*Let me first say that I think our tailgating system is much better than it was a few years ago. It's normally an annual topic, so here it goes again.
Today Texas State released their new tailgating set up, along with a nice video that outlined and explained it (which I hope we do at some point if nothing else). So it got me thinking, of course. If you didn't watch the video in the link above, they now have a "Tailgate Central" that includes a boulevard with vendors and music stage, along with student organizations and reserved tailgate spots for donors.
One thing that we don't have is a real organized strategy. We have the student area next to the ag pond, the alumni tent, and then free game to everyone else around the area. Curious to hear what everyone likes and dislikes about the system currently, and then what would you change (and how would you change it)?
I think the main issue for me is just lack of parking. You have the donor lots, which appear to be better assigned now through the PLF, but general public parking is either the commuter lot or just around campus and the neighborhood. I think one thing that would need to be fixed before anything bigger to be done, would be more parking lots and/or garages.
I do think the Alumni association does a great job now. They have live music, kid activities, etc. But overall it's still small and you have to be a member or pay to get in. But I think it provides a much bigger opportunity for that lot to turn into something bigger and similar such as a "Tailgate Central." We don't really have any food trucks, or vendors or other sponsors out there with tailgates. I was never a huge fan of Lumberjack Alley just because I'm not big on tailgating on concrete, but, I did like how it had everyone together. So maybe a smaller version of that in this lot would work. And I think there's still a decent population of people that would like to go back to that. So maybe this does both. Have the free tailgating as is, but in this lot bring in some vendors, food trucks, live bands and set up reserved tailgates for PLF as well as the general public, and then for other non-student/whatever organizations on campus. I don't think it's unreasonable to have assigned tailgate spots. See if we can get one of the local bars to set up a covered tailgate with open bar, tvs, etc like mentioned Baylor has. I of course went ahead and drew up a quick sketch of how it might work. Sorry, long post, I'm crazy. But always thinking.
Today Texas State released their new tailgating set up, along with a nice video that outlined and explained it (which I hope we do at some point if nothing else). So it got me thinking, of course. If you didn't watch the video in the link above, they now have a "Tailgate Central" that includes a boulevard with vendors and music stage, along with student organizations and reserved tailgate spots for donors.
One thing that we don't have is a real organized strategy. We have the student area next to the ag pond, the alumni tent, and then free game to everyone else around the area. Curious to hear what everyone likes and dislikes about the system currently, and then what would you change (and how would you change it)?
I think the main issue for me is just lack of parking. You have the donor lots, which appear to be better assigned now through the PLF, but general public parking is either the commuter lot or just around campus and the neighborhood. I think one thing that would need to be fixed before anything bigger to be done, would be more parking lots and/or garages.
I do think the Alumni association does a great job now. They have live music, kid activities, etc. But overall it's still small and you have to be a member or pay to get in. But I think it provides a much bigger opportunity for that lot to turn into something bigger and similar such as a "Tailgate Central." We don't really have any food trucks, or vendors or other sponsors out there with tailgates. I was never a huge fan of Lumberjack Alley just because I'm not big on tailgating on concrete, but, I did like how it had everyone together. So maybe a smaller version of that in this lot would work. And I think there's still a decent population of people that would like to go back to that. So maybe this does both. Have the free tailgating as is, but in this lot bring in some vendors, food trucks, live bands and set up reserved tailgates for PLF as well as the general public, and then for other non-student/whatever organizations on campus. I don't think it's unreasonable to have assigned tailgate spots. See if we can get one of the local bars to set up a covered tailgate with open bar, tvs, etc like mentioned Baylor has. I of course went ahead and drew up a quick sketch of how it might work. Sorry, long post, I'm crazy. But always thinking.