Heat bears down on fans at Belk College Football Kickoff in uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The college football season kicked off in Charlotte Saturday afternoon.

The Belk College Football Kickoff game between West Virginia and Tennessee isn’t just the hottest game in town, it’s just plain hot.

[RELATED: Grier leads No. 17 West Virginia past Tennessee 40-14]

To help, a mobile command center was set up with first responders, including fire and medical personnel.

“It's brutally hot out here,” West Virginia fan Nina Shinagel said.

Thousands of fans filled Bank of America Stadium and uptown Charlotte streets Saturday as the heat index neared 100 degrees.

WEATHER RESOURCES:

• Interactive Radar
• Download our weather app for Severe Weather Alerts
• Hour-by-Hour Forecast
• 7-Day Forecast

“Hydration is not alcohol, so anything with alcohol in it is actually going to dehydrate you and make it worse,” Medic Operations supervisor Tim Marshburn said.

While in the heat, Channel 9 saw medical personnel respond to two calls.

“It gets busy from time to time, but we plan for that,” Marshburn said.

The goal for fans is to live out their plans and enjoy the game they traveled hundreds of miles to attend.

Fans from both sides are trying to beat the heat.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• CMPD conducting shooting investigation in northwest Charlotte
• Pregnant mom, 2 daughters to be laid to rest Saturday in NC
• Family to hold memorial for 20-year-old mother killed in west Charlotte shooting 
• WATCH: Jaclyn Shearer's Saturday forecast outlook 
• York County woman accused of poisoning, killing husband 

Cox Media Group