Georgia Tech will play its spring game Friday night at 7 p.m., and if history repeats itself, you might be brace yourself for less-than-ideal weather, as that has been something of the pattern for Friday night spring games at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
That said, the Weather Channel forecast for Friday evening is partly cloudy (20 percent chance of rain) with a low of 63. “A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible,” according to the network’s website. The National Weather Service forecast for Friday night is a slight chance of thunderstorms (10 percent) and then partly cloudy. Sounds like a good chance for a pleasant night.
When the game was moved back to Friday for this spring (it was first played on Friday night in 2012, then moved back to Saturday last year), I was dubious because of the pattern of weather, but, rationally speaking, there obviously isn’t a causal relationship with the spring game being on Friday night and the weather being horrific.
It has been a rather remarkable coincidence, though. In 2013, the threat of rain cancelled pregame festivities, and the game was played in the high 40’s. Heavy rains marred the 2014 game. In 2015, heavy rains again. I asked Isaiah Johnson after the 2014 game, if he were a fan, what he would have done.
“It was on ESPN3, right?” Johnson asked. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
But there’s reason to think that, were the weather not awful, the turnout might be decent. In fact, in 2012, the first year it was held on Friday night, the weather was fine, and the game drew 18,000.
Things to know about the spring game
Parking lots open at 5 p.m. Parking will be free at the Klaus Deck, student center, lower Peters and the W21 (accessible at the corner of Ferst and State).
Wreckfest begins at 5 p.m. It will include face painting, inflatables, a photo booth, food vendors and live music.
The game begins at 7 p.m.
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