A-Game Tailgate at Virginia

Tickets ($42 each)
Order your tickets through the Maryland ticket office by calling (800) IMA-TERP. If Maryland has returned unsold tickets to Virginia, call the Virginia ticket office at (800) 542-UVA1 and request seats in the visitor sections.

Recommended Eats and Drinks in Whoville
A friend of Team A-Game and former beer industry/restaurant GM has provided some recommendations on places to eat and drink in Charlottesville. Court Square Tavern was one of his favorites, and he also suggested a visit to Michie Tavern.

Directions to Tailgate Lot
From the D.C. metro area, find your way to Interstate 66 westbound. From I-66, take Exit 43A (Route 29 South). Stay on Route 29 south for about 80 miles. It will take you into Charlottesville. Once in the town, stay straight on Business Route 29 (do not follow the 29 bypass). Business Route 29 also becomes known as Emmet Street. Stay on this road until turning right onto Massie Road, towards University Hall and the new John Paul Jones Arena. Take Massie Road up a small incline. The Terrapin Nation will be tailgating in the lot will be to your immediate left as you approach the intersection with Copeley Road. Look for the flags. This was a free lot in 2004 and 2006.

Notes About Tailgating at UVA
Be sure to have cups for your adult beverages. Also, memory seems to say Virginia Fun Police frowned on charcoal grills. Click here for official tailgating regulations from the UVA Web site.

Raising of the Flags
10:30 a.m.

Group Photo
Probably around 4 p.m.

Map of Tailgate Lot
Click here for a google.com map that shows the intersection of Massie Road and Copeley Road in Charlottesville (ZIP code 22903). The Terrapin tailgate is the gray area directly below the green arrow.

Charlottesville Weather
Click here for the Charlottesville forecast courtesy of weather.com.

Previous Trips to UVA
We've had some epic tailgates at Virginia, which has been the scene of some classic confrontations between Mike Norris and a bag of ice. One such throwdown even made YouTube. Aside from that, there's a heightened atmosphere in the lots due to it being a rivalry game. Most Red Shirts don't care for the snot-nose attitude in Whoville, where the campus is called “the grounds,” freshmen are “first-years,” etc. It's been a competitive series since Fridge and Groh returned to their respective alma maters, and the Turtles hold a 4-3 edge since 2001.

The University Hall parking lot is free and has been the home to the Terrapin Nation, which makes a strong showing on each trip. The only real dagger is the long walk to the stadium.

There's really no excuse for not making the short trip to Whoville to support the Turtles in this game. Click here for pictures of Team A-Game's trip to Charlottesville for the Terps/Cavaliers game in 2004. Click here for pictures of the Maryland/Virginia gameday in Whoville in 2006. —PK

Official Web Sites
Maryland www.umterps.com
Virginia www.virginiasports.com

Team Hotel
Doubletree Hotel Charlottesville
990 Hilton Heights Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Phone: (434) 973-2121
www.doubletree.com

Alternate Hotel
Team A-Game is staying at:
Econo Lodge University Arena
400 Emmet St.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 296-2104
www.choicehotels.com

Bring the Flag

The University Hall parking lot at the intersection of Copeley Road and Massie Road became Lot 1 South in 2004 and again in 2006.