Fans Face Chef For $40,000

Jack Goldburg, co-founder of Jack’s Dining Room, will compete against University of Florida fans for cash prizes on Saturday, November 7. The event, Yes Chef Tailgates Presented by Pepsi, is scheduled to take place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ahead of the Gators' game against the University of Oklahoma. Up to $40,000 in cash is available for participants who can outperform Goldburg in specific gameday challenges.

The event serves as the second stop on the tailgate tour. Pepsi, a partner of the University of Florida for 21 years, is hosting the activity as part of its Tailgating Deserves Pepsi campaign. The contest includes three main games: Reaction Catch, Football Toss, and Pepsi Putt. Goldburg will face opponents selected from a leaderboard established during the initial phase of the event.

Attendees will have access to food from Grievous Angel and LoveBird. The menu is designed for tailgating and is served alongside Pepsi Zero Sugar and Pepsi Prebiotic Cola. DJ gudgroove will provide live music during the gathering. The event is sponsored by Yes Chef Group, with Pepsi providing the branding and beverages.

The schedule begins at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time when the tailgate opens for RSVP guests. These early arrivals can play all available games without charge. Players who perform well in the initial games earn a spot on a leaderboard. At 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the official Beat Jack challenge starts. Contestants from the leaderboard will then compete directly against Goldburg and his team for the cash prizes.

The tailgate area will open to the general public at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. No prior reservation is required for entry at that time, subject to venue capacity. The event is limited to eligible residents of Florida who are at least 18 years old. Participants must present a government-issued photo ID to enter the contest. No purchase is necessary to qualify for the prize money.

RSVPs are currently open through the Instagram account of Jack’s Dining Room. On-site registration will also be available for those who have not reserved a spot in advance. The event is administered and judged by Chem Creative. Pepsi does not handle the administration or judging of the contest, nor does it directly award the prizes. The full official contest rules outline the specific eligibility requirements and gameplay details for the competition.

The event is located at 157 Gale Lemerand Drive in Gainesville, Florida. The competition runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Fans who secure a spot via RSVP will have priority access to the free play sessions before the main challenge begins. The cash prizes are distributed based on performance in the head-to-head games against Goldburg.