Getting There · Food City Center · Knoxville
Getting to Food City Center — Transit, Rideshare & Walking Routes
Getting to Food City Center without the parking-lot headache is usually faster and cheaper than driving — especially on Tennessee Volunteers game nights and major concerts, when the roads around University of Tennessee campus, Knoxville fill long before doors. Even at a mid-size venue holding 21,678, the streets around University of Tennessee campus, Knoxville tighten up fast during the pre-game window. This guide covers the transit lines that drop you closest to the arena, the rideshare zones, walking routes from University of Tennessee campus, and what to know about late-night service after the final whistle.
About Food City Center
Home of the tennessee volunteers, formerly thompson-boling arena. the arena has hosted events at this site since 1987. located at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way, Knoxville, TN 37916.
Transit Routes to Food City Center
KAT buses and the UT campus trolley serve the arena from campus and downtown Knoxville. Plan to step off at the nearest stop 45-60 minutes before doors. Transit is also the quickest post-event exit from Food City Center — you are moving while the parking lots around University of Tennessee campus, Knoxville are still emptying.
Rideshare Drop-Off at Food City Center
Uber and Lyft both serve Food City Center. On busy nights the apps route you to a designated drop-off zone near the arena rather than the front gates, keeping traffic and pedestrians separated. Pricing surges hardest in the 10-20 minutes right after the final whistle or encore; if you can wait that window out — or walk a couple of blocks away from Food City Center before requesting — you will usually pay less and wait less.
Walking to Food City Center from University of Tennessee campus
Food City Center is located at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way, Knoxville, TN 37916, in the University of Tennessee campus area of Knoxville. While Food City Center is not in the core downtown area, the University of Tennessee campus surroundings have sidewalks and pedestrian access from nearby parking areas, hotels, and transit stops. Walking in from a few blocks away also sidesteps the worst of the event-night traffic and is often the single fastest way to leave once the show ends. The walk to Food City Center is mostly outdoors before you reach the arena entrance, so check the forecast for evening events.
When to Arrive at Food City Center
Food City Center holds 21,678 for a typical event configuration. Arriving 45-60 minutes before doors is a comfortable window for most events. Sold-out nights for the Tennessee Volunteers deserve an extra cushion — about 75 minutes total — since mid-size venue concourses can feel tight when everyone enters at once. Check Food City Center's bag policy ahead of time; most arenas now enforce clear-bag rules.
Late-Night Exit from Food City Center
If you took transit to Food City Center, your post-event exit plan hinges on the last departure from the nearest stop. Before the event, look up the schedule for the specific line referenced in the transit section above — (KAT buses and the UT campus trolley serve the arena from campus and downtown Knoxville) — and screenshot it. Evening events at Food City Center typically let out between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, though encores and overtime can push later. Having the schedule saved means you can decide during the event whether to catch the last train or switch to a rideshare backup.