COLLEGE FOOTBALL – FLORIDA GATORS VS. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
The “World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” the Florida-Georgia college football game is upon us.
A huge sporting event in northeast Florida, this big game brings many people to the area for the college football weekend each fall. The “First Coast” has its share of football fans, both those rooting for Florida and Georgia as well. You can be sure that bars will be catering to fans on Amelia Island and elsewhere around the First Coast.
What this means for Amelia Island is pre-weekend crowds in the supermarkets stocking up on food, beverages, and ice for the big game's parties, barbeques, and tailgating celebrations. There'll be noticably more men grocery shopping than normal. The guys, especially out-of-towners visiting for a party weekend, shop for their football feasts and beer.
The annual rivalry between the Dawgs and Gators is Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Coveted tickets to this sporting event fetch a pretty penny. A quick look at eBay shows one of the top listings for two Georgia-Florida game tickets priced at $800 with 12 active bids. It appears many of the tickets for sale are at least $200 a seat, and there's is a lot of bidding activity.
AN ANNUAL TRADITION WITH CERTAINTY
We are living in uncertain times. Bleak news fills the airwaves -- the banking crisis, Wall Street crash, a recession, the looming presidential election. But we can be certain of something this first weekend in November. In homes all around the "First Coast" of Florida, and also in neighboring Georgia, there's no doubt that scores of football parties will be hosted with fans gathered around big screens to watch the Gators and Dawgs battle it out on the field. This is an annual tradition with certainty. For many, it will be a needed break, a distraction, from stressful times.
While Amelia Island is a FLORIDA barrier island, its close proximity to Georgia means loyalty to the Dawgs is fierce here. Many residents of Amelia Island have roots in Georgia, and it's a favorite getaway destination for Georgians. One need only look around this weekend. The prominence of Georgia license plates (called “tags” in the south), will be obvious around Amelia Island. Some vehicles will have Georgia Bulldog car flags fluttering as they drive around island streets, but you'll also see some Gator flags. Around the Amelia Island area and at beach homes, large team flags will also be on display, showing fan allegiance, whether they're draped on balconies or displayed from flag poles.
Amelia Island is a also a second home market for Georgia residents. With Atlanta, Georgia within a 6 hour drive, Atlantans escape this big city in the south and head to charming, laid-back Amelia Island, with its 13 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic coast.
I've heard it said that Amelia Island is Georgia with a Florida address – I tend to agree. Amelia Island, Florida is distinctive from “the rest of Florida.” It's more off the beaten path than typical Florida destinations, with its own unique cultural aspects and small-town flavor.
At Publix, expect a long line at the deli counter as the weekend approaches. And no doubt the Publix bakery on Amelia Island will be baking up some wonderful, fresh cakes decorated with either a Dawg or Gator theme.
But which cake will taste the sweetest? Well, that depends on who wins the game.
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