Georgia Vs. Alabama: Expect Traffic, Parking, Weather Woes

If you’re going to the big SEC football tilt between Alabama and Georgia Saturday in Athens, you probably already know you need to be prepared for a rainy afternoon (the National Weather Service says there’s a 100-percent chance of that happening).

But if you’re also driving to the 3:30 p.m. game in Sanford Stadium, your getting-to-the-game struggles will begin before you get out of your car.

The University of Georgia is warning fans and visitors to expect traffic delays and parking challenges around town on Saturday. The school is also advising those without tickets to stay away from campus.

The game is expected to draw one of the largest crowds in the last couple of seasons at 92,746-seat Sanford Stadium.

Both teams are nationally ranked -- Georgia (4-0), the favorite, is ranked No. 8; Alabama (3-1) in No. 13 -- and the game’s outcome will have an impact on both team’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoffs.

CBS will televise the game.

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Weather will complicate getting to the stadium Saturday. Athens is under a Flash Flood Watch through the weekend, with heavy rain possible Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. An additional 2 to 3 inches of rain are possible.

Also, one of the largest overflow parking lots on campus is closed due to soggy conditions from recent heavy rains, leaving the intramural fields off College Station Road unavailable for parking Saturday.

The intramural fields area can normally accommodate roughly 2,000 vehicles so the loss of these spaces reduces on campus parking availability for fans to 13,000 vehicles, UGA said.

The university also said fans who present tickets to the Alabama game can ride Athens Transit System buses free of charge Saturday.

Officials are encouraging fans to leave for the game early, carpool and use parking provided by businesses, schools and churches near the campus, if possible.