By CLTure
August 27, 2023
The college football season will kick off in Charlotte this weekend with ESPN’s College GameDay set to air live from Romare Bearden Park on Saturday ahead of the Duke’s Mayo Classic. The game will pit the South Carolina Gamecocks against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a rivalry that dates back to 1903. While the Tar Heels lead the series winning 35 out of 59 games overall, the Gamecocks have dominated in recent years, winning eight of the last 11 games including the last matchup (38-21) in 2021.
The neutral site football game and “Battle of the Carolinas” will be played at Bank of America Stadium with the kickoff around 7:30 p.m., airing on ABC. But before the game, Uptown will be bustling with tailgaters, fans, and alumni with College GameDay kicking off their three-hour show beginning at 9 a.m. live from Charlotte. Hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pat McAfee, this will be the third trip to Charlotte for the GameDay crew since 2017 (ACC Championship Game in 2017 and Georgia vs. Clemson in 2021).
A Fan Fest will also offer activities, music, brand activations, vendors, and food trucks starting at 12 p.m. between Romare Bearden Park and Bank of America Stadium.
If you’re interested in learning how to be in the pit for College GameDay, here are some things you may need to know:
Selection to be in the pit for the television broadcast is on a first-come, first-serve basis for all fans, and students are encouraged to wear school colors.
Signs are always encouraged and have been a tradition for GameDay since they first started hitting the road in 1993, but there are a few regulations. Of course there can be no vulgarity, but also no promotions of websites or politics and religion, along with no signs on poles or oversized sticks.
You’re also prohibited from entering the pit with any bags, food, pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards, and of course, throwing of objects of any kind is strictly prohibited.
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The College GameDay pit will open at 6:30 a.m. and the show airs live from Romare Bearden Park starting at 9:00 a.m. on ESPN. The Duke’s Mayo Classic Fan Fest will begin at 12 p.m. prior to gates opening for South Carolina Gamecocks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium at 5:30 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff airing on ABC.
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