Aerial view of Neyland Stadium, the University of Tennessee's football stadium in Knoxville, with its double-deck stands wrapped around the field

Downtown Knoxville in warm late-day light, with the glass First Horizon Plaza tower at left and the Sunsphere in the distance

Game days · Neyland Stadium

From TYS to Neyland Stadium.

Fifteen miles from the gate to the stadium, a clear-bag rule at the turnstile and no re-entry once you are in. Here is the route, the shuttles, the rules and a checker for your bag.

Check my bag Getting there

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · Bohao Zhao, CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

Neyland Stadium is about 15.6 miles and 31 minutes from McGhee Tyson Airport without traffic. Bring one clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear resealable bag; a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches is also on UT's approved list. Gates open 3 hours before kickoff, the stadium is cashless, and there is no re-entry. Without a parking pass, use a KAT shuttle.

Stadium rules verified on utsports.com, Oct 19, 2026

Knox Nonstop is an independent guide, not the airport. For live parking, flight status and official notices, use flyknoxville.com.

The stadium

Neyland by the numbers

101,915capacity, sixth-largest in college football.

26gates, numbered clockwise around the stadium.

1921first game on Shields-Watkins Field, Sept 24.

3hours before kickoff the gates open.

Interactive

Check your bag before you fly.

Packing for the trip? Make sure the bag you bring to the stadium meets UT's clear bag policy.

Will my bag get in?UT clear bag policy

What are you bringing? Length, inches Width, inches Height, inches

Allowed

A clear plastic bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches is on UT's approved list.

Rules from Tennessee Athletics' gameday guide, checked Oct 19, 2026. Everything is subject to search at the gates and nothing can be left there. Medically necessary items are searched at any gate. Final calls are made by stadium security.

Route

Getting there from the airport

Land At TYS, pick up a rental, book a rideshare (lower level, to the right as you exit) or take a taxi (north side). The airport runs no shuttle into town.
Drive About 15.6 miles to the stadium area, 31 minutes without traffic. Alcoa Highway (US 129) links the airport and the campus side of town.
Park Without a pass, skip campus: lots around Neyland are reserved for pass holders.
Shuttle Park downtown and ride KAT from Market Square (Krutch Park) for $10 round trip, or pay $30 per vehicle at the Civic Coliseum, shuttle included.

KAT football shuttles

KAT runs shuttles to all Saturday home games in the regular season. Shuttles start 3 hours before kickoff and run until game time. Rides back start at the beginning of the fourth quarter and run about an hour after the game, from Walters Life Sciences. Tickets are cashless, in the Transit app; activate them just before you board.

Old City shuttle

SEC games only in 2026: Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky and LSU. $10 round trip, from Willow Avenue near Covenant Health Park.

Stadium rules

Rules at the gate

Clear bags only

One clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear resealable bag per person. UT's list also shows a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches and seat cushions without arms or pockets.

Phone is the ticket

Add tickets and parking to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before you leave, since signal can be weak. Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age. RockyTopWiFi covers the area.

No re-entry, no cash

Per SEC policy you cannot leave and come back in. Concessions, merchandise and the Vol Shop are cashless.

Gate times

The extended security perimeter opens 4 hours before kickoff and stadium gates 3 hours before, with half-price concessions in the first hour.

Accessible entry

Elevator entrances are at Gates 4, 21 and 26. Free accessible parking (about 150 spaces) is at the UT Institute of Agriculture with a free shuttle; the Civic Coliseum offers free accessible parking with a $10 shuttle.

Finding your seat

The 26 gates are numbered clockwise. Seat 1 is on the left when you face the seats from the field.

History

A century on Shields-Watkins Field

The field opened in March 1921, funded by Col. W.S. Shields and named Shields-Watkins Field for him and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields. The stadium around it took the name of Gen. Robert R. Neyland, Tennessee's coach from 1926 to 1952, who went 173-31-12.

Sept 24, 1921: first game, Tennessee 27, Emory & Henry 0.
Oct 20, 1962: dedication game as Neyland Stadium, against Alabama.
2022: new club and social deck spaces bring capacity to 101,915.
June 2023: UT trustees set the renovation budget at $337 million, with work delivered each season through fall 2026.

Sold out

Tennessee Athletics says Neyland entered the 2026 season with 27 consecutive sellouts and the fourth straight season of exhausted season-ticket inventory.

The bright main concourse at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), with river-rock water features and plantings along the walkway

Heading home

Sunday is the rush.

The airport's busiest day ever was the Sunday after a home game. Plan when to leave for TYS.

Game-day planner Security guide

Photo: Jackmcafee, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

More guides

Questions

What is the Neyland Stadium bag policy?

Tennessee Athletics limits fans to one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bag, per person. Its approved list also shows a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches and seat cushions without arms or pockets. No other bags are allowed.

Are diaper bags allowed at Neyland Stadium?

UT says diaper bags are not a medically necessary item, so diaper supplies should be carried in a clear bag.

How far is Neyland Stadium from the Knoxville airport?

15.6 miles from the McGhee Tyson terminal, about 31 minutes without traffic by OSRM routing. Game-day traffic adds time.

What is the capacity of Neyland Stadium?

101,915, which Tennessee Athletics says is sixth-largest among college football venues. Renovations completed before the 2022 season set that number.

When do gates open at Neyland Stadium?

Three hours before kickoff, per Tennessee Athletics, with half-price concessions in the first hour. The extended security perimeter opens four hours before kickoff.

Is Neyland Stadium cashless?

Yes. Tennessee Athletics says concessions, merchandise stands and the Vol Shop inside the stadium are all cashless.

Where can I park for a Tennessee game without a pass?

Lots around the stadium are for pass holders. UT suggests staying downtown or using KAT shuttles: $10 round trip from Market Square (Krutch Park), or Old City for SEC games, or $30 per vehicle at the Civic Coliseum with the shuttle included.

What is the address of Neyland Stadium?

1235 Phillip Fulmer Way SW, Knoxville, TN 37996.

Sources