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Thursday, October 16, 2008
Ga. Tech beats UGA for family-friendly football experience
Free ticket giveaways, a fantastic fanfest for the kids and less rowdy fans all equal a winning day for families at the Tech game.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ga. Tech may lose to the University of Georgia at a lot of sports, but those Jackets win year after year at hosting the easiest, cheapest, most fun college football experience for families.
I’ve taken all three kids to both schools for game days, and despite being a University of Georgia graduate and a Bulldog fan, I have to say Ga. Tech is by far the more family-friendly experience. Plus, this year Tech is actually winning with their new coach!
Let’s compare our family’s experiences at each campus point by point.
1. Traffic and parking — Ga. Tech is an easy drive for most Atlantans and has plenty of parking spaces close enough for kids to walk easily. Many of the close places charge around $20, but you can find some free parking on the streets if you get there early enough.
Athens is further to drive, but it’s the parking that kills me. We actually rent a space in Athens that we pay $210 for a year, but it’s all the way up Baxter Street. My husband doesn’t mind walking that distance, but it’s too far for little kids. For last year’s homecoming game at Georgia we searched for an hour for a closer parking spot and never found one. We finally parked in our normal spot, and the kids were worn out by the time we reached the journalism school’s party. The worst part was pushing the baby’s stroller back up that huge hill and cajoling the other two children to follow along. I am certain the sight of me struggling up that hill with three children prevented some co-eds from having sex that night.
The kids and I didn’t actually go to the Georgia game that particular homecoming, and I’ll explain why in the next category.
2. Tickets — Georgia requires that all children — no matter how old — have tickets to get into that stadium. The only way a baby is getting into that stadium without paying is if it’s still inside of you!
It was simply too expensive to buy four more full-price tickets for me and the children to go to the game last year.
Tech on the other hand allows children 2 and under to enter the stadium without a ticket. Also Tech routinely has family deals and free ticket promotions. Last year for the Tech-Duke game we bought tickets that included a hotdog and Coke for each person.
This year we actually got FREE tickets for me and the kids. If you sign up on Tech’s athletic homepage for their online newsletter The Sting, you will get free ticket offers every Tuesday. They send out an email with the name of the sponsor who is giving away tickets that week. It’s first come, first serve at the sponsor location.
Georgia has always had the policy that everyone has to have a ticket, and I recognize that it’s a function of demand, crowd control and how do you verify the age of baby. But if Tech can work around those areas, then parents should take advantage of it.
3. Family events close by — Besides cheap to free seats, Tech offers a fantastic pre-game experience for kids on top of the Peter’s Parking Deck and on Fowler Street, which are right next to the stadium. Wreckfest begins about three hours before the game and includes FREE moon walks, basketball shooting games, face painting, giveaways and contests. My only objection was this year they added an EA Sports/Coke Zero video game area. There were about 16 flat screen TVs where kids (and dads) could try out all types of video games. It was tough to keep my 5-year-old focused on the physical activities.
About an hour before the game, the whole Tech band parades down Bobby Dodd Way, the street between the Wreckfest and the stadium. The band stops to perform on the steps outside the stadium. The kids are thrilled to see the instruments and hear the music up close. Buzz is usually running around and always happy to pose with the kiddies. The Rambling Wreck is parked nearby in Callaway Plaza.
4. The stands — Because Tech’s stadium isn’t usually filled to capacity, it is very easy for families to spread out. We sat in the top deck and had plenty of room. The kids weren’t bothering anyone. (Well except for my 5-year-old who kept asking people if they wanted to look through his binoculars!) In fact, my 7-year-old laid down on the bleacher to watch much of the game and nobody cared.
It’s tough for wiggly kids to sit in Georgia’s packed house for hours.
5. The Fans — It pains me to say it, but the Ga. Tech fans are far less drunk and obnoxious. (Sorry Dawgs!) I only heard one guy cursing at last week’s Tech game and only saw one guy visibly drunk. At Georgia, the drinking is obvious and rampant. Two years ago when Michael took our then 3-year-old son to the Georgia game, there was a bunch of apparently drunk college girls trying to cuddle him. On the up side, we were very happy to see bike cops cracking down on open-container violators last year.
If you’re not married to a team, or if you’re a Dog fan who can suck it up long enough to enjoy the day with your kids, then Ga. Tech is the best place in town to experience a Division 1A college football game.
Check out Your Money for more tips for cheap and free fun and for general money saving tips.
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