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Post by Micah008 on May 12, 2011 13:05:11 GMT -5
I hear you guys talking that a lot of fans in the IFL do tailgating before the games. I have always wanted to do this in La Crosse, but there hasn't been anything organized yet.
In your experience is this usually organized by the fans? A sponsor? Or the team?
Is it on a big scale (30+ people) or small (5-10 people)?
Have any of you ever helped set these up?
I am considering doing something in La Crosse for the next home game, since there isn't normally anything like this before the game. But I wanted to see what others do, and maybe get some tips if you have done it before.
Thanks.
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Post by CF4L on May 12, 2011 13:22:49 GMT -5
there are a group of about 10-15 of us who meet up before Blackhawk games. Completely fan set up.
If you have a close group of Spartan fans who you hang with that's where I would start if you want to do a tailgate.
The SFS crew seem to be experts, they'd probably have more to stay on the subject.
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Post by biggrizfan on May 12, 2011 15:12:12 GMT -5
we do some tailgating in Fairbanks before the game, one of the local radio stations and a dj help get it going(Smitty on X-rock) and our facebook guru are always there. The local Air national gaurd comes and cooks burgers and hot dogs. We even had a small number show up for the game in Febuary when it was below zero outside, that takes dedication. I would post it on Facebook to get it going then some people will show.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on May 12, 2011 16:30:36 GMT -5
Indeed.. I have much input... just not the time right this second.. be back after work
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psx234
Team Captain
Posts: 281
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Post by psx234 on May 12, 2011 16:57:10 GMT -5
As one of the newer Section O tailgaters I can say it seems like it is defiantly an evolution thing for tailgating. At the very least have some friends come out with you to sit around and eat and have a good time before the game, maybe play some catch or bags or such. Check with your arena to see if they know if you can drink in the parking lot and if you can what you can drink, there ware some weird laws out there, thank you Park City, KS.
But it seems to me that it is almost completely fan started and fan based. Here in Sioux Falls at the last game when it was our first Saturday game of 2011 and we had perfect weather we had a decent number of groups tailgating, i saw around 5 to 8 in our area and each seemed to have 2 to at most 10 people.
The Storm generally haven't gotten into tailgates except for hosting an official part at a local bar before the game, or having one of the mascots or cheerleaders or promo girls come around with free stuff!
All and all it's about getting together, trying not to have one particular person have to take too much of the weight for preparation. It's always a good time, and it can even be a fantastic time to tailgate on the road, although it gets harder as you get farther away.
Tailgating notes from my mind:
Sioux Falls: Many of locations for calm tailgates, great food, and some games! Oh yeah, did i mention we tailgate about 150 feet from a Buffalo Wild Wings for bathroom use or if you need a pre-tailgate treat!
Wichita: Wind can be the devil, but so can coldish weather. Be resourceful or make friends with a guy who knows how to cook, owns a bbq joint, and brings a large truck to tailgates! Oh and ask the GM for porta-potties because the arena is out in the boonies.
Oklahoma City: Very urban, very easy to park in a parking spot and setup. It will mean minimal setup such as a tent, games, and other great extras.
Omaha: I actually haven't tailgated in Omaha before but I hear tailgating under the bridge can be a blast!
Colorado: If it's windy you'll get some good wind. What seemed to be frequent car shows mean plenty of people around, although they may not all be going to the Ice game. - Nearish breweries make it easy to do a tour one morning after sleeping in a van with some friends and still make it to tailgate!
Billings: (does not currently apply) Rent a hotel room to guarantee you have a grass spot to setup a tent, chairs, grill, and all other required items for a great tailgate. Some good billings fans will probably stop by to talk too.
Grand Island: Too soon, no comment without additional negative comments.
Sioux City: Easy to get to, open spaces and for IFL teams and easy W. Jokes aside it provides many opportunities for setting up however you want, just don't expect to be able to go to the bathroom without the fear of a ticket for exposure.
Those are some of my thought. Bottom line, a van, pickup, or car with good cargo space; tent; cooking ability; games; and people with whom company you enjoy is a must. When there is usually too much wind do what I did, build a wind blocker for your pickup and paint it to celebrate the best Section in indoor football, for the most part.
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psx234
Team Captain
Posts: 281
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Post by psx234 on May 12, 2011 16:59:09 GMT -5
I left out Kent because I don't call driving there and getting out to walk to a Johnny Rockets Hamburgers a tailgate. It looked like it could be alright but they have limited immediate parking and other areas are not easy to find right away.
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Post by Micah008 on May 12, 2011 18:16:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the info guys.
I am trying to get something going with some of the biggest Spartans fans for the next game, and try to get them to bring friends, etc. Part of my goal is just to get them to get to know each other better, and ideally it would turn into tailgating before every game.
For this "kickoff" one... I will see if I can get some Spartans sponsors to even help out, and see how big we can make it.
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Post by Banana Cat on May 12, 2011 18:43:09 GMT -5
Yes, it's definitely fan based. Teams have been known to chip in from time to time though, but it's usually driven by fans.
My suggestion is to start a fan club of some sort (gets people of like minds together and also develop a sense of community between each other). Omaha has the Meatheads, Sioux Falls has Section O, etc. Usually an outgoing person (or persons) are a good choice to kind of lead these groups and develop an E-mail list to coordinate amongst each other and setup tailgates, coordinate away trip carpools, bus trips, get-togethers during the season and during the off-season (like a once a month get together at a local restaurant). Once you get one of these going you will develop strong friendships with some people and also family members will also get involved as they like tailgating and get-togethers. We've even had members go on cruises together in the Meatheads group. It does help as far traveling to away games as well as many times teams will not organize bus trips. Our fan group has organized the bus trips for all but one year of the Beef existence, but they do coordinate with the team for help in promoting the availability of it and sometimes the teams will donate prizes, provide food, etc.
Definitely check with the arena about what can be done in the parking lot before the game as some do not allow drinking. If you are grilling, some will even provide a barrel to put your used up charcoal in afterwards for cleanup (although gas grilling is usually an easier way to do it). I would also let the team know about the tailgate and try to get them to advertise it on their webpage, facebook page, and twitter page. Most teams don't like to do these on their own, but will provide a little support once the fans initiate them. You could even contact the cheerleaders and mascot for support, etc.
Have fun with it and don't take it all on yourself.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on May 13, 2011 15:12:36 GMT -5
Location
If memory serves La Crosse has an urban setting, downtown, not completely dissimilar to Oklahoma City. So, you’ll want to find a surface lot, seek permission if it’s privately owned, and check with local law enforcement, (or parks and rec) regarding laws about open containers, and erecting temporary structures (pop up canopies for shade). If local rules allow, I recall a riverside park not too far from what I think is the arena area… parking, then moving vehicles before the game might be a concern there.
Equipment
The only requirement is people and the desire to have a good time. Lawn “Bag” Chairs help if you wish to sit. A grill is helpful if you want to cook, but not required if you chip in on carry-out. Drinks, obviously a cooler to keep drinks and foods cold, but again you’ll want to know about any open container laws that those that exist in Grand Island, NE and Park City, KS (RE: PSX’s comment: liquor seems OK, beer is frowned upon.. I don’t get it either…) Trash bags, plates, forks, napkins or paper towels, you can use disposable, or be “green” and use re-usable plastic stuff.. (we use “obtained” Pizza Hut tumblers) saves a few $ on cups too.
Games
“Cornhole” aka beanbags football catch Frisbee washers “grown-up” jenga.. (cut pieces of 2x4)
Advice
Section O, as BC remembers it is pretty much gone as far as tailgating goes… our area is down to 10 at most… and we’ve gotten real lazy and now use the outfield wall of the baseball stadium for shade and wind block. So start small… you and your friends have a “picnic” of sorts before the game… then invite people.. at some point you’ll find the person with the skills to take things “big time” if you want to. Bottom Line, is have fun. Make it what you want to. We’ve seen two guys pull a hibachi grill, a cooler and two bag chairs out of the trunk of a $75,000 Jaguar.
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Post by Micah008 on May 13, 2011 15:58:51 GMT -5
Thanks. Yeah, with the downtown "urban" setting it is a little tougher as everywhere ends up being either city or private property. Parking is a city parking ramp across the street. Alcohol is not allowed on the city property, but I am not too worried about that. (I am sure we can find a way in the future if needed...) I have talked with the Spartans, and a few fans, and what we are planning to use Riverside park for this first one, and then go from there in the future depending on the turnout. The team is going to help out in a few ways, including advertising it on Facebook for me, and having some players/cheerleaders stop by. I am trying to see if I can get a "door prize" of some kind too to give away. Oh, and you forgot an important game... ladder ball. (otherwise known as ladder toss, hillbilly golf, or many other names)
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on May 13, 2011 16:20:16 GMT -5
Oh, and you forgot an important game... ladder ball. (otherwise known as ladder toss, hillbilly golf, or many other names) twas not forgotten, merely omitted as we ceased the playing of said game the first time we had to retrieve a golf ball from 50 feet away.. the downside of using real golf balls I guess..
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Post by Micah008 on May 13, 2011 16:47:57 GMT -5
Oh, and you forgot an important game... ladder ball. (otherwise known as ladder toss, hillbilly golf, or many other names) twas not forgotten, merely omitted as we ceased the playing of said game the first time we had to retrieve a golf ball from 50 feet away.. the downside of using real golf balls I guess.. Yeah, its better in grass rather than in a parking lot.
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Post by Banana Cat on May 13, 2011 20:29:00 GMT -5
Tossing footballs around is still the best, but be careful of doing that around concrete. You'd think I wouldn't have to say that, but when people get drinking and start running around concrete, bad things happen. We had a fan almost die in the Sioux City parking lot once when he ran into a concrete covered light post in the parking lot (hit it with his head). If 911 hadn't been called right away like it was, the medic's wouldn't have got there in time to perform an emergency trache. He was in the hospital for a long time and hasn't been totally the same since, to say he's lucky to be alive is an understatement. My recommendation is to take it lightly when playing catch and having defenders and such on concrete. Another activity to refrain on with concrete involved is the big spindles the Section O tailgate had going on one year and Lou (Superpicker) and a few others got up on top of them and were rolling it like a log by walking on top of it. No one was hurt, but to say it was dangerous is an understatement. -------------------- The closer you can get the tailgate to the actual stadium the better, but every arena is different. The more closer you get, the more people you can get join by walkups and such (they see it and will come back). -------------------- The horns and vuvuzelas are good for makeshift beer bongs. -------------------- Music from the back of a truck or car with a big stereo works on the fly or bring a boom box. Nowadays, with tech as it is, you can even have an ipod (or something similar) hooked up to some small powerful speakers. I've seen teams bring in DJ's before. We had a DJ as a fan and he brought his equipment up to Sioux Falls once and we had a massive tailgate that day with the bus as a windbreaker in the arena parking lot. -------------------- Hot girls and cheerleaders always make the tailgates more fun for some reason. -------------------- Keep the kids away from the energy drinks (red bull and such).
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Post by Micah008 on May 28, 2011 22:53:36 GMT -5
My tailgating party went well last night. We had about 30 fans show up in total (not all at once), a few players and cheerleaders, and everyone had a good time. We also had some giveaways, and free Pepsi from the team. And, we ended up being right outside the window of the investors meeting that was going on, so hopefully that was a positive for them. There was a threat of rain, but it held off until later in the night.
Quite a few people that came showed up pretty late, ate quick and then took off for the game. Only a couple actually did true "tailgating" with a grill.. many just brought in their own food. I think this was in part because the location was a park not a parking lot... but we don't have a perfect spot to do this, so I can't blame them.
Next time I will probably try a different spot and see if there are more "walk-ups". But, all in all, it was a success. Thanks for all of the ideas and suggestions.
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Post by Banana Cat on May 29, 2011 4:27:32 GMT -5
Very cool! I'm happy it went off well for you and the team. That's funny that it was right outside the investors meeting. I hope the investors meeting went well, but from some articles I read the ownership said they would return next year with or without additional investors...so that's a good sign...additional investors would be nice though.
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