Florida-Georgia football rivalry ready for one-year stop in Atlanta – Chattanooga Times Free Press

Florida-Georgia football rivalry ready for one-year stop in Atlanta  Chattanooga Times Free Press

ATLANTA — The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will have a different feel Saturday. For one thing, while tailgating fans of Southeastern Conference border rivals Florida and Georgia may party on in the open air, the football game itself is headed indoors for the first time. The usual neutral site is not available due to extensive renovations at EverBank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars that’s some 80 miles from Florida’s campus in Gainesville and some 350 miles from Georgia’s campus in Athens. Instead, the 50-50 split of tickets at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium may provide a setting similar to the SEC championship game that takes place there each December.

“This is my first experience around this game,” said Florida first-year coach Jon Sumrall. “I know it’s traditionally in Jacksonville. I think you have to know that Atlanta is not necessarily our backyard, right? But the 50-50 thing is a unique deal that I think is exciting for our guys because you’re in kind of a different environment than a normal SEC game, which is fun.” Third-ranked Georgia (6-1, 4-1) and No. 17 Florida (5-2, 3-2), both returning from an open date, are set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.