Georgia Tech’s season opener isn’t at Bobby Dodd Stadium, but fans still can line up for “Yellow Jacket Alley.”

The longtime Tech football ritual of fans lining a path to greet the team as it walks toward Bobby Dodd Stadium will take place Friday in the Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The event begins at 5 p.m. before the Yellow Jackets face Louisville at 7:30 in the Aflac Kickoff game.

The event dates at least to the tenure of former coach George O’Leary and has been held along Brittain Drive for years. This season, the event already was moving to the other side of the stadium as Tech plans to unveil its “Helluva Block Party” pregame festivities on North Avenue – the south side of Bobby Dodd Stadium – for its home opener against South Carolina State on Sept. 9.

Those festivities were located on or near Callaway Plaza on the north side of the stadium before this season.

As for tailgating, the Aflac Kickoff game is holding an event called “Tailgate Town” on International Plaza, located just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That event is free to attend.

Also, there’s tailgating in the Home Depot Backyard, and tailgating packages for that location can be purchased through Revel XP.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia Tech has added another wide receiver to its 2026 recruiting class.
Jeffar Jean-Noel announced Tuesday that he intends to play at Tech for the 2026 season. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Roey Shoshan sits inside the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta in Dunwoody on Friday, June 27, 2025. Shoshan was born and raised in Israel and has lived in the United States for more than a decade. (Natrice Miller/AJC)