A new Vol Navy Dock opened today at Volunteer Landing near Neyland Stadium. The nearly 600-foot-long dock reopens in plenty of time for the University of Tennessee’s first home football game on Aug. 31. 

Every fall, the Vol Navy Dock is the scene of Knoxville’s long-standing tailgating tradition held before UT football games.

Volunteer Landing is a 13-acre public recreational space enjoyed daily by boaters and paddlers on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville. The area is also enjoyed by thousands of fishermen, bicyclists and pedestrians using the greenway system that runs alongside the riverfront. 

The project was funded by a $400,000 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency grant and matching funds of $100,000 from the City and UT. The Public Building Authority managed the project.

The old Vol Navy Dock and the concrete pavilion were built in 1994 through a TWRA grant, with some 200 feet added in 1998.

The new dock is made of a composite decking material and also includes two new gangways. The pavilion is a concrete-based structure built into Volunteer Landing and remains the same.
            
The City of Knoxville owns the public dock, and UT has agreed to inspect and maintain it. The City will continue to provide trash receptacles and trash pickup.