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NWADog

NWADog

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Aug 16, 2014
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Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
 
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paindonthurt

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Apr 7, 2025
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NWADog said:
Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
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I was there in 2010
 
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Bowdawg

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Jan 8, 2023
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NWADog said:
Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
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Don’t know much about Gainesville. Have only visited the Ag School, Research farm and Stadium couple of times. Make sure to take a good look at the turf. One damn thing for sure is State’s turf management guys know how to grow some grass and make it look good for games. Jason Smith, MSU Turfgrass Alum and Former Assistant superintendent at State, is over the turf at the swamp. Spent a lot of time with him at State on the fields. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and a great Dawg. If you happen to run into him I’m sure he would show you around.
 
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columbiadawg2

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I went with a group in 2010 for the South Carolina game and had a really fun time. We stayed at a Days Inn that had not been renovated since the 70's it seemed, would not recommend. We went to several spots right off campus and ended up having a blast. I went to look up some spots we visited but it appears they've closed and become new spots in the 15 years so I'm no help on recs.
 
$altyDawg

$altyDawg

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I went back in 2010, but stayed in Lake City and took the shuttle into Gainesville. Since it was a night game, we drove and checked out Gainesville during the day ahead of the game, then let the bus driver manage that stacked up traffic.
I agree with @civildawg88. My wife and I have been to all the SEC stadiums (except UTEX and OU now), and Florida was out least favorite as well.
 
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Faustdog

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Jun 4, 2007
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NWADog said:
Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
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Satchel's Pizza is a cool place. Spurrier has a restaurant that is supposed to be pretty good. We planned on going but the kids spotted the Dave and Busters across the parking lot.

UF does a cool thing I wish we did. The football stadium is open to the public most weekdays. You can just go in, walk around, jog it, run the steps, etc.
 
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Guy From Gulfport

Guy From Gulfport

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Grab a MAGA hat, and wear it outside The Hub. You'll be the most popular guy on campus, and amazed on how many people will come talk to you.**

Seriously... Satchel's as wisely recommended, also has a great calzone.
 
Drebin

Drebin

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Aug 22, 2012
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NWADog said:
Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
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It sucks. One of my least favorites. It's a haul to get down there, it's hot as hell, it just wasn't a great experience. I'm sure losing 52-0 that day had something to do with it too. But it's not the cathedral people claim it to be.
 
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ronpolk

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I grew up in Tampa… been to a ton of games in Gainesville. It’s a fun place but nothing special. The midtown neighborhood has several bars and restaurants and this is literally right across the street from campus. One side of university Avenue is the campus and across the street there are several bars/restaurants. Downtown is ok. Several places to hang out but not as many as it should be. My favorite place to hang out is called Loosey’s, it’s in downtown. Not amazing food or anything but good bar food and always good beer options. Others have mentioned satchels for pizza and it is definitely good.

ETA: the fans are fairly obnoxious. Not redneck obnoxious like bama… think more “we are better than you” like Texas or Georgia. But they are friendly enough to state people. I think you’ll definitely enjoy the trip. It’s a huge stadium and gets loud. It is kinda odd looking on the inside though. It feels like they bolted on expansions throughout the years.
 
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Drebin

Drebin

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ronpolk said:
I grew up in Tampa… been to a ton of games in Gainesville. It’s a fun place but nothing special. The midtown neighborhood has several bars and restaurants and this is literally right across the street from campus. One side of university Avenue is the campus and across the street there are several bars/restaurants. Downtown is ok. Several places to hang out but not as many as it should be. My favorite place to hang out is called Loosey’s, it’s in downtown. Not amazing food or anything but good bar food and always good beer options. Others have mentioned satchels for pizza and it is definitely good.

ETA: the fans are fairly obnoxious. Not redneck obnoxious like bama… think more “we are better than you” like Texas or Georgia. But they are friendly enough to state people. I think you’ll definitely enjoy the trip. It’s a huge stadium and gets loud. It is kinda odd looking on the inside though. It feels like they bolted on expansions throughout the years.
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Appreciate the insight....but Florida fans are nothing like UGA/TX fans - they may think they are, which is the problem. UGA/TX fans are the ones who are living off diddy's money and making a production out of it - FL fans are the ones pretending to be living off diddy's money and making an even bigger production of it. Ole Miss fans on a grander scale.
 
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ronpolk

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Drebin said:
Appreciate the insight....but Florida fans are nothing like UGA/TX fans - they may think they are, which is the problem. UGA/TX fans are the ones who are living off diddy's money and making a production out of it - FL fans are the ones pretending to be living off diddy's money and making an even bigger production of it. Ole Miss fans on a grander scale.
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Haha yeah I don’t really disagree with any of that.
 
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InTheIttaBenaHotSun

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Jan 9, 2016
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Bowdawg said:
Don’t know much about Gainesville. Have only visited the Ag School, Research farm and Stadium couple of times. Make sure to take a good look at the turf. One damn thing for sure is State’s turf management guys know how to grow some grass and make it look good for games. Jason Smith, MSU Turfgrass Alum and Former Assistant superintendent at State, is over the turf at the swamp. Spent a lot of time with him at State on the fields. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and a great Dawg. If you happen to run into him I’m sure he would show you around.
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How long has Jason been working for UF? Does he oversee just The Swamp or is he over all athletic turf?
 
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RocketDawg

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Oct 21, 2011
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NWADog said:
Me and a few friends started a tradition back in college to check off one SEC stadium a year to go to for a road game and this year we’re knocking off The Swamp. Anybody ever been? If you have any intel on best restaurants that are must stops please let me know. Trying to get to the best local spots. Already been scouting out the local breweries.
Click to expand...
We went the year Mullen won, but it was in and out the same day so didn't see much of Gainesville. I didn't think the Swamp was all that impressive.
 
NWADog

NWADog

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Aug 16, 2014
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$altyDawg said:
I went back in 2010, but stayed in Lake City and took the shuttle into Gainesville. Since it was a night game, we drove and checked out Gainesville during the day ahead of the game, then let the bus driver manage that stacked up traffic.
I agree with @civildawg88. My wife and I have been to all the SEC stadiums (except UTEX and OU now), and Florida was out least favorite as well.
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Went to Texas last year. Never seen so many “cowboys” wearing leather pants and earrings in my life. It was somethin. We still have to hit OU, Georgia, Auburn, A&M, Kentucky and Vandy to complete the mission. Best visit we have had out of all SEC schools so far was Knoxville by far.
 
NWADog

NWADog

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Aug 16, 2014
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Drebin said:
It sucks. One of my least favorites. It's a haul to get down there, it's hot as hell, it just wasn't a great experience. I'm sure losing 52-0 that day had something to do with it too. But it's not the cathedral people claim it to be.
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We’re flying in to Gainesville from Fayetteville Arkansas and it’ll be mid October so hopefully it’ll be a little better than 52-0 to improve our experience
 
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Studentdawg06

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Oct 1, 2023
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NWADog said:
Went to Texas last year. Never seen so many “cowboys” wearing leather pants and earrings in my life. It was somethin. We still have to hit OU, Georgia, Auburn, A&M, Kentucky and Vandy to complete the mission. Best visit we have had out of all SEC schools so far was Knoxville by far.
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Athens rules. OU has a nice campus, but Norman sucks. Lexington > a football game at UK. Auburn is one of the better road trips. Kyle Field > College Station. Vandy = Sun-Belt school in Nashville.
 
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Ranchdawg

Ranchdawg

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Remove any reference to Mississippi State from your vehicle. We went to a couple of football games in Gainesville and our car was keyed even though we lost the games. Didn't have that problem at basketball or baseball games we attended there. They have a very low opinion of State. The Orlando Sentinel sports reporter repeatedly lobbied in articles to kick State out of the SEC. The only sport we were respected by their fans was baseball.
 
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