The 2023 NCAA football season is nearly upon us, marking Year 2 of the coach Tony Elliott era at the University of Virginia.
Last year’s 3-7 record (1-6 in the ACC) was not the start that Cavaliers fans hoped for, overshadowed by November’s tragic mass shooting on campus that killed three members of the football program.
The 2023 team returns just nine starters from last year as it looks to get back to business on the field. It will face another uphill battle this year, with the team’s over/under at 3.5 wins for the season.
That won’t stop 60,000-plus fans from filling up Scott Stadium this fall. This guide will give you the full rundown for Saturdays in Charlottesville.
How to purchase UVA tickets online
For the 2023 season, Virginia Athletics sells tickets only in digital format. Tickets must be purchased online and downloaded to your smartphone or other electronic device to enter Scott Stadium.
To buy tickets, you must register for an account on UVAtix.com and click on “Buy Tickets.” The university offers four different ticket options:
- Single-game tickets
- Three-game mini plans (choose between one of two pre-set options)
- Season tickets
- Group tickets for parties of 20 or more (unavailable vs. Virginia Tech). You can also purchase these by calling (434) 924-8821.
Ticket prices vary depending on the game, starting as low as $16 and going as high as $90 per ticket.
2023 University of Virginia home football schedule
UVA’s 2023 football season begins on Saturday, Sept. 2, with the Cavaliers traveling to Nashville for a neutral-site home game against the University of Tennessee. The first game in Charlottesville comes a week later, on Sept. 9, versus James Madison University.
The Cavaliers will play six games at Scott Stadium in 2023. Only the first two have announced kickoff times.
- Saturday, Sept. 9 (12 p.m.) vs. James Madison University: “UVA Strong Day,” with fans encouraged to wear orange, also the 500th game in Scott Stadium.
- Friday, Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.) vs. North Carolina State: ACC opener, “True Blue Game,” with fans encouraged to wear blue.
- Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. William & Mary: UVA Homecoming, Breast Cancer Awareness Game and Cavman’s Crew Day (the official Kids Club of Virginia Athletics)
- Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Georgia Tech: Family Weekend and Band Day
- Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. Duke: Heroes Appreciation Day, honoring US military personnel and first-responders
- Saturday, Nov. 25 vs. Virginia Tech: Commonwealth Clash game and Senior Day
Best seats in the house
With 61,500 seats, Virginia’s Scott Stadium is mid-sized by ACC standards and makes for an intimate and electric game day experience. There’s really not a bad seat in the house.
Do note, however, that the entire stadium has benches for seats. If you want more support, you can rent a seat cushion for $10 or bring your own approved one. Approved seat cushions cannot have pockets, zippers or be in their own carrying bag.
Even with no bad seats, you’ll still want to know about the different sections of the stadium and what they offer. Scott Stadium has three levels, situated in a horseshoe shape.
The 100-level seats include:
- Sections 101-111 are on the visitors’ sideline.
- Sections 112-120 are in the south endzone, known as Hooville. These seats can offer limited sightlines if you’re closer to the field but are often much more reasonably priced than tickets on the sidelines.
- Sections 121-131 are on UVA’s sideline. This is the first side of the stadium to reach the shade during afternoon games.
- The general-admission hillside is a large, grassy area in the north endzone that serves as a student section. Expect to stand for most of the game if you have tickets here.
The 300-level or loge seats provide the best sightlines at Scott Stadium. However, it has the fewest seats and often sells out quickly.
The 500-level seats offer the best prices to watch UVA football. Seats are further from the action and exposed on hot days but can provide some of the best views of the action, especially if you’re sitting on a sideline.
In addition to the hillside, the stadium’s official student sections are 101-105 and 501-503. Roughly 20% of all seats are for students (13,000 total).
How to get to Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium sits in the middle of the UVA campus, less than two miles from the I-64 and US-29 junction. Traffic from the north can come south down Highway 29, while the other three directions can connect with 29-North from I-64.
If you’re flying in, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is about 20 minutes from the stadium. Numerous hotels and other lodging options, like Airbnb and Vrbo, are within a reasonable distance of campus.
Parking at and around Scott Stadium is among the cheapest in college football. There are numerous free public parking lots on campus within a 20-minute walk of the stadium, plus several more paid lots and garages, which cost just $15 on the day of the game. However, the closest lots are reserved for Virginia Athletics Foundation members and are sold out in advance.
Free lots include Fontaine Research Park, John Paul Jones Arena Lots and the lots near UHall. They open three hours before kickoff.
Additionally, the city of Charlottesville provides free shuttles from downtown to Central Grounds on Saturdays from 6:35 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes.
Parking lots open as early as 8 a.m. on game day. Any cars still parked at 1 a.m. the following day will be towed.
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, but you should be in your seat with at least 30 minutes to spare if you don’t want to wait in lines.
Food and drink options (including tailgating)
What’s a football game without some food and drink?
Tailgates begin as soon as lots open in the early morning. You don’t need a special pass to tailgate, only to arrive early enough for the festivities.
Tailgating is permitted in all lots but prohibited in parking garages. Grills must be propane, as no charcoal is allowed. Otherwise, no major restrictions exist.
If tailgating isn’t your thing, head into the stadium early and fill up on Gus Bus Burgers, Angelique’s Kitchen soul food, The Walking Taco, Greenberry’s Coffee, Papa John’s Pizza and Dippin’ Dots ice cream.
Don’t forget the drinks, either. Scott Stadium allows patrons aged 21 and above to purchase four alcoholic beverages while attending a game.
Note: You may not bring outside food and beverages into the stadium.
‘Wah-hoo-wah!’
UVA sports teams are nicknamed the Wahoos, or sometimes just the ‘Hoos. The tradition dates back to the school’s yell, “Wa-hoo-wah!” and remains part of the game day experience, starting with the pregame (and family-friendly) Wahoo Walk.
You’ll hear the chant within Virginia classics, such as The Good Old Song, sung every time the home team scores. The band and mascot add even more to the experience.
Virginia has another interesting tradition related to attire: “Guys in ties, girls in pearls.” The practice is not as prevalent today, but if you see some tried and true fans dressed to the nines, you’ll know why.
Stadium policies
Keep in mind, Virginia sports betting prohibits betting on in-state college games, including prop bets on college players.
A few stadium policies to be aware of:
- A clear bag policy is in effect: only a one-gallon plastic zipper bag, clear plastic bag with handles (12” x 6” x 12” maximum size) or small clutch/wallet are allowed.
- Banners, signs and flags are permitted if they do not get in the way of another guest’s view, cover any facility signage and are not attached to the stadium. You cannot bring any of these items in if they are attached to a pole or stick.
- There are no ins and outs. You will need a second ticket to re-enter the facility after leaving.
- The entire UVA campus does not allow smoking or vaping inside facilities. However, there are designated smoking areas outside the southwest and east gates of the stadium.
Prohibited items include:
- Animals, except for licensed service animals
- Artificial noisemakers, balls, frisbees
- Drones
- Umbrellas
- Containers, including water bottles. However, the stadium provides single-use compostable cups at its two water stations on the outer west and east concourses.
- Flash photography, tripods and other professional equipment. Cell phones and cameras with lenses under six inches are allowed.
