College football season is right around the corner, and the Florida Gators are expecting a great turnaround under new head coach Dan Mullen. Mullen was in Gainesville as an assistant coach under Urban Meyer for two BCS National Championships, so excitement is high for Gator Nation.
Florida has their usual daunting SEC schedule and a road contest awaiting at the end of the season against rival FSU. If you're going to be rallying behind the Gators in Gainesville, check out our guide for where to get tickets, park, and eat on game day.
2023 Florida Gators Home Schedule
Saturday, September 9 - McNeese
Saturday, September 16 - Tennessee
Saturday, September 23 - Charlotte
Saturday, October 7 - Vanderbilt
Saturday, October 28 - Georgia
Saturday, November 4 - Arkansas
Saturday, November 25 - Florida State
Where to Get Tickets
It can be difficult at times to get tickets at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, one of the best venues in college football. The ticket office is currently still selling Gators season tickets starting at around $400.
They also have single-game tickets and two-game mini-plans starting at $70. Secondary market sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats should have some availability as well, but you may have to pay a significant markup depending on the game.
If you're particularly adept at negotiating, there are always tickets floating around on the game day. Asking around at the tailgates or walking up and down University Blvd. to barter with people holding up their extras can sometimes net you a good deal, especially the closer it gets to kickoff.
Where to Park
Finding parking when an influx of 90,000 people comes to Gainesville can sometimes prove challenging. The key here is to plan well in advance and get in town early to enjoy everything that a Gator gameday has to offer.
There are a few general public parking lots on campus that have access to stadium shuttles. If you're willing to walk a bit, you can likely find private parking somewhere in the neighborhoods along University for around $20.
For parking on the other side of the stadium, the Commuter Lot off Gale Lemerand Drive is easily accessible and a half-mile walk from the stadium. There's also street parking and some small lots around UF Health Shands Hospital that are near buses that run to the stadium.
Where to Eat
With Midtown Gainesville being right across the street from the stadium, there are plenty of great places to eat in close proximity. Leonardo's By The Slice is a great place to go on gameday to get pizza and garlic knots.
The Swamp will be packed, but it's the staple sports bar in town as they serve up a menu of bar food on gameday.
Related content: Restaurants Near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Perfect for Game Day
If you're sticking around for more than just the game, Satchel's Pizza is a few miles away; it's a Gainesville institution, and some believe it's home to the best pizza in Florida.
Related content: Top Things to Do in Gainesville
Have a great time cheering the Gators and check out some of our suggestions. Let us know your favorite tips for a football gameday in the comments below!
Find more tips about things to do in Gainesville by registering on 352area, your free guide to North Central Florida.
Cover photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
