It may feel like fall in Gainesville this weekend — not because of cooler weather or a football game, but because tens of thousands of fans will be in town to see country music star Morgan Wallen perform May 15 and 16 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Here’s what you need to know:
May 15 openers
Openers include Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King.
May 16 openers
Openers include Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock and Zach John King.
Road closures
Gale Lemerand Drive and Stadium Road will close to traffic at 2 p.m. on both days. University Avenue, from Gale Lemerand Drive to Northwest 17th Street (Buckman Drive), will close at 4 p.m. Roads will reopen after the concerts once officials determine it is safe.
Parking
Reserved parking lots open at 2 p.m. and are sold out. A limited number of $40 passes will be sold daily for the Maguire Park & Ride Lot, located between Hull and Radio roads just east of Southwest 34th Street.
Shuttles will begin running at 3:30 p.m. from the Park & Ride Lot to transport guests to the stadium area and will continue operating on a loop throughout the evening.
Parking restrictions for other lots on campus remain in effect.
The city of Gainesville’s neighborhood zone parking regulations in the areas around the UF campus will be enforced on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those headed to the stadium also are reminded to not park in front of fire hydrants or block driveways. There is limited hourly parking available on Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find a map of zone parking here.
Tailgating
UF officials confirmed that tailgating will not be allowed in on-campus lots.
Arrive early
All gates at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m. The concert is expected to begin at 5:30. University police advise all concert attendees to arrive early and plan for delays.
Bag searches
Wallets, wristlets and clutch or crossbody purses no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches are permitted. Larger bags or purses, whether clear or not, are not allowed in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. All guests and items are subject to security screening.
Cashless food and beverage
All food and beverage sales at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are cashless. Concession stands accept credit cards, debit cards and touchless smartphone payments only.
Water bottle policy
Fans may bring one commercially branded empty plastic water bottle (20 oz. or smaller). Water refill stations are available inside the stadium. Non-disposable bottles, sports bottles, Nalgene-style bottles, cans, heavy plastic, glass bottles and thermoses are not permitted.
Weather
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville forecasts sunny skies with a high of 88 on May 15, followed by partly cloudy conditions that night with lows around 65. On May 16, expect sunny skies and a high near 91, with mostly clear conditions and lows around 68 overnight.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Morgan Wallen is coming to Gainesville this weekend: What to know
Reporting by Staff report, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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