Beautiful Night for a Concert
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (129318)
Gainesville, Florida
May 16, 2026 7:50pm CST
Country music superstar Morgan Wallen rolled into my hometown of Gainesville, Florida for two sold-out concerts at the University of Florida's football stadium, known affectionately as the "Swamp." I was able to attend the Friday night show, with Thomas Rhett opening.
I will admit I paid a fortune for my tickets. I will also admit that I don't even like Morgan Wallen, but it's extremely rare when the University of Florida allows concerts in the stadium (probably less than a half-dozen times in its history), so I had no plans on missing this historical show. I will admit, I really like Thomas Rhett, so it was worth it just to see him.
I spent a good portion of the day tailgating, and doing a lot of people watching (and a little bit of drinking I might add). I thought it was pretty funny seeing all the girls dressed in their cowboy boots, short shorts, and cowboy hats. They all looked pretty much the same to me.
I did run into a few people I haven't seen in years, and in one instance, a friend I haven't seen since high school. So it was nice catching up on old times.
The second night of the two shows is taking place now, and I live close enough to the University of Florida that if I go outside, I can faintly hear the music from my house.
It was a great show, I must admit, and Morgan Wallen really electrified the crowd. So in the end it was worth all the money I paid to go.
Have you ever attended a music concert in a large stadium? If so, who did you see? And are you a country music fan, or a fan of Morgan Wallen?
16 people like this
16 responses
@snowy22315 (211242)
• United States
17 May
Hmm, I don't think so..but I once saw the Beach Boys on the National Mall for their 4th of July gig..they did for years and years.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
A concert on the National Mall could probably be as large as a stadium show, in terms of crowd size!
And speaking of The Beach Boys, I saw them last year at Epcot at Walt Disney World. The crowds were so bad (as in high numbers) that Disney was not prepared for the onslaught.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 May
@snowy22315 They sure do! And very loyal and dedicated fans. They had to shut down Epcot on the day the Beach Boys performed because they exceeded capacity (110,000 people).
@FourWalls (87947)
• United States
17 May
Hey, I saw the Eagles and Jimmy Buffett at the Swamp in 1980!!
I’m a fan of old country music, the “whiny twangy stuff” that people who listen to rock called “country” today hate. So, naturally, I don’t like the new stuff. Not that there aren’t great songs (I love Martina McBride’s song “Independence Day,” for instance), but it’s not country to me.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
I remember you telling me about the shows you saw at the Swamp. I was just telling a friend about how I don’t even like the current country music, because to me it’s not even country.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (176263)
• United States
17 May
I've never heard of either "country star" you're talking about and sure wouldn't go to their concerts. I'm glad you had a good time, though.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
It was a good show despite the fact that I don’t like Morgan Wallen.The atmosphere was electric and the tailgating was amazing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May
@DaddyEvil Me too. I thought I would be bored out of my mind since I didn’t like the artist nor know any of his songs, but he did a great job of entertaining and engaging the crowd.
1 person likes this
@rakski (158599)
• Philippines
18 May
@moffittjc one of the foreign musicians probably, there are so many of them to see
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May
@rakski There are so many global superstars out there, it’s hard to decide which ones to see when you have limited money available for tickets.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
I hope you the chance to enjoy a concert soon. Who would be the one musician that would be a dream come true to see?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52715)
• Staten Island, New York
17 May
I’ve only been to arenas, not stadiums. Awesome that you enjoyed the concert.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
I've been to hundreds of concerts at arenas, but maybe half a dozen at stadiums. I love the party atmosphere of stadium shows, but I love the more intimate feel of arena shows.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
@lovebuglena Not until they’re old and washed up.and broke. Then they go back on tour in much smaller venues.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52715)
• Staten Island, New York
17 May
@moffittjc It is actually way more intimate when you’re in a small venue. But big artists probably do not tour small venues.
3 people like this
@NJChicaa (127439)
• United States
17 May
Wow I would LOVE to see Morgan Wallen (and Thomas Rhett) even though I think Wallen is terrible human being. I wouldn't spend the $$ for the tickets either. I wouldn't turn down seeing them though.
Yes I've seen lots of arena concerts including U2, Dave Matthews Band, Madonna, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, and way more if I actually sat and thought about it. I've seen plenty of other smaller shows as well.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
Wow! You've seen some great stadium shows! I've seen Genesis, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen and Garth Brooks in stadiums. But honestly, I prefer smaller venues that feel a little more intimate.
I'll have to do some research on Wallen; so many people say he's not a good person, but I don't really know anything about him. He did put on a great show, even though I didn't know any of his songs. lol
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (170229)
• United States
17 May
I went with my adult disabled clients to a couple of concerts at the Kansas State Fair. Since I am not really a fan of anyone, I cannot even tell you who we saw.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
Well, at least you can say you went to a concert, even if you didn’t know the artists!
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
I absolutely don’t like Morgan Wallen, but will admit he put on a great show.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (137981)
• Marion, Ohio
17 May
I don't think I have heard any of his
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
In my opinion, you’re not missing much. But he is super popular with the younger crowd.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99361)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 May
You know, I don't even know who that is, I have been out of touch with the latest, but for a while I was a country fan, but I also like many other genres. Good that you got enjoy the concert.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99361)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 May
@moffittjc I got into country music through Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn and others from the old days,
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 May
@RasmaSandra Ooh, I love Johnny Cash! Just love his deep voice.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
He’s the hottest thing in country music right now, but I don’t really like his music even though I am a country music fan.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18548)
• Torrington, Connecticut
2 Jun
I've been to a few stadium concerts, and there's definitely something special about seeing a packed crowd in a venue that large.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jun
I agree. It makes it seem more special, more extraordinary than regular concerts in regular venues.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22472)
• United States
19 May
I'm not a fan of Morgan Wallen. I don't like country music. I used to like it when I was growing up until age 9. The last concert I saw in a stadium was Aerosmith and that was many years ago. By the way, I am trying to win a house and it's in Orlando. Not sure if Chris will move down if I win it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 May
Is it the HGTV house? I’ve also been entering to win.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May
@JESSY3236 I loved the house in Charlotte! I wish I could have won it. And honestly, I don’t really like this current house in Orlando very much.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22472)
• United States
26 May
@moffittjc yes. I was trying to get the lake house that was in Charlotte, but I didn't win sadly. Chris was really wanting that house. He said maybe he would move down to FL if I win.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123631)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 May
I used to attend music concert at the then Louisiana Superdome (Now Caesars Superdome) and shows at the New Orleans Lakefront Area to attend concerts from the late Whitney Houston, the late Roger Whittaker, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Tom Jones in New Orleans.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123631)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 May
@moffittjc They were good shows indeed.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129318)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 May
There were 85,000 people there each night, so 170,000 people total to see the concert. Definitely a lot of people!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223812)
• United States
17 May
I've never been to a music concert in a stadium. I'm a country music fan of very limited artists -- Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers, Shania Twain, Glen Campbell (Wichita Lineman)...that's pretty much it. I'm glad you enjoyed the concert.
1 person likes this
