.
On Thursday, October 15, trucks will begin staging, setting up equipment and running cables on the Hill, and pedestrian pathways around Ayres Hall Lawn will be affected through Saturday. On Friday, October 16, the Paul Finebaum Show will broadcast from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and SportsCenter will air from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Circle Drive access from Cumberland Avenue will be limited to accessible parking, commercial deliveries, university and emergency vehicles and production traffic only, with no personal vehicle drop-offs. There will be no parking next to Ayres Hall Lawn from Thursday through Saturday. People with assigned spaces along Circle Drive will be temporarily relocated to Staff Lot 9, and temporary accessible parking will be available on Circle Drive near Dabney-Buehler and in the Perkins Hall lot, reached from Middle Drive.
Bus riders should plan ahead as well. The Cross Campus T bus route will serve the Hill on Thursday, though delays are possible during setup, and it will bypass the Hill on Friday. Riders wanting that route on Friday should board at Gate 21 Plaza.
SEC Nation is in its 13th season and expanded to three hours this year. The show features Matt Barrie, Chase Daniel, Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Tim Tebow and Marion Crowder.
