KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Police and state authorities are preparing for Morgan Wallen’s concerts in Knoxville and taking precautions to ensure the safety of concertgoers.

University of Tennessee Police said both shows are expected to bring up to 80,000 people to campus. Both concerts are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and University of Tennessee Police asked concertgoers not to arrive on campus before 2 p.m.

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UT police said on-campus parking lots will be open to concertgoers with parking permits starting at 2 p.m. The university said those with commuter or employee parking permits who need to be on campus after 2 p.m. Friday should use the park-and-ride lot at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum and take the shuttle to campus. Non-commuter parking lots will not be affected.

The university has also published a map showing where concert parking permits will be issued. This map also shows the locations of shuttle loading and unloading areas.

The University of Tennessee added that overnight parking between shows is not permitted and violators will be towed. The full list of important information for concertgoers, such as what items are prohibited, can be found on the university’s news website.

Knoxville Police spokesman Scott Erland said police are treating Wallen’s concerts similarly to Tennessee football games. He said Knoxville police will provide support at the stadium and officers and traffic enforcement personnel will be deployed around Neyland Stadium before and after the concerts.

KPD will also be deploying more patrols and officers in the Old City, Fort Sanders and Cumberland Avenue areas before and after the concert to answer calls and maintain order. Erland added that they will work with UTPD to respond and resolve any issues that may arise.

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TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi said on social media platform X that TDOT held an operations meeting on Tuesday morning.

During the concerts on Friday, September 20 and Sunday, September 22, TDOT HELP trucks will be available to assist motorists, ensuring everyone gets to and from campus as safely and efficiently as possible.

Wallen announced in July that he was “coming home” to perform in Knoxville with HARDY and ERNEST, and just days later he shared that a second night in Knoxville had been added due to overwhelming demand.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated.

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