JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The excitement is building in Jacksonville as fans of the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs converge on EverBank Stadium for their much-anticipated clash.

As part of the festivities leading up to the 2025 Florida-Georgia game, RV City in downtown Jacksonville welcomed its first guests on Tuesday. Enthusiastic supporters arrived in droves, eager to soak up the atmosphere.

Among them is Rusty Thompson, a devoted Gator fan, who affectionately describes RV City as a “family reunion.”

“There’s no bigger rivalry than Florida and Georgia, but throughout the week it’s all camaraderie until about Friday night when the competitive spirit kicks in,” said Thompson. “This entire row here is like family—people we met here years ago. It truly feels like a big family reunion.”

Four-legged fans are also in town, such as Thompson’s bulldog, Alberta.

“She’s a gator dog,” Thompson reassured First Coast News. “A lot of people get her confused, so we put some orange and blue on her; she wants everybody to know where she stands.”

Ahead of the game, Jacksonville city officials want to ensure fans are prepared. Mayor Donna Deegan, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and other agencies gathered on Tuesday to discuss issues from public safety to transportation. JSO says parking lots open Saturday at 8 a.m., suggesting fans arrive and be in their parking spot five hours before the game so they don’t miss kickoff.

As far as football is concerned, this year’s game carries extra significance as it will be the last year it’s played in Jacksonville until 2028 due to construction for the “Stadium of the Future.”

The rivalry will be played in Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027. Fans like Thompson are confident the game will return.

“it will come back, i firmly believe it will come back,” Thompson said. “But it is hard to believe that we’re going to be away for two years.”

Kickoff will be at 3:30 on ABC 25.