Hey YJ,
What’s the recommended lodging choices in Athens? Are they all 2-night minimum on game weekend? How early would you recommend booking a room...or is it already too late?
Thanks
It will be very difficult/pricey if not impossible to get something in Athens. I helped folks plan their trip to UGA shortly after the game in SB and everything was already booked. Keep in mind the dates were announced in 2014... Your choices are spending too much to get something 20ish miles outside of Athens in a podunk town, or doing what I would recommend... Which is staying in ATL or camping. You might still find an airbnb or something pop up in in/near Athens occasionally, but it will likely be $$$.
Getting to Athens is a little painful, similar to getting to SB from Indy. Assuming you are flying or driving in and your starting point on your way to Athens is ATL, you have more or less two ways to get to Athens. Highway 78, or 316 (I typically go 316). Both will suck on game day, so leave early. AND ALWAYS USE WAZE.
For those flying in, I recommend either staying in the Buckhead or Virginia Highlands area (both downtownish and trendy). Or maybe northside (closest to the 316 start) in Gwinnett.
If you are driving in and outdoorsy, it's a perfect time of year to camp in GA. Lakefront spots for tents and RVs w/ electric are plenty on Lake Lanier, and a straight shot on Highway 129 to/from Athens. Lake Oconee is also an option and a tad closer than Lanier, but I've never camped there.
Happy to help anyone with directions and recommendations. Feel free to PM me.
I hear ya but I suspect most UGA fans don’t want to admit the ND game will be a bigger event. Is it their most important game on their schedule? No. But the hype will be plentiful. I could see Game Day being there just b/c of the 2 name teams playing for the 1st time in Sanford Stadium. Both teams should be undefeated so regardless of how good ND really is, it will by hyped based on that & last season’s success.
TAMU may have the toughest slate in America and they should be improved. I thought Auburn should’ve gone after Hurts, Martell or Wimbush for Gus’s system b/c it doesn’t seem to work w/ a Pro STyle QB like STidham who just declared for the draft after a subpar season. Doesn’t that leave them w/ a freshman starting QB?
Honestly, bigger event and tougher opponent are two very different things. The UGA guys I know (and I know too many) are a mix of good guys who are logical, and on the other side, Go Dawg and SEC fanboys.
Just being factual, UGA will likely be ranked 3rd or 4th, and TAMU and FL will likely be top 10 to start the year. Auburn and Missouri top 25. Maybe even KY too. I'll predict ND is in the 10-15 range. ND will be UGA's first ranked opponent, so that will add hype. If I'm a UGA fan, the ND game will be more of "an event" than a "worry". It will be early so I'd be hyped, but it is a home game for them and doesn't impact conference standings, so the worry factor would be medium. That's the factual stuff, then add in the lack of respect the SEC has for ND. For us though, it's our biggest game of the year.
And yes, TAMU has the real "insanest" schedule lol.
