PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 #OBDEBUT
GAINESVILLE, Fla.-The 2016 edition of the Orange & Blue Debut, presented by Sunniland, will be a special one.
For the first time ever, the annual spring game is scheduled for Friday night (April 8) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is FREE.
Fans who are unable to make it to Gainesville can watch the game live on SEC Network with Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Laura Rutledge calling the action.
Prior to kickoff, the BUBBA Burger Fan Fest will be held on the North lawn outside the stadium. Included in the Fan Fest this year will be the Swamp Wing Cook-Off (see below for more details).
Fans wanting a little extra from their trip to the Swamp can go behind the scenes at Gator Walk, get pre-game field access or walk the field following the game through Experience Upgrades (http://www.floridagators.com/upgrade).
The No. 1-ranked Gators baseball team opens their three-game series with No. 14 Mississippi State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at McKethan Stadium. The series continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 4 p.m.
To cap the Orange & Blue Debut on Friday night, fans can enjoy a fireworks show from the South end of the stadium after the conclusion of the spring game and the baseball game.
For complete information on all the planned activities, see the information below.
GATES
Gates 1-4, 7, 12, 15 and 18 will open at 5:30 p.m. The Skybox lobby and Evans Champions Club lobby will open at 5:30 p.m. for fans with a ticket to the luxury areas.
PARKING
Due to UF classes being in session on Friday, April 8, on-campus parking options will be limited until normal parking restrictions are lifted. Fans should adhere to, and be aware of, posted parking restrictions (http://parking.ufl.edu/parking-at-uf/campus-parking-restrictions/) and times of enforcement, if they choose to park on campus. The following options are available for fans coming to the baseball game or spring game.
Flavet Field will be available for fans to park starting at 3:00 p.m.
The O'Connell Center parking garage will be available for fans to park on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 3:30 p.m. until full. Fans must enter off of the SW 2nd Avenue entrance only into the O'Connell Center parking lot to get into the parking garage.
FREE parking shuttles will start at 3:30 p.m. from the large Commuter parking lot on Gale Lemerand Drive. It will make two stops: (1) By Gate 2 of the O'Connell Center on Stadium Rd. for the Orange & Blue game and (2) in front of the Lemerand Athletic Center on Stadium Rd. by the right field entrance gate to baseball. The shuttle will run continuously until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the event that ends last.
The main, flat portion of the O'Connell Center parking lot will be reserved parking only.
EXPERIENCE UPGRADES
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase any or all of three unique opportunities surrounding the Orange & Blue Debut through Experience Upgrades (http://www.floridagators.com/upgrade): (1) Gator Walk Behind-the-Scenes Experience, (2) Pre-Game Field Access or (3) Post-Game Field Access.
(1) Fans will have the chance to get special access inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Gator Walk as the team enters The Swamp prior to the game. This opportunity is for adults and children age 12 and under. Due to NCAA compliance rules, those who could be classified as prospective student athletes are not eligible for this offer.
(2) Fans will be able to stand on the sidelines during the team's pre-game warm ups prior to kickoff.
(3) Fans will have the chance to walk the on part of Florida Field and take photos following the conclusion of the game after the team has cleared the field.
TOURS OF EVANS CHAMPIONS CLUB
Fans interested in upgrading their 2016 season tickets will have an opportunity to tour the Evans Champions Club (http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_football_premium_seats_.aspx) prior to the spring game. Group tours will begin at 3:30 p.m. Email (premium@gators.ufl.edu) for more information or to RSVP.
For a chance to win seats in the Evans Champions Club for the spring game, take the #LoveTheSwamp survey: Tell Us Why You Love The Swamp (https://ufl.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cFTfQ8hVt2vIq3P)
BUBBA Burger FAN FEST
Booths and activities will be set up on the North End Zone lawn and will be open to fans beginning at 4:30 p.m.
GATOR WALK
Scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on the North end of the stadium.
SWAMP WING COOK-OFF
For the first time, 15 lucky Gators will have the opportunity to showcase their cooking talents during the Swamp Wing Cook-Off. Contestants will be provided 50 wings to cook however they choose with a chance to win cash prizes for:
* Best Overall Wing ($600 for first place, $300 for second, $150 for third)
* Best Traditional/Wet Wing ($300 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third)
* Best Dry Rub Wing ($300 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third)
There will be a $50 entry fee for contestants. Interested fans can email (promotions@gators.ufl.edu) for their spot. Visit our Swamp Wing Cook-Off (http://www.floridagators.com/sports/2016/3/24/swamp-wing-cook-off.aspx?id=13735) page for more details.
WING EATING CONTEST
Prior to the game, fans can stop by Fan Fest and enter to take part in a wing eating contest. Five participants will be randomly selected at the end of the first quarter. The contest will take place at halftime.
GAME FORMAT (subject to change)
The game will be four, 12-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock will stop on change of possession and during the two-minute drill at the end of each half. There will be no live kickoffs or punts.
FIREWORKS
Following the conclusion of the spring game, there will be a fireworks show from the South End of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Note: The start of the fireworks show will be delayed if the baseball game is still being played across the street. The show will start once the game ends.)
GAINESVILLE, Fla.-The 2016 edition of the Orange & Blue Debut, presented by Sunniland, will be a special one.
For the first time ever, the annual spring game is scheduled for Friday night (April 8) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is FREE.
Fans who are unable to make it to Gainesville can watch the game live on SEC Network with Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Laura Rutledge calling the action.
Prior to kickoff, the BUBBA Burger Fan Fest will be held on the North lawn outside the stadium. Included in the Fan Fest this year will be the Swamp Wing Cook-Off (see below for more details).
Fans wanting a little extra from their trip to the Swamp can go behind the scenes at Gator Walk, get pre-game field access or walk the field following the game through Experience Upgrades (http://www.floridagators.com/upgrade).
The No. 1-ranked Gators baseball team opens their three-game series with No. 14 Mississippi State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at McKethan Stadium. The series continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 4 p.m.
To cap the Orange & Blue Debut on Friday night, fans can enjoy a fireworks show from the South end of the stadium after the conclusion of the spring game and the baseball game.
For complete information on all the planned activities, see the information below.
GATES
Gates 1-4, 7, 12, 15 and 18 will open at 5:30 p.m. The Skybox lobby and Evans Champions Club lobby will open at 5:30 p.m. for fans with a ticket to the luxury areas.
PARKING
Due to UF classes being in session on Friday, April 8, on-campus parking options will be limited until normal parking restrictions are lifted. Fans should adhere to, and be aware of, posted parking restrictions (http://parking.ufl.edu/parking-at-uf/campus-parking-restrictions/) and times of enforcement, if they choose to park on campus. The following options are available for fans coming to the baseball game or spring game.
Flavet Field will be available for fans to park starting at 3:00 p.m.
The O'Connell Center parking garage will be available for fans to park on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 3:30 p.m. until full. Fans must enter off of the SW 2nd Avenue entrance only into the O'Connell Center parking lot to get into the parking garage.
FREE parking shuttles will start at 3:30 p.m. from the large Commuter parking lot on Gale Lemerand Drive. It will make two stops: (1) By Gate 2 of the O'Connell Center on Stadium Rd. for the Orange & Blue game and (2) in front of the Lemerand Athletic Center on Stadium Rd. by the right field entrance gate to baseball. The shuttle will run continuously until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the event that ends last.
The main, flat portion of the O'Connell Center parking lot will be reserved parking only.
EXPERIENCE UPGRADES
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase any or all of three unique opportunities surrounding the Orange & Blue Debut through Experience Upgrades (http://www.floridagators.com/upgrade): (1) Gator Walk Behind-the-Scenes Experience, (2) Pre-Game Field Access or (3) Post-Game Field Access.
(1) Fans will have the chance to get special access inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Gator Walk as the team enters The Swamp prior to the game. This opportunity is for adults and children age 12 and under. Due to NCAA compliance rules, those who could be classified as prospective student athletes are not eligible for this offer.
(2) Fans will be able to stand on the sidelines during the team's pre-game warm ups prior to kickoff.
(3) Fans will have the chance to walk the on part of Florida Field and take photos following the conclusion of the game after the team has cleared the field.
TOURS OF EVANS CHAMPIONS CLUB
Fans interested in upgrading their 2016 season tickets will have an opportunity to tour the Evans Champions Club (http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_football_premium_seats_.aspx) prior to the spring game. Group tours will begin at 3:30 p.m. Email (premium@gators.ufl.edu) for more information or to RSVP.
For a chance to win seats in the Evans Champions Club for the spring game, take the #LoveTheSwamp survey: Tell Us Why You Love The Swamp (https://ufl.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cFTfQ8hVt2vIq3P)
BUBBA Burger FAN FEST
Booths and activities will be set up on the North End Zone lawn and will be open to fans beginning at 4:30 p.m.
GATOR WALK
Scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on the North end of the stadium.
SWAMP WING COOK-OFF
For the first time, 15 lucky Gators will have the opportunity to showcase their cooking talents during the Swamp Wing Cook-Off. Contestants will be provided 50 wings to cook however they choose with a chance to win cash prizes for:
* Best Overall Wing ($600 for first place, $300 for second, $150 for third)
* Best Traditional/Wet Wing ($300 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third)
* Best Dry Rub Wing ($300 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third)
There will be a $50 entry fee for contestants. Interested fans can email (promotions@gators.ufl.edu) for their spot. Visit our Swamp Wing Cook-Off (http://www.floridagators.com/sports/2016/3/24/swamp-wing-cook-off.aspx?id=13735) page for more details.
WING EATING CONTEST
Prior to the game, fans can stop by Fan Fest and enter to take part in a wing eating contest. Five participants will be randomly selected at the end of the first quarter. The contest will take place at halftime.
GAME FORMAT (subject to change)
The game will be four, 12-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock will stop on change of possession and during the two-minute drill at the end of each half. There will be no live kickoffs or punts.
FIREWORKS
Following the conclusion of the spring game, there will be a fireworks show from the South End of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Note: The start of the fireworks show will be delayed if the baseball game is still being played across the street. The show will start once the game ends.)
