'We will fix it': Tennessee AD Danny White apologizes for Neyland Stadium entry problems
Tennessee Football fans frustrated by a slow, frustrating entrance into Neyland Stadium on Saturday were offered an apology by athletic director Danny White on Sunday afternoon.
No. 15 Tennessee lost 44-41 in overtime to No. 6 Georgia in front of a capacity crowd in Knoxville, but gates were backed up around Neyland before the 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff.
“VolNation,” White wrote in a post on social media, “I owe so many of you an apology. The experience getting into Neyland yesterday was not acceptable. The expanded south concourse and Gate 9/Truly Plaza are intended to make ingress much better, and they will, but our plan was obviously not effective.
“It wasn’t for lack of effort, our staff and campus partners have been working hard on this all offseason.”
Up Next: Tennessee vs. UAB, Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Tennessee late last month announced changes around Neyland Stadium, including an expanded security footprint that moved metal detectors onto Phillip Fulmer Drive on the west side of the stadium.
There was also a change in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band’s pregame march to the stadium, going down Peyton Manning Pass in front of the stadium.
Gate 9 was expanded to add a plaza in front of the gate after the south concourse in the lower bowl of the stadium was expanded during the offseason.
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“It is proven to be difficult to predict traffic flow with new gates given our tight footprint,” White wrote. “That’s not an excuse, we missed the mark. That’s on me.”
Adjustments to Tennessee’s plan, White noted, will begin immediately.
Vols have five home games left on schedule
Tennessee (2-1) hosts UAB (2-1) on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. Eastern Time on SEC Network, a third home game in as many weeks. The Vols then go to Mississippi State on September 27 in the first true road game of the season, before a bye week on October 4.
Tennessee will be back home after the bye, hosting Arkansas on October 11. The Vols have three home games in November, against Oklahoma (November 1), New Mexico State (November 15) and Vanderbilt (November 29).
“I want you all to know that we are immediately looking at adjustments to our plan,” White wrote. “Just as importantly, we will communicate with y’all this week about your best path into the stadium depending on your seat location.
“Thank you to those that have made me aware of the situation on this platform. I did see it myself at Gate 20. It gutted me to see our loyal fans so frustrated. I’m very sorry. We will fix it.”
