This year’s Gator Growl will be a little different.
Organizers announced Sunday that The Fray, Sister Hazel and New Directions Veterans Choir will play the 90th Gator Growl on Nov. 8. Unlike most years, no comedian is scheduled to perform.
Students like UF sports management sophomore Chase Funk, 19, are speculating Tracy Morgan’s vulgarity during last year’s show influenced producers’ choices for 2013.
Funk also criticized the talent choices for Gator Growl.
“[Before,] you had household names like Dave Chappelle, Gabriel Iglesias, Daniel Tosh,” he said. “The Fray would have been really cool if it was 2008.”
Funk said Sister Hazel’s appearance will probably draw older alumni to Gator Growl. The Fray targets the younger — but still graduated — crowd. He said new and current students have little to look forward to for performances.
Gator Growl public relations director Alyssa Fagien said although the alumni are heavily considered, the interests of current UF students are still important when choosing talent.
“You are always going to have people that are disappointed,” she said. “I personally am really excited for this year.”
Fagien said the neutral style of The Fray appeals to both groups, giving everyone something to sing along to.
However, some fans of other genres are already planning to skip the event.
Public relations freshman Nayara Brito-Estrada, 17, said she will be spending the four-day Homecoming weekend in Orlando at the Electric Daisy Carnival.
“Why would I go to Gator Growl when I could go to EDC?” she said. “It’s more expensive, yeah, but there are just so many more artists I like there.”
Fagien said that although EDC can be appealing, techno events happen frequently. Growl is only once a year.
“It’s an easy choice between supporting the Gators and going to EDC,” she said.
But ticket prices have gone up — for students, it now costs $17 to attend Gator Growl. Guests tickets are $27.
Producer Megan Harmon said the $2 price raise was routine. She said people should know they’re paying for an excellent concert — one they’ll have a good time attending.
UF pre-vet student Will Smith, 20, said after last year’s “Tracy Morgan debacle,” the junior was skeptical the announced acts would persuade him to buy a ticket.
But when he learned The Fray was performing, he said he knew the $17 would be worth it.
“The Fray was huge at one point, and I really like their songs,” Smith said. “I’m going just to see them.”
