Tailgating

[bisonguy]

Re: Tailgating

I feel the change on the tailgating policy was the right thing to do. Having so many people in the Backyard during the game has a lot of potential for trouble. Having them GO to the Game is what is intended when the Backyard was created. It has added to game day atmosphere. Key is GAME DAY atmosphere. To limit the pregame is the RIGHT decision. SDSU is always consulting with other institutions on how to the run things. I know they have met with Montana, Montana State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and am sure there are plenty more. They talk "shop" discussing scheduling, fundraising, marketing, event management and other strategies. The staff also attends different conferences thoughout the year to discuss topics and enroll in workshops. SDSU does not need to wait for something bad to happen to change policy. That would be reactive. SDSU is very Proactive and taking the necessary precautions.

Montana State's former (and hopefully not current) policy of allowing tailgating during the game proved to me and plenty of other Bison fans why this is not a good idea.

If you're not there for the game, go BBQ with some friends. Same end result, and less chance of anything bad happening.

[SFJACK]

Re: Tailgating

I have to agree with thebluehatman. If SDSU was drawing over 16,000 fans for every game, then they would have an argument to make.

Easy fix, admission to the backyard is a game ticket. I reserved a spot last saturday and will do it again this weekend. I would just like to have the option of going back to the spot at halftime, have a beer and something to eat.

[jackmd]

Re: Tailgating

Easy fix, admission to the backyard is a game ticket. I reserved a spot last saturday and will do it again this weekend. I would just like to have the option of going back to the spot at halftime, have a beer and something to eat.

Agree with SF here. We went back at halftime to load the grill and chairs, officers pounced on us with flashlights drawn. As an alum who supports the program I'm not happy about the way that went. I was then "frisked" as I returned to the stadium. All they found was a cowbell in my sweatshirt. I like the policy especially for night games when its pitch black in the backyard.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: Tailgating

Agree with SF here. We went back at halftime to load the grill and chairs, officers pounced on us with flashlights drawn. As an alum who supports the program I'm not happy about the way that went. I was then "frisked" as I returned to the stadium. All they found was a cowbell in my sweatshirt. I like the policy especially for night games when its pitch black in the backyard.

Same thing happened to us post game. As our group was filtering back from the stadium (the game wasn't even quite over yet), those of who got back first had started cleaning up (one person had popped a cold one to ease the pain). We had a lot of stuff to pack up - tables, chairs, tv/satellite, portable heater, etc. Evidently, we weren't moving fast enough for UPD. When we told them to back off as we had more help coming, they radioed somebody and told them we weren't cooperating. The response was to tell us that if we didn't get out now, someone would be going to jail. They also told them to be sure to note our location so that they could kick us out next week. Nice.

I don't think it's unreasonable to set a time, say 1 hour after the final gun, for everyone to be packed up and cleared out and allow a little time to rehash the game. If we're not out in an hour, fine, then release the hounds.

[SFJACK]

Re: Tailgating

Same thing happened to us post game. As our group was filtering back from the stadium (the game wasn't even quite over yet), those of who got back first had started cleaning up (one person had popped a cold one to ease the pain). We had a lot of stuff to pack up - tables, chairs, tv/satellite, portable heater, etc. Evidently, we weren't moving fast enough for UPD. When we told them to back off as we had more help coming, they radioed somebody and told them we weren't cooperating. The response was to tell us that if we didn't get out now, someone would be going to jail. They also told them to be sure to note our location so that they could kick us out next week. Nice.

I don't think it's unreasonable to set a time, say 1 hour after the final gun, for everyone to be packed up and cleared out and allow a little time to rehash the game. If we're not out in an hour, fine, then release the hounds.

I hope the school is open to change, because it can't stay this way. I like the one hour rule. As Alumni, we might have to speak out and let our opinions be known.

[Jacks-02]

Re: Tailgating

I agree, the new tailgating policy is crap. We were harrassed when I went back the vehicle at halftime to get a jacket. Officer at gate rudely told us that if we even thought of having a beer when we were gone that he'd kick us out (felt like being scolded at high school prom all over again). Then when we did come back 5 minutes later got the same run down. UPD had a reputation as being power-hungry when I was in school, treating alumni the same when going to get coats on a night when its 40 degrees out is pretty sad.

We went from one extreme of an enjoyable tailgating experience where a few people decided to party instead of going to the game to the other end of the spectrum with a police lockdown and un-warranted threats from law enforcement. Not a good thing, I and several others I talked to aren't happy about the situation.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Tailgating

I don't suppose any of you who are upset about the policy are willing to be reasonable about the issue...but look at it from the other side. If "everybody" who tailgates, decides to go back to the car to "get a coat", how in the heck do you expect the people charged with policing the situation to deal with an excuse that might be used by a whole bunch of people, who really want to go back and have a beer or two and wait for the police to go one by one to everyone to get them back out? Would you like to be in charge of that??

Don't use the excuse that you don't like the policy to complain about the implementation of the policy.

It's pretty plain...the SDSU administration is not going to risk the desire of many people to go and tailgate BEFORE the game for the desires of what I hope is a minority -- people who just want to use the setup for a kegger (especially the students) on university property. And I'm with them on that. The rules are simple. The Backyard closes 1/2 hour before game time. Take your coats, etc. with you. After the game, pack up and exit -- there is no tailgating at halftime or after the game. It stops one-half hour before the game. If you don't agree with the policy...don't tailgate.

[Jacks-02]

Re: Tailgating

I don't suppose any of you who are upset about the policy are willing to be reasonable about the issue...but look at it from the other side. If "everybody" who tailgates, decides to go back to the car to "get a coat", how in the heck do you expect the people charged with policing the situation to deal with an excuse that might be used by a whole bunch of people, who really want to go back and have a beer or two and wait for the police to go one by one to everyone to get them back out? Would you like to be in charge of that??

Don't use the excuse that you don't like the policy to complain about the implementation of the policy.

It's pretty plain...the SDSU administration is not going to risk the desire of many people to go and tailgate BEFORE the game for the desires of what I hope is a minority -- people who just want to use the setup for a kegger (especially the students) on university property. And I'm with them on that. The rules are simple. The Backyard closes 1/2 hour before game time. Take your coats, etc. with you. After the game, pack up and exit -- there is no tailgating at halftime or after the game. It stops one-half hour before the game. If you don't agree with the policy...don't tailgate.

I'm not using the excuse that I don't like the policy as a reason to complain about the implementation of the policy, and I think if you expect fans to be reasonable about following the rules, UPD should be reasonable in enforcing them.

Harassing people cleaning up their campsite after the game, threatening them with incarceration, and then telling them to "watch out" next week doesn't sound very reasonable to me. Also, harrassing me for going to get a coat on a night when the wind is blowing 30 MPH and the temperature dropped alot because its a night game doesn't sound very reasonable either.

I agree that last year wasn't a very good situation with 1000 people partying during the game, but I don't think we've found the perfect solution yet. There needs to be some give and take on both ends I think.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Tailgating

I'll buy your reasoning on expecting UPD to be courteous as a proper complaint. An e-mail to the athletic department or phone call asking for that would be in order and I believe will be listened to. But remember also that the UPD is new to this, as are you, and they have a big job on their hands when a number of people (I'm not including you) may want to come out at half time and want to dawdle after the game, and make it a frustrating night for them as well. So in asking them to be patient with you, be patient with them as well. I do believe after a couple of games when everybody gets on the same page, that it will work out fine.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Tailgating

Lo and behold, UMass has a similar policy:

"During the game, no tailgating is permitted, and any fan outside the stadium at the beginning of the game will be asked to leave."

http://media.www.dailycollegian.com/...-2971631.shtml

[SFJACK]

Re: Tailgating

I don't suppose any of you who are upset about the policy are willing to be reasonable about the issue...but look at it from the other side. If "everybody" who tailgates, decides to go back to the car to "get a coat", how in the heck do you expect the people charged with policing the situation to deal with an excuse that might be used by a whole bunch of people, who really want to go back and have a beer or two and wait for the police to go one by one to everyone to get them back out? Would you like to be in charge of that??

Don't use the excuse that you don't like the policy to complain about the implementation of the policy.

It's pretty plain...the SDSU administration is not going to risk the desire of many people to go and tailgate BEFORE the game for the desires of what I hope is a minority -- people who just want to use the setup for a kegger (especially the students) on university property. And I'm with them on that. The rules are simple. The Backyard closes 1/2 hour before game time. Take your coats, etc. with you. After the game, pack up and exit -- there is no tailgating at halftime or after the game. It stops one-half hour before the game. If you don't agree with the policy...don't tailgate.

The UPD sure did a good job policing the back yard from 2pm until 630pm. I'm sure they would do just as good of a job during halftime. So why not let people go back and grab a beer and some chips.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Tailgating

Lo and behold, UMass has a similar policy:

"During the game, no tailgating is permitted, and any fan outside the stadium at the beginning of the game will be asked to leave."

http://media.www.dailycollegian.com/...-2971631.shtml

I can add to that JimmyJack...we were at the Western Illinois game and they closed down the tailgate before the game in the same fashion.

As to Alex Brown, SDSU president, suggesting sale of beer at the game (if he was serious), be aware that only one Division 1 school in the nation, as far as I know, sells beer at games. Guess which one? Colorado, which sold its soul to Coors for $$$$. It ain't gonna happen. And having gone to NDSU for football games (outside before the Dome), they had a huge problem with beer being consumed in the stands (illegally) and they went through hell trying to clean it up.

[Nidaros]

Re: Tailgating

I think the thing that we have to remember is that no matter how hard you worked to earn your degree, and no matter how much we have given as a donation to SDSU, we still do not own the campus and we still have to respect the administration and their policies. I am in total agreement with Jack#1Fan's comments. If the UP were discourtious, let the HPER know, or better yet Micheal Reger, who is the top assistant to the President know. I know for a fact that Mr. Reger is very interested in what alumni are thinking and like Jack#1 has indicated we may need some time for all to adjust including the UPD.

[SFJACK]

Re: Tailgating

Lo and behold, UMass has a similar policy:

"During the game, no tailgating is permitted, and any fan outside the stadium at the beginning of the game will be asked to leave."

http://media.www.dailycollegian.com/...-2971631.shtml

I don't think its a good idea to start kicking out your customers.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: Tailgating

As to Alex Brown, SDSU president, suggesting sale of beer at the game (if he was serious), be aware that only one Division 1 school in the nation, as far as I know, sells beer at games. Guess which one? Colorado, which sold its soul to Coors for $$$$.

Colorado no longer sells beer at football games and hasn't for the last several years. They may for basketball games in the Coors Event Center.