KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Morgan Wallen comes to town, the University of Tennessee is expecting 80,000 people to come as well. Multiply that by two, because Wallen is playing two concerts, one on Friday and one on Sunday night.
Tuesday, UT held an operations and logistics meeting with local partners including the Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
"This is a meeting that we have the week before every Tennessee football game day," TDOT Communications Officer Mark Nagi said. "This isn't something that we do rarely."
TDOT will have help trucks out to assist in any way needed.
"Whether it's these Morgan Wallen concerts, Tennessee football game day weekend or just a normal day. Anytime you see our help trucks out there, please give them the extra room that they need to do their jobs," Nagi said.
They're also making an effort to allow traffic to move as smoothly as possible.
"We're halting all construction-related lane closures as well as any possible rolling roadblocks starting at noon each concert day."
Nagi said the road will be clear of roadblocks and construction-related lane closures until 6 a.m. on Saturday and then again for the second concert at 6 a.m. Monday.
The University of Tennessee has given fans and concertgoers a guide, showing where to park and other concert logistics.
However, KPD and KCSO have its own logistics to plan out. Both departments said they would work with UT Police to manage the event, much like they do for home ball games.