The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic administrative and marketing staffs spent a lot of time doing whatever they could to enhance the game-day experience for home football games.
Heading into Saturday's home opener, they feel good about the product they've put together.
From the Mocs Block Tailgate Concert to the opening of the Stadium Plaza and VIP tents, the administration hopes a number of new things will help draw fans to the 15th-ranked Mocs' 6 p.m. home season opener against UT-Martin.
"We've got a lot of new changes coming up," interim athletic director Scott Altizer, the senior associate AD for internal operations, said Tuesday during "Chat with the Mocs."
The Stadium Plaza is the newest pregame attraction. Finley Stadium will open the area right above the locker rooms just inside the gates across from the First Tennessee Pavilion at 1, with beer sales and food available. Food from Pucketts, Rolling J's, Bones and 2 Sons will be offered, and the spot will be in viewing of the Moc Walk, when the players go under the pedestrian bridge to the locker room.
The eight VIP tents under the scoreboard are available on a season or single-game basis, with Altizer saying Tuesday that a couple already have been sold for the season. Each will include cable TV and Wi-Fi with catering available, with the same options available as for patrons in suites.
For the second season, the Mocs Block Tailgate will take place on Chestnut Street under the scoreboard, with country singer Walker Hayes performing a free concert at 4:30 Saturday.
The Moc Walk, originally planned this season to start at the corner of 20th Street and Reggie White Boulevard due to damage to one of the buildings next to the First Tennessee Pavilion, will take place on its normal route, starting behind the pavilion with the players walking through a couple of hours before kickoff.
There will be a shuttle taking students from campus to the game as well as free parking at The Chattanoogan for students and faculty. Also, fans can park in the north lot for $10 per car, with the option of buying an additional space for $20.
"It's about the experience," Altizer said. "We're always thinking about ways to enjoy the experience. Chattanooga is such a good draw for recruiting, but it's a curse for us because there's so much to do, and we want to be a part of that.
"We want people to get up on Saturday and just expect to go to the game."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.