Tag: tailgating

Oklahoma expanding taligating for inaugural season in the SEC

The Oklahoma Sooners are getting ready for year one in the SEC by expanding tailgating options on campus.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the City of Norman have endeavored to make both the campus and the city SEC ready. Leaders from the community visited campuses last fall to get an idea of what a gameday environment looks like in the SEC.

Well, it appears the University of Oklahoma have heard the cries of Sooner Nation to expand tailgating for gameday in the fall and will heed that advice. With SEC media days ongoing in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma Athletic Department released detailed plans for gameday festivities this fall, which includes expanded tailgating areas.

According to the release, tailgating will be available throughout campus, including Boyd Lawn and along Asp Avenue.

Oklahoma also announced a new route for the pregame “Walk of Champions.”

The team buses will drop off at the corner of Jenkins and Brooks and the team will walk through the “Party at the Palace” before entering through gate six.

Full Release from the University of Oklahoma

OU Sets the Stage for Inaugural SEC Season With Expanded Public Tailgating

NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma today announced a significant expansion of its public tailgating options ahead of its debut football season in the Southeastern Conference. Beginning this fall, OU is establishing new public tailgating areas at prime locations on campus, including the Boyd Lawn, along Asp Avenue and near Oklahoma Memorial Union.

“Game day in Norman has always united generations of Sooners, and as we gear up for our first football season in the SEC, we’re excited to make enhancements that will take the OU tailgating scene to the next level,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “With more fans than ever expected to join us this year, the energy and passion of the OU Family will make this season unforgettable, showcasing the unrivaled spirit of Sooner Magic as we enter this thrilling new chapter in the SEC.”

OU invites fans to tailgate anywhere on campus except for a limited number of areas marked as restricted on the university’s tailgating map. For the best experience, OU encourages fans to set up in the recommended tailgating spaces marked on the map at the Boyd Lawn and north Asp Avenue area, Brooks Street, Lindsey Street and Duck Pond. Public tailgating areas are free and available on a first-come basis. Other campus areas designated for public and private tailgating will remain the same as last season.

“Our first season in the SEC will be like no other – from opponents to stadium energy to the level of play we’ll all enjoy – and we’re so excited to see how our fans meet the moment with their enthusiasm and support,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. “Tailgating, of course, is a huge part of the game day experience, and these changes will continue to ready us by creating an environment for both OU and visiting team fans. We appreciate the university’s efforts to expand our tailgating locations. We know a raucous tailgating scene is a huge pride point in our new conference, and we want Norman to show the rest of the SEC what Oklahoma is all about. We’re also eager to share information on other fan amenities we have in store for this inaugural season, as we know they will elevate the game day experience even more.”

Discover the new tailgating areas on campus, as well as the university’s tailgating policies, at ou.edu/tailgating.

Set-up Times

Fans wishing to set up tailgate equipment at any of the designated areas, not including Lindsey Street, will be permitted to begin at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding a home football game. Space may be occupied starting at noon, but stakes may not go into the ground until 5 p.m.

Out of respect for students who reside on campus, fans setting up tailgate equipment at the Lindsey Street area will be permitted to begin at 7 a.m. on the day of a home football game. Space may be occupied beginning at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the game, but stakes may not go into the ground until 7 a.m. on game day.

Other Game Day Events and Gatherings

Game Day Traffic, Road Closures and Parking

To promote efficient traffic flow and pedestrian safety, certain roads near campus are closed or restricted on game days. Public parking on campus is limited on game days but is available in certain parking lots for $30 – cash and cards are accepted. Fans may park at Lloyd Noble Center for free and ride the game day shuttle for $5 roundtrip, per person.

Game day traffic, parking and ADA game day shuttle information is available at ou.edu/tailgating

More information for Fans and Visitors

Kickoff for the first OU football game against the Temple Owls is set for 6 p.m. on Friday Aug. 30, at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets at SoonerSports.com/tickets.

Beverage of the Week: Essentia and House Wine’s rose+water box is weird, possibly brilliant tailgating

Alkaline water and wine, in one convenient 30-pound box. Perfect to get you tipsy AND hydrated.

Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.

Sometime this summer, a 30-pound box arrived on my doorstep. It was bulky and cumbersome and, honestly, a little strange. Inside were three more boxes. Inside those, three plastic bladders; one containing water, the other two containing wine.

This Jesus cube, a collaboration between Essentia alkaline water and House Wine, is meant to walk a fine line. A little booze to get you tipsy and then some purified, ionized water to … well, maybe not bring you back, but at least make your following morning more pleasant.

It came to me with the intent of a summer sensation; a limited-edition offering for pool gatherings and beach days. But since I’ve got a backlog of beverages to drink here (brag), it lingered a bit longer. And since Patrick Mahomes is an official Essentia spokesperson — no word on how he feels about boxed wine, though I’d wager he’s in favor, partically after looking at his wideouts — I turned my attention to a similar social space in need of hydration. The tailgate.

OK, that’s a weird tailgate combo, but I don’t judge. Drink what makes you happy, and if a little rosé is gonna make pre-game better for some folks, hell, have at it. Personally my review of the wine itself is going to be muted because, as I’ve mentioned before, that’s pretty much the one thing I don’t drink. But I’ll do it for the sake of the review — and to figure out if Essentia and House Wine created a viable product or merely a 30 pound curiousity.

Notre Dame-Clemson: Tailgating takes a hit from weather

A little change of pace for the fans before kickoff…

One of the best parts of going to a college football game no matter the team’s playing is the tailgating before kickoff.  It’s as much of a tradition as the fight song, slapping of a sign, or talking smack about a rival.  Unfortunately, the weather in the midwest on this Saturday afternoon is putting a serious wet blanket on some of the local tailgates.

On Friday, Purdue announced that tailgating would be allowed before their game against Iowa, but that they wouldn’t allow tents or anything of the sort due to extremely high winds.  Now Notre Dame has followed suit as they prepare to host Clemson this evening.

If you’re heading out be smart and safe as what ripped through my neck of the woods just northwest of Chicago around 1 p.m. EST was no joke.  Also be sure to be loud.  Like, really loud, because it sounds like there will be a lot of orange and purple in the stands this evening.

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Be sure to check out:

Notre Dame-Clemson predictions from Fighting Irish Wire staff

5 keys to an Irish upset of Clemson

Behind enemy lines: Getting to know the Clemson Tigers

ESPN’s College Gameday staff picks for college football Week 10

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Browns fans line up “2.5 miles” Saturday night before Sunday’s game to tailgate

No one ‘fans’ like Browns fans ‘fan.’

Year after year, fans of the Cleveland Browns prove why they are the best in the NFL. Browns fans have had very little to cheer about for about two decades until Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski took them on a playoff ride in 2020.

What may be hard for folks from outside of the Cleveland fanbase to know is that what they saw from the fans in 2020 and already in 2021 is not unusual. The only difference is what the fans get to be passionate about. In the past, that passion was directed at who the next GM, next coach, next “quarterback of the future” or even owner might be.

Starting quite early on Saturday, Browns fans started lining up to get into the “Muni Lot” to tailgate before the team’s 2021 home opener. While that parking lot has a ban on alcohol, which was reiterated by the city’s police force this week, it has long been the biggest party before games.

Fans of other tailgating setups might argue that the “Muni Lot” is the biggest but not the best but it is clear that the fans are dedicated. Around 8 PM on Saturday night, the following video shows what is described as a 2.5 mile stretch of cars waiting to get into the lot in the morning:

 

You might remember when Browns fans tailgated before Jarvis Landry’s charity softball event earlier this summer, proving their uniqueness.

Tonight’s video just reminds the NFL of one thing: No one ‘fans’ like Browns fans ‘fan.’

Rutgers announces no tailgating at Johnson Park on Saturday

Johnson Park is not open for tailgating this Saturday when Rutgers football hosts Delaware at SHI Stadium.

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The return of Johnson Park will have to wait for another weekend for Rutgers football fans.

The Scarlet Knights faithful are now 0-for-2 when it comes to tailgating at Johnson Park, a location right across from SHI Stadium that was announced to be re-opened to fans for this season. The lot, right across from River Road, had been closed to tailgating the last few years but was announced as returning for this year.

On Thursday, Rutgers announced that Johnson Park is closed for this Saturday’s game at SHI Stadium against Delaware. The athletic department, in a statement released via social media, did note that “Buses will still drop off and pick up at Johnson Park as part of their routes.”

 

No reason was given as to why Johnson Park will not be open for Rutgers second home game of the year.

Two weeks ago, Johnson Park was closed due to heavy flooding throughout the area when the remnants of Hurricane Ida hammered the surrounding area. River Road, near the stadium, was underwater. The season opener against Temple, scheduled for Thursday, September 2, was moved back to that Saturday to accommodate the clean-up from the flooding.

The park, given its proximity to the flooding, was not suitable for tailgating and the decision was wisely made to close the venue for the Temple game.

Johnson Park, given its proximity to the stadium, has been a popular tailgating venue for many years. Its return this year was celebrated by many fans although circumstances seem to be delaying a return to the location.

Tiger Stadium tailgating set to return under no COVID-19 restrictions

LSU announces no restrictions for tailgating this season.

Earlier this week, LSU announced that there would be COVID-19 protocols to enter Tiger Stadium for home games this season. Game attendees must provide either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within three days of the game.

The athletic department announced more information in regards to attending games. There will be a vaccination even on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center from 4 to 8 pm. This is according to the release on Friday.

LSU Athletics and Our Lady of the Lake will also provide gameday vaccinations on Saturday, September 11 before the Tigers’ home opener against McNeese State. Details on gameday vaccinations will be released to the public when finalized.

Limited COVID-19 PCR testing will be available on gameday for fans who preregister. The link for preregistration for gameday testing will be available at noon on Wednesday, September 1 at LSUSports.net and distributed across LSU Athletics’ platforms.

Gameday testing will cost $35 and run from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on September 11 at the PMAC.

The school also announced that tailgating is set to return for the first time since the 2019 season under no COVID-19 restrictions. They do encourage physical distancing, masking, and sanitizing. This is huge for the fans, especially considering LSU is one of the top tailgating events in the country.

ESPN recently named it on their ultimate road trip for the Auburn-LSU game:

Start with a drive through campus and stop off to visit Mike the Tiger at his enclosure. I mean, how often do you get to see a live tiger mascot just feet from a football stadium? It’s worth the pit stop. From there, grab some Louisiana style pizza at Fleur de Lis. Oh, you didn’t know Louisiana pizza was a thing? It’s cheesy and rectangular and glorious. For seafood, it’s hard to go wrong, whether it’s a po-boy at Parrain’s or oysters at Drago’s. But don’t fill up at breakfast on game day because the tailgating on campus starts early and will sustain you all the way up until kickoff, whether it’s savory gumbo, smoked sausage or even alligator. Don’t be afraid to wander around and make friends because hospitality in Baton Rouge means feeding everyone under the tent. – Alex Scarborough, ESPN

Browns fans tailgate before Jarvis Landry’s charity softball event

Cleveland Browns fans missed tailgating so much that they started tailgating over five hours before Jarvis Landry’s charity softball event.

There were a lot of things missing from lives in 2020. For football fans, the lack of tailgating before games was one of them. Cleveland Browns fans certainly missed them especially during a season when the team was finally winning.

No “Muni Lot” shenanigans. No family get-togethers in a random parking lot. No “tailgate hopping” all around the stadium meeting new friends and seeing old friends born out of the tailgate experience.

As many of the limits from 2020 are lifted, Cleveland fans got an early start on getting back to their tailgating ways in advance of Jarvis Landry’s charity softball event.

A video posted this morning by the Lake County Captains, the minor league team that is hosting today’s event, showed a small parking lot starting to fill up with Browns fans tailgating:

 

To put this video in context, Landry’s event starts at 3 PM with the gates opening at 2 PM. The video, shot before 10 AM, shows a variety of tailgaters all set up and ready to go already.

At least five hours before a charity softball event, Cleveland fans were prepared to enjoy their time together. While there are a lot of great fans around the NFL, Browns fans may once again be showing why they are in the running for the top spot.

No tailgating, no cash, required masks and social distancing at UF-UGA game this year

The UAA released updated information for fans regarding the Florida-Georgia football game in Jacksonville in response to COVID-19 issues.

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Florida’s game against Georgia is going on as previously planned despite a COVID-19 outbreak taking the Gators out of action the last two weeks.

The UAA released updated information for fans regarding that game in Jacksonville, which is currently scheduled to take place on Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

According to the UAA release, tailgating will not be permitted for fans in the stadium parking lot. Only ticket holders will be allowed in the lots, and the areas will be closely observed for violations.

In addition to limited capacity, fans will be required to wear masks at all times except while actively eating or drinking. Fans who don’t follow these regulations will be subject to disciplinary action, the release said.

There will be signage encouraging physical distancing, such as queue-spacing indicators, as well as over 750 sanitizing stations.

All 88 gates will be open to fans, as well as all restrooms and concession stands. However, all payments at concession stands will be contactless, and paying with cash will not be permitted.

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BREAKING: Florida Gators announce attendance policies for 2020 fall football

The University of Florida issued a press release on Thursday outlining its attendance policies for the 2020 fall SEC football season.

The University of Florida issued a press release on Thursday outlining its attendance policies for the 2020 fall football season at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Included in the announcement is the banning of tailgating on campus as well as plans for reduced fan capacity ahead of the Gators’ home opener against South Carolina scheduled for Oct. 3.

The press release included the following.

To comply with physical distancing requirements, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will host approximately 20 percent of its listed capacity of 88,548 in the bowl and club levels, putting the capacity right at 17,000.

In accordance with campus guidelines, face coverings (over the nose and mouth) will be required for all fans throughout the entire game. This includes when fans are entering and exiting the stadium. Fans may only remove face coverings while eating or drinking. Failure to comply with this important health guideline could result in loss of ticket privileges.

Additionally, the following activities will not be permitted.

  • Tailgating will not be permitted on the UF campus
  • Gator Walk will not occur in 2020
  • Gator Walk Village will not be set up for 2020
  • No Gators Fan Fest
  • No Spirit teams on the sidelines

Athletics Director Scott Stricklin also offered the following comment in the release.

“As we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked hand in hand with UF Health, the SEC and its Medical Guidance Task Force, and campus officials to create the safest environment possible for the student-athletes, staff and fans.”

Read the full press release for more details on mobile ticketing, parking and other aspects of the fan experience.

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