December 23, 2009

Clemson at the Music City Bowl - Your complete travel guide

The Clemson football team arrived in Nashville today!

Who's going to the bowl game this year? I considered it, was on the fence for a while, but finally decided not to go. But I will be watching of course!

However, if you're going, I wanted to provide the complete travel guide for you like I did for the ACC Championship game.

Please post comments if you have info about Nashville or the game you would like to share - especially if you went the last time Clemson was at the Music city Bowl and you know some secrets to having a blast while there.

Weather

Well, the good news is there isn't any rain forecast for this weekend - but, it's going to be COLD according to the National Weather Service forecast for Nashville. So make sure you pack those winter coats, scarves, gloves, and toboggans - and maybe a Clemson snuggie! Burrr!

Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South southwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Directions to Nashville
Traffic should not be too bad - but you can visit the Tennessee Department of Transportation site for maps and road information.

Visiting Nashville

Nashville is a fun town - so hopefully you're planning on spending a day before or a few days afterward while you're there.

For the best restaurants in Nashville, visit Urban Spoon and see the top rated with reviews, directions, etc.

For city attractions and places to visit while in Nashville, visit www.visitmusiccity.com.

Also, FYI, if you're from the east coast, don't forget to set your watches back an hour when you arrive in Nashville - they are on Central Standard Time.

Have you been to Nashville before? What do you recommend Clemson fans should do while there? Comment on this post.

Saturday, Dec. 26th
MusicFest & Battle of the Bands presented by CMT - December 26

"Nashville’s calling card is music. From rock to bluegrass, jazz to country, Music City is home to some of the best musicians and entertainment in the world. MusicFest is the ultimate party atmosphere downtown the night before the game. Thousands of fans will converge on 2nd and Broadway for the outdoor block party featuring SEC & ACC pep bands and cheerleaders. Multiple venues will open their doors to Bowl fans for a memorable downtown event where various genres of live music will play throughout the night. Show your Bowl Patch (Patches available via MusicCityBowl.com) and receive special Fan discounts at participating Patch Partner locations. Admission is Free to Battle of the Bands! The event is from 5-7 p.m. and is open to the general public, just come on down. CMT serves as the presenting sponsor. After the Battle of the Bands head down to the Sommet Center to check out Music City's Nashville Predators take on the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m." (Source: Online Fan Guide, Music City Bowl Web site)

Sunday, Dec. 27th/Gameday


The Music City Bowl, featuring Clemson vs. Kentucky, will be at the Tennessee Titans field - LP Field (click here for a map or view directions). The 68,000-seat, open-air, natural-grass LP Field is located on 105 acres on the east bank of the Cumberland River overlooking downtown Nashville. On Feb. 20, 2001, the field was rated as the 4th best playing surface in the National Football League, according to a league-wide player survey.

The game is on Sunday, Dec. 27th and starts at 7:30 p.m. CST - which means, all of you east coasters will see the game at 8:30 p.m. EST.

The game will be on TV on ESPN.

Gameday Parking

Hooray to the folks at the Music City Bowl for providing so much helpful information on their Web site (unlike the ACC Championship organizers). There is actually an entire page on their Web site dedicated to parking information, including a shuttle schedule.

Unfortunately all the parking permits for the LP field have sold out (according to their site), but it looks like from their parking map that there is plenty of public parking in downtown Nashville, with a shuttle service to the stadium, $10 per person. Shuttle pick up doesn't begin until 6:00 p.m. CST though.

And don't forget to check with your hotels who also might run complimentary shuttle services to the stadium. Or call a local cab.

If you have a parking permit for the LP Field, refer to your permit for the time lots will open. You can see a better view of the permit only parking around the stadium by visiting the LP Field parking Web site.

Tailgating

Fan Zone Area
"This pre-game party leads up to the Bowl. Open to the general public, fans from the SEC and ACC will have an opportunity to party within steps from LP Field in the South End Zone Area Lot R (admission is Free). Interactive games will be provided for the entire family. It’s a great start for gameday and a great way to be a part of all of the pageantry of the Bowl. Festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. CST Open to the general public." (Source: Online Fan Guide, Music City Bowl Web site)

Tailgating Rules of the LP Field parking lots:
  • Infringing on another patron's space
  • Throwing or kicking of balls or other objects
  • Running or jogging
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Distributing handbills or pamphlets
  • Picketing or electioneering
  • Saving parking spaces
  • Tents or canopies without permits issued by LP Field
  • Weapons of any kind
  • Drugs
  • Tailgating in a manner or location not permitted by LP Field
Don't feel like packing food for tailgating?? Check UrbanSpoon.com to see restaurants located around LP Field.

In the Stadium

Again, game starts at 7:30 p.m. CST.

Check the seating chart to make sure you know where your seats are located. The 200's sections are club level.

Still need to get your ticket? Ticket will-call will be open on game day only. It is located at Gate 1 at LP Field.

Alcohol: Alcohol WILL be sold at LP Field during the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Beer will be available on all seating levels and liquor will be available on the Club Level only.

A few rules and FYI's to consider:
  • All bags, backpacks and purses larger than 8 1/2'' X 11" are not allowed in LP Field.
  • Banners will be checked by the LP Field staff as you enter the stadium. No advertisements, no wood or metal can be used. Banners must be in good taste and may not be hung over equipment or existing signage, including field wall.
  • Binoculars are allowed inside LP Field; however, binocular cases are not allowed inside LP Field.
  • Video cameras are not allowed in the stadium.
  • Children under 2 years-old are admitted FREE to LP field as long as they do not require their own seat (Must sit in parents lap).
  • Elevators for handicapped fans are located at gates 1 & 6 are located in center of east and west club concourses of LP Field.
  • There are 60 concession stands throughout LP Field. There are also sports bars and a specialty area on the Club concourses. Food includes such items such as burgers, sandwiches, fries, hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, pizza, deli, sandwiches, and more. Travelers checks are accepted at the concessions when signed in cashier's presence. ATMs are located on the main concourses. No credit cards are accepted at concession stands.
  • No umbrellas allowed in the stadium.
Keep Connected

Whether you're going to the game or not, you can follow the Music City Bowl events and information by becoming a fan of theirs on Facebook or by following them on Twitter.

If you have any additional questions, contact the Music City Bowl staff at 615.743.3130 or e-mail them at generalinfo@nashvillesports.com.

One last reminder for the bowl-bound Clemson fans...

Be sure to stop by your bank and get $2 bills to spend in Nashville - stamp them with a Tiger Paw stamp or draw your own using an orange or purple marker.

From Wikipedia: "It has been a Clemson tradition dating from September 24, 1977 for Clemson fans to spend two dollar bills on away game trips. This began when Clemson played Georgia Tech "for the last time" as Tech refused to travel to Clemson. Of the seventeen games played between Tech and Clemson between 1953 and 1977, only once, in 1974, did the Yellow Jackets deign to come to Death Valley. To show the Atlanta business community how much money Clemson fans contributed to the local economy which would not be coming to town anymore, Tiger fans spent vast quantities of two dollar bills, many of them stamped with Tiger Paws. This was the start of Clemson's two dollar bill tradition, which, while very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, may have waned a bit."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please drive safely to Nashville and have a great time - please e-mail us pictures to share on the blog. If you have any info to add to the 'travel guide' here, post a comment on this blog post.

Go Tigers!!

Share

No comments :

Related Posts with Thumbnails