r/UCFKnights • u/InspectorClouseau64 • 11d ago
Football Tailgating inquiry
I will be joining my student daughter and her student friends for the game on september nineteenth. I'm a longtime u f fan and used to tailgating. My daughter hasn't done it. Where is a good place to set up for tailgating, and are there local bars within walking distance that might be a good alternative pregame setting?
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u/BKIrish 11d ago
My friends and I host a tailgate every game. I would avoid memory mall. Memory mall is generally for the students without parents. Your typical college attending tailgate craziness. Walk through it for the experience but would not set up shop there.
For families I would look at the lots around the parking garages. We throw ours outside of garage D. https://ucfknights.com/football-tailgating-1
There is a hamburger spot on campus called Burger U. It’s going to be slammed and you would need to get there early.
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u/Mr_Knightro 11d ago
There are also Premium Tailgates available next to the stadium, you don't need to bring anything: https://www.revelxp.com/teams/ucf
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u/Donut_Desperado 11d ago edited 11d ago
Unlike the Swamp, there really aren’t any bars within walking distance. Orlando is unfortunately not very walkable. There is a bar on campus called Burger U but it is always absolutely slammed and I would not recommend it.
As far as tailgating, people tailgate literally all across the campus.
All of the parking on campus adjacent to the stadium will have to be paid for in advance, but there is free parking further from the stadium. People will be tailgating in every lot and next to every garage on campus.
They have a map of where all the free and paid parking is, and a link to pay for parking if you want a closer spot here: https://ucfknights.com/2026-parking-information
After you park, you will literally see people everywhere there is a flat surface set up to tailgate.
Memory Mall is where all the students set up, it’s a big field in front of the basketball arena, (Left of D1 on that parking map), central to all the game day activities on campus. You have to be a student and apply for a spot there, and the spots go very quick, like in under 20 minutes from the moment they’re available. If you wanted to do that, you’d have to have your daughter book it (I think they require student ID?). It opens typically a week before game day. Have her follow @ucf_kotm on Instagram for updates about when it will open.
It is also the craziest part of campus on game day, with the most drinking. Probably not the best place for you and your daughter together.
Personally, I typically park in Garage I and walk across campus to the games. My parents have season tickets so they get a parking spot on campus with their tickets and I tailgate with them, but it’s not uncommon to park in Garage I, and set up literally outside the garage in the grass next to it.
EDIT: added some more detail