The Florida Gators game against Northern Colorado has been moved from a 7:30 kickoff time to a noon kickoff as Hurricane Irma barrels down towards the state of Florida.
The game was originally set to be broadcast on SEC Network in its primetime slot but will now only be streamed live on SEC Network and the Watch ESPN app.
“We have worked closely with campus and regional authorities during the last 48 hours to find the best possible solution that allows us to play the game and takes into account the safety of our fans, players, staff and personnel working the game,” said Athletics Director Scott Stricklin in a release. “With tropical conditions possibly expected in our region on Saturday night or Sunday morning, moving the game from 7:30 to Noon will give people a chance to come to the game and return home before any expected weather or effects hit our area.”
Evacuations have already begun throughout the state starting in Key West. Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have also started mandatory evacuations.
“We will obviously continue to monitor the weather and we ask fans to consider their own safety and the safety of others before traveling to the game,” Stricklin said. “In addition, we also ask that fans who had hotel rooms that will no longer need them, to notify their respective hotels immediately as those establishments are looking to house evacuees from around the state and region.”
The Gators normally put the football team up in a hotel the night before a game but the UAA has made a decision to forego this normal procedure to free up hotel space for those seeking refuge from Irma. Speaking with local media Wednesday, Stricklin said he understood if fans that normally would attend the game couldn’t and urged those who have hotel reservations they won’t use to cancel them to open room for more people that are evacuated.
“We encourage any fans out there who don’t need those rooms for Friday or Saturday night to cancel those reservations so that they can be needed for more important issues.”