Trump's Visit Prompts Early Concessions at Tennessee-Texas Game

Tennessee offered fans half-price concessions, including alcohol, in the hour before Saturday's game against Texas in an effort to encourage early stadium entry. The university aimed to mitigate potential logistical challenges and heightened security expected due to the attendance of former President Donald Trump.

The promotion began at 9 a.m. for the noon kickoff between the No. 14 Volunteers and the top-ranked Longhorns, who feature quarterback Arch Manning. ESPN's "College GameDay" was also on campus, further increasing the anticipated crowd and security presence in Knoxville.

Trump announced his attendance earlier in the week, prompting the school to open parking lots at 6 a.m. and stadium gates at 9 a.m., a half-hour earlier than usual. "GameDay" was shown on the stadium's scoreboard for those who arrived early.

This game marks the first college football appearance at Neyland Stadium for Manning, whose uncle Peyton famously played there. The matchup features two undefeated teams, with Texas previously achieving a comeback win against Ohio State.

Concerns about potential disruptions to on-field communications due to the former president's presence were also noted. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian indicated that teams were informed that coach-to-player headsets could be affected when Trump enters, leaves, or moves within the stadium, without prior warning. Sarkisian stated that contingency plans would be necessary for such a scenario.

Trump previously attended the College Football Playoff championship game in January between Indiana and Miami. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti reported brief communication outages during the final quarter of that game. However, a White House post on X stated that Trump's departure from that game did not cause headset or communication issues for the teams involved.