01
MixedArrival & transportation
Food City Center shares a dense athletics campus, so the correct approach and parking assignment matter before the final blocks.
Knoxville, TN
Localtime
Food City Center
Tennessee's large campus arena, formerly Thompson-Boling Arena, hosts Volunteers and Lady Volunteers basketball plus volleyball beside Neyland Stadium and the Tennessee River.
Event-day essentials
Plan in 60 seconds
Reviewed 8.8.26
- Arrive
- About 60-75 minutes before the event, with more time for a sellout or an unfamiliar campus parking assignment
- Getting there
- The arena is on the University of Tennessee campus; use the event's current campus shuttle, pedestrian, and traffic guidance rather than an ordinary class-day assumption.
- Parking - High difficulty (opens in a new tab)
- The university lot, garage, or shuttle option assigned on the current event information
NearbyDining near Food City Center (opens in a new tab)Drinks near Food City Center (opens in a new tab)Stay near Food City Center (opens in a new tab)
Real fan takeFood I would recommend either somewhere like Stock and Barrel in Market Square.One fan's perspective. Verify variable details with official venue guidance.
Image details
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- Home teams
- Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball / Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball / Tennessee Lady Volunteers volleyball
- Upcoming Events
Tickets on Ticketmaster
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- Tennessee Volunteers Volleyball vs. Coastal Carolina Volleyball (opens in a new tab)
- Ella Langley: The Dandelion Tour (opens in a new tab)
- Tennessee Volunteers Volleyball vs. University of Texas Womens Volleyball (opens in a new tab)
Last checked Sep 11, 12:56 PM EDT- Venue details
- Venue typeCollege Arena
Plan your visit
Arrival and logisticsBefore you goTransit, parking, timing and entry details
Need to Know
- Best for
- Tennessee basketball and volleyball in a major-college arena setting
- Watch out for
- The Knoxville campus traffic plan, assigned parking access, and event entrance can differ between sports and touring events
- Good arrival window
- About 60-75 minutes before the event, with more time for a sellout or an unfamiliar campus parking assignment
- Main transit note
- The arena is on the University of Tennessee campus; use the event's current campus shuttle, pedestrian, and traffic guidance rather than an ordinary class-day assumption.
Sources1 officialReviewed 8.8.26Sources for Need to Know
Official sources for this section
Parking At A Glance
Parking difficulty
Parking options (opens in a new tab)High
Check the route, price, and closing time before event day.
- What to do
- Confirm the event-specific pass, garage or shuttle arrangement before driving toward Phillip Fulmer Way.
- Best option
- The university lot, garage, or shuttle option assigned on the current event information
- Avoid
- Driving toward Phillip Fulmer Way without the event's assigned campus pass, garage, or shuttle route
Sources1 officialReviewed 8.8.26Sources for Parking At A Glance
Official sources for this section
Seats and atmosphereChoose your experienceSightlines, supporter sections, crowd flow and event-day character
Inside the Venue At A Glance
02
MixedSeat & section strategy
Lower sidelines provide the clearest basketball geometry; volleyball and end-stage concerts require their own live map.
03
PositiveEvent-day character
The arena's scale can turn a prominent Tennessee game into a loud, full-campus event.
Sources1 fan · 2 officialReviewed 8.8.26Sources for Inside the Venue At A Glance
Fan discussions for this section
Official sources for this section
FanProof editorial synthesis; linked fan discussions are anecdotal, not a consensus.
Fit and tradeoffsWhat to expectThe practical strengths and the details that could change your choice
Why It Works
- ✓The arena's scale can turn a prominent Tennessee game into a loud, full-campus event.
- ✓Lower sidelines provide the clearest basketball geometry; volleyball and end-stage concerts require their own live map.
- ✓Tennessee basketball and volleyball in a major-college arena setting.
Sources1 fan · 1 officialReviewed 8.8.26Sources for Why It Works
Fan discussions for this section
Official sources for this section
FanProof editorial synthesis; linked fan discussions are anecdotal, not a consensus.
Know Before You Book
- ×The Knoxville campus traffic plan.
- ×Assigned parking access.
- ×Event entrance can differ between sports and touring events.
Sources1 fan · 2 officialReviewed 8.8.26Sources for Know Before You Book
Fan discussions for this section
Official sources for this section
FanProof editorial synthesis; linked fan discussions are anecdotal, not a consensus.
Editorial verdict
FanProof Takeaway
Reviewed 8.8.26
Food City Center shares a dense athletics campus, so the correct approach and parking assignment matter before the final blocks. Confirm the event-specific pass, garage or shuttle arrangement before driving toward Phillip Fulmer Way. Lower sidelines provide the clearest basketball geometry; volleyball and end-stage concerts require their own live map.
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