We are driving up the day of the game and staying the nights of the 30th and 31st. Nashville is having an open street party on Broadway for NYE, with a "guitar drop" counting down the last seconds before midnight. If I wasn't staying downtown, I might opt for the Opryland Hotel, where both teams are staying, especially if I was coming in early on the 29th or before. There are always bowl banquets and signing parties with the teams in the days before the bowls.